The aetobatus narinari, or more commonly known as the spotted eagle ray, is a member of the chordata phylum. (2) Being a part of the chordata phylum means they have unique characteristics such as: their notochord, a dorsal hollow nerve chord, pharyngeal slits, and a post anal tail. There are many reasons this animal is so intriguing, including its diversity and health, physiology, behaviour, and ecological challenges it faces. Spotted eagle rays are found throughout tropical warm waters in: the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Eastern Atlantic, Red Sea, South Africa, Hawaii, north of Japan, south of Australia, Eastern Pacific, Gulf of California, Peru, and the Galapagos Islands. (3) These creatures have been known to inhabit waters as far north …show more content…
(2) (6) They feed according to the tide. In high tide, they forge for food and socialize, in low tide they often rest in large groups in deeper waters. (2) Reproduction in spotted eagle rays are very unique; the eggs develop inside of the uterus, and hatch within the mother prior to emerging. Once the embryos are released from the egg, they are nourished by a yolk sac, rather than a placenta. (2) Multiple males chase the females during mating season, suggesting polygyny. An interesting trait of the spotted eagle rays is that they have been known to breech, to assist in giving birth, as pictured below (2). Spotted eagle rays are near threatened on the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species. This is due to the unregulated practice of in shore fishing, which is widely available (2). Certain areas of the world have taken measures to assure this animal does not become threatened. In Australia, Florida, and the Maldives the aetobatus narinari is protected (2). In places sure as Cuba and Mexico they are harvested as food; however, usually they are accidentally caught by fishers when targeting other species (5). The reason these sea creatures are so vulnerable is because they have an extremely low rate of reproduction, and a long gestation period
The barnacle species that ranges into the warmest waters is the Chthamalus barnacle. They tend to range farther in southern waters compared to the Semibalanus
T. californicus is found from Alaska to Baja in small, shallow tidepools and tidal flats in the upper spray zone where they cannot avoid the full effect of visible and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Individuals assemble in areas of lower radiation at midday, yet have no preference to the intensity of light at dawn and dusk (Hartline and Macmillan 1995). These tiny arthropods inhabit all types of marine sediments from sand to fine mud and ooze. Along with plankton, T. californicus eats microscopic algae, protists, bacteria, diatoms, algae and microbes (McGroarty 1958). When the concentrations of the species in their habitats are high, T. californicus will turn to cannibalism for a food source. The nautilus eye present in the species is rich with fatty acids and provides a good food source for the animal.
Rhetor’s since the days of Aristotle and Isocrates have been using their rhetorical situations to deliver messages with a sense of urgency and persuade others to see their point of view. In 1933, Luther Standing Bear published his book “Land of the Spotted Eagle”. In this book, he talks about the terrible conditions under which his people live and how it needs to change. He speaks specifically to this in the excerpt “What the Indian Means to America”. Here he is referencing the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. Standing Bear talks about how the European Americans caused these disasters and how the Native American could be the solution to these problems. He uses his rhetorical situation to try and convince the American government to listen
Known as Pterois Volitans in the animal kingdom, also called the red lionfish, is a sight to behold in the tropical waters as they swim like an underwater butterfly in the sea. In waters not native to their origin, as they are from the Pacific and have predators that will have them for a snack. Invasive to the Caribbean Sea they have rapidly reached the Gulf of Mexico and far south, spreading to parts of South America. The lionfish has become a persistent pest that’s more trouble than what it appears to be, attractive yet deceptive with a striking pattern of white and red stripes. In the New York Times article, A Call to Action… and Even Rodeos, scientists say that, “from 2005 onward, lionfish have become the most numerous nonnative invasive species in the world.” The average pound fish is one of nature’s clever creations, a venomous foe with spines and an infinite appetite that reproduce quickly. Invasive species are notorious because they have no or almost nonexistent natural predators and they are adapt to their new home very well. The biological adaptations of this fish has caused both ecological and economical mayhem, serious measures have been taken up to control their population as well as to protect our coral reefs.
The bald eagles can be found anywhere across the U.S and Canada. They can typically be found along rivers, coasts, lakes, in mountains, and in the open country. The availability of food in the area that the eagle is currently living in determines whether or not it will migrate during the winter months.
They don't breed until they are between six and eight years old, and the female lays only one egg every two years. If that egg is removed, however, she will lay a second or a third. With this in mind, scientists captured wild condors for captive breeding and also began to collect eggs for captive
The finch hybrids before the El Niño of 1983, two different species did not mate each other but during the child, a scandens mated with a fortis and produced four fledgings.
With hunters, weather changes, other sea creatures, and even being close to populated areas, Narwhals face greater chances of being harmed or killed. There are other factors like contaminants in the waters or the commercial fishi...
Lionfish have brown and white stripes covering their body (NOAA, 2011). Lionfish have broad pectoral fins, and long individual dorsal spines that contain the venom glands in the tips (NOAA, 2011). The venom of the lionfish is only intended as a defense mechanism and not meant to kill. The spines of the lionfish deliver a sting that can result in severe pain, respiratory distress, and even paralysis (NOAA, 2011). Lionfish are found in almost all tropical marine habitats consisting of warm waters due to their invasive behavior. Their native range covers a very large area from western Australia and Malaysia east to French Polynesia and off the east coast of Australia to the Kermadec Islands of New Zealand (NOAA, 2011). Lionfish have been found along the coast from Florida to North Carolina. The first lionfish was reported in South Florida waters in 1985 with additional sightings occurring until they were documented as established in the early 2000s (NOAA, 2011). Lionfish are very popular aquarium fish, especially in the U.S making them important to the aquarium trade. There are two possible ideas about how the lionfish were introduced into the Atlantic. The first is through ballast water, the water carried in the bellies of the enormous transport ships of intercontinental trade (Whitney, 2003). Larval lionfish have low oxygen and food needs which makes surviving movement in ballast water a possibility (Whitney, 2003). The second possibility is that a number of...
Scorpaenidae are mostly marine fish,very few found in fresh and brackish water. The family have around around 45 different genera and 380 different species. They are mostly found in the India Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Most of them lives in coral, tropical reefs and shallow waters, warmer areas. Not all of the family fish lives in the shallow water, small portion of the Scorpaenidae live deep as around 7,000 feet. Just like most of the coral reef fish are, Scorpaenidae have camouflaged body. Their characteristic reflects their name, they have sharp spine that can sting other organisms. Their spine are covered with venomous mucus just like how some other kind of fish are covered with the venomous mucus. Their body are covered with scales. Generally speaking, the Scorpaenidae family fish have different number of spines over the course of the body. Most known type pf Scorpaenidae are lionfish and scorpionfish. Lionfish have preorbital bone with 3 spines, spines and third below the diagonal; , big mouth, end position, oblique fissure. Mandible, vomer and jaw bone with villiform teeth group. Gill openings are wide, tetrabranchiate membranes without the isthmus, pre-opercular margin with 5 spines. Body are ctenoid scales, round head. On the side, there are about eight to nine dorsal fin, fin spines and rays of an anal fin; five to six pectoral fins, they are large, round, and are branched from the upper fin rays. There are about one to five pelvic, sub thoracic; caudal fin rounded truncate. Reef stonefish are extremely camouflaged, they could look exactly like a rock when hiding for predation. The spines of Scorpaenidae are hard and rough, some of their fin spines have poison, can cause serious pain, swells and fatal wounds. Some of ...
Reproduction: The Redfin pickerel spawns in the early spring as water temperature approach 50°F. Spawning occurs in shallow water when the female deposits her eggs in vegetated areas where they are fertilized and left unattended. A large female may deposit as many as 4,000 eggs at one time. Some fish as small as 5 inches may release no more than 400 eggs. They become sexually mature by at least age two. No parental care is given to the eggs.
Rubenstein, D.I., and Hazlett, B.A. (1974) Examination of the Agonistic Behaviour of the Crayfish Orconectes virilis by Character Analysis. Behaviour. 50:193-216.
Female loggerheads generally reproduce between the ages of 17 and 33 after which they can travel thousands of miles to reach what is called their natal beach, the beach where they hatched, to lay their own eggs. The mother will create a nest every 12-17 days using her back legs to dig a deep hole in the sand. These holes tend to be about 3 feet deep. Then she will proceed to lay on average between 100 and 130 eggs, after w...
The overfishing for shark fins has decimated certain species and endangered other species of sharks. Sharks have existed for thousands of years. Scientists have proved that ancestors of today’s shark species existed during the age of the dinosaurs. Sharks have resisted extinction for so long because of natural selection, but since the new delicacy of shark fin soup has become popular in mostly Asian countries they might not resist extinction for much longer. Sharks are extremely vulnerable creatures, despite their frightening amount of teeth. While it takes humans on average thirteen years to reach sexual maturity, it takes sharks up to 20 years and they produce very few offs...
Since salmon do not feed once they leave the ocean, some will die on the way because they lack enough stored body fat to make the trip. Many will be caught in fishermen's nets. Those that evade the nets may have to swim through polluted waters near cities. Many must make their way over power dams, leaping up from one tiny pool to the next along cement stairstep cascades called fish ladders. In the tributary streams, waterfalls and rapids are steep and swift enough to eliminate all but the strongest. Otters, eagles, and bears stalk the salmon in shallow riffles. Once on the spawning grounds, the fish battle each other: females against females for places to nest, males against males for available females.