Chitin (kai-tin) is the main material for 1) the exoskeleton of shrimp, crabs and lobsters, 2) the beak of squid and octopi and 3) the radula of mollusks. It is very similar in make up to glucose and similar in function to keratin (which is what makes up our hair, skin and nails).
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Marine Mammal Monday: Elephant seals
Please feel free to share with your friends and family where you learned something new about elephant seals today! Also, ask away! If you have a question about something you found on the beach or just something you’re curious about just send an email to info@beachchairscientist.com or tweet us!
Who … What … Me?
Can you guess the common name designated to the animal pictured to the right? Here are some facts about the critter: Found in Antarctica Has watery-jelly like flesh Lives in the deep part of the ocean Image (c) of newscience.com
“The Timeless Traveler” a new documentary by River Bank Studios
According to Jason Peters from Filmmakers for Conservation, “The film Timeless Traveler – The Horseshoe Crab is a film about what some consider to be the world’s most spectacular scientific breakthrough that could rewrite the pages of medical history. It is an appeal for the conservation of a unique species and aims to achieve a […]
Nudibranchs: The elusive butterflies of the sea
The 3,000 species of nudibranchs (noo-duh-brangk) boast more colors than a box of Crayola crayons and most nudibranchs “live no more than a year and then disappear without a trace, their boneless, shell-less bodies leaving no record of their brief, brilliant lives”. These sea slugs are found all over the world and range in size […]
Her name is (Sylvia) Earle
I was watching the October 13, 2009 episode of the Colbert Report on Comedy Central and was pleasantly surprised to when Stephen interviewed Sylvia Earle. Ms. Earle is a very accomplished ocean explorer. She just put out (yet another – yeah!) book, The World Is Blue: How Our Fate And The Oceans Are One. So, […]
The Bluefish by Isaac McLellan
I hope you enjoy this poem about a very popular Atlantic coast recreational species, the bluefish. I have some fond childhood memories aboard my grandparents boat, Irish Eyes, learning many life lessons while seeking out bluefish. Issac McLellan (1806 – 1899) was a New England author and poet. Coincidentally, he was born in Portland, Maine […]
Shadowbox of seashore treasures
Today I am very excited to share with you an image created by one of my favorite photographers, Bekki Rich. She is based in Stone Harbor, N.J. (Cape May County) and enjoys “”Taking photos when the opportunity arises”. Many of her photographs feature playful patterns found along the coastline, as well as showcase her unique […]
Where did the word “ocean” come from?
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 all ocean animals swim together in schools?
Nope, here is a short list of terms used to describe certain groups of ocean animals when they congregate together. Jellyfish swim in a smack. Whales swim in a pod. Herring swim in a seige. Penguins walking together on land is called a waddle. Have a great question that needs a concise and comical answer? […]
What is a barnacle?
This is the first post I’ve answered directly from my phone (Please excuse the brevity). Barnacles are crustaceans. Other crustaceans include crabs and lobsters. Barnacles are a type of crustacean that are permanently attached to a solid surface. Also, what is obviously missing is the sensory parts, such as eyes and feelers. Up close, you […]
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