Aqua Marine Life

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Underwater Fact 147

Filed Under: Deep Sea, Squid & Octopus by Sophia — Comments Off

October 31, 2014

One look at a vampire squid, and you’d think it was the product of a cheesy horror/sci-fi movie. Vampyroteuthis infernalis (meaning “vampire squid from hell”) is the sole living member in the Order Vampyromorphida, and shares characteristics of both octopuses (Order Octopoda) and squids (Order Teuthida).

Vampire Squid © National Geographic

This species first appeared around 300 million years ago and has changed very little since then, making it a living fossil that may represent an ancestral line between octopuses and squids.
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Underwater Fact 146

Filed Under: Coral Reef, Rocky Shore, Sandy Beach, Squid & Octopus by Sophia — Comments Off

October 9, 2014

Octopuses have the largest brains of any invertebrate.

Common Octopus © ARKive

The fact that these creatures, whose ancestors diverged from the lineage that would lead to ours roughly 500 to 700 million years ago, have developed intelligence, emotions, and individual personalities is challenging our understanding of consciousness itself.

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Underwater Fact 145

Filed Under: Open Ocean, Sharks and Rays by Sophia — Comments Off

September 27, 2014

Cownose Rays are known to take on long migrations in schools of thousands of individuals, moving northwards in late Spring and southwards in late Autumn. It is believed that this migration is initiated by the orientation of the sun and by water temperature.

Cownose Rays migration, Gulf of Mexico © Sandra Critelli

Cownose Rays can be recognised by their unusual bi-lobed head. Under the snout are two large fleshy lobes. These are often mistaken as the entrance to the mouth. The mouth however, is on the underside the fish.

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Underwater Fact 144

Filed Under: Open Ocean, Polar Sea, Whales by Sophia — Comments Off

September 14, 2014

Unlike most other whales, the beluga has a flexible neck that enables it to turn its head in all directions.

Beluga Whale © Clifton Hill

Belugas are also called white whales, and their unusual colour makes them one of the most familiar and easily distinguishable of all the whales. Calves are born grey or even brown and only fade to white as they become sexually mature around five years of age.

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Underwater Fact 143

Filed Under: Marine Birds, Polar Sea by Sophia — Comments Off

September 12, 2014

When a male penguin falls in love with a female penguin, he searches the entire beach to find the perfect pebble to present to her.

Penguins sharing pebbles © National Geographic

Humans give flowers and candy when impressing a lady. Penguins give rocks. Not just any rocks, though — male Gentoo penguins search through piles of pebbles to find the smoothest, most perfect ones. When a penguin has selected his pebble, he presents it to his intended companion. If she approves, she puts the stone in her nest and the two are well on their way to becoming mommy and daddy birds. Pebbles are so important to the penguins that males often fight over the prettiest selections.

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Underwater Fact 142

Filed Under: Open Ocean, Sharks and Rays by Sophia — Comments Off

July 29, 2014

Manta rays have the largest brain to body weight ratio of any living fish.

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Underwater Fact 141

Filed Under: Dolphins, Estuaries, Open Ocean by Sophia — Comments Off

July 14, 2014

Bottlenose Dolphins give each other names by calling out to each other in individual whistling tunes.

Out in the pristine waters of Sarasota bay in Florida, scientists from Mote Marine Lab have spent the past thirty years studying the local residents – Bottlenose Dolphins.
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Underwater Fact 140

Filed Under: Deep Sea, General Info by Sophia — Comments Off

June 7, 2014

It is a common known fact that noise travels about five times more quickly in the sea. But did you know that there are conditions where sound can travel similar to light in a fiber-optic cable?

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