The arapaima's scaly coat is basically the fish version of a bulletproof vest, which helps protect them from cold-blooded killers like piranhas. The scales comprise two layers: a hard exterior made of minerals, and a flexible interior made of collagen. Unlike human-made bulletproof vests, however, those aren't fused together with a third adhesive layer—the two layers of each arapaima scale actually grow together. This makes it ideal for pressure absorption and range of motion, which researchers hope can help inform advances in materials science.
One study in New York showed that a large population of cormorants was devastating the game fish population, including the smallmouth bass fishery on Lake Ontario. The study found that the cormorants were consuming 1.3 million bass per year. Most of this 1.3 million were smallmouth that were three to five years old. Centuries ago the Chinese figured out that they could use cormorants for fishing. They would capture a cormorant, tie a long string around one of its legs and place a collar around the bird's throat. They would then go out in a boat, hold the string while the bird dove down and swallowed a fish. They would then pull the bird back to the boat and squeeze the neck above the collar and plop the fish into
Scientists have completed the first-ever global, high-resolution map of the world's shallow tropical coral reefs. When combined with an integrated tool that tracks global coral bleaching events in near-real-time, the new resource provides a comprehensive overview of the trends and changes in global coral reef health. While the completion of the map is an achievement in itself, the scientists behind the Allen Coral Atlas say they hope the new resource will spur action to improve coral reef protection.
As wide, flat ground dwellers, Angel Sharks are often mistaken for rays. They have long pectoral fins that extend laterally from the sides of their bodies than resemble the fins of a ray. However unlike rays, they have five gill slits on the sides of their heads, while rays have gill slits under their bodies. Though like rays, Angel Sharks have spiracles, a type of gill that delivers oxygen directly to the brain, located on the top of their heads behind two small eyes. Spiracles are typically found on the sides of the heads of rays. Angel Sharks have rounded snouts with large mouths containing nine rows of razor sharp teeth on the upper jaw and teeth rows on the bottom jaw, In the center of their mouths, there is a space with no teeth. Rays have have mouths on their underneath side of their bodies containing a full row of teeth on both sides of their jaws. On the end of their snouts Angel Sharks have barbels, a sensory organ that acts like whiskers to help them detect their prey. Rays do not have barbels. Finally, the bodies of Angel Sharks are longer and more stout than the bodies of rays.
True to its name, the lumpsucker comes with a literal suction cup on the bottom. Their suction cups evolved from their pelvic fin and allow the fish to anchor itself to its surroundings. It can frequently be found clinging onto eel grass, rocks, or any other objects in its habitat. While the suction cup helps this fish stand out from the crowd, there are other species with similar adaptations–the remora, for example, use suction cups on their heads to attach to sharks, whales, and even ships.
After nine seasons, River Monsters was respectfully retired. This wasn't due to the fact that Wade and his crew were tired of filming and educating but rather was due to a lack of fish to catch. Interestingly enough, Wade had been able to catch every single fish that was on his bucket list throughout the entirety of the show. When they had moved onto folklore and legend, everyone knew that the end was in sight. This made for an incredibly successful run as well as a tremendous educational value on the end of the faithful viewers.
Milky Seas are a rare nocturnal phenomenon in which the ocean's surface emits a steady bright glow. They can cover thousands of square miles and, thanks to the colorful accounts of 19th-century mariners like Capt. Kingman, milky seas are a well-known part of maritime folklore. But because of their remote and elusive nature, they are extremely difficult to study and so remain more a part of that folklore than of science. Unlike bioluminescence that happens close to shore, where small organisms called dinoflagellates flash brilliantly when disturbed, luminous bacteria work in an entirely different way. Once their population gets large enough – about 100 million individual cells per milliliter of water – a sort of internal biological switch is flipped and they all start glowing steadily. Now imagine if a gargantuan number of bacteria, spread across a huge area of open ocean, all started glowing simultaneously. That makes a milky sea. Researchers think the purpose of this glow could be to attract fish that eat them. These bacteria thrive in the guts of fishes, so when their populations get too big for their main food supply, a fish's stomach makes a great second option.
Goldfish are technically a species of carp, known as the Carassius auratus. Most carp grow based on their environment (or how much space they have), as well as the resources that are available to them. Domesticated goldfish, that generally dine on fish flakes and live in a tiny bowl, don't get very large. However, when presented with open waters, as well as more plentiful food sources, they can grow to much greater lengths. With that in mind, goldfish in the wild are also carnivorous, which may contribute to their shocking growth. That's right — without those store-bought fish flakes, your pet goldfish is more than happy to be trolling the bottom of a lake, snacking on the eggs of native species.
As "trap hunters" frogfish often lie in wait for passing fish to come in close before BAM opening it's mouth so fast, up to 1/6000 of a second, creating a vacuum of water and sucking the fish in whole. These fish do not have teeth (more like sandpaper jaws) so they suck the fish in whole. Because they rely on camouflage and do not move much, the best place to find them are on coral bommies (rocks covered in coral), on sponges, or in the sand / coral rubble; which are traditional fish nursery areas.
Due to their unique anatomical shape and lack of scales, many people may not consider seahorses ‘fish' at first, but they are indeed! Possessing swim bladders to remain buoyant in the water and utilizing gills to breathe, these fish also thrive in a strong suit of sturdy armor-like plates. Their tough, bony makeup makes them pretty tough for other fish to digest, illustrating the reason for their lack of many natural predators. Other than crustaceans like crabs who can pluck them up with their sharp pincers, humans are likely one of the more significant threats to the species, historically harvesting the animals faster than they're able to reproduce.