Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Cephalopods

True Facts About the Cuttlefish 

True Facts About the Octopus

Habitat

Octopus-
  •          Usually live in rocks, coral, or burrows.
  •          Because they’re invertebrates, they are able to squeeze through narrow passages to find homes.
  •          Homes provide protection and they allow the females to lay their eggs.
Squid-
  •          Live in warm tropic waters while some live in colder waters.
  •          They are found near the sea floor, which is about 10,000 feet below sea level.
  •          They are generally found in four oceans.
  •          They don’t migrate for new homes.

Mollusks-
  •          Some are found on shallow coastal areas while others are In deep ocean.
  •          Usually are found where volcanic sediments come in contact with cold waters.
  •          They bury themselves in sand, silt, mud, and gravel.
  •          They are substrates to help support their heavy shells.

Cuttlefish-
  •          Usually found near the Mediterranean, Baltic, and North Sea coasts.
  •          They live in temperate waters where the cuttlefish are most comfortable.
  •          Use their camouflage to blend in with their habitat to hide from predators and hunt prey.

Feeding

Octopus:
  • Crabs
  • Whelks
  • Small fish
  • Mollusks
  • Clams
  • Lobsters
  • Sea Worms
  • Shrimp
  • Pacific Giant Octopus sometimes go after sharks
Squid:
  • Hoki (Grenadier fish)
  • Shrimp
  • Young sharks and whales (giant and colossal squid)
Cuttlefish:
  • Clown fish
  • Trigger fish
  • Gobies
  • Blennies
  • Wrasse
  • Cardinal fish
  • Seahorses
  • Damsels
  • Tangs
  • Crabs
  • Shrimp
Nautilus:
  • Small fish
  • Crabs
  • Crustaceans
  • Carrion

Types

Octopi:
  • Found in every ocean, and there are over 100 species.
  • They lack feeding tentacles; most lack fins.
  • They seize their prey, inject it with paralyzing toxins, then eat it.
  • A female octopus attaches her eggs to rocks and guards them until they hatch; then she dies.
Squid:
  • Squids have eight arms, usually two feeding tentacles (longer than arms), and a fin on each side of their mantle.
  • They are found in every ocean and are either swimming, floating, or resting on the bottom of the ocean floor.
  • Squids that live in shallow waters are active hunters.
  • They propel themselves using their siphons and swim/turn using their fins.
Nautiluses
  • The only cephalopod with an outer shell (today).
  • They are nocturnal.
  • Can live for about 20 years.
Cuttlefishes:
  • More than 100 species.
  • Eight arms and two long, lightning fast feeding tentacles.
  • Named after the chalky internal shell they possess and use for floating.

Migration

Octopus- they migrate from shallow deep waters and back again.
Squid- they migrate from the north to the south for food and climate change.
Cuttlefish- the cuttlefish migrate between May and August between False Bay and Fitzegard Bay for food.
Nautilus-Ultrasonic telemetry techniques were employed to track eleven specimens of Nautilus pompilius for variable times ranging from one to 78 days at Osprey Reef, Coral Sea, Australia.

Anatomy


Organs:
  •          High brain-to-body mass ratio; most intelligent of the invertebrates.
  •          Three hearts.
  •          Gills and Siphon for breathing and jet-propulsion respectively.
  •          Gonads typically at the top of the mantle (head).
  •          Most have ink sacs.
  •          Have bird-like beaks, and most have radulas (multiple rows of up to nine teeth).
  •          Large, highly developed eyes, yet they are colorblind. 


Appendages:
  • Most have at least eight arms and two or more tentacles
  •  Arms are lined with suction cups and tentacles usually have the suckers only at the tips
  • “Cephalopod” means “head-foot.”


Size and Color:
  •          As big as 60 feet (Giant Squid) to as little as half an inch (Pygmy Squid).
  •          Most have chromatophores which stretch and squash to change color.


Nautiluses:
  •          Still retain exterior shells.
  •          Have about 90 arms that lack suckers but are rather sticky.


Monday, January 27, 2014

A little about the Sperm Whale
       The sperm whale's scientific name is Physeter Macrocephalus. They pretty much live all over the oceans, because they are apex predators. They have a gestation period of 14-16 months which produces a single calf. Sperm whales are deep divers, and when they're hungry they dive deep for medium size squid, giant squid, and colossal squid. They don't really have migratory patterns; however, adult males tend to move away from the females and young males who live in the tropical waters and swim to the arctic and the antarctic. These adult males are thought to do this due to scramble competition for mesopelagic (200m - 1000m ocean depth zone) squid. Sperm whales don't (under usual circumstances) form bonds with other species. They also have social lives, though, three quarters of their time is spent foraging (getting food) and the other quarter is spent socializing, which is usually done in the afternoon.
 Physical Characteristics: 
       Sperm whales are large and gray/white, and have block-shaped heads that are one quarter to one third of their body length. For this they are also known as "Cachalot." On average, males grow to about 52 feet and weigh 41,000 kilograms, while females grow to about 36 feet and weigh 14,000 kilograms (in other words, dudes are big and strong and the chicks are small which is actually ironic). They have comparatively large flukes (tails) of triangular shape and high flexibility, which are also capable of inflicting fatal blows to orcas. They have narrow, under-slung lower jaws, lined with 18 to 26 cone-shaped teeth that can weigh up to a kilogram, yet they are not necessary for capturing and eating squid; instead, it is believed that they are used in aggression between males (like my fists). The teeth can be analyzed similar to tree rings to determine the whales age. Its eyes are the largest of toothed whales, weighing about 170 grams. Its cornea is elliptical and its lens in spherical; the eyes are retractable, as shown in the following short clip.
 Sperm Whales Live
       Come on a cruise in the middle of the Pacific to see these whales live in the ocean, whether you are looking over the safety rails or watching through our underwater submarine video cameras. We offer these exclusive tours during the months of April and September, six months dedicated to bringing you the experience of a lifetime. These majestic creatures really are an exotic sight.
About the Tour
       We offer only the cruise liner experience, because when you are out in the middle of an ocean surrounded by beautiful, large beasts and at the mercy of the sea, nothing says safety like big ship. For just $2000, you can come spend a month at sea among many others who want to see these divine creatures. The price covers your room and room services, the freshest food at sea, recreational facilities on board, and viewing one of the biggest creatures alive today. Packages are as follows:

  • One person/one month: $2000
  • Two people/one month: $3000
  • Family/one month: $2000 starting price plus $750 for each additional family member (minimum of three)
  • Groups/one month: $2000 starting price plus $1000 for each additional member
Tour extensions cost $500 per person for each additional month.

Check out this Flick

       Our goal is to bring you the best Sperm Whale watching experience at the best price on the market, and ensure that it will be a memorable experience well worth telling others about.