Thanks for dropping by! As you will have seen, today is the official launch of WhatsThatFish.com We hope you enjoy the site! There are many new features on the way and some bits working not quite as you would expect… But don’t worry, its all under control. What we do ask, is if you find anything that…
Scientific blurb
I have difficulty reading about fish when the chat is about its genus, and its fins are caudal,dorsal or downright blobblob, and i come away not knowing what on earth was being said. So instead of describing ‘genus’ i will try and write about ‘groups with similar characteristics’= a genus, !!! and everyone will know what i…
Did you Know–Manta Rays Fly
Manta Rays can leap into the air and give a flat resounding crash as a ton of flesh hits the water. They have no teeth or grinders, no tail stinger, but relies on speed to survive.They are plankton eaters. (From “the silent world” by Jacques Cousteau) I have only seen a Manta “Fly” once,on a liveaboard in…
Whaleshark identified
one of the whalesharks pictured here has been identified as M-031 by the ECOCEAN Whale Shark Photo-identification Library. Great news, for more info see the whaleshark page
Dive weight
A novice diver usually requires more belt weights than an experienced diver of like displacement. The beginner, apprehensive, involuntarily inflates his lungs too much and needs more ballast to be equilibrated. After a few dives he breathes normally and finds that he is overweighted. Then he learns the wide possibilities of adjusting air ballast by his own…
Fish Jaws
Fish eating fish (piscivores) do so in the half light of dawn and dusk. Many fish have a ‘protrusible jaw’. This allows the mouth to move closer to the prey by extending forwards and then sucking in the prey. They literally vacuum up their meals. In the throats of many fish is a second set of jaws,…
Coral has fish enemies
Parrotfish, bite off chunks of coral to get at the algae inside or outside. Triggerfish,bite chunks of coral to get at the invertebrates hiding inside. The habits of some territorial damselfish are destructive to the corals they claim as their property. The Caribbean threespot Damselfish bites the coral, causing an open wound so that algae can take…
Jack Attack
Jacks hunt in groups on the outer reef edge, and alone when shallower. Their hunting behaviour has 4 phases- Patrolling, when they make no predatory moves Quatering, zig-zag moves at high speed Hunting, when it identifies a victim Attacking, when within striking distance, moves in for the kill The jack has a protrusible jaw,and the prey is…
Pollution
When disaster strikes and ‘Pollution’ occurs, the Coral Reef and fish population suffer. However The fish recover quickly and are back to similar levels within the year. Unfortunately the Coral Reef is slower and takes about 5 years as long as their is no ongoing pollution, otherwise re-growth is significantly stunted.
Fish Food
In the beginning there are Phytoplankton.(Algae with chlorophyll) they provide nourishment for both Zooplankton(organisms drifting in the water)and energy for the biological pump(an important source of Carbon,basically a compost heap on the ocean floor, required for life in general)and Krill(shrimp like crustaceans,and small fry). Phytoplankton multiply in cold waters as do their predators the Zooplankton and Krill.These…