Sea hares, scientifically known as Aplysia, are intriguing marine mollusks that belong to the class Gastropoda and the order Anaspidea. While looking very distinct from other marine gastropods due to their ‘shell-less’ appearance, sea hares do in fact have an internal shell, however it is soft and made of protein. These interesting creatures range widely […]
As the name suggests, pipefish are small, elongated creatures, with close resemblance to their seahorse and sea dragon relatives, together forming the family Syngnathidae. Although unlike their relatives, pipefish have a long slender body covered in bony plates, ranging from 2 – 65 cm in length, with small nondescript fins. Pipefish are made up of
Shark egg cases, also known as “mermaid’s purses,” play an integral role in the reproductive ecology of many species. These unique structures consist of a tough, leathery material made up of collagen, designed to safeguard the developing embryo inside. Their unique appearance somewhat resembles a small, leathery purse or pouch, hence fondly referred to by
Salps are fascinating gelatinous zooplankton that play a significant role in ocean ecosystems. These tunicates belong to the phylum Chordata and are known for their unique life cycle, filter feeding behaviour, and ecological importance as carbon sequestrators. Despite their similar gelatinous appearance, salps are in fact not related to jellyfish, having diverged 800 million years
Hottentot seabream (Pachymetopon blochii) are a notable endemic inhabitant of marine waters around southern Africa, commonly found in nearshore environments with rocky reefs and kelp forests from Namibia to Cape Agulhas. In addition to frequenting shallow coastal waters, Hottentot seabream are also found on offshore pinnacles up to 55m deep. As a resident species, they
Most well-known once washed ashore and decidedly smelly, red bait (Pyura stolonifera) is a fascinating sea squirt, or solitary ascidian, that grows attached to rocks, reefs and artificial structures. Commonly found in dense aggregates in cool and temperate coastal waters throughout Namibia and along South Africa’s west and southern coastlines, red bait is distinguished by
Hermit crabs (family Paguridae) are fascinating crustaceans, known for their unique behaviour of repurposing discarded mollusk shells as protective homes. Paguridae date back over 200 million years, where the fossil record shows hermit crabs utilising ammonite shells. Of 800 described species, the majority inhabit marine habitats such as oceans and estuaries, however there are a
Krill are small, shrimp-like filter-feeding crustaceans that play a crucial role in marine ecosystems, particularly in the Southern Ocean. Despite their diminutive individual size, krill have a combined total biomass of over 300 000 000 tonnes, which in turn has a profound impact on global nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and food webs. Their movement pattern
Elephant seals are iconic marine mammals, distinguishable by their gargantuan size and trunklike elongated nose, known as a proboscis. They form part of the order Pinnipedia, and are classified as phocids, or true seals, due to their lack of external ears and reduced limbs. Elephant seals are said to have evolved in the Pacific Ocean
The Portuguese man o’ war (Physalia physalis), commonly known as the bluebottle, is a marine organism often mistaken for a jellyfish. It is, however, actually a colony of specialised animals known collectively as a siphonophore. Siphonophores consist of four distinct organisms, known as polyps or zooids, that function together. The Portuguese man o’ war namesake
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