SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY # 69

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY!!!

Look at the picture, read the clues and guess the animal in the comments below.

• I live in the Pacific Ocean coral reefs.
• I am famous.
• I am  a member of the tang family.

WHO AM I?

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 69

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 69

 It’s off to South East Asia to find a little fish with a funny face. Are you ready to head out on today’s adventure?

MEET THE CLOWN LOACH!

   Range/Habitat: Southeast Asia/ lakes, streams

   Diet: Carnivore: Invertebrates

   Length: up to 12”

   Conservation Status: common

 

Fun Facts:

•          Clown loaches are bottom feeders.
•          Clown loaches have a sharp spine behind each eye for defense.
•          They have four barbells on the front of their mouths.
•          Clown loaches are freshwater fish.
•          They have 3 black bands on their bodies.

 

These cute little fish are funny looking with their barbells. Those barbells are used to find prey. That is a cool adaptation!

 

 

 

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 66

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 66

 We’re going to the coasts of Southern California to meet a small fish with a big reputation! Grab your beach towel and let’s head off on today’s adventure!

MEET THE CALIFORNIA GRUNION!

   Range/Habitat: Eastern North Pacific/ oceans, coasts

   Diet: Carnivore: plankton

   Length/Weight: up to 7 ½”/ up to 3 5/8 oz

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

• California grunions are members of the silverside family.
• California grunions live close to the shore.
• They swim in large schools.
• California grunions strand themselves on beaches at night during mating season.
• They have a blue-silver stripe down each side.

These little fish cause quiet the splash during their mating season! People come from all over to see this spectacular feat of nature! Would you make the trip to see them?

 

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 65

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 65

 We’re taking the E & E sub to the waters off of Europe to meet a small shark! We love those cartilaginous fish and they come in all shapes and sizes! Hop aboard and let’s go on today’s adventure!

MEET THE SMALL SPOTTED CATSHARK!

   Range/Habitat: Eastern North Atlantic- Mediterranean/ ocean

   Diet: Carnivore: fish, mollusks

   Length/Weight: up to 3 ¼ ft/ 6 ½ lbs

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

• Small Spotted Catsharks are also known as the Lesser Spotted Catshark.
• Small spotted catsharks are the most common shark in Europe.
• They have smooth skin.
• They have spots to help them camouflage in with the ocean floor.
• Female small spotted catsharks lay eggs called mermaids purses.

 

These little sharks are great! We love that shark eggs are called mermaid purses! Hehe- can you imagine a mermaid with a purse!? We giggle every time we think of it!

  

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 64

WATERY WENESDAY # 64

 We’re taking the E & E sub out to the coral reefs of Indonesia today! Anyone notice a theme this week? Apparently our travel budget is getting smaller and we have to stay in one area! J We’re on the lookout for a small, funny looking fish on this adventure so keep your eyes peeled!

MEET THE BOXFISH!

   Range/Habitat: Pacific-Indian Oceans/ coral reefs

   Diet: Carnivore: invertebrates

   Length/Weight: up to 18”

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

• Boxfish have rigid outer skeletons.
• Boxfish are squared in shape.
• They are also called the long-horned cowfish.
• They have two hornlike projections on top of their head.
• Boxfish swim very awkwardly because of small fins.
• Boxfish have large eyes on top of their eyes.

 

Ooooooo… Boxfish sure are funny looking. We wish they had only one horn so we could rename them the unicorn fish. Hahahahaha!

 

 

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 63

WATERY WENESDAY # 63

 We’re taking the E & E sub out to meet a large round fish! As always our little sub has plenty of room for everyone so let’s head out on today’s adventure!

MEET THE OPAH!

   Range/Habitat: Tropical-temperate oceans worldwide

   Diet: Carnivore: small fish, squid

   Length/Weight: up to 6 ft/ up to 110 lbs

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

• Opahs are also known as moonfish.
• Opahs have bright red fins.
• They have oval shaped bodies.
• Opahs do not use their tail fins to swim, but instead use their pectoral (top) fin.
• They are toothless.

Opahs are really neat looking fish and wow, are they big! It is so cool that they use that top fin to swim too!

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 60

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 60

Let’s hop in the E & E sub and head off to find a fish who is bright red! These funny fish have funny looking faces too! Are you ready for today’s adventure?

MEET THE RED MULLET!

   Range/Habitat: Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean & Black Sea/ ocean

   Diet: Carnivore: mollusks, fish, worms

   Length/Weight: up to 16”/up to 2 ¼ lb

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

• Red mullet have forked tails.
• They have two barbels on their chin.
• They can move the two barbells independently of each other. They use to them to find prey.
• Red mullets are also called goatfish.
• They have a downward pointing mouth.

 

Red mullet are funny looking fish with their barbels. We love that some fish come with their own built in fish poles!

 

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 59

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 59

We’re getting our snorkeling gear out and heading the coral reefs of the Pacific Ocean today! We’re off to find a fish who lives with another animal who stings! Are you ready? Let’s do this!

MEET THE PINK SKUNK CLOWNFISH!

   Range/Habitat: Pacific Ocean/ coral reefs

   Diet: Omnivore: plankton, algae

   Length: 4”

  Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

• Pink Skunk Clownfish are also known as the pink skunk anemonefish.
• They have a symbiotic relationship with anemone and live among their tentacles.
• Pink skunk clownfish have a long white stripe down their backs.
• Pink skunk clownfish have a mucus coating that protects them to the toxins of the anemone.
• They lay their eggs near their anemone hosts.

 

We bet you didn’t know there other species of clownfish out there! They aren’t all just orange and white! Animals that have mutual symbiotic relationships are so neat! Can you think of any other kinds of symbiotic relationships in the animal world?

  

 

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 57

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 57

We’re going scuba diving this Watery Wednesday to meet a master of camouflage! We better keep our eyes peeled and look amongst the corals to see if we can find…

MEET THE SARGASSUM FISH!

   Range/Habitat: Tropical-sub-tropical oceans/ worldwide

   Diet: Carnivore: fish

   Length/Weight: up to 7 ½”/ up to 14 oz

   Conservation Status: common

 

Fun Facts:

• Sargassum fish are members of the frog fish family.
• Sargassum fish have variable patterns and colors to match their surroundings.
• They are covered in spiny like protrusions.
• Sargassum fish use their dorsal fin spine to lure prey.
• They are ambush predators.
• Sargassum fish have leg-like pectoral fins.

 

These crazy looking fish are so awesome! We think they look a bit like aliens! What do you think? What color would fit in with your habitat?

 

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 56

WATERY WENESDAY # 56

Today we’re jetting to South America to meet one large and unusual fish! These guys don’t have any top fins and they can electrocute a human! Best if we stand next to the river to catch a peek, don’t you think?

MEET THE ELECTRIC EEL!

   Range/Habitat: Northern South America/ rivers, streams

   Diet: Carnivore: fish, amphibians, birds

   Length/Weight: 6-8 ft/ up to 44 lbs

   Conservation Status: common

Fun Facts:

• Electric eels are not true eels; they are actually members of the knifefish family.
• They are one of the largest fresh water fish in South America.
• Electric eels have one long fin on their underside. They have no top or tail fins.
• Electric eels have poor eyesight.
• They have specialized cells that store electricity like batteries.
• They use electrical pulses to help them find their way around in murky rivers and streams.
• Electric eels also use jolts of electricity to stun prey. They can produce jolts up to 600 volts at one time.

WOW! Electric eels are amazing animals. Who knew there were fish out in the world that could light things up? We just never ceased to be amazed by all the cool animal adaptations there are on earth! We do wonder if an electrical eel could light our lamp for us! Hahahaha!