How do fish float?

Bony fish have a swim bladder, a gas filled sac. The swim bladder originates as part of the belly. The swim bladder aids in creating an equilibrium with what is going on inside the fish and the surrounding water.

Some fish have a bladder that is part of the respiratory system, called an air bladder. It even creates a drumming sound. Croaker, red drum and black drum are part of the group.

Fish that have a skeleton made of cartilage do not have a swim bladder.

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Do sharks really never stop moving?

In order to breathe sharks have to keep moving. They have to engulf water to extract the oxygen in the water and then the rest of the water filters out of their gills. If the water current is very strong they can stay still.

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Armed to the teeth

People often wear shark’s teeth around their neck. But, what is the significance and how do they get them? As the internet research states a sharks tooth symbolizes virility. I am not going to get any further into that aspect of the question. To each his or her own.

Here is some information on the rest of the question.

Shark teeth are plentiful. They may have up to 20,000 teeth in their lifetime! Once we lose our baby teeth we have only 32 adult teeth for the rest of our lives. However, sharks are constantly replacing their teeth whenever they get torn out. They may get torn out when teethroxsripping apart prey. This may seem like it will hurt, but, a shark’s entire skeleton is made out of cartilage. Cartilage is the very flexible material we have in our ears and nose. The shark’s stock supply of teeth act like a conveyor belt constantly ready to replace one that has fallen out (pictured).

Here are really great places to go exploring for shark teeth: Shark River, N.J.; Flag Pond Beach, MD; Amelia Island, FL; and Cooper River, S.C.

Also, again, Happy Shark Week!

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image (c) sharkfact.org

No, sharks do not have a sixth sense

Sharks really do have a sixth sense.

It is the electrosensory organ that we spoke of with the hammerhead sharks. The electrosensory organ is called the ampullae of Lorenzini. Sounds intimidating, however, it’s really just a jelly filled canal that starts near the nose and helps them find food under the sand and figure out what direction they are going.

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Everyone loves Shark Week!

It really feels like a phenomenon – especially when Poets.org is also celebrating Shark Week!

Here is a good one from the site by Isaac McLellan  (poem “The Bluefish“):

The weaker tenants of the main
Flee from their rage in vain,
The vast menhaden multitudes
They massacre o’er the flood;
With lashing tail, with snapping teeth
They stain the tides with blood.

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Break it down. It’s hammertime … (doooo doo doo dut .. doo dut ..doo dut.)

The hammerhead shark has evolved the interesting looking skull cap to accommodate its extra collection electrosensory organs. All sharks do have these electrosensory organs, but, the hammerhead has a bit more than the average shark species. hammerheadThe electrosensory organ are useful for traveling far distances in the open ocean. It is like a internal GPS system.  (I am not sure if it comes with a funny British accent like the one in my uncle’s car though.)

Also, another reason that the hammerhead may have evolved that shaped head is because it loves to eat squid. That head will surely be able to tangle up those tentacles lurking around the corners.

Again, Happy Shark Week!

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Image (c) animalport.com

What do you mako this?

In honor of Shark Week on the Discovery Channel I decided to post a different shark fact each week.jumping_mako

Today…What is the fastest shark species?

The mako shark is the fastest shark. It can get up to 20 miles per hour (or faster when being chased by an enemy). The mako shark can naturally move as fast as I do while driving a go-kart. Unbelievable!

You’d have to be pretty skilled to catch a mako shark, especially on a rod. Here is an article from Underwater Times telling how Brendan Mason caught a 600 pound mako shark with just a rod and reel!

The mako shark can even jump up to 20 feet in the air.

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Image (c) UnderWater Times.

What is the best book about the ocean?

That seems like a fun question. And, worthwhile, especially since we wrote about the best beach movies this winter. But…Are we talking non-fiction or fiction? Let’s just say for the sake of relaxation you are asking about fiction. I can name some that come to mind, but, would love to hear feedback from others as well!Moby_Dick_by_KissMyShades

Here is my list:

Jaws by Peter Benchley

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

The Big Wave by Pearl S. Buck

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

I am sure there are many more that I have yet to read…please add your favorites to the comment section. Thanks!

Has anyone read Robinson Crusoe by Robert Louis Stevenson? I feel like that would be worthy of the list, but, don’t want to say I read it when I never did…

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image (c) deviantart.com

Oh, Bermuda Triangle, where art thou?

bermuda-triangle

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Image (c) behindblondiepark.com

Who is afraid of Atlantic wolf(fish)?

Wolf FishThe Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus) may look rather frightening, but, the fish will only harm you if it is out of water. This is rather understandable since it is out of its natural habitat. It prefers to live on rocky bottoms of the ocean floor in very deep, cold waters.

These fish have high concentrations of the compound found in antifreeze so they are able to survive these low temperatures.

The Atlantic wolffish may have gotten black listed as a ‘scary creature’ since it is so often seen out of the water. Commercial fishermen often caught this fish by accident (i.e., bycatch). In fact, the wolffish is listed as a Species of Concern with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Image (c) mercola.com