This project was done on Halloween. We were given a list of unique marine animals that were "spooky" in some way, and we had to research them. In addition to that, we had to create a meme using one of the animals on the list which you can find at the bottom of this page.
Here is my research below.
1. Bat rays
Their scientific name is myliobatis californica.
They are a type of ray found in muddy or sandy sloughs, bays, rocky-bottomed shorelines, estuaries, kelp beds, etc.
They are geographically distributed around the the eastern Pacific ocean, between the Oregon Coast and Gulf of California.
Their diet includes mollusks, crustaceans, and small fish.
They are known for their ability to jump out of water, and skim along the surface upside down, which is most likely how they got their name.
A link to a video of bat rays- youtube.com/watch?v=G_ZGT3g-JAo
Other sources were Wikipedia and the Monterey Bay Aquarium website.
2. Ghost crabs
Their scientific name is ocypodinae
Ghost crabs are common shore crabs found in tropical and subtropical regions.
They are distributes along Atlantic beaches
They dig deep burrows for shelter.
Their diet consists of mole crabs, clams, eggs of loggerhead turtles, as well as vegetation
They can move up to 10 miles per hour, and blend in to sandy beaches.
A link to a video of ghost crabs- youtube.com/watch?v=fvhlv9v9rkg
Other sources include Wikipedia and the Chesapeake Bay Program.
3. Goblin sharks
Their scientific name is mitsukurina owstoni
Goblin sharks are a very rare species of deep-sea shark.
Found at the bottom of the ocean along continental shelves at about 1300 meters down.
Distributed off Atlantic Coasts.
Diet includes large/small fish, squid, and crustaceans.
Goblin sharks have a large protrusable jaw with long slender teeth
Link to video- sharksider.com
4. Halloween crabs
Scientific name- Gecarcinus quadratus
A colorful crab, with the festive colors of Halloween, red, orange, yellow, and black.
Found in mangroves, sand dunes, and rain forests.
Distributed around Pacific coast, commonly from Mexico to Panama,
They don't need to return to the ocean to breed.
Their diet consists of raw coconut, seeds, etc.
Link to video- youtube.com/watch?v=HXC45G5kHmo
5. Masked pufferfish
Scientific name- Arothron diadematus
A type of pufferfish with a dark band around the eyes that resembles a mask.
Found along coral reefs, from the surface to 20 meters depth.
Found in Red Sea.
Feed on live corals.
They are covered in a toxic mucus, if the skin or flesh is consumed it can be fatal to humans.
Link to video- youtube.com/watch?v=NoMdqr8elVU
6. Spookfish
Scientific name- Dolichopteryx longpipes
A deep-sea fish.
Live in deep-water troughs and plateaus.
Distributed in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Ocean.
Diet consists of small crustaceans.
They have unusual eyes that point upward and are transparent.
Link to video- youtube.com/watch?v=E5aL64rLd74
7. Zombie worms
Scientific name- Osedax
Deep-sea worm
Their habitat is in whales.
They live in all oceans
They eat the bones of dead whales, which is how they got their name.
They bore into bones to access nutrients,
Link to video- www.nationalgeographic.com
8. Goliath tigerfish
Scientific name- Hydrocynus goliath
A large predatory fish.
Live in freshwater (lakes and rivers).
Distributed in South Africa.
Feeds on any fish it can overpower.
Has razor-like jagged teeth.
Fierce predators that occasionally eat large animals.
Link to video- youtube.com/watch?v=ihvynXm77C8
9. Witch fish
Glyptocephalus cynoglossus
A type of flatfish.
Live in muddy seabeds in deep water.
Distributed on both sides of the North Atlantic Ocean.
They feed on small crustaceans, starfish, small mollusks, and worms.
As an adult, a witch fish has 2 eyes on one side of its head.