The volcanic island of St. Eustatius, a.k.a. Statia, a jewel in the Dutch Caribbean, holds a special place in the hearts of nature lovers and marine biologists. On the shores of Zeelandia Beach, a timeless drama unfolds – the nesting and hatching of sea turtles. These magnificent creatures, survivors from […]
WeiterlesenDive & marine life
Electric Clam: Ctenoides ales
In episode 54 of Take a Minute to Relax, we introduce you to a rather flashy reef character: the ELECTRIC CLAM (Ctenoides ales). The underwater world is filled with many wonders. Just when you thought you’d seen it all, the ocean presents you with the electric clam. Ctenoides Ales as […]
WeiterlesenSea Bunny: Jorunna parva
Starring in episode 53 of “Take a Minute to Relax” is a bundle of cuteness that is commonly known as a “sea bunny”, whereas scientists like to name it “Jorunna parva”. This little fluffball is obviously not related to any land-dwelling bunnies. It is, in fact, a species of dorid […]
WeiterlesenPicasso Triggerfish: Rhinecanthus aculeatus
In this episode of “Take a Minute to Relax” we’d like to introduce you to a beautiful creature that goes by the Hawaiian name of Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa, or Humu-Humu for short. Although this may sound nice, roughly translated it means “triggerfish with a snout like a pig”. Outside of Hawaii though, […]
WeiterlesenLeaf scorpionfish: Taenianotus triacanthus
„Take a Minute to Relax“ and observe another weird and wonderful creature hiding in the coral reefs: Leaf scorpionfish (Taenianotus triacanthus). The leaf scorpionfish, also called paperfish, is definitely the most elegant of all the ambush predators. Ambush predators, also called sit-and-wait predators, are carnivorous animals that get to their […]
WeiterlesenGiant moray eel: Gymnothorax javanicus
In this round of „Take a Minute“, we present you with the Giant moray eel (Gymnothorax javanicus). Granted, at first glance, it neither looks relaxed nor relaxing. However, it opens and closes its mouth simply for breathing. Moray eels have relatively small oral cavities with the gills sitting behind them. […]
WeiterlesenOrnate Ghostpipefish: Solenostomus paradoxus
In this Minute of relaxation, we would like to introduce you to a very cryptic creature, that is very much loved by divers and snorkellers alike, the Ornate Ghostpipefish, a.k.a. Solenostomus paradoxus. In this clip, we see the Ornate Ghostpipefish in one of its favourite hiding places, namely among the […]
WeiterlesenTake a Minute XLI: Goniobranchus kuniei
In this relaxing episode of “Take a Minute”, we would like to introduce you to a pretty creature named Goniobranchus kuniei. This colourful little beauty is a dorid nudibranch, of the Chromodorididae family. The Order Nudibranchia of which this creature is part differs from other sea slugs. The name “Nudibranchia” […]
WeiterlesenHawksbill sea turtle: Eretmochelys imbricata
In this relaxing Minute, we invite you to swim alongside one of the more famous and beloved ocean creatures, the hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). These marine reptiles, and yes they are reptiles, have been roaming the world’s oceans for an incredibly long time. It is believed that the “Cheloniidae” […]
WeiterlesenSwim with a whale shark (Rhincodon typus)
After many episodes that focused on the smaller and more cryptic marine life, in this „Take a Minute to Relax“ we’d like to introduce you to the largest fish in the ocean, the whale shark (Rhincodon typus). The name of this creature has confused people for many years, and unlike […]
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