THE STARS OF THE SHOW: MARINE MAMMALS
Phylum: Chordata (cord) Subphylum: Vertebrata (animals with backbones) Class: Mammalia (mammals) There is little doubt that marine mammals occupy a special place in our view…
The Stars of the Show: The Fishes
Phylum: Chordata (cord) Subphylum: Vertebrata (animals with backbones) Class: Chondricthyes and Osteicthyes (Cartilaginous Fishes) (Bony Fishes) I suppose there are those of us who…
The REPTILES – Sea Snakes, Sea Turtles and Marine Iguanas
Phylum: Chordata (cord) Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Reptilia Note: This article is the ninth in a series that elaborates upon the natural history of the…
Echinoderms: Sea Stars, Crinoids, Brittle Stars, Basket Stars, Sea Cucumbers, Sea Urchins and Sand Dollars
Phylum: Echinodermata (spiny-skin) Whether you are a newly certified diver (if so, we offer our congratulations) or an old salt (good for you, too),…
Arthropods: Lobsters, Shrimps, Crabs, Barnacles and the “Pods”
Phylum: Arthropoda (from the Greek words arthros, jointed, and podes feet) While many humans consider our species the supreme beings on Earth, it is…
Mollusks: Nudibranchs, Sea Slugs, Snails, Limpets, Abalone, Sea Hares, Clams, Scallops, Oysters, Mussels, Chitons, Octopuses, Squids and Nautiluses
Phylum: Mollusca (from the Latin words for “soft body”) Did you know that the hundreds of species of rainbow colored nudibranchs we so greatly…
EEEeeeeeeeeeeGhads!: Worms and Moss Animals
Note: This article is the fourth in a 10-part series that delves into the natural history of marine animals you are likely to encounter…
Superfish Is Here: Is This Super Good or Super Bad?
Imagine a “superfish” that grows twice as fast as its relatives in the wild and on fish farms. Now imagine that this superfish costs…
Cnidaria: The Stingers
The cnidarians, a varied group of animals that includes corals, sea anemones, sea pens, sea pansies, jellyfishes, and hydroids, are among the most beautiful…
Sponges: The World’s Simplest Multi-Cellular Creatures
This article is the second in a series that elaborates upon the marine animals you and your diving pals are likely to encounter when…