Peanut worms, also known as Sipunculids are marine worms in that typically dwell in shallow waters. Sipuncula means “little tube” or “siphon” in Latin and refers to the introvert of peanut worms, a long sensitive tube ringed with tentacles which they can extend to collect food. Continue reading “147/150: Nutty Facts about the Peanut Worm!”
The Lion’s Mane jellyfish is the largest species of jellyfish in the world. The largest specimen was found in 1870 at Massachusetts Bay, United States with a bell diameter of 2.3 meters and tentacles reaching 37 meters, which is longer than the length of a blue whale! These magnificent creatures are known to like cold temperatures and live around northern hemisphere in the north Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans. Due to their large size, certain fish and shrimp species find protection and shelter from their predators by hiding around the jellyfish’s body. As for their diet, the lion’s mane jellyfish’s favourites are zooplankton, moon jellies and ctenophores. They live a pelagic lifestyle, roaming around open seas and often fall to prey to seabirds, ocean sunfish and other jellyfish species. In fact, the leatherback sea turtle feeds almost entirely on this species. Uhm, yum? #Canada150 #Biodiversity150
Here’s the barcode sequence information for this species:
Process ID: CCSMA230-10
Learn more about it’s BIN (Barcode Index Number): BOLD:AAF9673
Sea pens are colonial marine cnidarians found worldwide and normally at depths greater than 10 meters. Sea pens prefer deeper waters because they can avoid uprooting due to water turbulence. They live most of their lives in a sessile (immobile) state, however they can relocate and anchor themselves in more desirable areas where steadier streams of their food source, plankton, might be found. Continue reading “105/150: Sea pens – not your typical corals”
Basking sharks are known as the second biggest fish in the ocean reaching lengths of up to 10 metres and weighing almost 6 tonnes! But unlike its menacing cousins the basking shark is a gentle creature that feeds on small organisms such as plankton through filter-feeding. By using a thousand bristle-like structures on their gills and a mouth that can reach 1 metre in diameter they create a passive net and filtering system. Continue reading “93/150: What a big mouth!”
While you wouldn’t think birds would be able to exist in the ocean, the common feather star Florometra serratissima could very well be considered the bird of the sea! They are able to move around either by grasping terrain with their claw-like cirri or by swimming through the water with their feather-like arms. Continue reading “64/150: Birds of the Sea”
Now this species is set for the Olympics! The Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) – formerly known as Oldsquaw – sets the record for one of the deepest diving ducks (over 60 metres)! Whereas Olympic athletes perform impressive feats like these for medals, the Long-tailed Duck must dive to survive. Continue reading “63/150: The Ultimate Diving Champion”
