A crafty octopus steals a baited container deployed for a fish survey, all the while holding off a small curious shark. Pea-soup water and accompanying banjo music round off the hillbilly scene.

Luckily it was a test run, after a similar yet unsuccessful bait-robbery attempt. More videos and a better explanation of these surveys can be found here!

staceythinx:

Underwater Landscape Photos from National Geographic’s amazing collection.

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Considering marine science? Kind of like the ocean a little bit? Check out this video.

Michael Gil is a University of Florida doctoral student working on his dissertation, and his excellent blog gives great insight into his work in French Polynesia.

From camera-hungry triggerfish to some really fascinating research and absolutely stunning landscapes, it is well worth the read and should be an inspiration to future marine scientists.

mad-as-a-marine-biologist:

halfman-halfocean:

Frilled shark

Chlamydoselachus anguineus – Its common name comes from the frilly or fringed appearance of the gill slits, of which there are six pairs with the first pair meeting across the throat.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN) has assessed it as Near Threatened, since given its very low reproductive rate even incidental catches may deplete its population. This shark, or a supposed giant relative, has been suggested as a source for reports of sea serpents.

mad-as-a-marine-biologist:

Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) esophagi. *Shudders*

I want to tell you about how my nightmares from now on will have me stuck in a room made out of Leatherback esophagi, but the conservationist in me wins:

Leatherbacks feed almost entirely on Jellyfish. Plastic bags floating in the water look like jellyfish. I can attest to this – having flapped in panic out of the way of a plastic bag on a dive, only to realise what it was, and check to see if any other divers saw my mistake, and then pick up the bag. 

Now imagine a plastic bag caught on those spines. That’s not going to dislodge easily. No, it’s more likely to cause suffocation and starvation. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is not our nightmare. It’s theirs. And it’s come true. 

mad-as-a-marine-biologist:

Robot surfboard tracks great white sharks off the coast of California

What does this mean, apart from awesome? It means, you can get a free iPhone app to follow these (up to 6m+) babies around. 

Sharks in your pocket.

Way better than Polly Pocket.  

Read more. 

Too cool. Who doesn’t want to track great whites on their phone?

Discovery Channel celebrates 25 Years of Shark Week

queryconsul:

A smashing photo of a Horn Shark, originally by greyloch. I couldn’t help but think the little fellow’s snout resembled a moustache, so I made a few appropriate adjustments.

For the Shark Week fans!

jtotheizzoe:

abluegirl:

Living Color: Toxic nudibranchs—soft, seagoing slugs—produce a brilliant defense.

They’re like Pokémon, but super-deadly.

I mean, if you didn’t know these were real, you’d be all “Yeah right!” Endless forms, most beautiful … indeed 🙂

particlesandpsychedelia:

Helicocranchia pfefferi, the Banded Piglet Squid.

Well, this little guy is adorable.