These fierce-looking, torpedo-shaped fish can be found in warm and tropical waters all round the world. Each of the 20 or so different species of barracuda are intimidating ocean predators, but it’s the great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) that strikes fear into the hearts of prey fish big and small. What do barracuda look like? One of the deadliest fish in the […]
Tag: Coral Reefs
“Marine animals were mysteriously dropping dead: around 1 million were wiped out.” Scientists now know the reason why – and it’s terrifying
In 2025, trouble was brewing in a 20,000 km2 area off the coast of South Australia. For more than a year, marine animals were mysteriously dropping dead: around one million animals were wiped out and some humans even got sick. Now, scientists have confirmed that the culprit behind these mass marine animal deaths is a species of […]
“It’s rather splendidus, with dazzling hues of blue, orange and green…” The 8 most beautiful, stunningly exquisite fish on the planet
The ocean is home to some of the most breathtaking creatures on Earth – and few are as stunning as these vibrant fish. Whether it’s the electric hues of the mandarinfish, the regal flutter of a Siamese fighting fish’s tail, or the deadly beauty of a lionfish, these species blend form and function in striking […]
“Effects range from internal bleeding to manipulating behaviour or liquifying a host.” These are the deadliest weapons in the animal kingdom
When a peacock mantis shrimp strikes, it generates the heat of a star. The crustacean retracts a spring-loaded mouthpart known as a dactyl club and puts it on a latch, like a cowboy cocking the hammer of a gun. After pulling the trigger to release the stored elastic potential energy, the club moves like a […]
“The fish life has exploded”: 400,000 corals planted on dying reef in Bali. What happened next was remarkable
A diver in Indonesia was distraught at seeing coral reefs destroyed. So, he decided to do something about it. Many scuba divers will know the devastation of seeing coral reefs becoming bleached and dying. That was the case for Leon Boey, founder of Livingseas Asia, so he decided to do something about it. He’s now […]
10,000 shark fins worth over $11M seized in major wildlife trafficking bust in Peru
U.S. authorities have assisted the Peruvian government in seizing an estimated 10,000 individual shark fins destined for China — one of the largest wildlife trafficking operations in Latin American history. The bust, on Nov. 10 at an industrial port outside of Lima, led to the arrest of three men tied to a transnational criminal network […]
Study finds important Nassau grouper spawning site in Belize near collapse
HOPKINS, Belize — The Nassau grouper is drawn by the winter moon, between December and March, to special places where hundreds of the cryptic fish engage in a reproductive dance that sometimes lasts days. Northeast Point at Glover’s Reef Atoll, off the coast of southern Belize, is one of those places. The Nassau grouper (Epinephelus […]
Trade in marine fish for aquariums includes threatened species, lacks oversight: Study
The United States is the main market for “ornamental” marine fish, those that end up as pets in aquariums. Now, a new study of U.S.-based online retailers has found that nearly 90% of traded species are sourced exclusively from the wild, including a number of threatened species, and that the trade is poorly tracked. The […]