80% of our Oceans are Unexplored @protectoursharks - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
80% of our Oceans are Unexplored
@protectoursharks
Just a gal that's working to be a marine biologist and is trying to spread her love of it. Sorry for posting sporadically, but life is crazy! (I don't own most of the images, gifs, or videos used)
Hi!
I really like carp but when I mention them people think i´m talking about carp (food) not common carp (fish).
Could you give cool carp facts to increase the interest in carp (fish)?
Please and thank you very much!!
Common or European Carp // Cyprinus carpio
They can live between 17-20 years, but they have been recorded to live up to 50 years in captivity! They can also grow quite large, reaching up to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length and 60 kg (137 lbs) in weight.
Most carp eat crustaceans, molluscs, seeds, and more! They will open their mouth, creating a vacuum to pull in their food (and subsequently water and mud). Their gill rakes do a good job at filtering out any unwanted materials. And to deal with those hard shells, carps have a set of pharyngeal teeth in their throats to crush them!
Carp are incredibly invasive in North and South America and Australia. It's considered by the Global Invasive Species Database to be one of the most world's worst invasive species. They originate from Asia, and were later introduced to Europe as an ornamental species. They were spread even further through aquaculture, as a source of food, and even to replicate the European environment. Why are they a popular ornamental species? Because the fish known as Koi is just a colorful variant of the common carp!
So a lot of people are interested in carp, they just don't know it!
There are somewhere between 450 and 520 species of mantis shrimp (there are a lot of conflicting sources). And despite the name, they're actually not shrimp! They're a closer relative to crabs and lobsters. The most famous mantis shrimp is arguably the peacock mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus).
Mantis shrimps hunt their prey either by clubbing or spearing. The shrimps that have clubs usually feast on hard prey like snails and clams, which the spearing ones target softer prey like small fish or worms. They can move these raptorial claws really quickly due to a lateral extensor muscle that acts as like a tightly loaded spring. The clubbing mantis shrimps can hit its target with the same force as a .22 caliber bullet!
Whales have been hunted and used by mankind from as early as the Stone Age, and have been a commercial industry since the European Middle Ages (2,3,4). Whales have been hunted for their meat and oil to be used for various purposes such as food, cosmetics, fuel, and soaps (2,3,4,5,6). New technology like the steam engine and exploding harpoons led to increased whaling efforts throughout the 19th and 20th century (2,3,4,5,6). Whale populations have declined due to overexploitation; almost 3 million whales were estimated to have been killed during the 20th century alone (2,3,4,5,6). Many populations of whales are believed to have been reduced to less than 10% of their pre-commercial whaling numbers (4). In the 1970s, the “Save the Whale” movement began drawing international attention to the issue of whaling and declining whale populations. Today, only three countries continue commercial whaling for profit: Japan, Norway, and Iceland (6). It is also practiced by indigenous communities in areas such as Denmark, United States, Canada, Russia, and the Caribbean (2,3,4,5,6). This has led to a large debate between policy makers, conservationists, indigenous communities, and the general public: should whaling continue to be practiced, and by whom?
Commercial whaling generates billions of dollars and employs thousands of people globally. Countries that still practice whaling are concerned that by completely abandoning whaling, they will lose an important source of income and many people will lose their livelihoods.
Indigenous communities have special rights to hunt a certain quota of whales per year to fill their nutritional and cultural needs. In some areas that have these laws, the meat is not being used by the aboriginal communities. In Greenland, 40% of the whale meat caught for aboriginal use was then sold to non-indigenous markets such as tourists and restaurants (2).
Many conservationists oppose commercial whaling as many whale species are being threatened with extinction (1,2,3,4,5,6). Baleen whales (filter feeding whales) are the most common species targeted by whaling, and 6 out of 15 of their species are threatened, endangered, or critically endangered (1). Since the ceasing of large scale commercial fishing, some whale species have rebounded- humpback whales are expected to reach their pre-whaling numbers by 2050 (5). The biggest threats facing whales today are climate change, habitat loss, boat strikes, and food depletion (1,2,3,4,5,6).
Conservation takes time, patience, and persistence. Due to the constant pressure and attention given to the issue of whaling since the 70s, we are beginning to see some positive change. By continuing to advocate for greener practices and action against climate change, we would not only be helping the whales, but every other species on Earth that’s affected by climate change. While much of the news in conservation is grim, it’s important to remember that when we keep fighting, we can make a positive change.
Sources:
Braulik, G. T., Taylor, B. L., Minton, G., Di Sciara, G. N., Collins, T., Rojas‐Bracho, L., Crespo, E. A., Ponnampalam, L. S., Double, M. C., & Reeves, R. R. (2023). Red‐list status and extinction risk of the world’s whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Conservation Biology, 37(5), e14090. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14090
Parsons, E. C. M., & Rose, N. A. (2022). The history of Cetacean hunting and changing attitudes to whales and dolphins. In Ethology and behavioral ecology of marine mammals (pp. 219–254). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98100-6_7
Savoca, M. S., Kumar, M., Sylvester, Z., Czapanskiy, M. F., Meyer, B., Goldbogen, J. A., & Brooks, C. M. (2024). Whale recovery and the emerging human-wildlife conflict over Antarctic krill. Nature Communications, 15(1), 7708. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-51954-x
Stewart, J. D., Tinker, M. T., Brownell, R. L., & Read, A. J. (2025). The future of baleen whales: Recoveries, environmental constraints, and climate change. Science Advances, 11(26), eadv8031. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adv8031
Tulloch, V. J. D., Plagányi, É. E., Matear, R., Brown, C. J., & Richardson, A. J. (2017). Ecosystem modelling to quantify the impact of historical whaling on Southern Hemisphere baleen whales. Fish and Fisheries, 19(1), 117–137. https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12241
Young, O. R., Freeman, M. M., Osherenko, G., Andersen, R. R., Caulfield, R. A., Friedheim, R. L., Langdon, S. J., Ris, M., & Usher, P. J. (1994). Subsistence, sustainability, and sea mammals: Reconstructing the international whaling regime. Ocean & Coastal Management, 23(1), 117–127. https://doi.org/10.1016/0964-5691(94)90077-9
Have you ever done anything on basking sharks?
One of my favourite sharks, v cute IMO (even if some people think their gaping maws when feeding is creepy)
Here’s one of my old posts about them! I love those giant sea puppies
Hi, just found your blog! If you have worked with/want to work with sharks, which would be your favorite to interact with? When I volunteered at my uni’s elasmo lab, I always loved the black tip reef sharks!
Unfortunately I haven’t had any hands-on experience with sharks (yet). I’m currently in my first year of my masters program, so there will hopefully be some opportunities in the future! I don’t know what will be my favorite to interact with, but I’m excited to be able to actually handle a species I have been obsessed with for my whole life.
Have you heard of the proposed bill HJM 4004 in Washington state?
It's requesting Congress to modify the Marine Mammal Protection Act to allow states and tribes more flexibility to manage pinniped predators (seals and sea lions) of the endangered salmon species (2).
What exactly does this mean? The state of Washington wants the ability to cull (kill off) a portion of the seal and sea lion population to protect the endangered salmon species.
Arguments in support (2):
Pinnipeds eat a large amount of salmon
The Makah Tribe is allowed to hunt these species, so the state should be given the same right
No endangered species would be targeted
Salmon contribute millions of dollars to commercial and recreational fisheries (1)
Arguments against (2):
There are other ways to support salmon, such as reducing dams, restoring wetlands, reducing pollution, etc.
Pinnipeds eat species that hunt juvenile salmon, like bass and trout
There is no clear scientific evidence supporting the idea that culling marine mammals will increase the population of certain fish
So what does the science say?
Salmon species are at a historically low population and are protected under the Endangered Species Act (1). It’s also true that pinnipeds eat a lot of salmon; in 2015 it was estimated that pinnipeds consumed around 625 metric tons of Chinook salmon annually- twice the amount of killer whales (1).
Most areas that culled marine mammals did not see an increase in fisheries catches (3). In spaces where there was an increase in fish populations, the increase didn’t last long and the ecosystem was unstable (3). Any benefit from the culling of marine mammals was temporary. When you remove one predator from an ecosystem, other predators will fill the hole left behind.
What do you think? If you live in Washington, I highly recommend you contact your legislator with your thoughts!
Sources:
Chasco, Brandon, et al. “Estimates of Chinook Salmon Consumption in Washington State Inland Waters by Four Marine Mammal Predators From 1970 to 2015.” Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, vol. 74, no. 8, Jan. 2017, pp. 1173–94. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2016-0203.
HJM 4004 Washington State Legislature. app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=4004&Initiative=false&Year=2026.
Morissette, Lyne, et al. “Marine Mammal Impacts in Exploited Ecosystems: Would Large Scale Culling Benefit Fisheries?” PLoS ONE, vol. 7, no. 9, Sept. 2012, p. e43966. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0043966.
hello hello, just wanted to ask, what do you think abt the osedax, bone eating worms? they're pretty cool in my opinion!! :D
Osedax or Bone-Eating Worms
Also known as zombie worms, these polychaetes do, in fact, eat bone! They don't have a mouth or stomach, but have a symbiotic relationship with a species of bacteria that breaks down the bone into something the worms can absorb. This process happens relatively quickly- a whale whale skeleton can be eaten by these tiny guys in about a decade!
And all the worms you see in that photo? They're female! The male individuals are microscopic and live inside of the female. Research has found as many as 111 males living in a single female.
Distant relatives of the paddlefish lived in modern-day North America roughly 125 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period! Its paddle-like snout contains thousands of sensory receptors which it uses to detect food! It comes especially in handy since they tend to inhabit murky waters that are difficult to see in. They also have a long lifespan, often growing older than 30 years in the wild.
All of my friends that work at wildlife rehab centers have had to untangle animals from this stuff, or had animals brought in that died in it. This is especially nasty for small owl species.
Why would you put fake spiderwebs outside your home anyways?
Do what my family does and use them as indoor decorations, it's easier to clean up that way and it makes the living room look cool.
The classic Halloween decor can be a silent threat to furry friends if displayed unsafely.
"As autumn advances, leaves begin to fall from trees and a chill runs through the air, making it increasingly clear the spooky season is upon us. But as people decorate for Halloween, they may be setting up a trick rather than a treat for surrounding critters: That fake spider webbing commonly seen across the country every October is just as effective at trapping critters as a real web is.
Kathryn Dudeck, the wildlife director at Georgia's Chattahoochee Nature Center, told Snopes via phone that fake spider webbing, normally made out of a synthetic, fiber-like polyester, is similar to tightly woven fiberglass.
"The webbing actually adheres to the skin of a toad," she said. "For raptors and songbirds, it sticks to their feathers and then settles in between them, almost like velcro." ...
Dudeck said that animals most at risk with fake cobwebs are small birds, including hummingbirds and small owls, bats and reptiles, like toads...
The danger of fake webs doesn’t immediately go away after Halloween, either. A 2019 article from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation explains that if not properly disposed of, birds might use the material to build their nests. In a worst-case scenario, the webbing could catch and trap any chicks in the nest. The solution to all of this is fairly easy: stop using fake webs outside.
Instead, consider moving the webbing indoors, perhaps behind a window so it’s still visible. If you are set on creating a web outdoors, Dudeck recommended making one out of rope and ensuring you've left ample space between strands to mitigate the risk to wildlife."
Let's play with a dichotomous key from my field guild!
If you're not familiar with what a dichotomous key, it's a system used to identify an animal, rock, plant, etc. by narrowing it down by describing or asking about its features (I'll be using one for fishes from the Chesapeake Bay). The questions/descriptions slowly get more specific to narrow down what you're trying to identify. Instead of identifying a fish, we're going to pick one through polls for each description!
Helloo, I just found your blog and it brings me great joy. Have you done a post on epaulette shark facts yet? They are my favourite 🥺
Hemiscyllium ocellatum // Epaulette Shark
Thank you so much! Epaulette sharks are one of my favorite sharks too, it's been a while since I did a post on them, so here we go!
Probably the most interesting fact about Epaulette sharks is that they can walk on land.
That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but they can move and survive on land for up to an hour!
These sharks have evolved the ability to undulate their pectoral and pelvic fins in a way that allows them to "walk" across surfaces. Their musculature and skeletal system is different from most other sharks, allowing them to lift and move their body even without the help of buoyancy underwater. They can regulate their breathing and heart rate to survive in these low oxygen conditions.
You might be wondering why these sharks do this. When the tide lowers, there are small pockets of water that larger predators cannot access. During these periods, they have less competition when hunting and additionally don't have to worry about their own predators such as other sharks and groupers. Hunting prey also becomes easier when the prey has nowhere to go.
There are nine species of this "walking shark" and they can be found in Indonesia, Australia, and Papa New Guinea. These sharks can grow up to 107 cm (42.1 in) long and eat primarily small fish, crustaceans, and polychaete worms.
may i have oceanic whitetip shark facts please? i would like to learn more about them :3
-🐶
OF COURSE!
Carcharhinus longimanus // Oceanic Whitetip Shark
These sea puppies can be found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. Their main prey source of prey is bony fish and cephalopods, an occasionally sea birds, sports fish, and even other small sharks or rays!
These sharks are relatively slow due to their widely placed pectoral fins, but are capable of swimming up to 35 mph (56 km/h) in short bursts.
Whitetips are obligatory ram ventilators; this means they have to keep swimming or they'll die. As they swim, water is pushed over their gills, allowing them to essentially breathe.
I learned a cool thing about sharks at the aquarium and was wondering if I could tell you? I mean, you probably already know it. But apparently the reason a lot of shark incidents aren't fatal are because the shark takes a bite, realizes what they're biting isn't food, and so they basically go "my bad, you aren't food" and leave. It was a little "test bite" and the test revealed that what they were biting wasn't food so they left. Or they were just biting because they felt threatened and they weren't actually looking to kill the human, just get the fellow apex predator to please leave them alone. This is why we can touch little sharks in some aquariums, because they're well-fed so not gonna test bite us and they also have a safe escape and so aren't going to bite the people in an effort to be left alone, because they don't like picking fights and if they have an easy out, they'll take it.
I don't know, I just thought this was so cool.
Yes!
The "Mistaken Identity Hypothesis" proposes that sharks have a hard time differentiating humans from their normal prey from below. They take one bite, realize we're not a seal or turtle, and swim away. However,
Sharks have better eyesight than most people think!
This doesn't explain why there have been attacks in very clear water
You've probably seen videos of sharks attacking their prey; there's a lot of force behind those attacks, sometimes even breaching the water. In most cases, when a shark attacks a human it's with much less force and energy
There have been cases of sharks routinely biting- but not eating- penguins off the coast of South Africa
Sharks aren't mindless killers, they're animals who get curious! If they see something they don't recognize or encounter often, they might just want to take a bite to see what it is.
The simpler reason most sharks don't bite humans twice is because we taste bad.
misread your username as "prosecute our sharks" and now I'm wondering what crimes our sharks have committed. personally I think they'd go for vandalism (yummy internet wires)
My first instinct is organized crime, and I think that would make a great movie
