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I'm going to continue doing some fish blogs for awhile since I'm having some fun writing them and people seem to be interested in them. So my question is, what fish or marine animal would you like me to write about in upcoming blogs? I'll eventually get around to all suggestions, and it can be any type of fish, shark, or marine life animal. So far I have a list of upcoming ones for: Oarfish Anglerfish Any other suggestions anyone has?

Today's blog is going to be about one of the strangest creatures inhabiting the ocean - the goblin shark. With its elongated snout, pale skin, and a jaw that can snap forward in an instant, it looks more like something from a science fiction movie than a real fish that should be in the ocean. This lil guy is rarely seen and not a lot is known about it, yet this mysterious shark has been swimming in our oceans for over 125 million years, earning its nickname as a “living fossil.” They are from an ancient family called the Mitsukurinidae family from the early Cretaceous period, and they haven't changed much since they coexisted right along side the dinosaurs and are the last remaining species of their kind. Why haven't they changed much in millions of years? That's due to their habitat - living in the deep sea - an environment that is incredibly stable compared to the surface world. Down there, temperatures are cold, light is nearly nonexistent, and conditions don’t fluctuate dramatically over time. When an environment stays consistent for millions of years, animals that are already well adapted to it don’t face strong evolutionary pressure to change, thus is the case for the goblin shark. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ A few quick facts about the goblin shark species: Goblin sharks live in deep water, usually 300–4,000 feet below the surface. Their skin looks pink because their blood vessels show through their semi-transparent skin. They have a long, flattened snout filled with electroreceptors that help them detect prey in total darkness. Their jaws can shoot forward in less than a second to grab prey. This makes it one of the fastest jaw projections among sharks. They mainly eat deep-sea fish, squid, and crustaceans. Goblin sharks can grow up to about 10–13 feet long, though most are smaller. They are rarely seen alive because they live so deep in the ocean. The first goblin shark was discovered off the coast of Japan in 1898. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The goblin shark is a big reminder about how much we don't know about our planet, or the species that reside here along side us. Living close to 125 million years, but never seen by human eyes until little over a hundred years ago, and living at such depths that they are still rarely seen today. Pictures and information about them are extremely rare, and most of what scientists understand comes from the few specimens accidentally caught in deep sea fishing nets. Until technology allows us to explore the deep ocean more freely, the goblin shark will likely remain one of the sea’s most mysterious and least understood predators. Although the goblin shark may look intimidating, it poses no real threat to humans. Its survival across millions of years highlights how stable and mysterious the deep ocean environment truly is. Studying species like the goblin shark not only helps scientists understand marine ecosystems, but also reminds us of the importance of protecting habitats we don't know all that much about yet.

So today's blog is going to be about octopus, the most intelligent invertebrates in the ocean. I'll do some quick facts, as well as some info about how smart these guys are, and go over some ways to tell octopus apart from squid. There's so much I'd like to cover about them, but I don't want to write hundreds of paragraphs, and it would be super easy to with these guys. They have complex nervous systems, advanced camouflage abilities, and remarkable problem-solving skills, they challenge everything we think we know about animal intelligence and are very interesting little guys to be around or research. Let's do a few fun facts about these guys first: An octopus has three hearts. Two pump blood to the gills, and one pumps it to the rest of the body. Fun fact: the heart that pumps to the body actually stops beating when they swim, which is why they prefer crawling. Octopus blood is blue because it contains hemocyanin, a copper based molecule that helps transport oxygen in cold, low oxygen ocean environments. About two-thirds of an octopus’s neurons are in its arms, not its brain. Each arm can taste, touch, and even move semi-independently so it’s almost like they have eight tiny brains. Some species, like the Mimic Octopus, can impersonate other sea animals such as lionfish, flatfish, and sea snakes. They can change color, texture, and even body shape in seconds. Octopuses can open jars, navigate mazes, and remember solutions. They’re considered among the most intelligent invertebrates on Earth. Because they have no bones, an octopus can squeeze through any hole larger than its beak, which is about the size of a coin in many species. Each suction cup can taste what it touches. That's the equivalent to if you could taste with your fingertips. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Octopus vs. Squid: Knowing the difference. Octopus: Has a round, soft body. Mostly found on the sea floor. An Octopus has a rounded shaped head. Octopus have eyes on the top of their heads. They are solitary creatures and do not live in groups. They can be seen with babies sometimes, as they care for their young. An Octopus only has 8 arms, and does not have tentacles like the squid does. Squids: They have a very triangular shaped head and their bodies are long as opposed to the Octopus, which is more round. Squids have 8 arms and 2 tentacles. Their eyes are on the sides of their heads. Squids have been known to live in groups and can often be found with other squid. They are usually found in the open ocean and not on the sea floor like an octopus. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The smartest animal of the ocean? Octopuses are considered the most intelligent invertebrates on Earth, with complex nervous systems and around 500 million neurons distributed throughout their bodies. Unlike most animals, a large portion of their neurons are located in their arms, allowing them to process information and move semi-independently. This unique setup contributes to their impressive problem-solving abilities. In laboratory settings, octopuses have been observed opening screwtop jars to reach food, navigating mazes, recognizing individual humans, and even escaping from secure tanks. They are capable of learning through observation and remembering solutions to tasks long after first encountering them. Their intelligence makes the octopus one of the most remarkable thinkers in the ocean. When faced with a new obstacle, an octopus will explore it with careful, deliberate movements, testing and adjusting until it finds a solution. Studies have shown they can distinguish between shapes and patterns, remember successful strategies, and adapt when circumstances of their environment change. Their ability to rapidly camouflage by processing visual information and altering their skin in real time also reflects advanced neural control. Rather than reacting automatically, octopuses demonstrate curiosity, memory, and problem-solving skills that suggest a highly developed and independently evolved form of intelligence. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Hope you guys enjoyed reading this, and walked away with a little more info about octopus!~

Did you know jellyfish don't have a brain? They also don't have hearts or a central nervous system. They do however have a collective of nerves forming a nerve net. This allows them to sense and respond to stimuli such as touch, light, and temperature. Despite this, they can still perform complex behaviors, including swimming, feeding, and even learning. These are just a few facts I'm going to go over about jellyfish in this blog entry. Let's start off with a few basic facts about jellyfish. They are about 95% water. They have no brain, heart, or bones. Their tentacles are covered in tiny stinging cells called nematocysts. These cells fire microscopic harpoons that inject venom. They mostly drift with ocean currents rather than actively swimming long distances. Jellyfish have existed for over 500 million years, making them older than dinosaurs and some species have remained relatively unchanged for millions of years. The box jellyfish is one of the most venomous marine animals in the world. The species known as the “immortal jellyfish”, Turritopsis dohrnii, can revert back to its juvenile form after reaching adulthood, potentially repeating its life cycle. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Now I'll go ahead and do a myth vs. fact jellyfish addition too. Myth #1: All jellyfish are deadly. Fact: Most jellyfish stings are painful but not life-threatening to humans. However, species like the box jellyfish can be extremely venomous. Myth #2: If it’s dead, it can’t sting you. Fact: Even dead jellyfish can still sting. Their stinging cells (nematocysts) can fire after the jellyfish has washed ashore. Myth #3: Jellyfish are fish. Fact: Despite the name, jellyfish are not fish. They’re in the phylum Cnidaria, making them more closely related to corals and sea anemones. Myth #4: Jellyfish don’t have eyes. Fact: Some species do! Certain box jellyfish species have surprisingly complex eyes that can detect light and shapes. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Box Jellyfish This section will be dedicated to the box jellyfish, the most deadly of the jellyfish. Currently we know of around 51 species of the box jellyfish which are grouped into 2 orders and 8 families. Stings from some species, including Chironex fleckeri, Carukia barnesi, Malo kingi, and a few others, are extremely painful and often fatal to humans. This venom is delivered by contact with it's tentacles. The most venomous box jellyfish is the Chironex fleckeri, commonly known as the Australian box jellyfish or sea wasp. It has extremely potent venom that attacks the heart, nervous system, and skin cells. and the more severe stings can cause intense pain, cardiac complications, and in rare cases, can be fatal if not treated quickly. It’s primarily found in the coastal waters of northern Australia and parts of Southeast Asia. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Immortal Jellyfish The immortal jellyfish is the species Turritopsis dohrnii and it’s famous for its unusual ability to essentially “reset” its life cycle. It can revert from its adult stage back to its juvenile polyp stage and it can do this process multiple times. This process is called transdifferentiation, where specialized cells transform into different types of cells. When stressed, injured, or nearing the end of its life, it can transform its adult cells back into immature cells and return to its earlier polyp stage. From there, it can grow into a new adult again. Is it truly "immortal"? No, not really. It can still die from things like predators, disease, or environmental changes too. These jellyfish are actually super tiny, about the size of your pinky nail. Scientists are currently studying them to learn more about aging, cellular regeneration, and stem cell processes. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Moon Jelly This is the most common species of jellies, and likely one you've seen. This species is hardy and super easy to care for, and often found in aquariums. It's found in temperate and tropical oceans worldwide and most common in bays, estuaries, harbors, and coastal waters. Usually about 10–16 inches (25–40 cm) across. Has relatively mild venom, generally harmless to humans. Feeds mostly on plankton and small marine organisms. Moves by gently pulsing its bell, drifting with currents. Good news, you can have these as pets. Here's a few key things to know or have if you're going to do that: You're going to need a kreisel tank and they cannot live in regular tanks and thrive. These types of tanks will allow them to float suspended in the water, prevents them from getting stuck in corners, and creates a gentle current for them that they need to survive. Moon jellies are very soft-bodied and they can tear easily if they touch any type of hard surface or filters. They are very sensitive to water quality. Because of this you'll need to keep the tank temperature around 60–70F (15–21C). Of course, it will have to be a salt water tank with strong filtration and keep the water clean at all times. Clean water is critical because jellyfish have no immune system like vertebrates. For food, they'll eat mostly baby brine shrimp or specialized jellyfish food blends you can order online and they'll need to be fed 1-2 times daily. Because they lack complex digestive systems, uneaten food must be cleaned out quickly to prevent water quality issues. Keep in mind, even though they look simple enough to care for, they are not beginner pets and require a lot of care and work. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ To end, I'll leave you with a few pictures I took of jellyfish at the Ripley's Aquarium.