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Cuvier's Beaked Whale
The Cuvier's beaked whale, goose-beaked whale, or ziphius (''Ziphius cavirostris'') is the most widely distributed of all beaked whales in the family Ziphiidae. It is smaller than most baleen whales yet large among beaked whales. Cuvier's beaked whale is pelagic, inhabiting waters deeper than . It has the deepest and longest recorded dives among whales at and 222 minutes respectively, though the frequency and reasons for these extraordinary dives are unclear. Despite its deep water habitat, it is one of the most frequently spotted beached whales. The species was named ''Ziphius cavirostris'' by Georges Cuvier, based on a skull fragment which he believed to be a fossil from an extinct species. He reused the genus name ''Ziphius'' from an undetermined species mentioned by historical sources. The species name ''cavirostris'' from Latin ' "hollow" and ' "beak", refers to a bony structure (cavity) anterior of the nares (the bones of the nose), now known as the prenarial basin. It ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pliocene
The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) is the epoch in the geologic time scale that extends from 5.333 million to 2.58See the 2014 version of the ICS geologic time scale million years ago. It is the second and most recent epoch of the Neogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Pliocene follows the Epoch and is followed by the Epoch. Prior to the 2009 revision of the geologic time sca ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Odontocete
The toothed whales (also called odontocetes, systematic name Odontoceti) are a parvorder of cetaceans that includes dolphins, porpoises, and all other whales possessing teeth, such as the beaked whales and sperm whales. Seventy-three species of toothed whales are described. They are one of two living groups of cetaceans, the other being the baleen whales (Mysticeti), which have baleen instead of teeth. The two groups are thought to have diverged around 34 million years ago (mya). Toothed whales range in size from the and vaquita to the and sperm whale. Several species of odontocetes exhibit sexual dimorphism, in that there are size or other morphological differences between females and males. They have streamlined bodies and two limbs that are modified into flippers. Some can travel at up to 20 knots. Odontocetes have conical teeth designed for catching fish or squid. They have well-developed hearing, that is well adapted for both air and water, so much so that some can surviv ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Octopoteuthidae
The Octopoteuthidae are a family of squid comprising two genera. The family is characterized by tentacles which cease to grow after the paralarval stage, and the use of a penis, instead of a hectocotylus A hectocotylus (plural: ''hectocotyli'') is one of the arms of male cephalopods that is specialized to store and transfer spermatophores to the female. Structurally, hectocotyli are muscular hydrostats. Depending on the species, the male may use i .... Species *Genus '' Octopoteuthis'' **'' Octopoteuthis danae'' **'' Octopoteuthis deletron'' **'' Octopoteuthis indica'' * **'' Octopoteuthis longiptera'' **'' Octopoteuthis megaptera'' **'' Octopoteuthis nielseni'' **'' Octopoteuthis rugosa'' **'' Octopoteuthis sicula'', Ruppell's octopus squid *Genus '' Taningia'' **'' Taningia danae'', Dana octopus squid **'' Taningia persica'' * The species listed above with an asterisk (*) are questionable and need further study to determine if they are a valid species or a synonym. Referen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Enoploteuthidae
The Enoploteuthidea are a family of squid comprising approximately 40 species in four genera. Most species have a mantle length ranging from 3–13 cm. Hooks are present on all arms and tentacles. The family is best known for the large array of photophores A photophore is a glandular organ that appears as luminous spots on various marine animals, including fish and cephalopods. The organ can be simple, or as complex as the human eye; equipped with lenses, shutters, color filters and reflectors, ... throughout the body. Species *Genus '' Abralia'' **'' Abralia andamanica'' **'' Abralia armata'' **'' Abralia astrolineata'' **'' Abralia astrosticta'' **'' Abralia dubia'' **'' Abralia fasciolata'' **'' Abralia grimpei'' **'' Abralia heminuchalis'' **'' Abralia marisarabica'' **'' Abralia multihamata'' **'' Abralia omiae'' **'' Abralia redfieldi'' **'' Abralia renschi'' **'' Abralia robsoni'' **'' Abralia siedleckyi'' **'' Abralia similis'' **'' Abralia spaercki'' ** ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brachioteuthidae
Brachioteuthidae is a family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ... of squid containing two genera and around six species. Species *Genus '' Brachioteuthis'' **'' Brachioteuthis beanii'' **'' Brachioteuthis behnii'' **'' Brachioteuthis bowmani'' * **'' Brachioteuthis picta'', ornate arm squid **'' Brachioteuthis riisei'', common arm squid *Genus '' Slosarczykovia'' **'' Slosarczykovia circumantarctica'' The species listed above with an asterisk (*) is questionable and needs further study to determine if it is a valid species or a synonym. External linksTree of Life web project: Brachioteuthidae Squid Cephalopod families {{squid-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hooked Squid
The hooked squid, family Onychoteuthidae, currently comprise about 20–25 species (several known from only single life stages and thus unconfirmed), in six or seven genera. They range in mature mantle length from 7 cm to a suggested length of 2 m for the largest member, '' Onykia robusta''. The family is characterised by the presence of hooks only on the tentacular clubs, a simple, straight, funnel–mantle locking apparatus, and a 'step' inside the jaw angle of the lower beak. With the exception of the Arctic Ocean, the family is found worldwide. Species *Genus '' Onychoteuthis'' Lichtenstein, 1818 **'' Onychoteuthis banksii'' (Leach, 1817) – common clubhook squid **'' Onychoteuthis bergii''* Lichtenstein, 1818 **'' Onychoteuthis mollis''* Appelloef, 1891 **'' Onychoteuthis compacta'' Berry, 1913 **'' Onychoteuthis borealijaponica'' Okada, 1927 – boreal clubhook squid **'' Onychoteuthis meridiopacifica'' Rancurel & Okutani, 1990 **'' Onychoteuthis lacrima' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Glass Squid
The family Cranchiidae comprises the approximately 60 species of glass squid, also known as cockatoo squid, cranchiid, cranch squid, or bathyscaphoid squid. Cranchiid squid occur in surface and midwater depths of open oceans around the world. They range in mantle length from to over , in the case of the colossal squid. The common name, glass squid, derives from the transparent nature of most species. Cranchiid squid spend much of their lives in partially sunlit shallow waters, where their transparency provides camouflage. They are characterised by a swollen body and short arms, which bear two rows of suckers or hooks. The third arm pair is often enlarged. Many species are bioluminescent organisms and possess light organs on the undersides of their eyes, used to cancel their shadows. Eye morphology varies widely, ranging from large and circular to telescopic and stalked. A large, fluid-filled chamber containing ammonia solution is used to aid buoyancy. This buoyancy system is ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mesopelagic Zone
The mesopelagic zone ( Greek μέσον, middle), also known as the middle pelagic or twilight zone, is the part of the pelagic zone that lies between the photic epipelagic and the aphotic bathypelagic zones. It is defined by light, and begins at the depth where only 1% of incident light reaches and ends where there is no light; the depths of this zone are between approximately 200 to 1,000 meters (~656 to 3,280 feet) below the ocean surface. The mesopelagic zone occupies about 60% of the planet's surface and about 20% of the ocean's volume, amounting to a large part of the total biosphere. It hosts a diverse biological community that includes bristlemouths, blobfish, bioluminescent jellyfish, giant squid, and a myriad of other unique organisms adapted to live in a low-light environment. It has long captivated the imagination of scientists, artists and writers; deep sea creatures are prominent in popular culture. Physical conditions The mesopelagic zone includes the regi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cephalopods
A cephalopod is any member of the molluscan class Cephalopoda (Greek plural , ; "head-feet") such as a squid, octopus, cuttlefish, or nautilus. These exclusively marine animals are characterized by bilateral body symmetry, a prominent head, and a set of arms or tentacles (muscular hydrostats) modified from the primitive molluscan foot. Fishers sometimes call cephalopods "inkfish", referring to their common ability to squirt ink. The study of cephalopods is a branch of malacology known as teuthology. Cephalopods became dominant during the Ordovician period, represented by primitive nautiloids. The class now contains two, only distantly related, extant subclasses: Coleoidea, which includes octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish; and Nautiloidea, represented by ''Nautilus'' and ''Allonautilus''. In the Coleoidea, the molluscan shell has been internalized or is absent, whereas in the Nautiloidea, the external shell remains. About 800 living species of cephalopods have been identified. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Diel Vertical Migration
Diel vertical migration (DVM), also known as diurnal vertical migration, is a pattern of movement used by some organisms, such as copepods, living in the ocean and in lakes. The word ''diel'' comes from the Latin ''dies'' day, and means a 24-hour period. The migration occurs when organisms move up to the uppermost layer of the sea at night and return to the bottom of the daylight zone of the oceans or to the dense, bottom layer of lakes during the day. It is important to the functioning of deep-sea food webs and the biologically driven sequestration of carbon. In terms of biomass, it is the largest synchronous migration in the world. It is not restricted to any one taxon as examples are known from crustaceans ( copepods), molluscs ( squid), and ray-finned fishes ( trout). The phenomenon may be advantageous for a number of reasons, most typically to access food and avoid predators. It is triggered by various stimuli, the most prominent being response to changes in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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