Tag: marine life

Shark facts that will make you love these misunderstood animals

Fin-tastic facts!

Many movies cast sharks in a negative light. “Jaws,” we’re looking at you. But despite all the bad press these animals get, they’re not actually all that dangerous to humans. In fact, the Australian Institute of Marine Science reports that there are only about 10 shark attacks worldwide every year. Meanwhile, human fishing practices have killed millions of sharks.

Learning facts like these can change the way you look at sharks. Like snakes and other often-feared animals, sharks may seem less frightening once you know more about them. Start your learning journey with this list of cool shark facts.

Want to discover even more shark stories? Check out this article on whale sharks in Mexico.

Rare pink meanies, with 70-foot tentacles, invade Emerald Coast

Beachgoers on Florida’s Emerald Coast are being warned not to enter the water because of an influx of jellyfish—and rare pink meanies.

Beachgoers on Florida’s Emerald Coast are being warned not to enter the water because of an influx of jellyfish, which in turn has attracted an abundance of rare pink meanies.

Purple flags, which inform the public that dangerous marine life has been spotted, have flown for 46 straight days, and more than 100 jellyfish stings have been reported in the past 40 days, though many more likely have gone unreported, according to WEAR-TV.

The giant pink jellyfish, with some tentacles as long as 70 feet, first turned up in the Gulf of Mexico in 2000, and scientists then believed it was native to the Mediterranean. But in 2011, scientists determined the Gulf version was an entirely new species, as reported by AL.com.

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The species is so named because it truly is a meanie, attacking and feeding on other jellyfish, like the moon jellyfish, sometimes eating 34 at a time. Narcity.com reported they are “pretty scarce to come by in the Gulf waters.”

“The jellyfish species is considered generally not dangerous to humans, but if you get stung it will likely be painful,” WEAR-TV stated.

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Pink meanies are one of the most rare jellyfish species and are usually found when blooms of jellyfish are abundant, wrote Dimensions.com, adding that they weigh between 30 to 50 pounds, with a bell width of 30-36 inches and a bell height of 22-27.2 inches.

Photos courtesy of South Walton Fire District.

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Want to meet a shark? Here’s your chance.

A fin-tastic adventure awaits.

At the non-profit research organization OCEARCH, the motto is “facts over fear.” While many people have learned to appreciate and respect sharks, the world still has a ways to go in destigmatizing these aquatic creatures. By sharing facts and resources like the popular Shark Tracker, OCEARCH helps people overcome their shark fears. But what if reading about sharks and tracking their movement isn’t enough for you? For marine life enthusiasts who crave a more extreme experience, OCEARCH is now accepting entries for the “Meet A Shark” sweepstakes. Here are the details on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and how you can get involved.

A gray shark surrounded by fish with black and white stripes in dark blue water.

As explained in an OCEARCH press release, the “Meet A Shark” sweepstakes will invite one winner and a guest to join the OCEARCH team on an ocean research expedition. “The lucky winner will be able to watch some of the world’s top shark researchers at work and have the opportunity to meet and tag a white shark,” the press release stated.

A white and gray shark with its mouth agape in light blue water.

This experience may not be for the faint of heart, but it is an excellent way to support a scientific cause and learn more about marine life. Even if oceanic adventures aren’t your speed, other prizes may entice you to enter the sweepstakes. In addition to the grand prize trip, OCEARCH will reward 100 entrants with prize packs including a hoodie, sun shirt, hat, pair of Costa sunglasses, and custom YETI travel mug.

A white and gray shark with its mouth wide open in blue water.

So, how do you enter the “Meet A Shark” sweepstakes? Until Sept. 30, curious shark fans can enter by donating to OCEARCH or sending an email entry (instructions here). Winners will be randomly chosen on Oct. 3. Until then, satisfy your craving for more shark content with this cool live shark cam.

The world’s weirdest fish and where to find them

What’s lurking in the water?

All fish look a little strange. With scales, fins, and gills, these creatures are built to navigate a weird, watery world. As a result, fish can sport some odd features. But what are some of the most peculiar fish the world has to offer? And where can you find them? Dive into this list of four of the world’s weirdest fish to learn more.

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Anglers encounter ‘weird-looking’ octopus that is indeed bizarre

Folks aboard a Florida fishing charter on Friday enjoyed a rare encounter with a blanket octopus that swam alongside their boat for several minutes.

Folks aboard a Florida fishing charter on Friday enjoyed a rare encounter with a blanket octopus that swam alongside their boat for several minutes.

“[She] was very curious of the boat and the squid on our fishing lines,” Capt. Tony Zain, owner of Skyway Sportfishing,” told For The Win Outdoors. “It was an awesome sight.”

The accompanying footage – an audio version can be viewed here – shows the female octopus spreading her webbed arms as she swims cautiously toward the vessel, prompting a dumbfounded crewman to declare, “That is the weirdest-looking thing.”

Blanket octopuses, which reside in tropical and subtropical pelagic waters, are identifiable by sheet-like webbing that, when outstretched, can make them appear larger to potential predators.

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Video footage almost always involves females, which can measure about six feet and weigh 10,000 times more than their one-inch male counterparts, who seem to exist purely for mating.

Male blanket octopuses mate by detaching a modified sperm-filled arm, which females store in their mantle cavity for fertilization. The males almost always die after this process.



Another interesting characteristic: Blanket octopuses are immune to the stings of sea jellies, or jellyfish, and will sometimes tear off and wield the tentacles of Portuguese man-o-war jellies to ward off predators.

Passengers on the Skyway Sportfishing charter, who were fishing for snapper and grouper off Sarasota in the Gulf of Mexico, might not have known any of this while gazing down at the octopus – and who can blame them?

Stated researcher Rebecca R. Helm in a tweet: “That’s the amazing thing about open ocean life, you never know where it’s going to pop up.”