Tag

Marine Creatures

All articles tagged with #marine creatures

paleontology1 year ago•4 min saved

"150-Year-Old Mystery Solved: Giant Ichthyosaur Bones Identified"

A study from the University of Bonn suggests that large, fossilized bone fragments found in Europe since the 19th century may have belonged to gigantic ichthyosaurs, marine creatures that could reach 25 to 30 meters in length. The microstructure of the fossils indicates that they come from the lower jaw of these ancient sea creatures, refuting previous claims that the bones belonged to land-living dinosaurs. The unusual structure of their bone walls, similar to carbon fiber-reinforced materials, likely allowed for fast growth and stability, and the findings have been published in the journal PeerJ.

via Phys.org|

#bone-fragments #fossils #ichthyosaurs

science1 year ago•6 min saved

"Enigmatic Mediterranean Worm: Giant Eyes and UV Communication"

Scientists have discovered a Mediterranean marine worm, the Vanadis bristle worm, with remarkably large eyes that rival those of mammals and octopuses. These eyes, which are as big as millstones relative to the worm's size, provide exceptional vision, allowing the creature to see small objects and track their movements. Researchers believe the worm may have evolved a secretive language using UV light, which is invisible to humans, potentially for communication and mating purposes. The discovery has implications for robotics research and sheds light on the evolutionary history of vision.

via Phys.org|

#evolution #marine-biology #marine-creatures

biology2 years ago•4 min saved

Headless Brittle Stars: Learning Without a Brain

Brittle stars, headless marine creatures without brains, have been found to learn through experience and classical conditioning. In a series of experiments, researchers trained brittle stars to associate darkness with food by dimming the lights whenever they were fed. Over time, the brittle stars learned to come out of hiding when the lights went out, even before any food was present. This demonstrates that brittle stars are capable of learning and suggests that they can anticipate food and potentially avoid predators based on their environment, despite lacking a traditional brain.

via Phys.org|

#biology #brainless-animals #brittle-stars

science-and-environment2 years ago•1 min saved

Threats to Bioluminescent Marine Creatures in the Twilight Zone

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) shared a video captured by two robots that were dropped into the twilight zone of the ocean during the Nautilus Live expedition. The twilight zone is the area between 200 and 1,000 meters below the surface and is home to a diverse range of marine animals and organisms. The robots recorded rare glimpses of these creatures, providing valuable insights into this mysterious underwater world. The video has garnered positive reactions from netizens, with viewers appreciating the beauty and tranquility of the footage.

via Hindustan Times|

#marine-creatures #ocean-research #robots