Image (c) Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries.
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It’s as easy as A, B, Sea: H for Horseshoe Crab
Horseshoe crabs are an arthropod more closely related to spiders and scorpions than crabs and lobsters. They have a three part body: prosoma (head), opisthosoma (heavy shell with legs under it) and the telson (tail). This amazing body structure has been unchanged for over 200 million years. Interestingly enough, this is this Beach Chair […]
Why is the ocean blue?
My immediate answer is that the ocean had a rough day at the office. A lot of people think it is because of the reflection of the sky, but, that is missing an important part of the puzzle. If you think about it the ocean is not really blue everywhere, is it? What needs to […]
What is the second largest reef in the world?
Interesting question. The top three largest coral reef ecosystems in the world are: 1) Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia 2) Belize Barrier Reef 3) Florida Keys Reef Ecosystem A coral reef ecosystem relies on teamwork between the coral animal (a type of cnidarians) and an algae called zooxannthellea.
99 reasons I’m in ‘Limulus Love’
It’s no secret that I love those horseshoe crabs. Well someone on Twitter this week asked me why I am so crazy over them so I thought I’d take the time to outline 99 reasons I think Limulus polyphemus are a fascinating species. Three Nobel Prizes were awarded to scientists who did some or all […]
How do sea spiders distribute nutrients throughout their bodies?
If anyone has ever come upon a sea spider you immediately think – where are its guts and stuff? The answer is that their stomach, intestines and reproductive parts are housed within the sea spider’s legs. The animal breathes and manages waste by direct diffusion along the surface of it’s bodies. They can be a […]
Marine Debris Art Contest: Deadline November 30th
Here are two questions we should all be asking ourselves: How does marine debris impact the ocean and Great Lakes? What are you doing to help prevent marine debris? This year the NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest is sponsor another amazing art contest for students in grades K-8 from all U.S. states and territories. Make sure that […]
Getting to know three … Bivalve edition
Ever know instinctively that some animals are ‘related’ and just can’t pinpoint their similarities? On the third day of every month I explain three features that are common among three animals of a certain group. Of course, generally each group has more than three representatives and even many more similarities and then even more differences, […]
What allows jellies to float?
Jellies don’t technically float; they’re neutrally buoyant (or close to it). Floating would be bad. It would mean being stuck on the surface, like a boat. Jellies are mostly water-up to 96%. What’s left is mostly the “jelly” in a jellyfish, the mesoglea. Jellies sink exceedingly slowly, and make up for it with just a […]
Can you tell what type of whale is under the surface by the spray it produces above the surface?
Yes. For instance, the sperm whale will blow forward and to the left. The vapor will be about 6 feet tall. Right whales and bowhead whales will have a v-shaped blow. The right whales will be about 15 feet tall while the bowhead whales will be higher at 21 feet tall. Humpback whales have a […]
10 brief facts on bioluminescence
We all get excited thinking about bioluminescence in nature. Ironically, that excitement is only one of the reasons animals glow like an elf in Middle Earth. Here are some ‘basics on bioluminescence’ you can share with your friends and family the next time you all ogle a firefly and wonder ‘why?’. Insects (e.g., fireflies, glow […]
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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
Top posts & pages from BCS …
- Hurricane vs. Cyclone vs. Typhoon
- A House for Hermit Crab
- How to handle a horseshoe crab
- Snot's your house
- Wednesday Wisdom: Various quotes (Alaska scenes)
- A naturalist's must-see destination: Fossil Hunting at Bayfront State Park in Chesapeake Beach, MD
- Belly biology creates lasting memories
- Five awful puns about courtship in the sea
- Horseshoe crabs confirmed as members of arachnid family
- Beyond the bag: Other plastics being banned
I think it weighs 21.4 pounds