WaterNotes

The Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit posted this really interesting photo of an IRL dolphin with a bite pattern across its back.   Many of my students believe that if dolphins are in the area then sharks won’t be, but this photo certainly proves otherwise.  I’m tempted to walk around with it in my pocket and [...]

Gnarly stuff to share this morning: killer whales going after pseudorca whales off the coast of New Zealand. A good friend of mine is currently visiting family down under, and apparently she was able to see much of this action in person!  (Lisa, if you’re reading this, I’m terribly jealous!) It’s not easy to tell [...]

There are many hunting techniques recorded for various dolphin species around the world. As opportunistic and inventive hunters, they’ve found ways to corral and catch many different types of prey using strategies that often involve barriers, physical prowess, and outright deception.  In Australia one group uses sponges as tools; the females carry sponges over their [...]

Over the years I’ve heard, and even shared, many theories and points of conjecture to explain the ubiquitous question about hammerhead sharks: what in the name of Poseidon is that headshape for? Some of the more interesting of the swirling theories included: Increased surface area for sensory organs and enhanced ability to interpret, understand, and [...]

It was well over a year ago when I first saw National Geographic photographer Paul Nicklen’s dramatic images of leopard seals, narwhals, and polar bears in their native Arctic and Antarctic environments in a quick spread of NatGeo magazine. Well, along with the release of his new book Polar Obsession, Nicklen’s camp released the above [...]

Get This Widget!TOPP.org I’ve been following the Tagging of Pacific Predators project for months. The project’s scope continues to expand and their species pages list many ambitious “coming soon” tags for all manner of mammals, reptile, and fishy predators that lurk in the brine. Imagine my surprise then when it was Sea Notes that brought [...]

Color me green. Super green, even, with absolute envy. I heard via Herbie Hippocampus yesterday that there was a new resident over at Monterey Bay Aquarium: a female juvenile white shark. I was lucky to see a white on display at the Aquarium several years ago. If you are even remotely close to Monterey you [...]