Archive of: Marine
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16 March 2021
Cephalopod beaks
When most people think of animals with beaks, they think of birds. But did you know that a group of marine animals also have beaks?
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12 March 2021
The Seals of Chichester Harbour - Answers
John Arnott answers the Q&A questions from his recent talk on the Seals of Chichester Harbour
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23 February 2021
Ideal Home: Hermit Crab
Finding a suitable shell can be quite the challenge for a small crab in a big ocean, and this life constraint has caused a number of quite unique behaviours to have evolved in hermit crabs, allowing them to find their ideal home.
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04 February 2021
Fish tail tales
You may have noticed that different species of fish have different shaped tails. These different shapes have evolved over time depending on the lifestyle of the fish.
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28 January 2021
Rampion 2 Consultation
An informal consultation on plans to expand the Rampion Offshore Windfarm off the Sussex coast has been launched. This initial consultation closes on 11th February 2021.
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23 January 2021
What is found on the strandline - plastic
Sadly, an almost guaranteed find in the strandline of any beach is human-made materials, and this is most commonly plastic.
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22 January 2021
What can be found on the strandline #5 Eggs
Mermaid’s purses are not the only egg cases that can be found in the strandline. Common whelk (Buccinum undatum) egg cases are also a fairly common sight. They are a mass of small spongy balls that could indeed be confused for sponges. In the past, sailors did actually use them as wash balls! The first whelks to hatch are cannibalistic and will eat their still developing siblings to give themselves a burst of energy to help them survive in the open ocean.
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21 January 2021
What can be found on the strandline #4 Shells
While beach combing in the strandline, you will likely come across a number of shells from different species of molluscs. These shells are most often empty as the animal inside has died and likely been eaten. We explore the most frequently seen shells on Sussex beaches.
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20 January 2021
What can be found on the strandline #3 Crab shells
If you find a crab shell in the strandline, it is likely not a dead crab but actually a moulted crab shell. Over their lifetime, crabs moult (or shed) their shell many times as they grow.
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19 January 2021
What can be found on the strandline #2 Mermaid's Purses
Mermaid’s purses are a common sight on Sussex beaches. These little pouches are actually the egg cases of sharks, skates and rays.
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18 January 2021
What can be found on the strandline #1 Cuttlebones
Cuttlebones are a common strandline find in Sussex.
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03 January 2021
11 Pipers Piping (well, Pipefish)
Pipefish facts