Animals & Science

"Pelagic" is an adjective that means "of or relating to the open or high sea, as distinguished from the shallow water near the coast." It is most commonly used to refer specifically to animals...

Ocean City, Md., can be a fisherman's delight with 10 miles of coastal beaches and proximity to the Chesapeake Bay. Ocean City also boasts the world's largest billfish tournament, the White Marlin...

Antarctic fur seals rely on their blubber and fur to survive in their harsh environment. This fur was prized by hunters; the seals were hunted to near extinction in the 18th and 19th century. ...

The harp seal is a northern marine mammal that spends most of its time at sea. It is also known as the saddleback seal and the Greenland seal. The hunting of harp seal pups has been a source of...

If you grew up in the 1970’s you probably saw the movie “Jaws” and the theme may play through your head when you go down the shore. I am from New Jersey and we say “go down the shore”. I will...

Phytoplankton is one of the smallest and most plentiful organisms on planet Earth and is important to the health and well being of its life in a variety of ways. The collapse of the world's...

The sea urchin is an invertebrate that lives in the ocean. Sea urchins can live near the shore in tide pools, or they can live in the deep sea on the oceans floor. There are more than 700 species...

There are three-hundred and sixty-eight species of marine animals on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's red list, a list of animals that are either endangered or vulnerable to...

The different ways of preparing shrimp were outlined in the movie "Forrest Gump." But nothing was mentioned about the life of the shrimp as it grows into adulthood. The shrimp goes through several...

Loggerhead turtles can be found in mainly in warm ocean waters all over the world. They spend almost all of their time underwater, rising to the surface occasionally for air. Not much has been...

Phytoplankton are microscopic, plant-like organisms that live in abundance on the surface of the ocean. Phytoplankton, which come in a variety of species, each with specific characteristics, are a...

Jellyfish are invertebrates that live in the oceans. Jellyfish are drifters of the sea, floating along with the ocean's currents and dining on zooplankton, crustaceans and larval fish caught up in...

Although classified as an endangered species, loggerhead turtles are the most populous of all turtle species in United States waters, according to National Geographic. Loggerheads can be found in...

Dolphins are important to humans in that they are great indicators for what is going on in the ocean's waters. Discover more about the connection between humans and dolphins over the years with...

Ocean Surgeonfish identification is much easier with video to show you what they look like. Watch this free video of Ocean Surgeonfish to help you identify them.

Salmon is a type of fish that is born in fresh water, migrates to the ocean, and then returns to fresh water when they are ready to lay their eggs. It's a curious thing, and one that makes the...

Manatees live in shallow parts of the ocean where sunlight is able to penetrate the water and encourage sea grass growth. Learn how to protect manatees from boat strikes in shallow bays with tips...

Ocean triggerfish, sometimes called tallies, have the same body shape and swimming style as other triggerfish. Learn about the oval-shaped body and long dorsal fins of the ocean triggerfish with...

A trip to the beach can be an exhilarating experience. With nothing but time on your hands, why not try this enjoyable beach past time.

Salmon are a tasty, tempting and readily available fish that can add a healthy staple to any diet. In fact, entire regimes, like Dr. Hoffman's "Salmon and Salad Diet," have been built around this...

The manatee is a mammal that lives in the water its entire life. There are four main species of manatees, an animal that is related to the elephant. Manatees can be found in the waters off the...

Striped dolphins are found in many temperate and tropical ocean waters across the world, including the North and South Atlantic Oceans, the Mediterranean Sea, the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico...

Humpback whales, once hunted almost to extinction, are slowly returning to their original numbers. Known for their beautiful whale song and acrobatic behavior, they have one of the longest...

The lion's mane jellyfish, Cyanea capillata, gets its name from its brightly colored, very long tentacles that often resemble the mane of a lion. Because the lion's mane jellyfish has a toxic...

In the world of fish, the ocean sunfish is a heavyweight. Regularly weighing it at over a ton, this gentle creature is most often found swimming lazily along, eating massive amounts of jellyfish....

Swimming and surfing in an ocean filled with sharks is possible to do safely. The important thing is to use common sense when doing so. Sharks are at the top of the food chain in the ocean and...

The ocean is a beautiful place, but it can also be a dangerous one. Thanks to movies like "Jaws," sharks have garnered the reputation as the deadliest creature in the ocean. There is another ocean...

Angel Sharks are very interesting looking sharks. With their broad, flat fins, they resemble stingrays. There are sixteen different species of Angel Sharks belonging to the family Squatinidae. If...

Nurse sharks aren't as easily recognizable as hammerheads or great whites, but they do have a number of characteristics making them fairly easy to identify if you know what to look for. The name's...