Landlocked Mermaid

December is a time to look back and reflect on the year. So, I am taking the opportunity to look back on all the critters featured on #MCotM this year! February: Giant Clam They live in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, found in tropical waters and reefs like the Great Barrier Reef. They like warm waters, no deeper than 20m (66ft), so it is nice and light for them. This is because they have a symbiotic relationship with algae, who rely on photosynthesis for food. Giant clams are the biggest species of clam, growing up to 120cm (47") and weighing up to 200kg (440lbs). It is believed they can live up to 100 years. They are, unfortunately, being hunted to extinction by humans - for profit and food. It is the only species of clam which cannot completely close its shell. March: Nautilus The nautilus is a type of cephalopod, which is the same family as squid and octopus. They have been around since there were dinosaurs on the planet, making them something of a ...

MARINE CREATURE OF THE MONTH Photo from CNRS News Common Clownfish (*cough* actually an anemonefish/false clownfish - it's confusing *cough*) Kingdom: Animalia Class: Actinopterygii Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC) Thanks to a certain little, animated fish everyone knows what a clownfish is. They are the cute orange and white fish who live in anenan... anememon... Ok, don't hurt yourself kid . I kid, anemones. The common clownfish, which Nemo is based on, is one of thirty species of clownfish or anemonefish, as they are also known. But I am going to look at the common clownfish. WHERE ARE THEY FOUND? These little, orange cuties are primarily found in the Eastern Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific Ocean. They can be found in areas around Australia and Southeast Asia too. They live among the reef slopes or sheltered lagoons. These waters tend to be shallow and warm, usually going no deeper than 15m (49ft). And, of course, they set up...

Final Friday Top Five Fish I'd Like To See When Diving 5. Nudibranch Photo from Natural History Museum I almost feel like this answer is cheating, because I have seen nudibranchs while diving. I think. But I saw one type. A little brown blob which in the coming tide could have been flora or fauna, we didn't stay still long enough to really tell. There are over 3,000 types of nudibranch, so I would like to see more than just one "maybe" brown one.  4. Basking Sharks Photo from The Times Originally, I wasn't going to include sharks or big things on this list because we all know I want to see all the sharks. Even the terrifying goblin shark. But basking sharks swim in my waters which means I have an increased chance of seeing them - especially in comparison to goblin sharks which live in all the deep trenches. Basking sharks have a migration path which runs along the Welsh coast and these gentle giants are beautiful. They are a ...