Saturday, 29 March 2014

Parrotfish

Parrotfishes are a group of about 90 species traditionally regarded as a family (Scaridae), but now often considered a subfamily (Scarinae) of the wrasses. They are found in relatively shallow tropical and subtropical oceans throughout the world, displaying their largest species richness in the Indo-Pacific. They are found in coral reefs, rocky coasts, and seagrass beds, and play a significant role in bioerosion.


Traditionally, the parrotfishes have been considered a family level taxon, Scaridae. Although phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis of parrotfishes is ongoing, they are now accepted to be a clade in the tribe Cheilini, and are now commonly referred to as scarine labrids (subfamily Scarinae, family Labridae). Some authorities have preferred to maintain the parrotfishes as a family-level taxon, resulting in Labridae not being monophyletic (unless split into several families).


Parrotfish are named for their dentition, which also is distinct from that of other labrids. Their numerous teeth are arranged in a tightly packed mosaic on the external surface of their jaw bones, forming a parrot-like beak with which they rasp algae from coral and other rocky substrates. Maximum sizes vary within the family, with the majority of species reaching 30-50 cm (12-20 in) in length. However, a few species reach lengths in excess of 1 m (3 ft 3 in), and the green humphead parrotfish can reach up to 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in).
 
Parrotfish Credit

A number of parrotfish species, including the queen parrotfish (Scarus vetula), secrete a mucus cocoon, particularly at night. Prior to going to sleep, some species extrude mucus from their mouths, forming a protective cocoon that envelops the fish, presumably hiding its scent from potential predators. This mucus envelope may also act as an early warning system, allowing the parrotfish to flee when it detects predators such as moray eels disturbing the membrane.
 

Although they are considered to be herbivores, parrotfish eat a wide variety of reef organisms, and they are not necessarily vegetarian. Species such as the green humphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) include coral (polyps) in their diets. Their feeding activity is important for the production and distribution of coral sands in the reef biome, and can prevent algae from choking coral. The teeth grow continuously, replacing material worn away by feeding.

Lionfish

Lionfish are known to devour many aquarium fish. Pterois are unusual in that they are among the few species successfully establish populations in open marine systems. Extreme temperatures are geographically restricted distribution in aquatic species, indicating that tolerance to temperature plays a role in survival of lionfish range, reproduction and distribution. Pterois stretched along the east coast of the United States and employs thermal appropriate areas within ten years.


Lion parasites are rarely seen and rarely thought. Lionfish are known for their poisonous rays, a feature that is common among marine fish in the coral reefs of the east coast. Severe allergic reactions to poison Pterois are typically chest pain, severe shortness of breath, a fall in blood pressure, swelling of the tongue, sweating, runny nose or clear speechThe lion is a predator comes from the Indo-Pacific. The aggressive prey on small fish and invertebrates. Lionfish take a hostile attitude and are territorial towards other reef fish.
 

It is said that this introduction can be caused when Hurricane Andrew in an aquarium in south Florida destroyed, also believed to six lions were accidentally released in Biscayne Bay, Florida after Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The capture of lionfish first document in the Atlantic came in Dania Beach, Florida. In 2001, NOAA documented several sightings of lionfish off the coast of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Bermuda and the Bahamas were discovered in 2004.


Pterois volitans and Pterois miles are from tropical and subtropical regions of southern Japan and South Korea to the east coast of Australia, Indonesia, Micronesia, French Polynesia and the South Pacific lionfish Champions adults found along the east coast States of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, Florida, Bermuda, the Bahamas and the wider Caribbean, including Turks and Caicos, Haiti, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Cayman Islands, Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, Belize, Honduras and Mexico. Population is growing in invaded areas, resulting population explosion of up to 700% in some areas between 2004 and 2008. 
 
 
Although the timeline of observation points on the east coast of Florida, as the original source of the invasion of the western Atlantic Ocean, the relationship between the U.S. East Coast and invasion of lionfish is uncertain Bahamas The population density of the invasive lionfish rise very rapidly, and we are working in diverse fields to check. A study in 2010 with the population data modeling collected using the known history of life lionfish inhabit coral reefs in the Caribbean to find the best way to eradicate. The study has shown that the most effective way to maintain uniform current density lion population, at least 27% of the adult population should be killed monthly invasive.

Thursday, 20 March 2014

Giant Squid

The giant squid is the second largest mollusc and is the second largest of all invertebrates. Some extinct cephalopods, such as Tusoteuthis vampyromorphid the Cretaceous, Cretaceous and Ordovician coleoids Yezoteuthis Cameroceras Nautiloid could do more. Giant squid size, the total length of all, it has often been exaggerated. According to giant squid expert Steve O'Shea, such lengths were likely achieved by stretching the two tentacles like elastic bands.

Giant Squid Credit

Based on the examination of 130 samples and the peaks are inside sperm whales, giant squid mantles "knows not exceed 2.25 m (7.4 ft). Giant squid are sexually dimorphic. The maximum weight is estimated at 275 kg (610 lb) for females and 150 kg (330 lb) for males. Little is known about the reproductive cycle of giant squid. It is believed that they reach sexual maturity at three years, males reach sexual maturity at a smaller size than females.

Giant Squid Credit

Females produce large quantities of eggs, sometimes more than 5 kg (11 lb), which is an average of 0.5 to 1.4 mm (0.020 to 0.055 inches) in length and 0.3 to 0.7 mm (0.012 to 0.028 inch) wide. Females have a median ovary that the rear end of the mantle cavity and associated contours oviducts where mature eggs pass through the oviduct glands and the glands nidamental.

 Giant Squid Credit

Men like most other cephalopods, the single testicle produces sperm that later move into a complex system of glands that produce spermatophores. Grip the penis is more than 90 cm (35 inches) long and extends the mantle. Can be transferred in sacs called spermatophores spermatangia, arms male injected into the female. Recent studies have shown food giant squid deep-sea fish and other squid species.

Giant Squid Credit

It is believed that solitary hunters, as only individual giant squid have been caught in fishing nets. Although most giant squid caught by trawl in New Zealand waters have been associated with the local hoki (Macruronus novaezelandiae) hoki fishery are not included in the diet of squid. This suggests that the giant dam squid and hoki in the same animal giant squid are widespread, occurring in all oceans of the world.

Sunday, 16 March 2014

Walrus

The origin of the word walrus is probably derived from a Germanic language Old Norse and was largely attributed to a road or the Dutch. For example, the word hrossvalr Nordic "horse-whale" and is believed to have been transmitted in the round Dutch dialects of northern Germany, walrus and walrus. The Norwegian Konungsskuggsja manuscript, probably from around 1240 now referred to as the Walrus "rosmhvalr" Iceland ", rostungr" in Greenland (walruses died in Iceland and Norway, while the word has become Greenland).


Many place names in Iceland, Greenland and Norway, beyond the reach of Hvalfjord walrus Hvalsnes Hvallatrar and some names are all typical outbreaks walrus. The archaic English word for walrus morse is believed came from Slavic languages. Mursu in Russian in Finnish, Sami and vice morse in French Olaus Magnus, the walrus in Marina Charter in 1539, initially represented as red walrus Marus, probably a Latinization Morz, and this was described by Linnaeus in his adopted binomial nomenclature.


The similarity between bit random and morsus Latin word "bite" probably contributed to the fame of the Walrus as a "terrible monster". Walruses live about 20-30 years in the wild. Women come and copulate in the water. Most of the Pacific walrus population spends his summers north of the Bering Strait, the Chukchi Sea in the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of eastern Siberia, around Wrangel Iceland between the Beaufort Sea to along the northern coast of Alaska, and in the waters of this place.

 Walrus Credit

Fewer males summer in the Gulf of Anadyr, on the south coast of the Chukchi Peninsula of Siberia and in Bristol Bay on the southern coast of Alaska, west of the Alaska Peninsula. In spring and fall, walruses gather around the Bering Strait, the. There were about 200,000 Pacific walruses estimates from the recent (1990) based on the census. The population is much smaller than the Atlantic walrus ranges from the Canadian Arctic, Greenland, Spitzbergen, and the western part of the Russian Arctic.

Walrus Credit

There are eight sub hypothetical walruses largely on geographical distribution and grassroots movements five west of Greenland and three east of Greenland. Long ago, the Atlantic walrus route south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and. In large numbers in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada Atlantic Walrus was nearly destroyed by commercial harvest and has a much smaller population.

Wednesday, 5 March 2014

Hawaiian Monk Seal

The body of the monk seal is ideal for hunting their prey of fish, lobsters, octopus and squid in beds of deep-water coral. The Hawaiian monk seal has a relatively small flat head with large black eyes. Adult males are 300 to 400 pounds (140-180 kg) in weight and 7 feet (2.1 m) long, while females slightly larger at 400-600 pounds (180-270 kg tilt ) pounds and 8 feet (2.4 m) feet long. If puppies born Monaco on average 30 to 40 pounds (14-18 kg) and 40 inches (1.0 m) long. The seal, such as elephants lose their hair and the outer skin layer in an annual catastrophic combination.


During the busiest period of the combination, about 10 days for the Hawaiian monk seal, the seal is on the beach. Sunlight seawater and cause fusion of dark gray to brown and tan turn, the yellow-brown silver, and increased residence time in the water to promote the growth of algae, so that many green stamps. Coat juvenile monk seal, which is in demand by the time a puppy is weaned gray silver puppies are born with black hair. Many monks scars Sports Stamps Hawaii shark attacks or entanglements with fishing gear.


Most of the population of Hawaiian monk seals is northwest around the islands of Hawaii, but a small population that lives and grows around the main Hawaiian Islands are. Hawaiian stamps of Monaco and drag race on sand, coral and volcanic rocks are used by the sandy beaches of delivery. Support because of the huge gap between the Hawaiian islands of the land masses of the whole supply Monaco Hawaii Hawaiian Islands is limited. Hawaiian monk seal hunt, mainly fish, but also prey, cephalopods and crustaceans.


Sub-adults young and small game more species of squid, octopus and as leteus O. hawaiiensis eels, nocturnal species, octopus and moray eels, Hawaiian monk seals as adults. While adult seals feed mainly on larger species such as octopus O. cyanea. Hawaiian monk seals have a diet with vast and varied plasticity in search of food, they eat opportunistic predators themselves. 
 

Monk seal bears the scars were mature Shark Encounters observed numerous attacks Reduced prey availability can lead to death by starvation. Habitat is shrinking due to erosion of the Northwestern Hawaiian, reducing the islands / beaches. Hummer, favorite foods, like fish stamps are overexploited. Creating puppies Development Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument may develop, including the islands of food supply.

Tuesday, 18 February 2014

Barnacles

A barnacle is a type of arthropod belonging to infraclass Cirripedia in the subphylum Crustacea, and is hence related to crabs and lobsters. Barnacles are exclusively marine, and tend to live in shallow and tidal waters, typically in erosive settings. They are sessile (non-motile) suspension feeders, and have two nektonic (active swimming) larval stages. Around 1,220 barnacle species are currently known.


The name "Cirripedia" is Latin, meaning "curl-footed". Barnacles are encrusters, attaching themselves permanently to a hard substrate. The most common, "acorn barnacles" (Sessilia), are sessile, growing their shells directly onto the substrate. The order Pedunculata ("goose barnacles" and others) attach themselves by means of a stalk.


Most barnacles are suspension feeders; they dwell continually in their shell – which is usually constructed of six plates and reach into the water column with modified legs. These feathery appendages beat rhythmically to draw plankton and detritus into the shell for consumption. Other members of the class have quite a different mode of life. For example, members of the genus Sacculina are parasitic, dwelling within crabs.



Although they have been found at water depths up to 600 m (2,000 ft), most barnacles inhabit shallow waters, with 75% of species living in water depths of less than 100 m (300 ft), and 25% inhabiting the intertidal zone. Within the intertidal zone, different species of barnacle live in very tightly constrained locations, allowing the exact height of an assemblage above or below sea level to be precisely determined.


Barnacles are displaced by limpets and mussels, which compete for space. They also have numerous predators. They employ two strategies to overwhelm their competitors: "swamping" and fast growth. In the swamping strategy, vast numbers of barnacles settle in the same place at once, covering a large patch of substrate, allowing at least some to survive in the balance of probabilities.

Sea Anemone

Sea anemones are a group of water-dwelling, predatory animals of the order Actiniaria. They are named for the anemone, a terrestrial flower. Sea anemones are classified in the phylum Cnidaria, class Anthozoa, subclass Hexacorallia. Anthozoa often have large polyps that allow for digestion of larger prey and also lack a medusa stage.


As cnidarians, sea anemones are related to corals, jellyfish, tube-dwelling anemones, and Hydra. A sea anemone is a polyp attached at the bottom to the surface beneath it by an adhesive foot, called a basal disc, with a column-shaped body ending in an oral disc. Most are from 1.8 to 3 centimetres (0.71 to 1.18 in) in diameter, but anemones as small as 4 millimetres (0.16 in) or as large as nearly 2 metres (6.6 ft) are known.


They can have anywhere from a few tens to a few hundred tentacles. A few species are pelagic and are not attached to the bottom; instead they have a gas chamber within the pedal disc, allowing them to float upside down in the water. The mouth, also the anus of the sea anemone, is in the middle of the oral disc surrounded by tentacles armed with many cnidocytes, which are cells that function as a defense and as a means to capture prey.


Cnidocytes contain nematocyst, capsule-like organelles capable of everting, giving phylum Cnidaria its name. The cnidae that sting are called nematocysts. Each nematocyst contains a small vesicle filled with toxins (actinoporins), an inner filament, and an external sensory hair. A touch to the hair mechanically triggers a cell explosion which launches a harpoon-like structure that attaches to organisms that trigger it, and injects a dose of venom in the flesh of the aggressor or prey.


This gives the anemone its characteristic sticky feeling. The sea anemone eats small fish and shrimp. The venom is a mix of toxins, including neurotoxins, that paralyzes the prey so the anemone can move it to the mouth for digestion inside the gastrovascular cavity. Actinoporins have been reported as highly toxic to fish and crustaceans, which are the natural prey of sea anemones.

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