Mad as a Marine Biologist

Showing 140 posts tagged animal

animalworld: SCALY FOOD GASTROPODCrysomallon squamiferum© JAMSTEC The first scaly-foot gastropod, Crysomallon squamiferum, was found in 2000 at the bases of black smokers at the Kairei hydrothermal vent field, on the Central Indian Ridge. In contrast to the approximately 2 °C/32 °F ambient water temperature at these depths, water emerges from these vents at temperatures ranging from 60 °C/140 °F up to as high as 464 °C/867 °F. The snail thriving in these extreme conditions continues to attract deep-sea fan especially with its black, iron-fortified shell and operculum. The snail’s foot is armored with iron-mineral scales. It is protected by scale-shaped sclerites composed of the iron sulfides greigite and pyrite. No other animal is known to use iron sulfides in this way. Last December a team from JAMSTEC (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology) reported the discovery of a similar white scaly-foot gastropod also in the Indian Ocean. They found white scaly-foot gastropod during an investigation of habitats at newly found hydrothermal vents in November 2010. Several aggregations of white scaly-foot gastropods were found at the sites. However the white scaly-foot gastropod does not assimilate iron sulfide. The physiological details have not yet been revealed so the questions remain: Are they same species? How did they evolved? Why do black scaly-foots need iron scales? Source and Source Other posts: Armored Snail Pompeii Worm Pink Helmet These are freaky mofo’s.

animalworld:

SCALY FOOD GASTROPOD
Crysomallon squamiferum
© JAMSTEC

The first scaly-foot gastropod, Crysomallon squamiferum, was found in 2000 at the bases of black smokers at the Kairei hydrothermal vent field, on the Central Indian Ridge. In contrast to the approximately 2 °C/32 °F ambient water temperature at these depths, water emerges from these vents at temperatures ranging from 60 °C/140 °F up to as high as 464 °C/867 °F.
The snail thriving in these extreme conditions continues to attract deep-sea fan especially with its black, iron-fortified shell and operculum. The snail’s foot is armored with iron-mineral scales. It is protected by scale-shaped sclerites composed of the iron sulfides greigite and pyrite. No other animal is known to use iron sulfides in this way.
Last December a team from JAMSTEC (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology) reported the discovery of a similar white scaly-foot gastropod also in the Indian Ocean.

They found white scaly-foot gastropod during an investigation of habitats at newly found hydrothermal vents in November 2010. Several aggregations of white scaly-foot gastropods were found at the sites. However the white scaly-foot gastropod does not assimilate iron sulfide. The physiological details have not yet been revealed so the questions remain: Are they same species? How did they evolved? Why do black scaly-foots need iron scales? Source and Source

Other posts:

Armored Snail

Pompeii Worm

Pink Helmet

These are freaky mofo’s.

High-res Mosaic Boxer Crab or Pom Pom Crab Lybia tesselata © Ivan Choong Notice the two pom-poms (boxing gloves) it is holding, these are a type of anemone (one of three kinds) used to protect itself and collect food at the same time. By using a boxers style approach of steady jabs, this true crab stings and collects micro organism munchies from the water column, then wiping the food into its mouth to feed. If one anemone is lost it will split the other and it will continue to grow and if both are lost it will start over. A hands-on approach to symbioses!

Mosaic Boxer Crab or Pom Pom Crab

Lybia tesselata

© Ivan Choong

Notice the two pom-poms (boxing gloves) it is holding, these are a type of anemone (one of three kinds) used to protect itself and collect food at the same time. By using a boxers style approach of steady jabs, this true crab stings and collects micro organism munchies from the water column, then wiping the food into its mouth to feed.

If one anemone is lost it will split the other and it will continue to grow and if both are lost it will start over.

A hands-on approach to symbioses!

High-res sexyactionplanet: And you thought crabs weren’t “cute and fluffy”! Meet the Hairy Crab (Pilumnidae sp.). Its body and limbs are covered with long, silky hairs. These trap sediments allowing the crab to blend perfectly with its surroundings. In the water, its hairs ‘fluff up’ breaking up its body outline. It also moves slowly and thus overlooked as some bit of drifting rubbish. It has large claws, some with thick black fingers. ** I miss the rock pooling activities from my last job! **

sexyactionplanet:

And you thought crabs weren’t “cute and fluffy”! Meet the Hairy Crab (Pilumnidae sp.).

Its body and limbs are covered with long, silky hairs. These trap sediments allowing the crab to blend perfectly with its surroundings. In the water, its hairs ‘fluff up’ breaking up its body outline. It also moves slowly and thus overlooked as some bit of drifting rubbish. It has large claws, some with thick black fingers.

** I miss the rock pooling activities from my last job! **

High-res Pelagic Thresher Shark at Monad Shoal (no flash photography allowed) (Alopias pelagicus) © John Forsyth IUCN Status: Vulnerable The pelagic thresher occurs in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, usually far from shore but occasionally entering coastal habitats. The smallest of the three thresher species, the pelagic thresher typically measures 3 m (10 ft) long. The diet of the pelagic thresher consists mainly of small midwater fishes, which are stunned with whip-like strikes of their tails. **This is amazing, I’m going to post a video of it** Along with all other mackerel sharks, the pelagic thresher exhibits ovoviviparity and usually gives birth to litters of two. The developing embryos are oophagous, feeding on unfertilized eggs produced by the mother. The young are born unusually large, up to 43% the length of the mother. Pelagic threshers are valued by commercial fisheries for their meat, skin, liver oil, and fins, and are also pursued by sport fishers. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assessed this species as Vulnerable in 2007.

Pelagic Thresher Shark at Monad Shoal (no flash photography allowed)

(Alopias pelagicus)

© John Forsyth

IUCN Status: Vulnerable

The pelagic thresher occurs in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, usually far from shore but occasionally entering coastal habitats. The smallest of the three thresher species, the pelagic thresher typically measures 3 m (10 ft) long.

The diet of the pelagic thresher consists mainly of small midwater fishes, which are stunned with whip-like strikes of their tails. **This is amazing, I’m going to post a video of it**

Along with all other mackerel sharks, the pelagic thresher exhibits ovoviviparity and usually gives birth to litters of two. The developing embryos are oophagous, feeding on unfertilized eggs produced by the mother. The young are born unusually large, up to 43% the length of the mother. Pelagic threshers are valued by commercial fisheries for their meat, skin, liver oil, and fins, and are also pursued by sport fishers.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assessed this species as Vulnerable in 2007.