Bubble-net feeding is a unique and complex feeding behavior engaged in by what animal, that has a distinctive body shape, with long pectoral fins and a knobbly head?
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Bubble net feeding Bubble-net feeding is a unique and complex feeding behavior engaged in by Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and Bryde's whales in Gulf of Tosa (), Japan. It is one of the few surface feeding behaviors that humpback whales are known to engage in. This type of feeding is often done in groups. The group size can range from a minimum of two or three whales participating and up to sixty at one time. Whales can also perform a similar method of surface feeding called lunge feeding but is done solo.
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Humpback whale The humpback whale ("Megaptera novaeangliae") is a species of baleen whale. One of the larger rorqual species, adults range in length from 12 - and weigh about 36000 kg . The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. It is known for breaching and other distinctive surface behaviors, making it popular with whale watchers. Males produce a complex song lasting 10 to 20 minutes, which they repeat for hours at a time. Its purpose is not clear, though it may have a role in mating.
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Neoglyphea Neoglyphea inopinata is a species of glypheoid lobster, a group thought long extinct before "Neoglyphea" was discovered. It is a lobster-like animal, up to around 15 cm in length, although without claws. It is only known from 17 specimens, caught at two sites – one at the entrance to Manila Bay in the Philippines, and one in the Timor Sea, north of Australia. Due to the small number of specimens available, little is known about the species, but it appears to live up to five years, with a short larval phase. A second species, previously included in "Neoglyphea", is now placed in a separate genus, "Laurentaeglyphea".
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Giant anteater The giant anteater ("Myrmecophaga tridactyla"), also known as the ant bear, is a large insectivorous mammal native to Central and South America. It is one of four living species of anteaters and is classified with sloths in the order Pilosa. This species is mostly terrestrial, in contrast to other living anteaters and sloths, which are arboreal or semiarboreal. The giant anteater is the largest of its family, 182 – in length, with weights of 33 – for males and 27 – for females. It is recognizable by its elongated snout, bushy tail, long fore claws, and distinctively colored pelage.
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Halecomorphi Halecomorphi is a taxon of bony fishes in the clade Neopterygii. The sole living Halecomorph is the bowfin ("Amia calva"), but the group contains many extinct species in several families, including Amiidae, Caturidae, Liodesmidae, Sinamiidae, and the orders Ionoscopiformes, and Parasemionotiformes). The Halecomorphi exhibit a combination of ancestral features, such as most heavily mineralized scales, but also by more derived or "modern" features, particularly in the structure of the skull (e.g. position and shape of preopercles).
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Pearlfish Pearlfish are marine fish in the Carapidae family of ray-finned fishes. Pearlfishes inhabit the tropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans at depths to 2000 m , along oceanic shelves and slopes. They are slender, elongated fish with no scales, translucent bodies, and dorsal fin rays which are shorter than their anal fin rays. Adults of most species live symbiotically inside various invertebrate hosts, and some live parasitically inside sea cucumbers. The larvae are free living.
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Hirundichthys Hirundichthys is a genus of flying fish. Body elongate, moderately thick, flattened ventrally. Pectoral branch of lateral line absent. Upper jaw not protrusible. Dorsal fin with less or equal (rarely with one more) rays than anal fin; dorsal fin low, anterior rays the longest, pectoral fins strikingly long, reaching to or almost to caudal fin base; pelvic fins long, reaching beyond anal fin origin, their insertion closer to anal fin origin than to pectoral fin insertion.
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Hesperornithes Hesperornithes is an extinct and highly specialized group of aquatic avialans closely related to the ancestors of modern birds. They inhabited both marine and freshwater habitats in the Northern Hemisphere, and include genera such as "Hesperornis", "Parahesperornis", "Baptornis", "Enaliornis", and "Potamornis", all strong-swimming, predatory divers. Many of the species most specialized for swimming were completely flightless. The largest known hesperornithean, "Canadaga arctica", may have reached a maximum adult length of over 1.5 m .
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Torpedo scad The torpedo scad, "Megalaspis cordyla" (also known as the hardtail scad, finny scad, finletted mackerel scad and cordyla scad), is a species of moderately large marine fish classified in the jack and horse mackerel family, Carangidae. The torpedo scad is distributed throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region, ranging from South Africa in the west to Tonga in the east, extending to Japan in the north and Australia in south. It is a schooling pelagic fish which occupies the surface layers of both inshore and offshore oceanic waters. The torpedo scad is easily identified by both its 'torpedo' shaped body and a series of detached finlets at the rear of both the dorsal and anal fins. The largest recorded individual was 80 cm long and weighed 4 kg, although it is more common at lengths less than 40 cm. It is a predatory species, taking a variety of fish, cephalopods and crustaceans by both active and filter feeding. There is a shift in diet as the species grow; however fish is the dominant prey in all size classes. Torpedo scad reach sexual maturity at 22 cm in females and 26.4 cm in males, with spawning occurring between March and July in India, where significant research into larval growth and morphometrics has been carried out.
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Giant damselfish The giant damselfish ("Microspathodon dorsalis") inhabit rocky reefs, below the surf zone at depths of 1–25 m. They feed mainly on low-profile, attached algae. They defend both feeding and reproductive territories by driving off other fishes and divers who come too close. They are oviparous, and form distinct pairings during breeding. The eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate. Males guard and aerate the eggs.
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Brevisomabathynella cunyuensis Brevisomabathynella cunyuensis is a species of crustacean. It was first found in Western Australia. It stands out within its family by its pygmoid body and its long head. At the same time, its mouthparts show: a very large labrum with a great number (over 30) of teeth; its incisor process with four main teeth and three very small other teeth, arranged in two groups; and the distal-inner spines of the farthermost endite of its maxillule being longer than its terminal spines. These distinct characters appear to have developed due to its predatory habits, which in turn are evidenced by the presence of an ostracod prey in its gut. This genus closely resembles the genus "Notobathynella".
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Guppy The guppy ("Poecilia reticulata" ), also known as millionfish and rainbow fish, is one of the world's most widely distributed tropical fish, and one of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish species. It is a member of the family Poeciliidae and, like almost all American members of the family, is live-bearing. Guppies, whose natural range is in northeast South America, were introduced to many habitats and are now found all over the world. They are highly adaptable and thrive in many different environmental and ecological conditions. Male guppies, which are smaller than females, have ornamental caudal and dorsal fins, while females are duller in colour. Wild guppies generally feed on a variety of food sources, including benthic algae and aquatic insect larvae. Guppies are used as a model organism in the field of ecology, evolution, and behavioural studies.
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Denticle herring The denticle herring ("Denticeps clupeoides") is a small (15-cm-long) species of ray-finned fish found only in the rivers of Benin, Nigeria, and Cameroon; it is related to the herrings, but notable for its large anal fin and its array of denticle-like scales under the head, which give it almost a furry appearance. It is the sole living member of the family Denticipitidae.
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Blacktip sawtail catshark The blacktip sawtail catshark ("Galeus sauteri") is a species of catshark, and part of the family Scyliorhinidae, found off the coasts of Taiwan and the Philippines. It is demersal in nature and occurs deeper than 60 m . Growing up to 46 cm long, this slim-bodied species is characterized by its plain brownish dorsal coloration with dark tips on the dorsal and caudal fins, and a prominent crest of enlarged dermal denticles on the upper edge of the caudal fin. It is oviparous, with females producing encapsulated eggs two at a time year-round. The blacktip sawtail catshark is caught incidentally in bottom trawls and used for fishmeal in Taiwan. However, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) currently lacks enough information to assess its conservation status.
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Bluehead chub The bluehead chub, Nocomis leptocephalus, (originally "Cirrhitichthys leptocephalus" ) is a cyprinid native to North America. Its name is due to its appearance, as breeding males have a blue head. Adult bluehead chubs are, on average, between 70 and 160 mm in length. They have a robust body with uniformly large scales. The scales are present on the belly and breast. They have a pored body, a weakly falcate pectoral fin, and pharyngeal teeth. They have a large mouth, small eyes, and a terminal barbel. Other characteristics include a darkened lateral band, spot on the caudal fin, and red coloration of the fins and iris of the eyes. They have 40 lateral line scales and 8 anal rays. The bluehead chub is a freshwater fish, and lives in pools, rivers, and streams. They feed on insects and plants.
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Short-beaked garfish The Short-beaked garfish ("Belone svetovidovi") is an uncommon species of needlefish in marine waters of the Eastern Atlantic ocean. It is a pelagic needlefish that is present in Ireland, Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom. It is possible Belone svetovidovi is thriving in the Mediterranean Sea as well. This species was thought to be the same as the Garfish ("Belone belone") because they share the same waters. Belone svetovidovi matures at 30 cm (12 in) and can grow to a maximum of 65 cm (26 in) while Belone belone can be 95 cm (38 in). Like all needlefish, this one has an elongated body with beak-like jaws that are lined with razor sharp teeth. The Short-beaked garfishs' lower jaw is longer than the upper. Its body is silvery like most needlefish and has a black stripe running across its lateral line. The dorsal and anal fins are very close to the caudal peduncle. These fish are Oviparous. Eggs may be found attached to objects in the water by tendrils on the egg's surface. They are spherical eggs that are dispersed on the sea floor (demersal). There is not much known about this fish's feeding habits, or anything about this fish for that matter. It is likely it preys on small ocean going fish. It has been caught using mackerel before. Needlefish tend to be towards the surface so fish such as Atlantic Mackerel, European pilchard, Sand smelt etc. would be preyed on. The Short-beaked garfish is likely distributed in these countries: Algeria, Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
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Macropinna microstoma Macropinna microstoma is the only species of fish in the genus Macropinna, belonging to the Opisthoproctidae, the barreleye family. It is recognized for a highly unusual transparent, fluid-filled dome on its head, through which the lenses of its eyes can be seen. The eyes have a barrel shape and can be rotated to point either forward or straight up, looking through the fish's transparent dome. "M. microstoma" has a tiny mouth and most of its body is covered with large scales. The fish normally hangs nearly motionless in the water, at a depth of about 600 m to 800 m , using its large fins for stability and with its eyes directed upward. In the low light conditions it is assumed the fish detects prey by its silhouette. MBARI researchers Bruce Robison and Kim Reisenbichler observed that when prey such as small fish and jellyfish are spotted, the eyes rotate like binoculars, facing forward as it turns its body from a horizontal to a vertical position to feed. Robison speculates that "M. microstoma" steals food from siphonophores.
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Physalia Physalia is a genus of the order Siphonophorae, colonies of four specialized polyps and medusoids that drift on the surface of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. Although these organisms look like a single multicellular organism, each specimen is actually a colony of minute organisms called zooids that have to work together for survival. A gas-filled bladder resembling a blue bottle provides buoyancy, and long tentacles of venomous cnidocytes provide a means of capturing prey. A sail on the float, which may be left or right-handed, propels "Physalia" about the sea, often in groups. These siphonophores sometimes become stranded on beaches, where their toxic nematocysts can remain potent for weeks or months in moist conditions. Both species of this siphonophore resemble a jellyfish in appearance, with their gas-filled float and cluster of polyps beneath, which can hang up to 30 or 165 feet below the surface of the sea.
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King George whiting The King George whiting, "Sillaginodes punctatus" (also known as the spotted whiting or spotted sillago), is a coastal marine fish of the smelt-whitings family Sillaginidae. The King George whiting is endemic to Australia, inhabiting the south coast of the country from Jurien Bay, Western Australia to Botany Bay, New South Wales in the east. The King George whiting is the only member of the genus "Sillaginodes" and the largest member of the smelt-whiting family Sillaginidae, growing to a length of 72 cm and 4.8 kg in weight. The species is readily distinguishable from other Australian whitings by its unique pattern of spots, as well as its highly elongate shape. King George whiting are often found in bays and protected waterways over sand and seagrass beds, also venturing out onto deep continental shelf reefs during adulthood. The species is a benthic carnivore, consuming a variety of crustaceans, polychaete worms, molluscs and fish. The King George whiting forms the basis of one of southern Australia's most important commercial fisheries, reportedly worth over five million Australian dollars per year. The species is also heavily targeted by recreational anglers, who value the whiting for its sporting and eating qualities.
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Grey reef shark The grey reef shark ("Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos", sometimes misspelled "amblyrhynchus" or "amblyrhinchos") is a species of requiem shark, in the family Carcharhinidae. One of the most common reef sharks in the Indo-Pacific, it is found as far east as Easter Island and as far west as South Africa. This species is most often seen in shallow water near the drop-offs of coral reefs. The grey reef shark has the typical "reef shark" shape, with a broad, round snout and large eyes. This species can be distinguished from similar species by the plain or white-tipped first dorsal fin, the dark tips on the other fins, the broad, black rear margin on the tail fin, and the lack of a ridge between the dorsal fins. Most individuals are less than 1.9 m long.
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Bala shark The bala shark, "Balantiocheilos melanopterus", also known as the tricolor shark, tricolor sharkminnow, silver shark, or shark minnow, is a fish species of the family Cyprinidae, and is one of the two species in the genus "Balantiocheilos". This species is not a true shark, but is commonly so called because of its torpedo-shaped body and large fins. It is endangered because the population decreased by 50% in the last 10 years.
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Giant grouper The giant grouper ("Epinephelus lanceolatus"), also known as the brindlebass, brown spotted cod, or bumblebee grouper, and as the Queensland grouper in Australia, is the largest bony fish found in coral reefs, and the aquatic emblem of Queensland. It is found from near the surface to depths of 100 m at reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific region, with the exception of the Persian Gulf. It also enters estuaries, such as the lowermost part of the Brisbane River. It reaches up to 2.7 m in length and 400 kg in weight; unconfirmed reports of it growing much bigger exist, up to 4.26 m and 598 kg . Giant groupers feed on a variety of marine life, including small sharks and juvenile sea turtles. Due to overfishing, this species has declined drastically in many regions, and as of the mid-1990s, it is considered Vulnerable by the IUCN.