Marine Biologist Answers Fish Questions From Twitter | Tech Support | WIRED
WIRED・20 minutes read
Clownfish can change sex, fish swim in schools due to mechanoreceptors, and orcas attack boats to create distance. The sailfish is the fastest sea creature, shells protect marine animals, and starfish use sensory arms to find food.
Insights
- Clownfish exhibit sequential hermaphroditism, where the largest male changes sex to female once the dominant female in the group dies, a behavior portrayed in "Finding Nemo."
- Marine creatures, such as fish and starfish, possess unique adaptations like lateral line structures for sensing water pressure changes and sensory structures in each arm for locating food, showcasing their remarkable evolutionary strategies for survival and thriving in their environments.
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Recent questions
How do clownfish change sex?
Clownfish can change their sex, with the largest male becoming female after the female dies. This phenomenon, known as sequential hermaphroditism, is seen in species like clownfish where environmental factors trigger the sex change process. In the case of clownfish, when the dominant female dies, the largest male will transition into a female to take her place and maintain the social structure of the group.
Why do fish swim in schools?
Fish swim in harmony in schools due to lateral line structures with mechanoreceptors sensing water pressure changes. The lateral line system in fish allows them to detect vibrations and movements in the water, helping them navigate, communicate, and coordinate their movements within a school. This sensory system is crucial for fish to stay together, avoid predators, and efficiently move as a group.
How do orcas interact with boats?
Orcas attack boats to move them away, as boats disturb their marine environments, reflecting their cultural transmission abilities. Orcas are highly intelligent and social animals that have been observed using various strategies to interact with boats that intrude on their habitats. By ramming or bumping boats, orcas communicate their displeasure and attempt to create distance between the vessel and their natural environment.
What is the fastest sea creature?
The sailfish is the fastest sea creature, reaching speeds of up to 50 mph. Known for their incredible speed and agility, sailfish are capable of swimming at high velocities to catch prey and evade predators. Their streamlined bodies and powerful tails enable them to move swiftly through the water, making them one of the fastest marine animals.
How do starfish locate food?
Starfish are always hungry, using sensory structures in each arm to locate food. With sensory tube feet and eyespots at the end of each arm, starfish can detect chemical signals and light to find food sources. Once they locate prey, starfish use their unique feeding mechanism to insert their stomachs into shells and digest their food externally before retracting their stomachs back into their bodies.
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Summary
00:00
Marine Life: Fascinating Facts and Behaviors
- Clownfish can change their sex, with the largest male becoming female after the female dies, as seen in "Finding Nemo."
- White sand is derived from parrotfish excreting coral skeletons, while brown sand comes from eroded rocks.
- Fish swim in harmony in schools due to lateral line structures with mechanoreceptors sensing water pressure changes.
- Orcas attack boats to move them away, as boats disturb their marine environments, reflecting their cultural transmission abilities.
- The sailfish is the fastest sea creature, reaching speeds of up to 50 mph, with warm-blooded tunas also being high-speed swimmers.
- Shells come from marine invertebrates for protection, with some shells being dangerous due to venomous animals like cone snails.
- Starfish are always hungry, using sensory structures in each arm to locate food and digest prey by inserting their stomachs into shells.
- Mantis shrimp can see more colors due to more photoreceptors in their eyes, with some having the ability to punch so fast it creates boiling water bubbles.
- Anglerfish use bioluminescent lures to attract prey, sitting in the water column to catch unsuspecting fish.
- Dolphins are considered one of the smartest sea animals, capable of recognizing themselves in mirrors and solving maze problems.
12:14
Fish: Unique Abilities and Migration Patterns
- Electric fishes like the electric eel can generate currents as strong as 600 volts, capable of stunning prey.
- Hagfish slime, when secreted, can clog a predator's mouth and gills, aiding the hagfish in escaping.
- Fish breathe oxygen through their gills, which are thin structures allowing for gas exchange, aided by Gill rakers.
- Some fish, like the dojo Loach, release gas from their anus to sink deeper into the water.
- Marine animals, like humpback whales and salmon, migrate following Earth's magnetic field and scent to breed and feed.
