Red drum have an ability to produce a drumming sound on their air bladders which is how they got commons name. Learn who what other fish share this characteristic with them here. Pa-rum-pa-pa-pum …
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Who is afraid of Atlantic wolf(fish)?
The 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 […]
Five facts about my favorite animal…Can you guess what it is?
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 […]
Horseshoe crabs confirmed as members of arachnid family
Even though they have ten legs – not, eight – we’ve always said horseshoe crabs are members of the arachnid family. It was first theorized by E. Ray Lankester in 1881. But, until recently, it had not been proven in terms of genetics. Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studied the molecular evolutionary patterns of […]
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. Do you have another great question? Check out www.beachchairscientist.com and enter […]
What are jellyfish?
It was another great weekend on the beach for my family and everyone had new and exciting Beach Chair Scientist questions. The best part about being a Beach Chair Scientist is clarifying misconceptions, so I am going to start with the question that seemed to garner the most discussion this weekend “What are jellyfish?”. Jellyfish, […]
How do sandbars get started?
The current closest to the ocean floor is moving offshore and dumps small piles of sand right at the wave break area. The sand accumulates to various degrees, and regardless it makes the water much shallower where you stand. Now, the sandbars that I am thinking of are very long and are parallel to the […]
Merry Christmas!
I just want to extend a simple wish for a safe holiday! Here is an image of a driftwood ‘tree’ that my daughter and nephews decorated with clam shells. “A song, a song, high above the trees, With a voice as big as the sea, With a voice as big as the sea, Said the […]
Test your knowledge: Sea stars
1. True or False: Sea stars are fish. 2. True or False: Sea stars are closely related to sea cucumbers, sea urchins and brittle stars. 3. True or False: Sea stars have a flexible skeleton. 4. True or False: Sea stars breathe through gills. 5. True or False: Sea stars can regenerate most body parts. […]
How many animals and plants live in the ocean?
(Please note: This post does not give an exact answer to the question.) It is comparable to the amount of stars in the sky. Especially if you think that 95% of the world’s oceans are unexplored. That is why in 2000 a huge census of what lives in the ocean started. The Census of Marine […]
A naturalist’s must-see destination: San Francisco Bay
I thought it might be interesting to take some time each week over the next few months to get to know a particular body of water in different regions of the world. For today I am starting off with the San Francisco Bay. The San Francisco Bay is an extraordinary place that has undergone changes […]
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- 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…?”
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Top posts & pages from BCS …
- Hurricane vs. Cyclone vs. Typhoon
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- How to handle a horseshoe crab
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- 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
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