|
|
|
TopClicks
->
Animals, Pets & More
->
Underwater Creatures
Choose a SubCategory or Select a TopClick below:
Adventures of Lilo the Green Sea Turtle - Follow along as Lilo the green sea turtle makes her way throughout the islands of Hawaii. To help her continue the journey, you will have to answer questions about sharks, pollution, ghost nets, and many more topics. Luckily there are lots of resources to help you find the answers. This site was created by students for the ThinkQuest Junior competition.
Animal Bytes - Brought to you by Sea World Busch Gardens, Animal Bytes were specifically designed to help you quickly find information about some of the unique creatures found in the animal kingdom. Most files include the scientific classification, fun facts, and biological value as well as some incredible photos.
Bioluminescence Web Page - We're going to give this page a glowing report. Bioluminescence is a chemical light that is produced by fireflies, fish, and even fungus! This site is concerned with the mechanism of how this light is produced. It offers wonderful photos and explains why most bioluminescent deep-sea organisms flash blue lights more than any other color.
Cephalopod Page: Octopuses, Squid, Cuttlefish, and Nautilus - An octopus is more than just a tentacled cephalopod that squirts ink and runs. It is the smartest of the invertebrates, with both a long- and a short-term memory. It learns through experience and solves problems using trial and error. Check out this site about the octopus and its relatives, and you'll soon realize that these octopi are not just a bunch of suckers.
Coelacanth: The Fish Out of Time - In 1938, fishermen off the coast of South Africa found the first living coelacanth in recent history, and there was another reported find in 1952, off the Comoros Islands (to the northeast, in the Mozambique Channel). This isn't just another fish story, either. The coelacanth (pronounced "see-la-kanth") is a 400-million-year-old "living fossil" fish, once thought to have become extinct long ago. This account of its amazing discovery reads like a mystery novel.
Cone Shell & Conotoxin Homepage - Run away! It's the Revenge of the Killer Snails! Cone shells are found in reefs throughout the world, but more often in the warm seas of the IndoPacific region. They prey on other organisms, immobilizing them with a powerful venom. There have even been some fatalities from this poison! Want to learn more? Or see photographs? Stop here for plenty of info on these unusual snails.
Crustaceans - There's a lot of neat stuff to know about crustaceans like lobsters, crayfish, barnacles, and shrimp. Some crustaceans lay eggs in the mud. These can experience drying out over and over--yet even hundreds of years later some of these eggs will still hatch. Here's another odd fact. In some crustacean species, there are no males at all! Learn about the biology of the crustacean family at this site.
Kaikoura @ Nationalgeographic.com - Let's travel to New Zealand and the Kaikoura Canyon in search of a giant squid. Join researchers, writers, and photographers from National Geographic as they begin a search for the elusive squid. Dr. Clyde Roper, teacher-scientist, is known as "Dr. Squid," who seemingly knows all there is to know about the giant squid. Yet neither he nor any other scientist had ever seen an intact giant squid alive in the sea. Dr. Roper often compares giant squids with dinosaurs. But, unlike the dinosaur, the giant squid exists today and is swimming in the depths of Kaikoura Canyon. Somewhere. Join the hunt!
Lobster Institute of Maine - Can lobsters bite? No, they may be able to pinch you with their claws, but their teeth are in their stomachs. Take the lobster quiz and learn more about this large shellfish. View the "Lobstah Cam," which is an underwater camera inside a real lobster trap. But if you feel the only way to appreciate a lobster is to eat it, the Lobster Institute proudly presents their cookbook pages, with recipes and tips for choosing the perfect lobster. Look in the Goodies section.
Manatees - Have you ever heard of the manatee? Found in waters around Florida, throughout the Caribbean, and into South America, manatees are gentle vegetarians that are also called sea cows. They are, believe it or not, related to elephants, and some think the myth of mermaids may have come from sailors who saw these graceful creatures swimming. To learn more about manatees, take a look at this page.
Marine Mammal Center - This San Francisco area wildlife rehabilitation center specializes in pinnipeds, including California sea lions, northern elephant seals, and harbor seals. Do you know why elephant seals' eyes are so big? So they can see in low light levels when they dive deep. They get most of their food this way. They prefer to be offshore, up to 35 miles, diving to 4,000 feet and possibly even deeper. On land, because they have nonreversible rear flippers, elephant seals must slide, wriggle, and roll, using movements that resemble those of a caterpillar. To learn more about other marine mammals, visit this home page.
Netfysh - Instant Pets on the Internet - Which one is better: the little horseshoe crablike Triops, or the ever popular brine shrimplike Sea-Monkey ? Compare and contrast these weird little creatures and decide for yourself. Here at Pollywood Farm we did raise a nice flock of Triops about a year back. They were a whole lot of fun, so now we're going to try some Sea-Monkeys, too.
Sea-Monkey Central - It's "Instant Life"--it's "Sea-Monkeys"--it's a great marketing gimmick! Take the lowly brine shrimp (also known as live fish food) and develop a foolproof way to raise herds of them in a tiny plastic "zoo" aquarium. Advertise in the backs of comic books and sell the little critter eggs for a really cheap price. Everything you'd ever want to know about these fun but tiny pets is here, including terrible jokes, such as this one: Question: What do you call a Sea-Monkey tank that's been spilled on your sister's favorite doll? Answer: Shrimp on the Barbie.
SeaWorld/Busch Gardens Animal Information Database - Do you ever wish you could visit SeaWorld in either Florida, Ohio, Texas, or California? You can find out about all kinds of fish here and also learn about parrots, polar bears, gorillas, lions, and more. Interested in setting up a tropical saltwater aquarium? This page tells you how to keep an aquarium as a hobby. Write, e-mail, or phone Shamu the Killer Whale to ask questions about the ocean and marine animals. From the Animal Resources area, don't miss the SeaWorld Songbook--the whale rap is hilarious! Check out the wide variety of educational programs and curriculum materials on endangered rain forests, ecosystems, and habitat. Surprise your grandmother with her very own pet coral reef--find out how to grow one at the coral reef area of this site.
Secrets@Sea - Assume the role of a spunky detective as you investigate strange whale behavior around Alanamorris Strait. Could it have something to do with those toxic waste barrels? Where did you put your bus schedule--it's time to ace the case! This wonderful adventure game from the Vancouver Aquarium will keep you busy for a long time as you examine your field guide, collect creature cards, and examine your notes. Can you crack the code and save the whales?
The Kelp Forest - Have you ever heard of a kelp forest? At the Monterey Bay Aquarium site, you can see photos and learn about this interesting forest, which is home to hundreds. They come in all shapes and sizes, from the gray whales who sometimes pass through, to tiny hermit crabs on the sea floor below. You can even see some of these species through the "kelp cam."
Venture into Hawaii's Coral Reefs - Elementary students on the island of Oahu have put together this fascinating look at the coral reef habitats near their home. Learn more about the living coral, the fish, mammals and other creatures that live in it, how the habitat is threatened and how people are trying to protect it.
Wild Channel - The Wild Channel is an interactive wildlife experience designed to take you on a journey into the world of natural history and wildlife. Watch the stunning video clips an the in-depth features which highlight different animals.
|
|
