Exotic Aggression – Balloon Protecting Squid…
❬ BACK TO STORIES Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube EXOTIC AGGRESSION – BALLOON PROTECTING SQUID The Broadfin Reef Squid is found throughout tropical shorelines, all round the Pacific. Sepioteuthis is the fastest growing of any invertebrate species, up to 600grams in half a year. They are also very short lived, seldom exceeding 300 days. http://openoceangroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/SQUID-AGGRESSION-1.mp4 Females lay tethered egg capsules with about five to ten eggs per capsule. Adults guard the eggs and display quite aggressive behaviour towards any species that approach the beds of communally laid eggs, attached to bottom rocks or secure weed or old coral. http://openoceangroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/SQUID-AGGRESSION-2.mp4 The nerve axons of these squid are used extensively in biomedical research. Their capsules contain up to ten or so eggs, but the first embryo to hatch goes round killing and eating the remaining eggs or younger siblings in that same capsule. These Squid feed mainly on shrimps and prawns of several species. http://openoceangroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/SQUID-AGGRESSION-3.mp4 ❬ BACK TO STORIES Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube 3 Sailed Triangle or a Shovel Nose Ray? Read More A Titan Prank and Spear Gun Mishap… Read More
The Floating Blue Community that all Eat Each Other…
❬ BACK TO STORIES Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube THE BLUE FLOATING COMMUNITYTHAT ALL EAT EACH OTHER INTRODUCTION There is no realm within the vast assemblage of marine plankton that we have studied in greater detail and depth than the group that we call the ‘Blues Brothers’. This is a community of ever drifting surface-hugging blue and purple creatures of extraordinary beauty and mystery, and one which periodically drifts on westerly gale force winds and currents from the mighty Gulf Stream, to end up stranded on our most westerly shores, particularly the beaches of Cornwall. GLAUCUS TO VELLELA Though much more refined than Janthina when devouring prey, Glaucus, the Blue Sea Slug takes no prisoners when it encounters Velella, Porpita and Portuguese Men-O-War, or the sargassum anemone. Glaucus eats them all, and uses for its own protection the stinging cells of their prey. They simply move the stinging cells to their finger tips, where they can fire them in anger… PORPITA Porpita resides on the underside of the ocean’s surface, whereas Velella sits on top, with tentacles tipped below. Porpita sweeps its tentacles vertically down periodically. Porpita is a Chondrophoran, a modified single Hydroid polyp. The team are arguably some of the first to recognise multiple colour morphs. GLAUCUS TO PORPITA The Blue Sea Slug, Glaucus, feeds avidly upon Porpita, as well as other members of the Blues Brothers Group. PHYSALIA A full grown Physalia colony can have a float 250mm long and around ten tentacles that extend to thirty or forty metres, packed with powerful and dangerous stinging cells along the entire length. JANTHINA Blind and incapable of swimming, Janthina. The Purple Bubble Raft Snail, has to rely on wind and wave driving it to within a few millimetres of its Velella prey before it can effect capture and enjoy a meal. There are thousands of stories that can be told about the complex network of relationships that occur between the ‘blues brothers’ – to name a few: Janthina eat Glaucus – Glaucus eat Physalia, Vellela and Porpita. Janthina also feed on Porpita, Vellela and Physalia. Physalia, Vellela and Porpita all feed on plankton and small fish. These various stories we intend to tell physically and digitally, through our venues around the world. ❬ BACK TO STORIES Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube 3 Sailed Triangle or a Shovel Nose Ray? Read More A Titan Prank and Spear Gun Mishap… Read More
Swarming Hammer Shaped Aliens…
❬ BACK TO STORIES Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube SWARMING HAMMERSHAPED ALIENS IMAGERY FROM HOWARD HALL Hammerhead sharks exhibit an aggressive hunting behaviour, primarily preying on smaller fish, octopuses, squid, and crustaceans. While they typically do not actively target humans as prey, they display strong defensive instincts and will engage in attacks if provoked. Distinguished by their wide-set eyes, hammerheads possess an extended visual range compared to many other shark species. They employ a unique adaptation by dispersing their specialized sensory organs across their broad, mallet-shaped head, allowing them to conduct thorough oceanic scans for potential food sources. Annually, substantial congregations of hammerhead sharks assemble in specific locations along the coasts of various regions worldwide. Scientists are currently investigating the reasons behind these gatherings, with one hypothesis suggesting that these occurrences coincide with seamounts, underwater mountains, where hammerhead sharks congregate for feeding, breeding, and social interaction. These sharks have been observed forming schools containing nearly 100 members during daylight hours. This schooling behaviour is believed to enhance their foraging efficiency, as further supported by their seasonal migration to cooler waters during the summer months. In contrast, during the winter, they migrate back towards the equator in pursuit of warmer oceanic environments. ❬ BACK TO STORIES Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube 3 Sailed Triangle or a Shovel Nose Ray? Read More A Titan Prank and Spear Gun Mishap… Read More
The Swimming Spanish Dancer That Lays Ribbons…
❬ BACK TO STORIES Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube THE SWIMMING SPANISH DANCERTHAT LAYS RIBBONS The Spanish Dancer, scientifically known as Hexabranchus sanguineus, defies all expectations of a typical sea slug. Its name, “blood-coloured six-gills,” offers a glimpse into the captivating underwater world it inhabits. So named because it swirls its voluminous ‘skirts’ reminiscent of a female Spanish Flamenco dancer. This Nudibranch, (naked gills), grows to two feet long and like many of its kind, is hermaphrodite, meaning it is both male and female. http://openoceangroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/HEXABRANCHUS-TAKE-OFF.mp4 In the face of danger, it extends its mantle edges and takes to swimming – a manoeuvre resembling a graceful pirouette, earning it the fitting name of the Spanish Dancer. Depending on its location – whether it’s the Red Sea, the Western Indian Ocean, French Polynesia, or the Western Pacific – its colours shift and change, a living testament to nature’s diverse palette. Beyond its captivating appearance, the Spanish Dancer is a discerning diner. It feeds on sponges and has both male and female attributes, it’s a living testament to versatility. http://openoceangroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/HEXABRANCHUS-LYING.mp4 As if these amazing behaviours and characteristics weren’t enough, the Spanish Dancer adds yet another layer of intrigue to its story. Rather than laying plain eggs, eggs are laid in bright pink ribbons containing thousands of veliger larvae similar to the youngsters of marine snails. http://openoceangroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/HEXABRANCHUS-TO-SURFACE.mp4 ❬ BACK TO STORIES Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube 3 Sailed Triangle or a Shovel Nose Ray? Read More A Titan Prank and Spear Gun Mishap… Read More
Floating, Stinging and Beautiful Bubbles…
❬ BACK TO STORIES Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube FLOATING, STINGING AND BEAUTIFUL BUBBLES PETER PARKS We set out once to film nematocysts actually penetrating human flesh. Repeatedly, we had been stung during the expedition and learnt to our cost not to be careless handling our subjects. Apart from the intense pain of the initial contact with even the smallest part of a tentacle, there shortly follows a migration of the pain to the lymph nodes – especially those under the arm. A nauseous aching starts there and continues for hours. So it was with some trepidation that we set everything up, on-purpose, to be stung on camera. We were in very close on the finger that was to be offered to the tentacle, and through the camera viewfinder, I could see my own finger trembling as my partner brought the Man-o-war and its tentacles alongside the finger. Again and again we tried. Could we get it to work? Could we, heck! Trying it without a finger, and with a touch of acetic acid and the tentacles exploded into activity – nematocysts firing off in every conceivable direction. To this day we have never been able to explain this. We have however succeeded in filming the event, and I’ve included still pictures that we took at the time, in more than one of the spreads. ❬ BACK TO STORIES Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube 3 Sailed Triangle or a Shovel Nose Ray? Read More A Titan Prank and Spear Gun Mishap… Read More
From Tiny Egg to Underwater Chameleon…
❬ BACK TO STORIES Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube FROM TINY EGG TO UNDERWATER CHAMELEON – THE LIFECYCLE OF THE FLAMBOYANT CUTTLE The Flamboyant Cuttlefish, known for its striking purple and yellow patterns, is a small cephalopod species that primarily inhabits the Indian and Pacific Oceans, specifically ranging from southern New Guinea to the north and West Coasts of Australia. Mating involves remarkable sexual dimorphism, with females being approximately twice the size of males. During this phase, males deposit sperm packets into specialized pouches within the female’s body cavity, a critical step in the lifecycle. Egg laying is the next phase, where the female undertakes an astonishing endeavour. She selects hidden locations to lay her clutch of up to 200 eggs. Her exceptional camouflage skills are on full display as she remains completely motionless during this crucial period. Frequently, she secures her precious cargo beneath a protective coconut shell, carefully attaching the eggs to the inner surface. http://openoceangroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ADULT-FLAMBOYANT.mp4 Approximately 25 days later, the flamboyant cuttlefish’s lifecycle takes another remarkable turn as the eggs hatch. Miniature replicas of adult cuttlefish emerge, already displaying the species’ distinctive purple and yellow patterns from birth. These hatchlings possess immediate proficiency in camouflage and signalling, showcasing their unique abilities right from the start. http://openoceangroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/FLAMBOYANT-EGG.mp4 Beyond their captivating lifecycle, flamboyant cuttlefish generally lead solitary lives, forming brief partnerships exclusively during the mating season. Their estimated lifespan, based on data from related species, ranges from 18 to 24 months, with some females meeting their end after spawning, adding another layer of intrigue to their remarkable lifecycle. http://openoceangroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ADULT-FLAMBOYANT-2.mp4 ❬ BACK TO STORIES Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube 3 Sailed Triangle or a Shovel Nose Ray? Read More A Titan Prank and Spear Gun Mishap… Read More