Therefore the Megladon fish is a laterally compressed fish which allows it to live in dense covers or coral reefs. Laterally compressed fish make the fish flattened side-to-side. The coral reefs of Jamaica are vibrant and full of fish. The Megladon's body shape is efficient enough to allow burst of speed, escape from predators as well as fit into small spaces. They have two pectoral fins that are forked in on the sides which enable them to control their direction of movement.
American Intercontinental University Unit 1 Individual Project SCIE210 June 16, 2013 According to Briney, Amanda (2013), “A coral reef is a submerged structure made up of many different corals, or small marine invertebrates”. Some people think that coral reefs are a plant or an object like a rock. Coral is actually animals that have a hard exoskeleton. Their exoskeleton is what makes coral reefs look strong and rock like. Coral reefs come in many different sizes and shapes.
More commonly, however, they are found close to shore. They are also known to swim near the mouths of rivers and bays. In summer months, the great hammerhead is known to migrate to more northern ocean areas. Besides from being in deep oceans, the great hammerhead all in all has a wide habitat range. Perhaps one of the most interesting features of the great hammerhead shark would in fact, be its rectangular hammer-shaped head.
INTRODUCTION Nereis succinea (commonly known as clamworm) are in Class Polychaeta. N. succinea belongs to a free-swimming group of worms. They have bristle like appendages which are used for respiration and allow them to swim or crawl along the sea floor (Campbell, 2008). N. succinea is ubiquitous in number and commonly resides in estuaries. Some species can also be found around mudflats and sand flats which are high in salinity.
Sea anemones are anchored to the substrate by their muscular pedal disc ("Sea Anemones (Actiniaria) On The Shores Of Singapore"). Some types of sea anemone burrow into the sandy seabed instead of attaching to a stable substrate ("Sea Anemones (Actiniaria) On The Shores Of Singapore"). Feather stars use a claw-like appendage underneath the calyx called the cirri to anchor themselves when filter feeding ("Feather stars (Crinoidea) on the Shores of Singapore"). However, both animals are capable of locomotion. Some species of sea anemone are capable of moving slowly by sliding along the substrate on their pedal discs (Parker, 1916).
Younger lionfish have a unique tentacle above their eye sockets, which differs in appearance between species, but studies show that this tentacle has evolved over time in each species serving to attract new prey. Juvenile lionfish eat mostly invertebrates, but shift their diet to fish as adults and eat reef fish. Adult lionfish spread their pectoral fins and use them to "herd" prey. This is a very effective predatory style because it is unfamiliar to native Florida fish. However, Lionfish can have negative effects on the overall reef habitat as they can eliminate organisms which serve important ecological roles such as herbivorous fish which keep algae in-check on the reefs.
Although earlier forms had a sleek, lizard like body, most had a body structure that most resembled modern day mammals (Perkins). Extensive fossil examination suggests that ichthyosaurs did not evolve from fish, but in fact evolved from land-dwelling animals. Their previous stocky legs morphed into flippers and a tail and fins appeared not long after. Their transformation from lizard-like to fish-like ensured dominance in the water (Motani). Recent studies suggest ichthyosaurs “were warm-blooded (in other words, they were endothermic), giving them a considerable advantage to swim fast over long distances and to conquer cold regions” (CNRS).
One important discovery Shubin made is Tiktaalik, which is a 375 million year old fossil. Tiktaalik is a fish that has scales and gills, but its head is flattened like that of a crocodile. Like most fish, Tiktaalik’s fins have ray bones enabling them to paddle in water, but the most amazing thing about it is that it has interior bones which allows it to lift off of the sea floor, something unordinary for a typical fish. It would use its limbs for support like a tetrapod. Shubin shows how fin structures of fish like Tiktaalik mark the beginning of the evolution into the mammalian paw and opposable thumb structures in the hands of today’s primates.
Location 3 (low tide mark) has many biotic pressures such as wave action, fluctuations in water temperature and predators. Barnacles have many physical adaptations to cope living in this area. They have a tough, hydrodynamic shell, which allows them to withstand the constant pounding of the waves when the tides are high. The shell is also strong to protect themselves from predators that come across the area. In addition Barnacles secrete a cement.
Chris Chapman Dr. Karen Keane-Hines Anatomy &Physiology II MANATEE Long ago manatees were mistaken for mermaids or sirens-luring sailors to their deaths on rocky shores. So the order of these marine mammals has been named, Sirenia. There are five species: Amazonian, West African, and West Indian with two sub-species the Florida and Antillian Manatee. All have front flippers and a solid, flat, paddle shaped tail. Another related species, the Dugong, has a fluked tail.