Category Archives: Oceans
Back to the Deep, Part 2
Common Name: Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises A.K.A.: Order Cetacea Vital Stats: While the lifespan of most whale species is unknown, evidence indicates bowhead whales can reach ages of around 200 years. Sexual maturity in whales occurs at around 7-10 years of age. Found: Throughout the world’s oceans, save the very northernmost regions It Does What?! …
Back to the Deep, Part 1
Common Name: Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises A.K.A.: Order Cetacea of Class Mammalia Vital Stats: Consists of 88 living species Order is divided into Odontoceti, the toothed whales (73 sp.), and Mysticeti, the baleen whales (15 sp.) Odontoceti includes both dolphins and porpoises The largest whale, a blue whale, can grow up to 30m (98’) in …
Thank a Horseshoe Crab
Common Name: Horseshoe Crab A.K.A.: Family Limulidae Vital Stats: Four extant species of horseshoe crab in three genera (Limulus, Carcinoscorpius, and Tachypleus) Females are larger than males, and can reach up to 60cm (24”) long in some species Believed to live between 20 and 40 years Found: Coastal waters of southeast Asia, Oceania, and eastern …
Anglerfish: Absorbing Ladies and their Freeloading Mates
Common Name: Anglerfish A.K.A.: Order Lophiiformes Vital Stats: Comprised of 322 species in 18 different families Most range in size from that of a ping pong ball to that of a football Some can reach over a metre in length and weigh 27kg (59lbs.) Found: Throughout the world’s oceans, mostly in deeper regions It Does …
What’s the matter, louse got your tongue? (Cymothoa exigua)
Common Name: The Tongue-Eating Louse A.K.A.: Cymothoa exigua Vital Stats: Females are 8-29mm long by 4-14mm wide (0.3”-1.1” x 0.16”-0.55”) Males are 7.5-15mm long by 3-7mm wide (0.3-0.6” x 0.12”-0.28”) Preys on 8 species of fish from 4 different families Found: In the Eastern Pacific, between the Southern U.S. and Ecuador It Does What?! With …
Sea Cucumbers, or, How to Really Lose Weight Fast
Common Name: Sea Cucumbers, Holothurians A.K.A.: Class Holothuroidea Vital Stats: Approximately 1250 species Size: 2-200cm (¾” to 6.5’) Lifespan: 5-10 years in the wild Found: Throughout the oceans, in both shallow and very deep regions It Does What?! Where to begin? This is an odd one… To start, despite the name sea cucumber, this isn’t …
The Curious Case of Turritopsis nutricula
Common Name: The Immortal Jellyfish A.K.A.: Turritopsis nutricula Found: Tropical and temperate oceans around the world It Does What?! Ever been under a lot of stress and found yourself longing for the simplicity of childhood? What if, by force of will, you could actually turn back into your childhood self? And once you’d re-grown up, …
