It is early June, the onset of winter in the Southern Hemisphere, and an army has just reached its destination. It has marched from the ocean’s depths into the shallows, amassing among the pilings at Blairgowrie Pier in Port Phillip Bay, south of Melbourne, Australia.
Conch snails are remarkable creatures with a set of eyes, a nose (sort of), a mouth and one foot. And because they’re slow, conches are commonly picked up and are a considered a delicacy in some regions.
Poisons and venom have helped ocean species survive for thousands of years. These evolutionary adaptations enabled the species to hunt and thrive in different conditions. Read more about the roles of poisons and venoms in different species.
As I drove west past Port Alberni on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, on my way to a photo shoot, I watched in disbelief as the temperature gauge in my vehicle rose from 64°F (18°C) to 113°F (45°C). I thought something was wrong with my gauge, but a local radio station reported the same temperature. British Columbia had record-high temperatures throughout the province that week in June 2021.
Weighing up to 3,000 pounds, walruses are among the largest pinnipeds. However, walruses and polar bears are threatened because of diminishing sea ice in the Arctic. Learn more about these pinnipeds.
Jellyfish are fascinating creatures with very interesting life cycles. Jellyfish populations throughout the world can teach us a lot about climate change and changing environments. Learn more about jellyfish.
The basking shark is the world’s second-largest fish. They have large gaping mouths which are used to skim the plankton-rich surface of the water. Basking sharks are slow and populations have been declining.
Krill are a critical food source for a host of animals, including birds, whales, seals, sharks, fish and squid. Like many other marine animals, the blue whale depends largely on krill for survival. Protecting krill populations will promote not only the survival of a huge variety of marine life but also preserve krill sightings.
Striped marlin can swim thousands of miles and are found in vast tropical and subtropical oceans. They feed on fast-moving prey and are highly migratory.
The paper nautilus is a pelagic octopus in the family Argonautidae. Researchers disagree about the number of distinct extant species. Nautiluses can quickly jet-propel themselves through the water, making it difficult to photograph them.
