All Types Fish
Baiji Dolphin
Introduction
"Baiji" the dolphin and once regarded as "the Goddess of the Yangtze" is added in the new episodes of "the story of extinction of animals", and many more are getting written day by day. More new names are getting added to the list. Moreover, one day many of the names of the animals will remain only in storybooks. There will be a long list, which the coming generations will read and see them in books only. The "Institute for Hydrobiology Wuhan" and the Swiss-based Baiji organization Foundation have functionally declared these beautiful river dolphins as extinct. Scientists from six different nations failed to find even a single Baiji dolphin in the Yangtze River during their expedition of six-week. Moreover, the loss is not only for China but also for the entire world that lost such a beautiful fish from this planet.
"Baiji" the dolphin and once regarded as "the Goddess of the Yangtze" is added in the new episodes of "the story of extinction of animals", and many more are getting written day by day. More new names are getting added to the list. Moreover, one day many of the names of the animals will remain only in storybooks. There will be a long list, which the coming generations will read and see them in books only. The "Institute for Hydrobiology Wuhan" and the Swiss-based Baiji organization Foundation have functionally declared these beautiful river dolphins as extinct. Scientists from six different nations failed to find even a single Baiji dolphin in the Yangtze River during their expedition of six-week. Moreover, the loss is not only for China but also for the entire world that lost such a beautiful fish from this planet.
Baiji dolphin's facts
The Baiji (Lipotes vexillifer) is a river dolphin found in the rivers of
China. It is a member of the Cetacean family, which comprises of all
dolphins, sea whales,
and porpoises. As the record of fossil suggests, dolphin appeared 25
million years ago. They migrated to the Yangtze River from the Pacific Ocean, around 20 million years ago. It likes to live in fresh water.
It is grey and can grow up to a height of 8 feet. The Baiji dolphin has
flexible neck, tiny eyes and a long narrow snout for probing the
riverbeds for hidden deep sea fish.
It is of colors like blue and light gray and there is white-collar
drawn around eyes. They are of medium-sized. The male weigh around 500
pounds and the female weigh around 350 pounds. Moreover, they have 31 to
36 cone-shaped teeth on each jaw. It is thought that they breed in the
first half of the year, from February to April. Males reached sexual
maturity at the age of four and females at the age of six.
Causes of extinction
There are many reasons as to why theses peculiar sea animals got extinct. The reasons for their extinction as suggested by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) are the following :
- They became victim of propeller strikes of the boats and ships.
- Pollution in the river.
- Hunting by the human being for its flesh and skin.
- The illegal practice of electric fishing.
- Habitat loss. The baiji dolphins have been functionally declared extinct last year. Moreover, if few might be remaining, then there is very less chance that they may get their partner for mating. It means that they are on the drive of extinction.
Conclusion According to the IUCN's report out of four, the three species of fresh water dolphins are in the Red List of Threatened Species. In order to save these species Baiji Organization launched a series of project with the help of Ocean Park Foundation Hong Kong. China and the whole world is going to lose the entire dolphin family. The whole humankind will have to understand this critical situation and take the full responsibility in the role as guardians of this planet.
About White beaked dolphin : The White Beaked dolphin, its scientific name is Lagenorhynchus albirostris. It is a beautiful creature on Earth. It has a very powerful tail and fin, which gives them abundance of energy, speed and power in swimming.
Physical description : The white-beaked dolphin can grow up to 3.2 meters and is very sturdy and plumy looking. The body is mostly black or grey with a pale saddle behind the dorsal fin and there are white bands on the flanks. Their belly is white and though they are called as the white-beaked dolphin but the beak is sometimes grey or even darker. The dorsal fin is prominently visible and is placed mid-way down the body. The pectoral fins are small and wide.
Distribution :
This species are usually in the temperate and sub-arctic waters of the
North Atlantic. It is common for the Norwegian coast and the North Sea
and it is often found in the Baltic Ocean.
They are less found in the Northwest of Atlantic but there are abundant
populations in Labrador and they are also found far in South.
Behavior :
White-beaked dolphins are always seen in groups of 10 to 50 and
sometimes in schools of several hundred. They are very fond by boats and
often go for bow rides. They have a very flexible and acrobatic body
and therefore they perform rooster tail splash when they are swimming
fast.
White-beaked dolphins are always seen in mixed groups of white-sided dolphins and they sometimes also associate themselves with feeding fin whales and humpback whales. They are not well habituated to ice formation and therefore they often get trapped in groups by new ice.
White-beaked dolphins are always seen in mixed groups of white-sided dolphins and they sometimes also associate themselves with feeding fin whales and humpback whales. They are not well habituated to ice formation and therefore they often get trapped in groups by new ice.
Breeding :
The sexual maturity age for the white-beaked dolphin is still not known
but the females become mature when they grow up to 2.4 meters and males
grow up to 2.5 meters. Mating usually takes place in the summer between
June and October and gestation is about eleven to twelve months so that
calving generally occurs in the early summer.
Feeding :
In Canada, the white-beaked dolphins are known as "squid-hounds", but they also eat a wide range of small fish, such as cod, whiting and haddock. They are also known to eat mollusks, crustaceans, and octopus.
Current situation :
Though they are not commercially hunted, but sometimes these dolphins
are killed by hunters and fishermen in Labrador, Greenland and in many
regions. The white-beaked dolphin is usually found in patches so it
becomes difficult to estimate the total population but it is estimated
that there may be a hundred to thousand individuals. There has been
recorded decrease in numbers of populations in the Northwest Atlantic
but there is an increase in the populations of this White beaked dolphin
in Europe.
Quick Key Facts about White beaked dolphin :
- Size: Up to 3.1metres, female dolphins are usually smaller than males.
- Range: In Cool waters of North Atlantic Ocean.
- Threats::Caught in trawling nets by fisher man, pollution caused by humans, caught by new ice.
- Diet: Fish such as cod and whiting, squid and octopus
About Spotted Dolphin
Spotted Dolphins (Stenella attenuate) vary in size and color according to their geographic location. There are two species under this; they are the pantropical spotted dolphin, Stella attenuate and the Atlantic species, Stenella frontalis. Their body is covered with spots and these spots get darker as they grow older. They have excellent vision and they can swim up to 30 miles/hr, and can jump up to 30 feet. They are mammals, even though they live in water. They are very social and playful in nature. They have a life span of around 40 years. They make whistling sound to communicate with each other and can hold their breath for (3-5) minutes.
Spotted Dolphin Habitat and Behavior
These spotted dolphins have (35 to 48) small conical teeth on the sides of upper jaw and (34-47) conical teeth on the sides of lower jaw. Their color varies according to the age. They have a long and curved dorsal fin and their flippers are small and pointed. They grow up to a length of 7 feet and weigh up to 100 kg on average. They feed on the various types of fish and squid, which are found on the surface of water. They are founding the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. They are found in tropical warm waters. They are found to be very social in their behavior. The pantropical spotted dolphin are often seen with the group of other dolphin species.
Reproduction and Breeding
These spotted dolphins acquire maturity at the age of (6 to 8) years or when it reaches at the length of 6.5 feet. The gestation period is eleven and half months and the calves are nurtured for around eleven months.
Spotted Dolphin Colors
These dolphins have a characteristic that their color varies on the basis of age, location and the individual. Thus, the color variations are as follows:
- The calves of these species are dark grey and have a white belly. They do not have spots on their body.
- They have dark color on top and light on their belly.
- In the adolescent phase, dark spots begin to appear on their lower part of their body, while light spots appear on the upper portion of their body.
- Finally, they get pink shading on the forward part of their belly.
- It has a black beak and the tip of the beak is white.
- They have finger bones inside their pectoral fins
- They reach sexual maturity at the age between (12 to 14) years
- Their calves are around 30 inches long
The three families of the dolphin are in the IUCN red list of endangered species. These are because a huge number of these species have been killed due to the irresponsible behavior of the human being. Around 4,000,000 dolphins died in the process of tuna fishery from 1959 to 1978. Apart from these a lot of dolphins are killed for their oil, skin and flesh.
Bottlenose Dolphins belong to the Delphinidae family of dolphins. These are small whales and belong to the group of dolphins known as toothed whales. These have well adapted themselves to the marine environment but still they come to the surface to breathe. For the breathing purpose they have blowhole on top of their heads.
Description
These species are named as bottlenose dolphin because they have a short and rounded snout, which resembles to a bottle. Their neck is more flexible compared to the other oceanic dolphins. They have about (18 to 26) pairs of sharp and conical teeth, which is present on each side of its jaw. These dolphins vary in their color but are usually of light gray to slate gray. Moreover, they have pinkish gray color on their belly. The flippers of these species are pointed and are of moderate length. These dolphins can grow up to a size of (8 to 12) feet in length and weigh up to 650 kg. The males are found to be larger than the females. These species can travel up to a speed of about 35 km/hr.
Habitat
These dolphins are found mainly in the tropical and temperate waters of the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean. They can be also seen in the shallow and warm inshore waters of Red Sea and Indian Ocean. These species like to live in rivers, lagoons and in bays. These dolphins are very active in their behavior and can be seen chasing, making noises and touching each other in their group. They can also be seen slapping their tail or leaping out of the water.
What do Bottlenose Dolphins Eat
These sea creatures are known to eat about 15 kilograms of food everyday and their food consists of squid, octopuses, shrimps, eels, squid and a variety of fishes. They are known to hunt in a group and attack on the herds of small fishes. Sometimes they slide out of the water in order to catch their prey. Moreover, they dive up to a depth of around 600 meters to catch their prey. They make whistling and clicking sounds, which help them to sense their prey or enemy up to the distance of 600 meters.
Breeding / Reproduction
The females of these species reach sexual maturity at the age of (5 to 10) years, whereas the females reach sexual maturity at the age of about 10 years. The gestation period in these species is around 12 months. These species mate all year round. The females have a calf in every (2 to 3) year. After their birth, the calf suckle the milk of their mother for about 18 months. The calf remains with their mother for about six years of age.
Conservation
Bottlenose Dolphins are not in the endangered list of extinction as they are able to adapt themselves in different abrupt conditions. But their population has decreased due to pollution and climate changes. In the U.S. the hunting of these species is illegal and these species are in the list of protected species.
Black dolphin (Cephalorhynchus eutropia), also known as the Chilean dolphin, belong to the family of Delphinidae. They are found in coastal areas and freshwater estuaries surrounding Chile. These creatures are small cetaceans, which has a stocky body shape and blunt beakless head. They grow up to a size of 1.7 meter in length and weigh up to 60 kg. Their flippers and dorsal fin are rounded in shape. Their dorsal fin is low and triangular with a leading edge. Some of them are known to have serrations, which occur along the edge of their flippers. The dorsal fin is about (10 to 15) cm long. These species are grey and have light color variation on their ventral fin. Moreover, white markings can be seen on their throat, lips, forehead and behind each flipper. The female of these species is quite larger than the males. Chilean dolphins have a stout, which is in the shape of a torpedo. They have about (24 to31) teeth on each side of their jaw. These dolphins are known as black dolphin because their pectoral fins, dorsal fins and head all are of black colors.
Habitat
These dolphins are found in the shallow, cold and coastal waters of South America. They can be seen in Cape Horn, Beagle Channel, Isla Navarino and Argentina. These species are schooling fish and they are also found in the small groups of (2 to 10) individuals or bigger groups of (20 to 50) individuals. These creatures are abundantly found in Valdivia, near Chiloe and Gulf of Arauco. These dolphins like to live in shallow waters, which have strong current and they enter rivers and estuaries. These species are shy in nature and use echolocation to communicate and catch their prey. They are generally found in channels, bays and open coasts.
Diet
These species feed on squid, sardines and small fishes. These dolphins also feed on the newly hatched salmon. They are also known to feed on green algae.
Reproduction / Breeding
These species reach sexual maturity at the age of (5 to 9) years. They are known to mate in the early winter, while they give birth to their young one in the spring. The scientists do not yet know the complete information about these species. However, it has been estimated that the young ones remain with their parents for long time and during this time they learn some complex behaviors such as firaging, navigation and social behaviors. These species have a life span of about 20 years.
Threat and Conservation
Black dolphins are caught accidentally in fishing and bait nets, and this is the biggest threat to this species. They are also caught for the bait of the crabs or may be consumed by the humans. These Chilean dolphins are fast and agile swimmers. There are no such recorded predators of these dolphins, but may fall victim to the killer whales. The hunting and trade of these species have been banned in Chile to maintain its population.
Hector's dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori), is one of the rarest and smallest dolphins of the world. These species look like a torpedo and lack a beak. They have large flukes and rounded dorsal fin, which has convex trailing edge. These dolphins can move very quickly in the water because they slope down their nose, which helps them to acquire speed. These dolphins can grow up to a size of about (119 to 145) cm. The males and females of these species are normally similar but the females seem to be quite longer than the males. They are of grey, white, black and brown and have white and black markings. Their belly is white and the body consists of any of the other mentioned color. Males of these species have an oval dark grey patch, whereas the female has either a finger-like grey mark along the side, or they remain completely off-white. The new-born calves also look similar to the adults but they have pale lines on the darker areas. Also, a yellowish tint can be seen underside.
Habitat and Behavior
These dolphins like to live in the muddy as well as shallow water. They are inhabitants of coastal waters and shallow bays. These species like to live in the water of temperature of about (6.3 to 22) degree Celsius. They are found along the shallow water of the New Zealand Coast. The shore of New Zealand is the only place where you can find these species. These sea animals like to live in shallow water and they do not enter in deep water. Less than 4000 of these species are remaining at present. They are social creatures and are often found in groups. These creatures have small groups and they are not seen alone. These species are very playful and curious by nature.
Diet
These species feed towards the bottom and their favorite food consists of sea crabs, flounder, squid, cod and fish. They are night hunters and they use their sonar vibrations to catch or track the prey. Apart from fish, they sometimes also feed on crustaceans.
Breeding / Reproduction
The mating season of these species is late spring. They get matured at the age of about 8 years. The gestation period in these species is about one year. The mother remains for the newly born calves for about 3 years. The young ones feed on their mother's milk for about one year, then after one year the mother teaches them to hunt. The birth rate is quite low in these species and they do not mate if they do not have sufficient food or their natural environment. These species have a life span of about 18 years.
Conservation
Hector's dolphins have been in the endangered list since 1999. The killing or intentional harming to these species has been illegal. These species are decreasing due to their habitat loss, pollution and injuries from the boat. Many of them die because of eating plastic bags. Therefore, one needs to take care of this serious problem.
Spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris), are small dolphins which belong to the family of Delphinidae. These species grow up to a size of 1.8 m in length and weigh up to 75 kilograms on average, whereas their maximum size can be up to 2.1 meter and weigh up to 95 kg. These species vary in their shape, size and color according to the geographical location. They have slender body with a long and thin beak, which is black on the upper part and white beneath. Their flippers are generally small and pointed at their tip. These dolphins are of light grey or dark grey with white belly.
Distribution and Habitat
These species occur in tropical and sub-tropical oceans. The largest populations of spinner dolphins are found between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer and mainly found in the waters of Hawaii. These creatures are found in the groups of hundreds and thousand in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. They live in the deep ocean where they track prey. These species rest in bays and other protected areas during the day time. At night they move in groups to feed on squids and fish.
Diet
These dolphins are carnivorous in nature and feed mainly on squids, shrimps and different mesopelagic fish. They dive up to a depth of around 300 meters to catch their prey. These creatures are also known to feed on reef fishes and other organisms. Their sharp and pointed teeth, which are about (45 to 65) in numbers, are present on each side of upper and lower jaws. They are known to feed mainly at night.
Breeding / Reproduction
The females of these species reach sexual maturity at the age of about (4 to 7) years, whereas the males reach sexual maturity at the age of about (7 to 10) years. The mating in these species takes all year round and the gestation period is about 12 months. One female may mate with the multiple males. They give birth to calves at the interval of (2 to 3) years. At the time of giving birth to the calves the female comes to the surface and as soon as the calf is born the mother takes it to the surface, so that it could take its first breath. The calf remains with its mother up to the age of about (3 to 8) years.
Conservation
These spinner dolphins have suffered a huge population loss as they are entangled in the nets of tuna fishermen. The fishermen tried to catch these dolphins on a large basis due to which it decreased their number. In the eastern tropical Pacific region, the population of these species has decreased up to 80 %. The population of these species has come down from 2 million to 40,000. Now, these fishes are being conserved in captivity as well. These dolphins are displayed in Hong Kong, U.S., Philippines and Indonesia. All species of dolphin are protected under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).
Clymene Dolphin (Stenella clymene), belong to the Delphinidae family. These dolphins are very much similar to the Spinner Dolphins. These are small dolphins, which have a beak of medium length and their dorsal fin is triangular. The males of these species are found to be larger and heavier than the females. Their beaks have dark grey lines and their belly is white. They have a black marking on their beak, which resembles to the moustache and this differentiates these species from the spinner dolphin. These dolphins grow up to a size of 1.8 meters in length on an average. They have a short beak, a dark cape and a white belly. Their dorsal fin is grey but has border of dark markings. These species have (38 to 49) slender and pointed teeth on the upper as well as lower jaw.
Habitat and Behavior
These are deep-sea dolphins and are found in the deep water. These species can be found at the depth of around (250 to 5000) meters. These dolphins are very rarely seen near the surface. They are found in the tropical as well as subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean., i.e., from North America to West Africa, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. In the United States it is found in New Jersey, Louisiana and Texas. These species are also found in Brazil. These dolphins are mainly found in the warm and tropical waters. They are social creatures and often swim in school. These sea animals swim even with the group of spinner dolphins.
Diet
These dolphins feed mainly on the lantern fish as well the other fish. They hunt mainly at night in groups and also feed on squids. These species mostly feed at night because at this time the small fish and squids come to the surface.
Breeding / Reproduction
Much information is not available about the reproductive behavior of these species. It has been seen that the females give birth to a calf at the interval of about two years. The gestation period in these species is around 11 months and the size of the calves at the time of the birth is about 75 cm. The breeding season of these species is still unknown.
Threats and Conservation
Clymene Dolphins are not known to be in the endangered list. These dolphins have been harpooned or caught in the fishing gear in many areas. In Venezuela, these species are captured in the gill-nets for their meat. Apart from these threats, the main threat behind the decrease in the number of these species is the pollution in the water. The toxins can kill them if they swallow it. Therefore, different ways are being tried to reduce these threats, which kills these wonderful sea creatures. These dolphins have very less interaction with the human being. The reason is that these species live very deep in water and cannot be observed and as a result very little is known about its behavior and ecology.
Tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis) is a dolphin found both in the coastal waters and in the rivers of the Amazon Basin to the north and east of South America. These dolphins are very much similar to the bottlenose dolphin. These dolphins are of two types, i.e., the freshwater tucuxi and the marine tucuxi. These species are light grey to bluish-grey on their back, and are pinkish to light grey on their belly. The pink coloration can also be seen sometimes on the lower jaw and the throat. Their dorsal fin is triangular, rounded and curved and it is slightly hooked at the tip. They also have a long and slender beak with a rounded fore-head. Their upper and lower jaw contains (26 to 36) pairs of teeth. These species grow up to a size of 152 cm and weigh up to 55 kg. These dolphins are generally smaller as compared to the other species of the dolphins.
Habitat and Behavior
These species are found in both saltwater as well as freshwater. They can be found in the Brazil, Florianopolis, Caribbean Sea and near Panama Canal. These dolphins are the inhabitants of lakes and rivers. These species avoid flooded forests as well as rapid and fast-moving turbulent water. They can be found along 2500 km of the Amazon and 250 km upstream in the Orinoco River. The marine tucuxi are found in bays and estuaries. These are social creatures and are found in a group of (10 to 15) individuals. Sometimes they can be seen in a group of 30 creatures. These are also seen to be jumping in clear waters.
Diet
These dolphins feed mainly on fish as well as krill and crustacean. These species are known to feed on about 28 species of fishes.
Reproduction / Breeding
Much is not known about the reproductive or breeding habits of these species. The calving in these species occurs in September to November. The gestation period in these species is about 11 months. They have a life span of about 30 and 35 years, in marine and river respectively.
Threats and Conservation
These species of dolphins are killed in gillnet fisheries. These are also caught accidentally in fishing nets and killed. The destruction of their natural habitat for development of coasts by human being is also one of the major threats to these species. The hydro-electric damming projects may cause these species to become isolated. These modern projects are also responsible for killing the migratory fishes, which are considered as the important diet of these species. Moreover, pollution level in the water also causes these species to die. The pollution in the water by the industrial companies is becoming one of the biggest threats to these freshwater species. These species are widely distributed in Amazon River but the scientists do not know the exact number of these species. The Orca and Bull Shark are the natural predators of these species. Some of these tucuxi dolphins are also kept in captivity in Europe.
The anglerfish is an incredible example of how living organisms can find a way to survive in even the most inhospitable environment. The Angler Fish lives more than a mile deep in ocean water. There are over 200 species of anglers, which are named for their method of 'fishing' for their food. A spine of the dorsal fin acts as a 'fishing rod', tipped with a fleshy 'bait' which is often luminous. Other fishes are attracted to this lure and get eaten. Most anglerfishes live near the sea bottom. There are four kinds: batfish, goosefish, frogfish, and deep-sea angler.
Angler Fish has a massive head, with grotesque features. It has a large crescent shaped mouth, with numerous sharp pointed teeth. It has a flattened white belly region, with the top half of the body taking a broad expansive posture. Color varies from greenish brown to blackish gray, with speckled and variegated markings.
The head and body have an indistinct outline caused by the presence of numerous small flaps of skin. The gill slits are behind and lower than the base of the pectoral fins. Running along the mid-line of the head and anterior portion of the body, are a series of separate rays. Those above the pectoral fins give rise to the first dorsal fin. The reams on the head section form long spines. The foremost of which normally has a fleshy tip that the fish uses as a lure to entice it's prey. The second dorsal fin is composed of 11 to 12 fleshy membrane bound rays.
Another unusual adaptation in anglerfish is their sexual dimorphism. The
males are very small in comparison with the females, and live as
permanent parasites on the female. The male attaches himself, by biting,
to the body of the female. His mouth fuses with her skin, and the
bloodstreams of the two fishes become connected. The male is now totally
dependent on the female for nourishment. In fact, the male begins to
degenerate. His eyes grow smaller and he eventually loses them. His internal organs
disappear. The male becomes simply a source of sperm. Breeding for
anglerfish takes place from spring to early summer. The egg mass forms
large gelatinous sheets 9m by 3m in size, which floats near the surface.
Juveniles are planktonic, with noticeably elongated fin rays.
Anglerfish feeds on a wide variety of small and juvenile fish, including those of dogfish, skate, cod, haddock, whiting, sprats, sand eels, flat fish, etc. It is found all around the coastline of the UK, including the Atlantic, English Channel, and North Sea.
Jelly Fish
Jellyfish belong to the phylum Cnidaria, and they are invertebrates, or animals with no backbone. They contain a very simple nervous system. Their body is literally one big bundle of nerves. Their body contains a system of simple neurons that are capable of detecting food, light, warmth and vibration. Smell and taste are aided by chemoreceptors, which allow the jelly to detect odor and food. Light receptors allow the jelly to distinguish light and dark, but no shapes or external dimension. This system can be seen under their skin, which is translucent. They contain a thin outer layer of clear skin, and a gastrodermis, or an inner layer lining the stomach and inside cavity. The middle of the jellyfish is filled with the jelly, or mesoglea. Their mouth is typically underneath them as they move, and they contain a series of tentacles that help draw food inside them. Food, for the jellyfish, consists of plankton, comb jellyfish, the smallest variety, and other members of their own species. The inside cavity is a stomach, digestive cavity, intestine and gullet all in one. They contain one opening for both taking in food and letting out waste.
While they are fragile-less than 7% of a jellyfish is solid matter-jellyfish can live in almost any water. Extremely salt water is the only climate that they avoid. They can live at almost any depth, and some can reach up to over seven feet wide. The Arctic lions mane contains tentacles over 100 feet long. Several species contain a stinger, which can cause anything from light pain to burning for several days. This stinger is a stinging cell area made of nematocysts, sensory hairs that are capable of firing a warning to animals and people. The Australian box jelly and the Portuguese man-of-war contain the most powerful stingers, and divers are advised not to provoke these creatures, because it may result in great injury or death.
While jellyfish have tentacles under their stomach, these usually limit
them to moving either up or down. They can fill their stomach with water
and contract quickly, propelling themselves in a straight line. They
also contain special muscles on either side of their pulpy body that
contract and pulsate according to the stimuli that their nerve endings
receive. Other than these movements, they are generally at the mercy of
people, winds, tides and waves.
Jellies mate in an interesting manner. The female will produce eggs around her mouth and underside, and the male fill fire sperm in her direction. The female gather the sperm with her tentacles and, in essence, uses them to fertilize herself. Her eggs then attach to her tentacles, and stay for a while until they are released into the water. They then attach to rocks, and sit for months, even years, in some cases producing replicas. They then split into several jellyfish, and swim away.
Jellyfish are being examined for potential cures for human diseases. They are also of great benefit to marine life at times, because of their living habits. Certain countries even regard the jellyfish as a delicacy, and serve it as food.
First Aid against Jelly Fish Stings
- Rinse the wound with sea water. DO NOT use fresh water.
- Deactivate the remaining cells with vinegar over a 30 minute period.
- Remove any remaining tentacles with forceps or a gloved hand. DO NOT rub the area.
- Application of a local anaesthetic ointment if available may be helpful.
- Treat anaphylactic reactions in the usual way.
Balloon Fish
About Balloon fish :
The balloon fish is a kind of porcupine fish. It has 19 genuses. They are closely interrelated to puffer fish, which have a related defensive capability, but not quite as marked. Tetraodontidae is a family of first and foremost aquatic and estuarine fish of the Tetraodontiformes order. The family consists of many known species, which are known as puffer fish, balloon fish, swellfish, toadfish, toadies, honey toads, sugar toads, and sea squab.
Physical features :
The balloon fish is a boxy-looking species with a pointed head and big eyes. It is ordinary and not vulnerable. The lengthy spines or scales on its skin lie flat beside its body. The pectoral and tail fins are tiny and fragile. The skin is whitish, and there are dark blotch on its skin, giving it a mottled appearance. Fully developed balloon fish can reach lengths of 55 cm. The inner organs of these fish, such as the ovaries and liver, include a strong toxin known as tetrodotoxin, which is at least 1,300 times more venomous than cyanide. Tetrodotoxin is created by a number of bacteria residing inside the fish. Amusingly, the bacteria are in some way obtained from the fish�s food. Fish breed in captivity are not venomous.
Fast Facts :
- Size: 20.3 to 35.5 cm
- Diet: Mollusks, crabs, urchins and small fishes
- Range: Western Atlantic, Florida and Brazil and South Africa
- Habitat: 2-200 meters in tropical & sub-tropical aquatic coastal waters
When threatened or terrified, the balloon fish will take in water thus evidently increasing its overall body mass. In this extravagant state, its spines stand upright. The spines and the engorged size can prove threatening to potential predators. Balloon ram fish :
Physical features : Balloon ram fish are a well-liked aquarium fish for several of reasons. Their colors can be completely astonishing, an ideal blend of shimmering yellow-gold with neon blue in the night. They have the qualities of aggressiveness without the capability or desire to hurt most tank mates. Ramfish are mostly bluffed. A ram showing off his colors is only spectacular. Their small and quiet personality makes them perfect fish for a small tank. They will blend well with most other non- violent cichlids, corys, etc.
Facts :
- Maximum Size: 2.6 inches
- Life Span: 5 years
- Habitat: South American Rivers
- Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
- Possible Tank Mates: Balloon ram fish or non violent community fish such as silver dollars, Plecos also work well with rams.
The Balloon Molly fish is scientifically named as Poecilia latipinna. The Balloon Molly has an arched back and a curved, huge belly. Color varieties consist of a combination of black, yellow, or white. These fish also have a big, lyre-shaped caudal fin and a striking dorsal fin. Mollies have the capability to adjust to a variety of salt levels in the aquarium. With a slow acclimation, these fish may be kept in either a freshwater aquarium or a brine aquarium.
Facts :
- Care Level : Reasonable
- Temperament : Calm
- Water Conditions : 68-83 F
- Maximum Size : 4"
- Color Form : Black, White and Yellow
- Diet : Omnivore animal
- Origin : East coast of Florida, North Carolina
- Family : Poeciliidae
Rockfish
Physical Characters : Monterey Bay is home to more than 40 species of rockfish. Some dwell in the rocky reefs, some linger within the canopy of the kelp forests, and some live down on the deep seafloor. Their size varies from species to species.
Distribution : Mostly there are 72 kinds of rockfish live along North America's Pacific coast.
Food : They are mostly eating plankton, krill, octopus, shrimp, small fishes, crabs, squid; varies from species to species.
Hatchet Fish
The common name of the hatchet fishes (family Sternoptychidae) comes from their distinctive body form. They are mostly deep-bodied, compressed fishes, which have a sharp "blade" along the lower margin of the body, and a "handle" formed by the posterior half of the body. One of the distinguishing characters of the genus Argyropelecus is the presence of a bony blade in front of the dorsal fin.
Hatchet fishes are deep sea fishes which have upward-directed eyes and light-producing photo-phores (light organs). Some of the photo-phores of the Large Hatchet fish are like yellowish dots in a row above the anal fin and running along the abdominal margin. In life, this species is brown dorsally and on the sides. The head and ventral areas around the photo-phores are black, and the photo-phores are white to gray with a black margin.
The Large Hatchet fish has a widespread marine distribution. Hatchet
fish live all around the world but they are mostly found near South and Central America. They live in the mid section of the ocean reaching depths of 4500 meter.
Hatchet fish are small Bioluminescence creatures. They have mechanisms that are very useful for survival in the ocean. Hatchet fishes are one of the only fish that can jump in the water. Their eyes and mouth are located on the upper surface on their body.They protect themselves by using their bioluminescence to camouflage in the water so the upper body can look like the ocean and the surface on the bottom can't be seen by anyone.
Mostly the Hatchet Fish are raised in aquariums. Since their eyes and mouth are located on the upper surface they eat what is above them. They easily jump out of the water and eat small flies and mosquitoes.
Physical Characters : Each species of lanternfish has a distinct pattern of lights on its body. When a lanternfish goes looking for a mate, it seeks out other fish with the same pattern. How does a lanternfish make light? It has special light-producing organs��called photophores��along its sides and belly. These are normally upto to 5 inches long (12 cm).
Distribution : Mostly these are distributed in the midwater of depth 2,297-3,281 feet, or 700-1,000 meters.
Food : These are mostly eating primarily small copepods; also euphausiids, sergestid shrimp, amphipods.
Rattail fish, also known as Grenadier fish, its scientific name is 'Albatrossia pectorate'. It is found living just above the bottom of the sea. They usually swim slowly over the surface of the sea searching for their prey, and carcasses to eat. They have high levels of chemical compound known as TMAO, which is very smelly and this make the rattail not only ugly, but stinky too. Every ocean creatures have this chemical in their body. This chemical helps to maintain hydration levels of the body while living in salt water or else water would move from low salinity to high salinity. Without this chemical, fish would be affected by dehydration of the ocean water.
Distribution : They are generally found in deep waters. You can find them in Artic Ocean and Antarctic Ocean.
Habitat: Rattail fish are generally bottom or benthic dwelling fish. They are found 3000m below the sea level.
Physical description : They have big heads and tapering tails, which makes them, look long like large tadpoles. Their snouts are blunt and barbels chin that makes them to feel the sea bed for food. The mouth is on the underside of their head. Their eyes are very sensitive with number of rods in them compared to any other animal.
Life span : Rattail fish lives around 25 to 30 years.
Diet : They have a varied diet for example: crustaceans, fishes, and cephalopods. Sometimes they also eat the animals swimming on the surface of the sea. They have a hard pointed snout, which helps them to plough the sediments for eating worms and invertebrates. In their inner gill the arches act as sieves to extract food from the sediment.
Behavior : They are the most abundant species on the sea floor. This fishes are commonly seen. Their heads are angled down into the current, and they move with the help of their heads with their tail elevated. Swim bladder makes them buoyant and helps them to move up and down, but they always swim slowly in order to conserve energy.
Mysterious rattailfish facts : Rattail fish has a light producing organ located near their anus, which has mirrors and lens. The functions of these organs are still a mystery, or we can say that they use this light for searching food.
Reproduction : Rattail fish releases their eggs into the water to float freely, but sometimes these eggs are eaten by some other fish.
Statistics : They are generally about thirty to sixty centimeter in length.
Rattailfish as food : Fish lovers will love it, as they are very tasty. Make sure you cook well before eating.
Those who are familiar with the Rattail or Grenadier fish, which live in the deep water in the ocean, they probably must be thankful that they stay there because they are extremely ugly and stinky. They always stay at the bottom of the sea surface and despite their ferocious look they are not dangerous.
Introduction The toadfish, Tetractenos glaber (Tetraodontidae family) has been given this name due to their toad like appearance. The variety of species from various families of fish has been given the common name as 'toad fish'. The entire family of Batrachoididae is called as toadfish. These tadpoles are found in the sandy and muddy marine bottoms and can be found in the different parts of the world. However, there are few toadfish species that live in freshwater, for example, Daector quadrizonatus. These are found in the River Arato in Colombia and the other one Thalassophryne amazonica is found in the Amazon River.
Toadfish Facts and Behavior : The toadfish< has the broad head and a drab coloration. Their mouths are large, which is decorated with barbelsand their skin flaps. They are drab in color. In Thlassophryne megalops their length may range up to 7.5 cm, while in Pacuna toadfish they measure up to 57 cm. Their gills are small and occur on the side of the fish. They have one spine with several soft rays. The number of vertebrae ranges from 25 to 47. The toadfish of Thalassophryninae are poisonous in nature. It has one dorsal spine situated on each operacle and two dorsal spines, which is connected to the venom glands. One of its group Porichthys has photophores and thus they emit light through these glowing organs. They are omnivorous and feed on sea worms, mollusks, crustaceans and other small fish.
Distribution : Most of the toadfish are marine fishes found in brackish water, and only one of the sub-family is found in freshwater in South America. Deactor quadrizonatus is found in the Atrato River and Thalassophryne is found in the Amazon River.
Reproduction : The males attract female by making nest and singing. They sing by contracting the muscles on their swim bladder. The females stick the egg on the side of the nest, as it is sticky from one side. The egg is large from the beginning and hatches after one month. The male then guard the nest and eggs rapidly get developed into an embryo. They remain attached to the side of the nest until they become three to four weeks old. They hide behind the females until they grow enough to feed themselves.
Freshwater Toadfish The freshwater toadfish (Allenbatrachus grunniens) belongs to the family of Batrachoididae. They are widespread around Indo-Pacific region. They are found in Madagascar, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia. They live in the muddy areas or amongst rocks. It can grow up to a size of 12 inches (30 cm). They can be stored in a tank of 110 liters. The tank or aquarium should have water temperature of (23-28) degree Celsius and the pH level should be between (7.8 to 8.5). They like to eat earthworms and bloodworm. This species is popular among fish preservers because of its unique appearance. It is also known as grunting toadfish as it has the ability to produce grunt like sounds. They produce these sounds when they are threatened and in the spawning condition. They are also commonly known as freshwater scorpion fish and freshwater stonefish. One of its dangerous characteristics is that it posses poisonous spines. However, its spines are not so dangerous, as it just causes mild irritation.
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