Project

AMAZING
SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013
SEA CREATURES
The Atlantic flying fish is capable of
gliding up to 300 feet (90m) at 5 feet
(1.5 m) above the ocean. It stays in
the air for about 10 seconds.
By Laurie Triefeldt
Longfin squid grow up to 18.5
inches (47 cm) and are found in
the North Atlantic.
The greater blue-ringed
octopus grows to about
5 inches (12 cm) and has
enough venom
to kill a
human.
Moon jellyfish grow
as large as 18 inches
(45 cm) in diameter.
Huge populations are
The poisonous
commonly found in
Lionfish (15
warm, tropical waters.
inches, 38 cm)
is found in
shallow waters
of the Indian and
Pacific oceans.
Weedy
seadragons
grow up to 18
inches long (46
cm). Found off the
southern coast of
Australia, these
spiny, fishlike creatures are related
to sea urchins and
sand dollars and
resemble tiny
horses or dragons.
Shrimp are an important
food for many fish and a
valuable commercial catch.
These crustaceans come in
a variety of colors and sizes.
Octopuses belong to the mollusk
family, which includes clams,
oysters and snails. There are about
100 species. Some live in shallow
water, others live in the deep. As a
means of defense, the octopus can
discharge an inky fluid; it can also
change color to match its surroundings or to scare a predator.
The hammerhead
shark is 13 to 20
feet (4 to 6 m)
long and can be
found in warm,
tropical oceans. It
feeds mostly on
fish and rays. It is
aggressive and
may attack humans if provoked.
Most squid have
light-producing organs called photopores, and some can
eject a glowing cloud
of ink.
The skate is
considered to be a
valuable commercial species, caught
for food. They feed
on fish, crabs,
lobster and octopus.
Skates live in
depths from 98 to
9,800 feet (3,000 m)
and grow to about 8
feet (2.4m) wide.
The hawksbill
sea turtle is
an endangered
species 3 feet
(1 m) in length,
which has
been hunted
for its
beautiful
carapace
(shell).
Roughie can be found at depths of
3,300 feet (1,000m) in the North Atlantic.
They grow to about 11 inches (30cm).
The Opah is a shy, rarely
seen fish found at depths
of 330 to 1,300 feet (100400 m). It can grow to 5
feet (1.5 m) and weigh up
to 161 pounds (73 kg).
There are many types
of deep-sea anglerfish.
Most are black and
have “lures” called
illicium growing from
their heads. Some are
light-producing.
The Atlantic football fish is a deepsea angler found at depths of 980 ft.
(300m). Females reach about
2 feet (60 cm) long. It uses
the lure on its forehead to
attract prey.
The illuminated netdevil
is a small deep-sea angler
that grows up to 3 inches
(77 mm).
The moray eel is found near rocky shores
and reefs. It can grow to 4 feet (1.3 m).
Known to be an aggressive predator, this
eel will bite people if disturbed.
Ratfish are also known as chimaeras.
They live in deep waters, feeding on
starfish, mollusks and crustaceans.
Ratfish can grow to about 3 feet (1 m).
Deep-sea anglerfish,
Bufoceratias wedli
There are eight kinds
of viperfish in the world’s
oceans. They are able to
swallow large prey.
The oarfish is the longest bony fish
in the sea. It can grow to more than
55 feet (17 m) and weigh as much as
100 pounds (45 kg). Ancient stories
about sea serpents were probably
based on sightings of these strange
animals.
At a bookstore near you: Two full-color World of Wonder compilations: “Plants & Animals” and “People & Places.”
© 2013 Triefeldt Studios, Inc.
Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS
The Portuguese
man-of-war
floats on a gasfilled blue, pink or
purple translucent body 3 to
12 inches (9 to
30 cm) long.
Although it looks
like a jellyfish,
it is not. It is a
siphonophore
— a colony of
many creatures
called zooids.
The man-of-war’s
stinging tentacles
can grow up to
156 feet (50m)
long. Its poison won’t kill a
human, but the
sting is painful.
LEARN ABOUT OREGON IN THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF WORLD OF WONDER
The snipe eel
is a deep-sea
fish found
at depths of
3,300 feet
(1,000 m) or
more. It can
grow to about
4 feet (1.2 m)
long. Although
it is fairly common, little is
known about
its habits.
SOURCES: World Book
Encyclopedia, World Book Inc.;
Encyclopedia Americana,
Grolier Inc.; The Sea, Brian
Williams; Oceans, David
Lambert; The Sea, Leonard
Engel; science.discovery.com;
ocean.nationalgeographic.com