Tag Archives: Marine Biology

Fast Facts: Comb Jellies

Are an important food item for many fishes; Vaguely resemble jellyfish, however, they do not sting; Are semi-transparent, gelatinous, barrel-shaped marine animals that move through the water by contracting bands of muscles which ring the body. These contractions draw water in the front of the test (body) and out the rear; Many are bioluminescent andContinue reading “Fast Facts: Comb Jellies”

Fast Facts: Slate Pencil Urchin

Gets it’s name from it’s thick blunt spines that resemble old-fashioned pencils; Has thick, blunt, round spines; Lives on intertidal rocky shores and in coastal water to a depth of 80m; Are found along the east coast of Australia, including New South Wales; Is a herbivore; Comes out to feed at night; The mouth isContinue reading “Fast Facts: Slate Pencil Urchin”

Fast Facts: Polycitor Giganteus

Is a massive gelatinous colony with a firm translucent ‘skeleton’ and smooth surface; Has a muscular body divided into a short thorax and an especially long abdomen; Is a giant jelly Ascidian; Ascidians (sea squirts) are filter feeders that function by pumping seawater and filtering out suspended food particles from the water column; Ascidians areContinue reading “Fast Facts: Polycitor Giganteus”

Fast Facts: Mado

Is a schooling species that is particularly common on coastal reefs, under jetties in harbors and large estuaries; Has a silver body with dark brown to black stripes and yellow fins; Has large eyes, a small mouth and a forked tail; Is one of the most common species in Sydney; and Is omnivorous. Reference: australian.museum