This is a juvenile red lionfish(Pterois volitans). As it matures, those conspicuous pectoral fin spots will disappear, and it will develop the striking brownish-red stripes characteristic of its adult form.
While originally found in the Indo-Pacific region, P.volitans has become an invasive species in the Northwestern Atlantic and the Caribbean, possibly through introduction as released exotic pets.
Their pelagic larval phase (not shown here) has certainly helped their invasive cause. As tiny larvae, they ride the currents, allowing them to disperse and establish populations throughout their new ‘home’.
As invaders, they have the potential to upset the balance of local reef ecosystems, affect fisheries production, and threaten human health (since, being members of the Scorpaenidae family, they are venomous).
Unlike other marine newborns that are left to fend for themselves right after birth, baby humpback whales(Megaptera novaeangliae)—called ‘calves’ (singular: 'calf’)—receive a great deal of parental care and attention.
Humpback whale breeding and calving season coincide. So, while the other adult whales are doing their thing in the deeper parts of the ocean, mother humpbacks responsibly guide their calves to shallower and calmer waters, away from all the…fornicating.
Shallower waters offer the young whale protection from predators (like sharks and killer whales), minimize energy expenditure, prevent disturbance from other humpbacks, and make it easier for mother to keep watch.
Moving to the shallows also keeps momma away from all those horny male whales, who can be pretty damn persistent during the breeding season.
These angelic images are of baby eels, also known as leptocephali. Figures A and F show moray eel leptocephali. Don’t they look just like mommy?
Leptocephali are almost totally see-through. They have colorless blood, and their bodies are composed mostly of a transparent, gelatinous material that serves as both energy storage and structural support (since they’re just so damn frail).
Despite their fragile appearance, leptocephali are actually pretty good swimmers. They exhibit the highly efficient anguilliform swimming style, suited for long-term, slow swimming.
Depending on the species, eels may remain in this larval stage for as long as 250 days, before undergoing metamorphosis.
After metamorphosis, they grow into juveniles, then into the fully-mature adult eels we know and love. *tear*
No, this is not concept art from HR Giger, creator of the xenomorphs(those iconic, phallic-headed terrors from the beloved Alien movie franchise).
This is an actual radiogram of a moray eel, showing the creature’s pharyngeal jaws—a second set of jaws inside the eel’s throat.
The eel uses its pharyngeal jaws for food transport. After the eel gets a hold of prey with its oral jaws, it latches onto the prey again with its pharyngeal jaws. The eel then extends its oral jaws forward, while simultaneously retracting its pharyngeal jaws, dragging the prey down its esophagus.
Some species of moray eel (such as this undulated moray, Gymnothorax undulatus) have evolved a resistance to the venom of one of the deadliest creatures in the sea, the banded sea krait.
These morays can withstand doses of sea krait venom that would slay lesser creatures (and men).
Morays can inflict grievous wounds on sea kraits, and large eels have been known to actually prey on the snakes—a case of the hunter becoming the hunted.
Firstair-breather featured on the blog…and she’s a beauty!
The venom of the banded sea krait (Laticauda colubrina) has hemotoxic, myotoxic, and neurotoxic properties.
In simpler terms: it ravages red blood cells,destroys muscle tissue, and wrecks nerves.
The effects? Muscle pain, weakness, difficulty moving, and immobility. Paralysis may also set in, beginning with symptoms such as drooping eyelids, lockjaw, and slurred speech, before progressing into breathing difficulty, seizures, or coma. Death results from ventilatory failure.
Unfortunately, the diagnosis of sea snake bites is often delayed. Symptoms may appear hours after the bite, and the bite itself can often be missed due to the snake’s tiny fangs (and the tiny puncture wounds it makes).
First aid treatment involves pressure immobilization and placing the bitten area in a dependent position (*cough* below the heart). However, sea snake anti-venom does exist, and must be administered ASAP. Watching out for potential respiratory failure in bite victims would be good too.
The venom of some species of cone snail (Conus spp) is made up of over a hundred unique toxins that target ion channels and can result in the rapid paralysis of prey.
This deadly cocktail is delivered via a harpoon(the second image) concealed in the snail’s proboscis (the long, finger-like thing you see in the clip above).
Human envenomation can result in severe pain, discoloration of the affected area, swelling, and numbness. Nausea, muscle weakness, blurred vision, and paralysis may also occur.
Severe cases can result in respiratory failure, cardiovascular collapse, and death within two hours.
As with its fellow mollusk, the blue-ringed octopus, first aid for cone snail envenomation involves pressure immobilization on the affected area. Further treatment is supportive, since no anti-venom for cone snail venom exists.
Spring has sprung here in Seattle and my shop is feeling this burst of new energy! This April my shop will have tons of new items added, both digital and physical. Today I have added 3 new postcards and two stickers (or should I say six stickers…) to my shop. Stay tuned to see what other fun items will be added! As always, the link to my Etsy shop can be found in my bio and I hope you all a wonderful spring
Interested in fun ocean themed fabric? I’ve slowly been building my Spoonflower shop and there are now 22 designs available to buy and more on their way!
The ‘upside-down’ jellyfish (Cassiopea sp.) thrives in near-shore marine habitats. It is commonly found on seagrass beds or in mangrove forests, resting its exumbrella against the sediment - exposing its oral arms to the sunlight. Why this fellow is sunbathing all the time? Its oral arms carry symbiotic zooxanthellae, dinoflagellates (marine algae) of the genus Symbiodiniumthat assimilate carbon and nitrogen for this gelatinous friend.
