So far, I have mostly talked only about creatures on dry land, but today I would like to give a summary on New England’s marine life. New England’s waters host millions of life forms just waiting to be noticed and studied. Often overlooked, these sea-creatures are incredibly interesting and complex, although some are so small they can only be seen under a microscope! Sea sponges, for example, lack inner organs, mouth parts, legs, and arms, yet they are a miraculous living animal designed in a wonderfully specific way. Let’s dig deeper into what kinds of animals you might come across while exploring the watery depths of New England. Fish: Obviously, fish are a very large group of inhabitants in these waters. Ranging over thousands of species, these creatures are incredibly numerous and are seen very often. They also play a large role in the food chain of not only animals, but we humans also enjoy them as a tasty meal (some of us, anyway.) Sharks are also fish, and are very well-known hunters of the sea. Some sharks found in New England are the blue shark, white shark, threshers, sandtigers, and the sandbar shark. Marine Mammals (Whales, dolphins): Whales are probably one of the first things you think of when I say “marine life.” The largest animal ever to have lived on the earth, the blue whale, is part of this group. It can grow up to 97 feet long and can weigh over 150 tons or 300,000 pounds. Dolphins and orcas are also in this group. Dolphins communicate with each other by using echolocation; a series of high-pitched noises that travel through the water at great speeds. It almost works like Morse-code. Seals are also well-known marine mammals in this group. New England shores host two kinds of seals: the gray seal and the harbor seal. Harbor Seal
Crustateans: Crustateans are crabs and lobsters. They are very numerous around the world, and are a very common source of food for animals and humans alike. They have eight legs and have an exoskeleton made up of chitin: a shell-like hard structure found on all arthropods.
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Caleb JamesHi! Welcome to my blog. Get my free eBook!Categories
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