All About Whitespotted Eagle Rays

Just like a snowflake falling from the sky, the whitespotted eagle ray is unique; no two are exactly the same. The whitespotted eagle ray is a beautiful sight to behold with its long pointy tail and its body spotted with white dots. 

The whitespotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari) is a cartilaginous fish—and one of the ocean’s largest rays. The genus name Aetobatus comes from the Greek word aetos meaning “eagle” and batis meaning “ray.”

See more wonderful ocean animals!

Enter your email and never miss an update

Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. Please try again or contact 1.888.780.6763

Enter Your Email

...loading

Thanks for signing up for Ocean Conservancy emails.

Habitat and Size

Whitespotted eagle rays can be found swimming in tropical to warm temperate waters in the Atlantic. They are easy to spot because of their spotted bodies—and they are favorites for ocean photographers and scuba divers to witness. 

The whitespotted eagle ray spends most of its time gliding through the open ocean. But they can also be found in coastal environments such as coral reefs, estuaries and bays. In the open ocean, whitespotted eagle rays usually swim in large schools towards the surface of the ocean. That would be a wonderful sight to see! They are also known to swim long distances.

Whitespotted eagle rays are massive in size—they have a wingspan of up to 10 feet and can weigh up to 500 pounds! If you were to measure one, from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail, you would find that it could be as long as 16 feet. Female whitespotted eagle rays tend to be larger than the males.

Physical Appearance

When looking at a whitespotted eagle ray, you’ll notice that the snout looks similar to a bird’s beak—which is exactly how the whitespotted eagle ray got its name. Their unique-looking snouts work to their advantage. While looking for food, they use their snouts to investigate and dig around in the sand for something delicious to eat. Their mouths contain flat plates of teeth which are used to crush their food—the hard shells of crustaceans and mollusks.

Like a snowflake or human fingerprint, each whitespotted eagle ray has a unique pattern of spots. The top of the body is a darkish brown or black with white circles. The bottom of the body is whiteish. 

Fun Facts About Whitespotted Eagle Rays

• A group of rays is called a “fever of rays.”
• In the animated Disney movie Finding Nemo, Nemo’s schoolteacher, Ray, is an eagle ray. Do you remember the song Ray sang to the students?

Venomous Tail Spines

The whitespotted eagle ray is shy and non-aggressive. However, it is still considered dangerous to humans because of its venomous tail spines which can cause some serious wounds. The whitespotted eagle rays use their tails, which may have two to six venomous spines at the base, for self-defense. 

Flying and Jumping

Whitespotted eagle rays have occasionally been known to leap completely out of the water! Scientists don’t really know why they jump and leap. They think this unusual movement could be a mating ritual, an effort to escape predators, a way to communicate with other rays or a method to help remove parasites.

Diet and Reproduction

The whitespotted eagle ray, like other sharks and rays, has an electrosensory system consisting of hundreds of electroreceptive organs, referred to as the ampullae of Lorenzini. These organs help them sense other organisms hiding behind coral or buried in the sand. They are predators and use the ampullae of Lorenzini to detect prey and prepare for an attack. They enjoy eating mollusks, oysters, shrimp, crabs, octopus, worms, whelks and small fishes.

Regarding reproduction, whitespotted eagle rays are ovoviviparous. This means they reproduce via internal fertilization. The female incubates the eggs internally where they hatch. Then, the female gives birth to live pups.

Age and Population Status

The lifespan of a whitespotted eagle ray is about 15 years, but they can live to 20 years or more. 

Whitespotted eagle rays are listed as “Endangered” on the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Their populations are declining throughout the world, with fishing being one of the main threats. They are directly targeted in some places around the world and caught as bycatch in other fisheries. They are also threatened by pollution, habitat loss and impacts from climate change.

How You Can Help Whitespotted Eagle Rays

It’s up to all of us to help protect whitespotted eagle rays, coral reefs, the open ocean and all the animals living in the sea. Ocean Conservancy is working with you to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together, we create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it.

Please make a donation to Ocean Conservancy—give today and make a difference for the future of our ocean!

The post All About Whitespotted Eagle Rays appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

from Ocean Conservancy https://ift.tt/DtyoVxz https://ift.tt/HIyTROt

Is The Yellow Boxfish the Cutest Fish in the World?

When it comes to selecting the cutest fish on the planet, there are many contenders. You might consider the usual suspects like clownfish, seahorses or rainbow parrotfish. However, you shouldn’t overlook this hidden gem: the yellow boxfish (Ostracion cubicum). With its adorable appearance that once served as inspiration for a car design (yes, really!), these fish offer more than meets the eye. Let’s delve into the world of the cute, agile and sometimes dangerous yellow boxfish.

Love ocean content?

Enter your email and never miss an update

Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. Please try again or contact 1.888.780.6763

Enter Your Email

...loading

Thanks for signing up for Ocean Conservancy emails.

The yellow boxfish certainly knows how to stand out in a crowd. It sports a bright yellow color and distinct black spots that serve as warnings to predators. Young boxfish display a more vibrant yellow and larger black spots, but their color fades, and their spots become less distinct as they age. Yellow boxfish typically grow to be 15-18 inches in adulthood.

In addition to its color, the yellow boxfish lives up to its name in another way—it has rough, bony plates that encase its body in a box-like structure called a carapace. The carapace acts as armor and protects it from predators. The carapace is inflexible, and therefore the boxfish relies almost solely on its fins to swim. In theory, this rigid structure should make it difficult for the species to get around. However, the yellow boxfish gracefully navigates coral reefs with ease. Some researchers believe that its tailfin plays a crucial role in its surprising agility.

In addition to being sneakily nimble, the yellow boxfish has another surprise: when threatened, it can release a toxin from its skin that is potentially lethal to nearby fish. While this might not add to its “cuteness” factor, it certainly helps keep predators at bay.

The yellow boxfish is a mostly solitary species found in temperate waters across the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea. They prefer depths of one to 40 meters and dwell in habitats like coral and rocky reefs. Their diet consists of marine algae, worms, sponges, crustaceans, mollusks and small fish.

The yellow boxfish relies on our ocean’s precious ecosystems for its survival. Unfortunately, the yellow boxfish and countless marine species face urgent threats, from plastic pollution to rising ocean temperatures and climate change.That’s why Ocean Conservancy is leading the charge to protect our ocean, its wildlife, and the communities that depend on it for years to come. Take action and support the fight for our ocean today.

The post Is The Yellow Boxfish the Cutest Fish in the World? appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

from Ocean Conservancy https://ift.tt/b1mxwWf https://ift.tt/QCZknLS

Five Species of Parrotfish All Ocean Lovers Should Know

Parrotfish are serious showstoppers—just like their land-dwelling namesakes, they come in a range of bright, bold colors. Their beauty is as equally notable as their importance to our ocean: Parrotfish are essential to the survival of coral habitats as they feed on algae that could otherwise suffocate the reefs.

There are so many fascinating facts about parrotfish, including their trademark “beaks” that are formed with incredibly strong teeth and jaws to make it easier to chomp on coral all day. Dive into just a few of our favorite facts about these captivatingly colorful creatures.

Love ocean content?

Enter your email and never miss an update

Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. Please try again or contact 1.888.780.6763

Enter Your Email

...loading

Thanks for signing up for Ocean Conservancy emails.

There are more than 80 known species of parrotfish, so asking me to pick my favorite species is like asking me to choose a favorite child. Okay, maybe it’s not that extreme … but it is a tough choice. While we value and appreciate the entire Scaridae family and all the wonder it brings to our ocean, here are five parrotfish species all ocean lovers should know.

Bumphead Parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum)

Bumphead parrotfish typically inhabit waters in the Eastern Pacific, from the Gulf of California to Peru, including the Galapagos Islands. If you ever spot a bumphead parrotfish in the wild, you might think you’re seeing an alien! While bumphead parrotfish do look somewhat ferocious due to their large bumps (hence the name) and sheer size, they are passive and only interested in munching on coral. These enormous fish can grow up to four feet long and weigh up to 100 pounds—not only are they the largest parrotfish species, but they are also some of the largest of all reef fish. The protrusions from their foreheads serve a few purposes. In addition to using their bumps to scrape algae off coral reefs or break apart large chunks of coral for consumption, some male bumphead parrotfish will also go toe-to-toe—or rather bump-to-bump—with other bumpheads to establish dominance and claim their territory. Watch this incredible behavior in action (toward the middle of the page).

Daisy Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus)

Typically found in the Pacific and Indian oceans, daisy parrotfish (also known as Pacific daisy parrotfish or bullethead parrotfish) are among the most widespread parrotfish species. When daisy parrotfish are in their female phase, or “initial phase,” they often have a white beak with a dark reddish-brown coloration over the rest of their bodies with a black spot on their fins. As they transition to their male phase, or “terminal phase,” daisy parrotfish can range from bright green to olive-colored bodies with purple and blue lines around their scales, purple stomachs and bright blue tails. Before heading to bed at night, daisy parrotfish secrete slime-like bubbles and create a protective sack to envelop their entire bodies. This gelatinous sleeping bag protects them from predators while the daisy parrotfish sleep.

Midnight Parrotfish (Scarus coelestinus)

Much like their name suggests, midnight parrotfish have a deep blue and black base color with bright blue unscaled heads and a blue stripe, or bar, that extends between their eyes. They even have blue-green teeth. In contrast to the Taylor Swift album inspired by her sleepless nights, midnight parrotfish are awake and hunt during the day and sleep at night. They are native to tropical waters in the West Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, stretching from the Bahamas to Brazil. Like many parrotfish species, midnight parrotfish can change their gender from female to male. But unlike many others, when this transition happens, their colors remain the same. Midnight parrotfish are large and can reach up to 30 inches in length and weigh more than 15 pounds.

Rainbow Parrotfish (Scarus guacamaia)

You might be thinking, “Aren’t all parrotfish ‘rainbow parrotfish’ with all their spectacular colors and patterns?” While the range of marvelous markings amongst all parrotfish species does resemble a rainbow, the rainbow parrotfish is, in fact, a species of its own. Rainbow parrotfish are very large and can reach nearly four feet in length and weigh up to 44 pounds. Similar to its even larger cousin the bumphead parrotfish, the rainbow parrotfish is the largest herbivorous reef fish in the Caribbean and Atlantic. Typically found in warm waters in the West Atlantic Ocean, from Florida to Argentina, rainbow parrotfish have green-blue beaks with bright orange bodies and tails and green-blue scales.

Stoplight Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride)

Stoplight parrotfish are found in tropical waters, including the Bahamas, Bermuda, southern Florida and the Caribbean Sea. They can reach about 22 inches in length and can weigh up to three-and-a-half pounds. Typically, when stoplight parrotfish change their gender from female to male, they experience a drastic color change. In their female phase, stoplight parrotfish have scales that are reddish-brown with scattered white dots on their sides, and their stomachs are red, resembling a stoplight. Once they transition to males, their tales become yellow while their bodies take on another stoplight color and—you guessed it—become green. They also have bright pink-orange lines running from their heads, giving the appearance of streamers. Some males, however, prefer their female-identified colors and are known as “female-mimic males.”

While there are more than 80 known species of parrotfish, one thing they all have in common is their reliance on coral reefs. Sadly, vital coral reefs across our ocean are under threat as they face the impacts of overuse, ocean acidification and rising water temperatures caused by climate change. That’s why Ocean Conservancy is working at all levels of government, on both sides of the aisle, to protect our ocean for generations to come. Take one minute to add your name and safeguard the parrotfish’s habitat—it’s time for the United States to deliver on our global commitments to address the climate crisis before it’s too late.

The post Five Species of Parrotfish All Ocean Lovers Should Know appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

from Ocean Conservancy https://ift.tt/w9L0hd5

What is a Neon Flying Squid?

The natural wonders of our world tend to keep us on our toes. Just when we think we’ve seen it all, there’s something new and incredibly remarkable to discover. The ocean is no exception to this status quo. In fact, the ocean has shown us, time and time again, just how truly fascinating, delightfully unique and sometimes strange its inhabitants are. We are thankful to have the opportunity to explore and learn about these amazing ocean animals and bask in their splendor.

Today’s spotlight is on an elusive creature that lives up to its name: the neon flying squid. Now, if you’re imagining squids rocketing into the blue sky and zooming up with the eagles and pelicans, you may be a bit disappointed. But as with most things in life, the real truth tells a much better story.

See more wonderful ocean animals!

Enter your email and never miss an update

Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. Please try again or contact 1.888.780.6763

Enter Your Email

...loading

Thanks for signing up for Ocean Conservancy emails.

Dive in (or take flight) as we explore all about the amazing neon flying squid!

It’s a bird, It’s a plane, It’s a … neon flying squid?

The neon flying squid (Ommastrephes bartramii) also goes by a couple of common names including red squid and red flying squid. (I’m partial to its original name since it sounds the coolest.) These creatures are typically found in subtropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans.

Neon flying squid are equipped with eight arms and two feeding tentacles that look similar to their arms. Flying squid have a strong mantle, which is the main part of the squid’s body that covers and protects its internal organs. They are typically between a red and mauve color and range in size from about 30 cm for males and up to 55 cm for females (about a foot for males and a foot and 9 inches for females). Most noticeably, this squid also features a broad silvery band of coloring which might be where it gets the “neon” part of its name.

As for the day in the life of a neon flying squid, these animals are vertical migrants, meaning they move up and down the depths of the ocean throughout the day. As a result, they typically like to stay under the radar during the day. Diving to depths of up to 400 meters, the neon flying squid roams the mesopelagic zone, more commonly known as the twilight zone, in daylight hours. In this zone of the ocean, light is scarce and only barely penetrates through the darkness. 

At night, the flying squid will gather near the water’s surface and feed on fish, other squid and crustaceans. The neon flying squid is a migratory species and despite its short lifespan of about one year, this squid is always on the move in a cyclical pattern for feeding and spawning. Neon flying squid are opportunistic feeders and typically travel in large groups to feed while protecting themselves from predators. Flying squid are prey for a large variety of sea creatures including sharks, dolphins, seals, tuna, swordfish and other marine mammals. Now that’s a lot of predators to look out for.

So, the big question: When do neon flying fish fly? 

As you may have guessed, neon squid travel in large groups at the surface of the water, and that is where all the flying magic happens. Flight is a skill attributed to smaller neon flying squid when they reach a certain maturity in adulthood but before they grow too large. Once they grow past a certain size, flying becomes more difficult yet not impossible. This ability is thought to help them evade predators as they move together. This squid can be airborne for about 10 to 20 meters before landing back into the ocean. This is truly an amazing and rare sight. 

Neon flying squid with their unique abilities are just one piece of the enormously large and mysterious puzzle that is our ocean. There are still so many pieces to discover and explore. Join Ocean Conservancy as we dive deep and fly high towards a healthier ocean for us all. We can’t do it without your support. Take action today to help Ocean Conservancy protect the ocean and every unique creature that calls it home.

The post What is a Neon Flying Squid? appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

from Ocean Conservancy https://ift.tt/IYNhD25 https://ift.tt/7aWGwlY

How the Water Cycle Impacts the Weather and Our Ocean

“How’s the weather?” may have once been the most common conversation starter on the planet. Recently though, that simple question launches stories about one thing: Water. Friends, family and coworkers bring out their phones to show me pictures of wild downpours and terrifying floods, waves overtopping lighthouses, people stranded on the tops of their cars and houses floating away on the tides. These are not distant stories but personal experiences. Water seems to be on everyone’s mind. Let’s take a closer look at the water cycle and how it impacts the weather and our ocean. 

Never miss an update

Enter your email and never miss an update

Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. Please try again or contact 1.888.780.6763

Enter Your Email

...loading

Thanks for signing up for Ocean Conservancy emails.

Record-breaking ocean temperatures

As air currents pass over the ocean, they pick up moisture before passing over land or converging with storm systems and producing precipitation. As ocean waters warm, more water evaporates into the air, which then results in more intense and frequent rain or snow. As climates continue to change, wet areas are projected to get wetter and dry areas will get drier. Although the total precipitation in an area may not substantially increase, cities could experience an entire month’s worth of rain in a single storm. Beyond increasingly severe hurricanes, the changing climate and ocean will impact our relationship to water along the coast,  in our communities and throughout entire watersheds.

Bombogenesis (bomb cyclones)

Although it is a fun word to say, “bombogenesis” or “bomb cyclones” are having seriously negative impacts on our climate. When cold air and warm air collide, this can trigger a rapid intensification of a midlatitude cyclone leading to torrential downpours. Due to a warming climate and warmer ocean waters, bomb cyclones are increasing in frequency and severity during our winters. 

Atmospheric rivers

Similarly, atmospheric rivers are carrying more moisture due to climate change. Imagine the Mississippi River except in the sky and even more massive—atmospheric rivers can stretch more than 300 miles wide and transport 15 times the amount of water flowing out of the Mississippi. When an atmospheric river makes landfall, it dumps huge amounts of water across the landscape. When the atmospheric river hits mountains, the moisture rich air is forced up in elevation, causing it to cool, condense and lose its capacity to hold all that moisture. This massive amount of condensed moist air then falls as heavy precipitation, overwhelming communities and infrastructure before it eventually flows back into the ocean.

Impacts of severe flooding

Extreme rainfall has dangerous implications for coastal and marine environments and the people who depend upon them. The unpredictable and intense precipitation caused by atmospheric rivers and bomb cyclones overwhelms landscapes with flash flood events that often occur too quickly to be adequately absorbed by the ground. Instead of recharging the depleted aquifers and reducing drought, this water overwhelms the watershed and floods back out to the ocean, causing landslides and destruction in its wake. When extreme rainfall and high tides or storm surge occur at the same time, they overwhelm our crumbling water infrastructure resulting in dangerous pollutants, plastics and sewage flowing into rivers and the ocean. 

What can we do to protect communities and the ocean?

1. Address the water quality challenges.
   Water infrastructure is aging across the country. With increasingly severe storms and coastal flooding, water quality is a major concern for public and ecosystem health. Funding for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving funds is critical to coastal resilience.
2. Fund nature-based solutions. 
   Restoring habitat and installing green infrastructure like bioswales, living shorelines and oyster reefs can mitigate stormwater flooding, protect coastlines and allow aquifers to recharge. Hardened, gray infrastructure can result in worse flooding downstream and erosion along the coast. The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers fund and permit implementation of green climate solutions.
3. Reduce emissions.
   The more greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere, the worse the severe storms and flooding will get. We can slow down ocean warming by switching to renewable energy sources and reducing energy consumption by changing to more efficient options. The Infrastructure Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law gave the American people billions of dollars to act on climate and protect our oceans. We need to use these dollars to strengthen our water infrastructure!

Ocean Conservancy’s climate team is on the front lines of the fight to protect our ocean, marine wildlife and the communities that depend on it. But we can’t do it without you. Take action now to help us create a healthy ocean for generations to come. 

The post How the Water Cycle Impacts the Weather and Our Ocean appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

from Ocean Conservancy https://ift.tt/OMlIdn4