Goby fish are some of the smallest vertebrates in the world. This goby fish peers out of a sea anemone in the Solomon Islands.
Nudibranchs are colorful sea slugs found in reefs and the deep ocean.
After mating occurs, lasting from a few seconds to a day, eggs are laid
in masses ranging from hundreds to millions.
Denise's pygmy seahorses are among the smallest fish in the
Gasterosteiformes, the most colorful order of fish. These seahorses can
be as small as 0.8 inches (2 centimeters) in length.
Blue ribbon eels can reach up to 51.2 inches (130 centimeters) in
length. Mature males are mostly blue, whereas females are completely
yellow. Their fleshy nostrils, which resemble fans, make these eels
unique.
A well-camouflaged stargazer fish, which can reach up to 30 inches (75
centimeters) in length, waits for its next meal or hides for protection
from predators. They are named stargazers because their eyes appear to
be looking skyward. Their protruding jaw has been described as
resembling that of a bulldog.
Nudibranchs feed on a variety of organisms. Some are herbivores that eat
algae, while others are filter feeders that take in particles from the
water. Most are carnivores that eat many types of animals, including
sponges, corals, and worms. This neon-colored nudibranch feeds on a
tunicate.
Smooth trunkfish are found in coral reefs. Most trunkfish travel alone
or in small groups. They feed on a variety of invertebrates like
mollusks, worms, and sponges. They are dangerous to predators—when they
get aggravated, toxins are released from their flesh which can kill not
only other fish, but also themselves.
The octopus is one of the most intelligent of all invertebrates. Its
physical appearance is also unique, with its bulbous head, large,
complex eyes, and eight arms. Octopuses vary in size—the smallest is
about 2 inches (5 centimeters) long, while the largest species can grow
to 18 feet (5.4 meters) in length and have an armspan of almost 30 feet
(9 meters).
No comments:
Post a Comment