Operculum is the hard scalelike cover of the gills of bony fishes. Cartilaginous fishes (such as sharks, skates and rays) all lack a gill cover.
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Marine & Freshwater Environmental Education
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Eight citizen science projects for your day at the beach (one for every day of your beach week + a bonus)
Do you have one (or several!) of those kids just itching to be future marine scientists? It’s time to take the beach day up one more notch. Here are some citizen science projects that will definitely be lots of fun for the whole family. Trust me … they’re free and easy! Field Photo: The Field […]
Can you tell how old a fish is by looking at it?
There is one possible way to tell how old a fish is while it’s still alive. And, at that, – it’s pretty invasive. You need to take some of its scales (see image). The scales are similar to the rings of a tree. Depending on how many dark rings you may see (if you were […]
3 Quarks Daily science prizes awarded
Since 2009, during the solstice and equinox of each year a prize for either science, philosophy, politics, and arts & literature is awarded by the esteemed judge brought in by the editors of the blog 3 Quarks Daily. This filter blog, created by founding editor S. Abbas Raza, is a “one-stop intellectual surfing experience by […]
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
“WhaleTimes created Hagfish Day last year to ‘celebrate the beauty of ugly.’ Hagfish are the perfect example. These deep-sea scavengers ooze slime — buckets of slime. They also play an important role in their ecosystem.” What other creatures do you think should be recognized on Hagfish Day?
Is seaweed really a “weed”?
Actually seaweed is a term given too many different types of marine plants that grow in the ocean and none of them are weeds, in the sense that we would try to get rid up them with a weed killer. The basic scientific term would really be algae. Algae (Red, brown, or green) are a […]
Earth Day, Every Day
I tend to be a little quiet and not post often in April. With Earth Day as a central theme for so many organizations this month, what more can I offer? Well, I can share 50 simple ways to make Earth Day, Every Day! These small actions will have you thinking more about how we’re […]
Beyond Angry Birds
Not too long ago I heard a story on the radio raving about how well folks are transitioning children books to iPad apps. Basically what it is expanding upon is the idea that if your kiddo is going to be entertained with an iPad why not have them explore something that is enriching? A little […]
Why you should never walk on dunes
It might seem nonsensical since the dunes look calm and peaceful, but it’s not a good idea to explore dunes. In addition to being illegal in many coastal towns, here are six other reasons why you should stay off the dunes: 1) Dunes store sand that help diminish potential shoreline erosion. 2) Dunes absorb the […]
Call for permanent ban of whale products sold on Amazon.com
If you have not, please sign this petition calling for a permanent end of the selling of whale products on Amazon.com. “Whales have an important lesson to teach us. Whales have a large and complex brain but show no signs of threatening their own destruction. They haven’t reproduced themselves into oblivion, they haven’t destroyed the […]
A naturalist’s must-see destination: Chesapeake Bay
This is a continuation on the “Where we live” series. The Chesapeake Bay has undergone similar changes to the San Francisco Bay as the population increased along its shores. As the largest estuary in North America (not the longest, which is the Indian River Lagoon in Florida), it is not surprising that the watershed of […]
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- Robert Emahiser on Why you should never walk on dunes
- Lesa on 10 brief facts on bioluminescence
- Lisa on Limulus Love
- Beach Chair Scientist on 17 facts about the wee sea potatoes
- Bernard Rejterada on 17 facts about the wee sea potatoes
- Brian on What is the difference between a summer and winter flounder?
- Inbound marketing on 15 facts about the Portuguese man-of-war that’ll have you saying “Didya know…?”
- Donnie Huckabee on Wordless Wednesday | Shell art
- John on Why you should never walk on dunes
- ItzJaylaD on What I know about whale sharks
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- Hurricane vs. Cyclone vs. Typhoon
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- Horseshoe crabs confirmed as members of arachnid family
- Beyond the bag: Other plastics being banned
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