Archive for the MARINELIFE Category

"Chelonia mydas" Green Sea Turtles are Chelonians, which means they have 4 legs and a tough shell made of 2 parts which join at the sides. Chelonians also have strong horny mouths or beaks with no teeth. There are 3 types of Chelonians, Tortoises that live on land, Terrapins thatRead more →

"Enteroctopus dofleini"  The Giant Pacific Octopus which may grow to over 9 meters in length and weigh more than 45 kilograms. The Giant Pacific Octopus has a reddish-brown body called the mantle plus 4 pairs of arms, measuring on average about 4.9 meters long. The name Octopus came from the Greek okto (eight)Read more →

"Pteronura brasiliensis" The Giant Otter is the largest member of the otter species and is found in the lakes, rivers, creeks & swamps of South America. Adults can reach up to 6 feet in length and can weigh up to 76 pounds with males larger than females. TheRead more →

"Uca minar" Fiddler Crabs are named because of the extreme difference in the size of the claws of the male with the larger claw resembling a fiddle. All Fiddler Crabs are similar in shape, having a smooth carapace and a square-shaped body. The eyes are located atRead more →

"Dugong dugon" Dugongs range in length from 2.4-4 meters. Sexual dimorphism is either absent or females may slightly outsize males and can weigh over 270 kilograms. The word "Dugong" derives from the Tagalog term dugong which was in turn adopted from the Malay duyung, both meaning "lady of the sea". Other common localRead more →

"Sepia officinalis" The Cuttlefish reaches a maximum mantle length of 45 centimeters, although one individual has been recorded at 60 centimeters. Their mantle (the main body region above their eyes) houses their cuttlebone, reproductive organs and digestive organs. The 'cuttle' in 'cuttlefish' comes from the Old English word cudele, meaning 'cuttlefish', which may be cognateRead more →

"Octopus vulgaris" The Common Octopus reaches 24–36 inches in length. The name Octopus came from the Greek okto (eight) and pous (foot). The arms are lined with suckers. The skin is smooth and has special pigment cells that make it possible for the octopus to blend in with theRead more →

"Birgus latro" The Coconut Crab is a type of land crab with a spectacular appearance and intriguing biology. Able to grow to relatively gigantic proportions, the Coconut Crab is probably the largest terrestrial arthropod in the world. Charles Darwin described the Coconut Crab as “monstrous” when he encountered it onRead more →

"Chironex fleckeri" Right from the start, the proper scientific name for these animals is "Sea Jelly" not “Jellyfish”. They are invertebrates and not a fish nor do they have a backbone. The Box Sea Jelly commonly known as the "Sea Wasp", is the most dangerous of all sea jellies and consideredRead more →

"Hapalochlaena lunulata" The tiny Blue-ringed Octopus which ironically for their size, are the most deadly of all cephalopods. The common name comes from the bright-blue rings that appear when they are alarmed. The name Octopus came from the Greek okto (eight) and pous (foot). The Blue-ringed Octopus have small bodies 5 centimetersRead more →