Wikipedia:School and university projects/Ocean Animals

= Ocean Life =

The Anglerfish
There are many types of angler fish. They are split into two groups: the surface angler, and the deep sea angler. The deep sea angler has many color patterns that make it camouflaged on the bottom of the ocean floor. A deep sea angler can be 4-6 feet long and can get up to 60-90 pounds. The deep sea angler eats small to medium size fish. It can eat fish almost half its size because of its huge mouth and razor sharp teeth. It catches its prey by luring it into its mouth with a light that attracts the fish. No one knows how the light works. The deep sea angler lives in the Atlantic ocean. It also lives in the Mediterranean sea which is by the southern part of Europe and northern Africa. The deep sea angler lives over 3,000 feet down on the ocean floor. source Item 9500200547 Grolier Encyclopedia of fish

Brain Coral
The brain coral, an underwater, wave resistant mound, is a fascinating creature of the ocean. It is made of coral, coral sands, and limestone. True to its name, the brain coral actually resembles the human brain. It is a greenish - brown color from algae. It can grow up to 26 feet in width. The species of the brain coral is the Cnidarian. It lives in the Caribbean Sea with fish, prawns, (edible shrimp), barnacles, Christmas Tree worms and other small animals that burrow into the coral reefs. They can live under 100 to 130 feet under water. They are born in one spot band stays there for the rest of its life. You may have seen brain coral in a souvinier or gift shop. Coral is a very popular souvenir, and such popularity is endangering coral reefs around the world. Although brain coral itself is not in danger, the reefs where the live are being destroyed. This is why it is illegal to import coral in many countries, including the United States. The Crown of Thorns sea star eats brain coral. Usually, brain coral eats plankton. They get nutrients from algae. In return, the brain coral gives minerals to the algae. Although their diet is very important, it isn't included in the four enviormental facts that effect growth. The four enviormental facts that effect the brain coral are temperature, salinity, ( the amount of salt in the water), wave action, and temperature. Brain coral lives in temperatures of 73 to 80 degrees farenhiet. High rates of rainfall or runoff (rain or snow that goes in to the water) may kill coral reefs by reducing salinity. Amazing Animals of the World Vol. 5. Published by Grolier Education Corp. Edited by Molly Stratton1995 Academic American Encyclopedia Vol. 3 1989 ISBN 0-7172-2024-9

Clownfish
The clownfish grows to be between 2 and 5 inches. They have brightly-colored bodies. They are often decorated bright wih yellow or blue stripes. Clownfish have deep thin bodies. The clownfish has a fin on its back. It's called a dorsal fin, it helps the clownfish keep balance. Another fin is called the pectoral fin. That fin paddles it through water. The tail helps it propel through water. Propel means to push. Clownfish are salt water fish. They live in sea anemones. Clownfish can swim ad rest around the sea anemone tentacles without getting stung. Clownfish start off the relationship with the anemone carefully. It spends less time around the tentacles. After a period of time the clownfish feels safe around the tentacles. The relationship between the clownfish and the anemone makes it easier for the clownfish to get food .The clownfish swims away from the reef to attract bigger fish. Then it swims back into the anemone. The anemone poisons the fish with its tentacles. The clownfish eats the remains of the fish. Clownfish also eats algae which is a plant without a stem. It also eats crustacean which is crab, lobster, and shrimp. Sometimes clownfish is born as a male and changes it gender to a female. Gender is a male or female. The female clownfish is bigger than the male. Female clownfish are known to bite at any diver that gets to close to the male or babies. Published by Grolier Education Corp. Encyclopedia of Animals #9500200615 EBSCO Publishing http://www.clown.fish-tropical.net/

Humpback Whale
Humpback Whales are incredible animals. Humpback Whales have sleek (smooth and shiny) gray bodies that point down twards their snout (nose). They have a tailfin, a very small dorsal (back) fin, and 2 small flippers (fins). Whales can weigh up to 50-60 tons (1ton equals 2,000 pounds) and its size can be 50-55 feet. Humpback Whales got their names from hunters for mving the way it does when it dives or rolls over. Before it dives it inhales air and water. When it goes under water it exhales the air and water. They blow it threw a blowhole from the top of its head. Their blow is so powerful that it can lift up a vapor jet (a extreamly heavy military jet) more than ten feet into the air. When it gose under water it covers its blowhole and holds its breath for nearly an hour. A Humpback Whale has no preditors (a creature that kills and eats its pray) until it dies. Humpback Whales eat platon and small fish. Whales talk in different ways they click, rumble groan and whiste. For years hunters have hunted whales for their blubber (fat) for oil lamps. Humpbacks are easy to catch because they like to stay close to shore. Humpback Whales are one of the fewest animals who are unafraid of humans. The Humpback Whales live in the Pacific and Atlantic ocean. The ones in the Pacific ocean mate in April and the ones it the Atlantic ocean mate in September. Humpbacks give birth to one calf (baby). The calves can weigh up to 2 tons (1 ton equals 2,000 pounds). Humpback Whales have the life spand of up to 95 years. resourses: Amazing Animals of the World, Published by Grolier Educational Corporation in 1995 Encyclopedia of Animals Item # 9500200115 Encyclopedia of Amazing Animals