Of the many fish of the sea, none is more interesting and unique than the seahorse. Seahorses are truly one of a kind in more ways than one. They can be found in temperate and tropical bodies of water throughout the world. With a tail similar to that of a monkey, fins that rememble those of a fish and a head that resemble a horse this animal is extraordinary. Along with those characteristics seahorses are known mostly for their odd method of conception and pregnancy. Seahorses are monogamous and one of the only species where the male is the one to become pregnant.
The incredible fish are classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Osteichthyes, order Gasterosteiformes, family Syngnathidae, and the genus Hippocampus (Michael, 1999). Seahorses belong to the Syngnathidae, a teleost family whose oldest fossils date back to the Eocene (Ahnesjö & Craig, 2011). The family also includes the pygmy pipehorses (grouped with seahorses in the subfamily Hippocampinae), pipehorses and sea- dragons (Solegnathinae), flag-tail pipefishes (Doryrhamphinae), and pipefishes (Ahnesjö & Craig, 2011). The genus name Hippocampus comes from two Greek words; hippos meaning horse and campus meaning monster. There are collectively 35 species of seahorses but only 3 have been observed.
The three species that have been observed in the Atlantic Ocean are the Hippocampus erectus (The Lined Seahorse), Hippocampus zosterae (The Dwarf Seahorse), and the Hippocampus reidi (The Longsnout Seahorse). The Hippocampus erectus is one of two species native to the Florida Keys and the Bahamas. It comes in multiple colors, olive-brown, yellow, or orange, and has large pale blotches and dark lines that run down the length of its back. Some have large ...
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Seahorses have proven to be amazing animals with a plethora of characteristics that make them truly one of a kind. Seeing one in the wild is rare and they are becoming harder and harder to find due to increasing demand by humans and destruction of they’re habitats.
Amanda Vincent and Project Seahorse have introduced new sustainable methods. Fishermen out of nets build the grow-out cages and the seahorses that are caught are placed in the cages for five months, in which time they grow and reproduce. When the male releases the young they escape through the nets and repopulate wild regions. Teaching fishermen to spare the male seahorses, at least until they have given birth, ensures that future generations have a chance of survival. The only hope we have to saving these beauties is to decrease human intrusion and stopping the destruction of their habitats.
The Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus and species for the Bull Shark are as follows: Animalia, Chordata, Chondrichthyes, Carcharhiniformes, Carcharhinidae leucas (Simpfender & Burgess). The taxonomy of every living thing is different, so the classification of the Bull Shark is the one way worldwide to know exactly what animal is being referred to because one animal may have many different common names. Carcharhinus leucas is referred to by many different common names around the world for example the spanish it Tiburon Sarda, the french call it Requin Bouledogue, in Africa they refer to it as Van Rooyen's Shark, in Australia it is referred to as the Swan River Whaler, and that is only a few of the Bull Sharks many common names (Curtis).
The Sea Shepherds are group of volunteers who try to protect the sea animals, and capture criminals who kill the animals without permits. Their website has many purposes, one dedicate to collect donations from the reader. Furthermore, they want to protect the ocean wildlife. The website audience includes people who want to protect the ocean, and they want to save the sea animals which will likely be extinct. They offer the audience a chance to donate, volunteer, and stay up to date with ongoing issues involving marine life. This website is outstanding because the sea shepherds host a successful website that effectively reaches out to the audience through appealing to the reader's emotions, logic, and credibility.
Although the Hippocampus spp. are placed into the same class as other organisms more traditionally viewed as fish, their morphology bears distinct differences in comparison to other bony fish. The various species belonging under the genus Hippocampus range in maximum size from 20 mm to 300 mm(Foster 8). Their physical appearance is distinct from other members of its class due to their "horse-like head, monkey-like tail, and kangaroo-like pouch."( Lourie et al 12) Morphologically, seahorses do not have scales like traditional fish, but rather posses bony plates covered by skin. The appearance of bony extrusions and skin ...
Aquariums are a great place to learn about the ocean and its habitats. From the bottom of the food webs to the preservations of the environments within, aquariums give people of all ages a hands-on experience and first-look at the mysteries of the ocean. Both the coral reef and the deep sea, though not well known among the general public, is presented in a way that sparks interest, showing the biodiversity in the waters below.
In 2000, Dr. Philip D. Gingerich, a paleontologist from the University of Michigan, and his associates discovered two primitive whale fossils in the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. By dating the limestone located in the Habib Rahi Formation of the Balochistan Province, Gingerich estimated these fossils to be about 47 million years old. According to author David Braun of National Geographic News, “The researchers have classified one, Rodhocetus balochistanensis, as a new species of an existing genus, and the other, Artiocetus clavis, as a new species and new genus” (Braun, 5). The discovery of these two fossils suggests that the closest living relative of these primitive whales could possibly be the modern day hippopotamus. This suggested relationship is based on similarities in the bone structure between the two animals.
Whales are considered to be intelligent mammals, but they live in the water despite the fact that mammals evolved on land. Paleontologist Phil Gingerich has been studying the evolution of whales since 1978. In 1978, he and his team discovered a rock in Pakistan with a skull on the inside. The skull appeared to be a wolf-like animal upon first sight, but Gingerich noticed the distinct whale ear on the skull. The skull, which had characteristics of both whales and other mammals, was that of a common ancestor of the whale known as Pakicetus. Many scientists believe that Pakicetus resembled the seal in its appearance. Pakicetus could not be considered a whale, since its backbone and limbs do not have similar features to those of a whale. Therefore, it is considered an ancestor of the whale, since it has some features of the whale and some unique features (or features of other mammals). Today’s whales have mammalian characteristics, which prove that they have evolved from a common ancestor of the mammal. A whale’s fin also has traits that are common of many species. The fin seems to be similar to that of a fish, but the bones on the inside of the fin are similar to those on a bird’s wing, a monkey’s arm, and a frog’s limb. This seems to be proof that these organisms, and many others, all evolved from a common ancestor. Other proof that whales have evolved over time lies in Egypt in the Valley of Whales, where over 400 fossils of whales currently lie. The desert used to be a large sea that was home to a few kinds of whales. In the Valley of Whales, Gingerich discovered the Basilosaurus, which had small hind legs, toes, and a mobile knee and lived 35-41 million years ago. This fossil is considered to be a transitional fossil, since it ha...
The common most popular types of dolphins are; the common dolphin and the Dall’s porpoise dolphin. The two might be so much similar for one to spot a difference easily. This essay highlights the difference between the two species based on the morphological structures. The difference in the common dolphin
The Narwhal is in the kingdom Animalia and in the phylum Chordata, which means that it is an animal that has a backbone. The Narwhal is in the class mammalia meaning that it is a mammal, giving live birth and nursing its young. The order that the Narwhal is put into is the order Cetacea, a group of mammals that includes only whales, dolphins, and porpoises. The Narwhal belongs to the family Monodontidae, which is the family that consists of two groups of white whales, the Beluga whale and the Narwhal. The actual species name of the Narwhal is Monodon monoceros. The name Monodon literally means “one tooth” and monoceros translated to “one horn” (Narwhal, 2011).
Jefferson, T. A, M. A. Webber, and R. L. Pitman. (2008). Marine Mammals of the World, A Comprehensive Guide to their Identification. Amsterdam, Elsevier. p. 241-244.
In the science realm, horses are classified as animals in the opisthokont category of the unikont clade. Horses are mammals. They are non-ruminant herbivores or hind-gut fermenters; this means that “Their main and often exclusive source of food is plants” (Huntington).
It's been an interesting last.. Hmm? 40 years I would say, for the Sea Otter. Sea otters, are a
Lotze, Heike K., Marta Coll, Anna M. Magera, Christine Ward-Paige, and Laura Airoldi. "Recovery of Marine Animal Populations and Ecosystems." Trends in Ecology & Evolution 26.11 (2011): 595-605. Print.
The common hippo has toes that can easily move around in water and on land! Each of their feet has four hoofed toes that have webbed feet. Those webbed feet between each toe can use for simple movements in the water. With this animal it can be able to move around and ease through land and water. Adult hippos can hold their breath underwater up to 6 minutes. They also have a large head but very short legs. They have small ears but very huge teeth. Did you know that the nostrils that they use for breathing are located at the top of the head? Wow who knew that?
Studying the evolutionary history and adaption for this species is difficult and an ongoing struggle for scientists. It is classified in the order of Chondrichthyes suborder Elasmobranchii and family of Rhincodontidea. The difficulty in tracing this species evolutionary history stems from the fact that its ancestry dates back 245 million year ago to the Jurassic and Cretaceous