Marine Creature of the Month Overview

April
 Green Sea Turtle

Photo from NatGeo Kids

  • Their nesting sites can be found on beaches in 80 countries.
  • They migrate across long distances between feeding and nesting grounds.
  • Babies break out of their eggs using an "egg tooth".

May
Nudibranch

Anyone else think this looks like an Oreo? Photo from NatGeo Kids

  • Nudibranchs get their fabulous colouring from the food they eat.
  • They have a foot and slimy tail.
  • Some nudibranchs eat algae and use the energy they produce from photosynthesis. 

June
Manta Ray

Photo from Oceana
  •  Manta Rays have the biggest brains of any fish.
  • They can be identified by the spots on their bodies - each one has a unique pattern.
  • They have 300 teeth, but only filter feed. 

July
Anglerfish

Photo from Gizmodo
  • Their heads are disproportionately bigger than their body - gotta fit them teeth in somehow!
  • There are roughly 200 species of anglerfish, mostly found at deep depths. Though the odd one can be found in shallow, tropical waters.
  • They can hunt prey up to two times their size.

August
Japanese Spider Crab

Photo from Hayden's Animal Facts
  •  Females carry their eggs on their stomachs.
  • They decorate themselves to hide from predators such as octopuses.
  • They can live for 100 years.

September
Atlantic Pygmy Octopus

Photo from Sanibel Sea School
  •  Adults only weigh 1oz.
  • They can change their colour to camouflague and hide from their predators.
  • They are solitary creatures, prefering their own company to others.

October
Mola Mola

Photo from Everywhere Wild
  •  Mola Mola can dive up to 600m (2,000ft), where the ocean water can get very cool. They come up to the surface to sunbathe and warm up.
  • They breach the water up to 3m (10ft) to try shake off the parasites on their skin upon re-entry.
  • Their diet mainly consists of jellyfish.


November
Box Jellyfish

Photo from Earth Matters
  • They are so named "box" jellyfish due to their box-like shaped bell.
  • Box Jellyfish have a complex visual system with 24 eyes.
  • They immobilise their prey with their tentacle venom and draw them up to their mouths to digest them whole. The whole process takes about a minute.


We'll see you in January for the next Marine Creature of the Month!

Comments

  1. CaroleHeidi13 December 2018 at 15:21

    Nudibranchs are still my favourite ����

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Emily H.17 December 2018 at 07:16

      I think the Mola Mola is my favourite - they are just so odd. Nature is awesome.

      Delete

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