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There's a whole world living at the ocean's surface, and I promise you've never seen animals quite like these...
[a thread]
#DailyJelly
(
by me)
[a thread]
#DailyJelly
(
by me)
First, there are the blue sea dragons, they're floating sea slugs that prey on man-o-war and other animals, then cover their dragon-like bodies in the sting of their victims. https://twitter.com/RebeccaRHelm/status/1238303938677559296
There are multiple species of sea dragons, some of which have only been found in one region of the ocean, like the North Pacific Gyre (aka Garbage Patch). There are at least two species in this picture, one large, the others small (both surrounding and ready to eat a man-o-war).
The man-o-war, Physalia, uses a living float to sail across the ocean's surface, and living fishing lines to catch and consume prey. Their sting is incredibly painful, they can end your beach day in minutes. Oh, and they have 100s of mouths...
While man-o-wars (also called blue bottles) may be deadly, they're also among of the most stunning--if not creepy--animals I've ever seen. Here's a video of the mouths (long skinny noodles) surrounded by tentacles (beaded strings).
(vid by me)
(vid by me)
One of the most peaceful sailing creatures is the by-the-wind sailor. These animals have evolved to be living sailboats. They've got a hard plastic-like sail that they use to travel across the ocean's surface. https://twitter.com/rebeccarhelm/status/1126320813559439360?lang=en
By-the-wind sailors are the ultimate farmers: growing algae for nourishment within their own body. You are looking at a garden within an animal. Each dark spot is an algal cell. They're like corals, except living at the boundary between ocean and sky. Half in the water, half out.
By-the-wind sailors are a favorite food for blue sea dragons. The dragons use their hand-like apendages to grab onto and manipulate the by-the-wind sailors. Often holding with one 'hand' while they move to the other side for a perfect bite!
(video by me)
(video by me)
Blue buttons float on the ocean's surface. They cannot control their direction. They cannot even swim. Relatives of by-the-wind sailors, they blink like tiny stars. https://twitter.com/MaduroDive/status/1232667014382182401
Like blue buttons, violet snails (Janthina sp.) spent their lives on the ocean's surface. They can't swim, so they make rafts by dipping their body into the air and wrapping the bubbles in slime. https://twitter.com/RebeccaRHelm/status/1088475265762844673
But despite the danger, one of their favorite foods is the man-o-war! They have to be careful though: if they crawl off their raft to feed and eat too much, both the snail and the man-o-war will sink into the abyss!
There are also barnacles at the ocean's surface! They're bright blue, and grow a white pillowy float. They hunt fast-moving prey that comes too close to the water's edge (they can even eat fish!) https://twitter.com/rebeccarhelm/status/1089914100170158080?lang=en
Then there are the insects. The only truly marine insect, called Halobates, they skate across the open ocean's surface, and even have a life rafts made of bubble-trapping hairs in case they get engulfed by a wave!
(cc @MiriamGoldste)
Figure by: https://bit.ly/319icy2
(cc @MiriamGoldste)
Figure by: https://bit.ly/319icy2
And lets not forget THE FLIERS! Flying SQUID often hug the water's surface, when danger gets near they launch out of the water at rapid speed! https://twitter.com/shirokito/status/1264924990559752193
Flying squid are not the airborne ocean animals. Flying fish have learned a thing or two about taking to the skies. Their 'fins' even resembling insect wings!
Original tweet by @shirokito
(in Japanese): https://bit.ly/33YO5eG
Original tweet by @shirokito
(in Japanese): https://bit.ly/33YO5eG
And then there are the species that don't always live at the surface, but prefer it there. Like these paper nautilus octopus, how dip their shells in the air to help them stay afloat. Also, they will 100% be your friend: https://twitter.com/RebeccaRHelm/status/1068214872360566785
Sea sapphires migrate to the surface in the day, so that males can put on a dazzling display: https://twitter.com/RebeccaRHelm/status/1265714523866095616
Even baby eels rely on life at the surface. European and American eels are born far from shore in a floating ecosystem called the Sargasso Sea. Eventually, they'll swim all the way back to their freshwater ponds on continents around the Atlantic. https://twitter.com/RebeccaRHelm/status/1215876063689084929
And we haven't even scratched the surface when it comes to surface life. And all the creatures that depend on them. There is so much more out there, waiting to be discovered.
(video by me)
(video by me)
This is why I speak out about well-meaning but FUNDAMENTALLY misguided organizations like this one, that propose to leave giant nets on the ocean's surface for years at a time to collect plastic. This could collect and DECIMATE floating life... https://www.ecowatch.com/marine-plastic-waste-2646992655.html
This isn't always easy, but it matters. And even knowing about this ecosystem is a huge step towards protecting it. We cannot protect what we don't know exists... https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/01/ocean-cleanup-project-could-destroy-neuston/580693/
The ocean surface isn't a far-away place. It's connected to our coasts, our beaches, our food. Understanding & protecting this fragile ecosystem means protecting what's close to us, even if it seems far away. That's why I study it. And it is a WILD world! [end of thread]
(last video of a blue sea dragon, which I'm more and more convinced was scratching an itch like a puppy!) https://twitter.com/RebeccaRHelm/status/1293310397777354752
