Reef Sharks

Reef Shark

Scientific name: Carcharhinus melanopterus

Habitat: Near coral reefs

Diet: Small Fishes, Crabs and Lobsters, reef fish, squid, cephalopods and shrimp

Predators: Bigger Sharks, Killer whales and Octopus

Rank in food chain: Consumer

Type of water it lives in: Saltwater

Size: 1/2 mtrs

Relatives: White tip reef shark and grey reef sharks


Reef sharks inhabit tropical waters and lagoons near coral reefs. They are found in Indo-Pacific waters and the Caribbean. Like all sharks, reef sharks are efficient predators. They are at the apex of their food chains and are therefore an important indicator species for marine ecosystems as a whole.


Reproduction All reef sharks are viviparous - they give birth to live pups, with an average of 1-5 pups per litter. Gestation periods can be longer than 1 year, and the pups do not reach maturity until at least the age of 5.

What are the main threats to Reef sharks?

Slow reproduction rates and a limited habitat makes reef sharks particularly vulnerable to both commercial and artisanal fishing. They are often caught as by catch and discarded, making a true assessment of population status difficult.
Watch a video of Reef Shark Here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejguPpeVK-k


 

Ocean animals-2 Octopus

Octopus

Scientific name: Octopoda

Habitat: All over the world



Diet: Crabs, Squids, Plankton and small Fish

Predators: Sharks, Whales, bigger Octopuses and bigger Fish

Special Abilities: Some octopuses squirt ink like the squid and all the octopuses can change color very fast

Rank in the food chain: Secondary consumers  

Type of water it lives in: saltwater

Biggest type of Octopus: Enteroctopus

Smallest type of octopus: Wolfi

Size: 1/2 feet-7mtrs

Did you know: Octopuses are thought to be the most intelligent animals without a back bone, or invertebrates. They can recognize various shapes and said to be have a good memory. They can even plan and open the lid of a jar.   



Relatives: Cuttlefish and squid
Class: Mollusks

An octopus is a sea animal with eight arms. There are more than 150 species, or types, of octopus. They belong to the group of animals called Mollusks, which also includes squid, clams, and oysters. Octopuses live in seas throughout the world.

An octopus has a soft, baglike body and large eyes. Its long, slender arms reach out in all directions. Each arm has two rows of cuplike suckers with great holding power.

Octopuses vary greatly in size. The smallest are only about 2 inches (5 centimeters) long. The largest may be 18 feet (5.5 meters) long and have a 30-foot (9-meter) arm span.

An octopus can change color quickly depending on its surroundings or its mood. It can be gray, brown, pink, blue, green, or even an angry red if it is suddenly frightened.

An octopus usually crawls along the ocean bottom on its arms searching for food. It eats mainly crabs and lobsters. Skillful hunters, octopuses also attack large prey such as sharks. If an octopus is in danger, it shoots a jet of water out of its body. This moves the octopus backward very quickly. An octopus also may release an inky fluid to darken the water and confuse an enemy.

A female octopus lays her eggs under rocks or in holes. She guards the eggs for four to eight weeks. Upon hatching, the young drift for several weeks before going to the ocean bottom

This video has been taken by me @ CineAqua, Paris, France.