Category Archives: Fish
ANOTHER ODD FISH PIC!
An earlier post showing an weird fish pic has just been linked to by Fark.com, and we’ve had a sudden flurry of visitors and comments about it (go and join in!). Because I have form in the weird fish pic … Continue reading
Filed under Fish
GRIM ANIMAL PHOTO OF THE DECADE
This alarming photo shows a rainbow trout fingerling peering from the mouth of a northern pike as it is about to be eaten. The unsettling scene was captured in January 2001 at an aquarium in Anchorage, Alaska, by Jim Lavrakas.
SAVE THE PARROTFISH TO SAVE THE REEFS
November 2007 Parrotfish are major grazers of the algae that grow on coral reefs. Protecting them from over-fishing may be decisive for the survival of reefs in the Caribbean. Sea urchins can also do the trick. That’s the take-home message of a Nature article, … Continue reading
Filed under Ecology (scientific), Fish, Oceans
OTTERS IN EDINBURGH
October 2007 Otters have been sighted in the middle of Edinburgh. No news on them romping about in the Medlock as yet, but you never know. (The Medlock is the river at the lowest point of Oxford Road, near the BBC. … Continue reading
Filed under Fish, Mammals, Manchester
AND FAREWELL TO THE BLUEFIN TUNA?
October 2007 Depressing BBC article about the threats of bluefin tuna stocks. The story, as ever, is one of over-fishing – even the Spanish Fisheries Ministry admits as much.
Filed under Conservation, Ecology (political), Fish
CICHLID SPECIATION
October 2007 My favourite display at Blue Planet Aquarium is of the Cichlids (pronounced SICK-lids) from East Africa. They were looking a bit sad this year. There’s an excellent “Primer” article from Current Biology (open access) about them and the way they are speciating.
Filed under Evolution, Fish, Quick Guides
BLUE PLANET SUICIDE
September 2007 You may remember the massive Amazonian Arapaima (callled Harry) from your visit to the Blue Planet Aquarium. Well this year, it wasn’t there. A couple of months ago it managed to escape by jumping out of its tank – all … Continue reading
Filed under Fish, Manchester, Zoos
MORAY EEL – THE ORIGINAL ALIEN?
September 2007 Moray eels possess a second pair of evertible jaws which come out and bring prey back into the throat, once it’s been seized by the nasty teeth you can normally see. Excellent set of videos and articles at the Nature … Continue reading
WHERE DID THAT BABY SHARK COME FROM?
May 2007 A female bonnethead shark (part of the hammerhead family) gave birth to a pup (yes, some sharks are viviparous – this was very important for realising that mammals have eggs. Read my book!). What was interesting is that she had not … Continue reading
