All articles tagged with #marine biology
Divers' online photos of a tiny, panda-faced sea squirt off Kumejima, Japan, led scientists to describe a new species, Clavelina ossipandae (nicknamed the 'skeleton panda'). Measuring under 20 mm and living in shallow water, the creature is a filter feeder whose panda-like appearance comes from pigmentation and blood vessels in its gills; the species was formally described in 2024 in Species Diversity.
Researchers documented 15 comb jellies (ctenophores) in Colombia’s Caribbean and Pacific waters, including six species never recorded in the country before. Because these fragile organisms dissolve when nets are used, scientists relied on underwater photography and citizen science to catalog them, highlighting the rich biodiversity of gelatinous plankton and the value of non-invasive methods in remote marine exploration.
A rare hoodwinker sunfish, Mola tecta, washed ashore at Doran Regional Park during a Northern California beach cleanup, a finding that challenges assumptions about the species’ range. Described in 2017 and distinct from the common mola, its presence off the U.S. West Coast hints at wider, less-understood migrations, while strandings provide scientists with data on movement and currents; observers are urged to document sightings from a distance and report to wildlife authorities.
An international study documents an unprecedented die-off of black sea urchins (Diadema africanum) in the Canary Islands beginning in 2022, with widespread adult mortality preventing juvenile recruitment and risking local extinction; the die-off appears connected to other regional outbreaks (Caribbean, Gulf of Oman, Réunion) and could signal a broader marine epidemic threatening reef ecosystems, though the Canary Island cause is not yet confirmed; citizen-science data aided the assessment, underscoring the need for monitoring and protection of remaining urchin populations.
A glowing tropical drifter called the blue button jelly (Porpita porpita) challenges easy classification: it’s a cnidarian that isn’t clearly a jellyfish or a true colony, likely a quasi-colonial organism with a central stomach, a blue float, and tentacles used for feeding, defense, and reproduction as it drifts at the ocean surface. Scientists note its structure and lifestyle remain debated, and its blue-dragon predators like Glaucus harvest its stinging cells for protection.
Pacific Whale Foundation retrieved a rare, nearly intact whale placenta—the second full specimen recovered in Hawai‘i—and will analyze it for measurements and biological samples to better understand whale reproductive health, a find supported by the Quicksilver crew and UH Health and Stranding Lab under proper permits with respectful bio-cultural handling.
Thousands of starfish washed up on Wardie Bay in Edinburgh, likely due to stormy weather and rapid temperature changes, with marine biologists noting such events are natural but require further investigation.
The opah, or moonfish, is the world's only fully warm-blooded fish, maintaining body heat 5°C higher than its environment through a unique counter-current heat exchange system in its gills, which allows it to be a faster, more active predator in cold deep-sea environments.
Scientists from the University of Hawaii have identified the elusive cookiecutter shark as the predator responsible for the circular wounds on marine mammals and fish, using a decade of data to analyze its behavior, feeding patterns, and environmental influences, revealing its nocturnal, stealthy hunting tactics and traditional Polynesian knowledge supporting scientific findings.
Greenland sharks are among the longest-living vertebrates, with an estimated lifespan of at least 272 years and some reaching up to 400 years, based on radiocarbon dating of their eye lenses, making them the oldest known vertebrate animals.
A 15-year-old marine biology student recounts a terrifying night scuba dive where a bull shark quickly took a fish he accidentally illuminated, highlighting the power and misunderstood nature of sharks, and emphasizing the importance of respecting these creatures.
A PhD candidate at Scripps Oceanography in San Diego discovered a rare purple Janthina snail on the beach, a species usually found in tropical waters, possibly due to changing ocean temperatures, marking a rare sighting after a decade.
Scientists exploring off Vancouver Island discovered a live, active underwater volcano teeming with up to a million egg cases of the deep-sea Pacific white skate, revealing how volcanic heat creates a unique nursery environment that accelerates embryo development and supports marine life in the abyss.
Ming the clam was once the oldest known individual animal, living over 507 years before being accidentally killed by humans in 2006 when it was dredged from the ocean floor, highlighting both the remarkable longevity of certain marine species and the impact of human activity.
Scientists discovered a new tiny, glowing shark species called the American pocket shark in the Gulf of Mexico, notable for its bioluminescent pockets and rarity, highlighting the vast unknown diversity of deep-sea life.