Archive for February, 2009
Basically, according to Greek mythology, the Greek god Oceanus was a serpent like being that looked like a river and encompassed the entire world – so, picture that – and you get an ocean. I do like the image because it is a sharp reminder that all of our oceans, estuaries and rivers are connected.
Do [...]
Nope. The classic common name is very misleading. Scientists and environmental educators are transitioning their language to seastar when referring to this animal – because, well, it just is not a fish.
The seastar is in the same family as the sea urchin, sea cucumber, sand dollar, and a few others that all have these things [...]
Ahh, you see the polar ice sheets and glaciers are melting, but the water still needs to go somewhere – the ocean. The water then rises transforming geography, manipulates the balance of salt in estuaries and creates higher flooding intensity.
Basically, rising sea levels affects coastal areas the most drastically. But, don’t dismay! The EPA, in [...]
Rest assure those crab shells are simply that – shells. Crabs (of all kinds – blue. lady, horseshoe) go through a molting phase and the old shell is basically washed up in the wrack line.
The wrack line is that line of seemingly dead seaweed that entangles lots of fun ocean treasures such as sea beans, [...]
Wow, what a fun question to research. Thank you.
I am such a big fan of giving back no matter how big or small it is – we all make a difference. It really helps ground individuals. I find myself most often giving my time to local clean ups and contributing to Surfrider Foundation and a [...]
WOW! I wish I had the answer to that one…And, also, that reminds me of why I tend to answer the scientific based questions first. However, I do like a challenge and a reason to search for up-to-date information. I found these two articles on a subscription site that provide some insight to the question…
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An arenophile is someone that collects sand specimens from different beaches.
Not to be confused with a person that loves aviation – an areophile.
But we’ve only scratched the surface here. Check back often at http://www.beachchairscientist.com for more insight about your favorite beach discoveries.
Great question since they both look alike for the most part…both grow in a coiled shaped shell and both have one main muscle that is used as a foot.
Here it is…Whelks are carnivores and conchs (properly pronounced – conk) are herbivores.
That doesn’t help though when you aren’t watching it eat…but, typically…whelks live in cooler temperate [...]
“Sand shark” can be a bit of a catch-all term, but it seems to most commonly refer to the sand tiger shark, Charcharius taurus. Sand tigers are an interesting case study in form following function in shark teeth. Sand tigers have long, narrow, prong-shaped teeth—like the tines of a fork. Their teeth are perfectly shaped [...]
1) This animal is one of four in its genus. The other three are all native to the Pacific ocean. And, the animal is so well revered in Japanese culture that the shape of a samurai warrior’s headgear was designed after its shell.
2) This animal has its gills under its shell. The gills are flaps [...]
