Harlequinmania

About 200 +++

Click through to see the images. Blue Harbor Video Series: Liopropoma aberrans | Jeboehlkia gladifer | Tosanoides flavofasciatus Tosanoides flavofasciatus | Blue harbor first shared photos of the Candy-stripped Cave Basslet last week, and now they've posted a new video - one of the very few videos available for this species. The footage includes both the male and female (possibly two females). The video quality is pretty good by Blue Harbor's standards (re: color and white balance), but it still does not do this species justice. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Blue Harbor Video Series: Liopropoma aberrans | Jeboehlkia gladifer | Tosanoides flavofasciatus Tosanoides flavofasciatus | Blue harbor first shared photos of the Candy-stripped Cave Basslet last week, and now they've posted a new video - one of the very few videos available for this species. The footage includes both the male and female (possibly two females). The video quality is pretty good by Blue Harbor's standards (re: color and white balance), but it still does not do this species justice. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Blue Harbor Video Series: Liopropoma aberrans | Jeboehlkia gladifer | Tosanoides flavofasciatus Jeboehlkia gladifer | The two videos show the Bladefin Basslet in its holding cubicle - a seemingly bold, beautiful, little fish. According to Blue Harbor, this specimen (along with the L.aberrans) was caught at Curacao by Forrest Young (Director of Dynasty Marine, Florida) using a submersible to reach the incredible depth of 250m (800ft) depth. Extreme deep water collection is both very expensive and risky, so the high price tag for this Bladefin Basslet isn't without merit. While only a handful of aquarist in the world are able to purchase a fish like this, it is these people and institutions who make it possible for all of us to share in the knowledge of these discoveries. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Blue Harbor Video Series: Liopropoma aberrans | Jeboehlkia gladifer | Tosanoides flavofasciatus Liopropoma aberrans | There is currently a bidding war for this Golden Basslet (the current bid is in excess of $8,999.00). This is the first time this species has entered the aquarium trade. The video is extremely blue, so it is difficult to appreciate the fish's true colors. But since this is a very deep water species, we understand why it is being housed in dim, blue conditions. Also making a cameo in the video are two other incredibly rare (and expensive) fish: A deep water Caribbean Bullisichthys caribbaeus (in the holding tank behind the L.aberrans) and a big Hawaiian Odontanthias fuscipinnis patrolling below it. Blue Harbor never fails to amaze me with the selection of "holy grail" species very few hobbyists ever get to see in their lifetimes. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Dr. Steve Simpson of the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Bristol and Professor Philip Munday at James Cook University conducted an experiment to study the effects of acidity on developing fish. Clownfish larvae were reared straight from hatching in varying CO2 environments until 17-20 days old, then subjected to predator noises to observe their responses. Dr. Simpson states: "We kept some of the baby clownfish in today's conditions, bubbling in air, and then had three other treatments where we added extra CO2 based on the predictions from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for 2050 and 2100." He continues: "We designed a totally new kind of experimental choice chamber that allowed us to play reef noise through an underwater speaker to fish in the lab, and watch how they responded. Fish reared in today’s conditions swam away from the predator noise, but those reared in the CO2 conditions of 2050 and 2100 showed no response." The responses were measured in larvae 17-20 days old. However, the study is careful to point out fish may have the ability to adapt to changing conditions over time. Dr. Simpson goes on to say: "What we have done here is to put today’s fish in tomorrow’s environment, and the effects are potentially devastating. What we don’t know is whether, in the next few generations, fish can adapt and tolerate ocean acidification. This is a one-way experiment on a global scale, and predicting the outcomes and interactions is a major challenge for the scientific community." source: http://www.targetwire.com/targetwire/2011/05/27/tw863/tw863_uk.html View the full article

Click through to see the images. The lessons were part of a larger initiative to combat bullying in the classroom. "If we don't have a safe, nurturing class environment, it's going to be hard to learn," she said. "Really, the message behind this curriculum is there are different ways to be boys. There are different ways to be girls." (ref) In these classes, students were taught how nature has devised all sorts of ways for animals to reproduce. Gender-switching clownfish, all-girl gecko's, and other animals were cited as age-appropriate examples for sexual variation and gender roles in nature. "That's a lot of variation in nature," Gender Spectrum trainer, Joel Baum, told the students. "Evolution comes up with some pretty funny ways for animals to reproduce." (ref) The Pacific Justice Institute - a conservative legal defense organization - has contacted the school system, stating: "This instruction does not represent the values of the majority of families in Oakland." The Pacific Justice Institute is offering legal counsel to parents who opposed the instruction. California state schools are required to have a defined plan to address safety issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity. The $1500 cost of training for these lessons was funded by the California Teachers Association grant. (from San Francisco Chronicle / NBC Bay Area via reefs) View the full article

Hi bro, thanks for your kind words Some discount which i mention here is as a result of me asking on behalf of all our SRC members LOL..

There is a book fair and life style fair on the 2nd floor in Suntec expo, so while you are there to see the fishes, you family can go see some books

Low-cost catfish fillets sold as expensive sole fillets or cod caught in the North Sea but declared as originating from the Baltic Sea are both examples of types of fraud in the fisheries sector. A new report shows how molecular technologies - based on genetics, genomics, chemistry and forensics - can provide clear answers to questions such as "what species does this fish product come from....where was this fish caught....is it wild or farmed?" View the full article

Low-cost catfish fillets sold as expensive sole fillets or cod caught in the North Sea but declared as originating from the Baltic Sea are both examples of types of fraud in the fisheries sector. A new report shows how molecular technologies - based on genetics, genomics, chemistry and forensics - can provide clear answers to questions such as "what species does this fish product come from....where was this fish caught....is it wild or farmed?" View the full article

Current hotspots of marine mammal diversity are concentrated in the temperate waters of the southern hemisphere, and the number of cetacean and pinniped species will likely remain highest in these areas in the coming 40 years -- regardless of climate change. However, on the level of individual species the picture may be different: Whereas about half the species of marine mammals will experience some loss in their habitat, distributional ranges of the other half may increase by up to 40 percent. View the full article

Current hotspots of marine mammal diversity are concentrated in the temperate waters of the southern hemisphere, and the number of cetacean and pinniped species will likely remain highest in these areas in the coming 40 years -- regardless of climate change. However, on the level of individual species the picture may be different: Whereas about half the species of marine mammals will experience some loss in their habitat, distributional ranges of the other half may increase by up to 40 percent. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Earlier in the month, we blogged about two ultra expensive fish up for sale through AquaTouch. It appears the J.gladifer basslet, originally listed at $7,999.00, sold for $2,000 above asking price; That's right ... just shy of $10,000! The bids are still open for the L.aberrans basslet above the listed price of $8,999.00. I confess I had serious doubts AquaTouch could sell these fishes for anywhere near their asking prices. In these economically uncertain times, it's hard to fathom anyone spending this kind of money on "unproven" first-ever species. It turns out some hobbyists with very large bank accounts, passion for rare fish, and penchant for risk are bidding up the price of these fishes well above the asking prices. Rare marine fishes have sold for more than this, believe it or not. For example: Genicanthus personatus ($30K/pair), Centropyge narcosis, Centropyge nigriocella ($16K) and Centropyge boylei ($20K). However, I believe the 1.5" J.gladifer basslet wins hands-down for the most expensive inch-for-inch fish and is the first non-angelfish to come close to breaching the five figure mark. We wait to see where the price for the L.aberrans ends up. Jeboehlkia gladifer sold for $9,999.00 View the full article

Coastal communities hard hit by ocean acidification hotspots have more options than they may realize, says an interdisciplinary team of science and legal experts. Experts make the case that communities don't need to wait for a global solution to ocean acidification to fix a local problem that is compromising their marine environment. View the full article

New research casts doubt on a widely publicized study that concluded that a bacterial bloom in the Gulf of Mexico consumed the methane discharged from the Deepwater Horizon well. View the full article

Click through to see the images. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant (Japan) was severely damaged by the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami on March 11. The damage resulted in radiation leaks into the surrounding environment. Greenpeace teams collected samples of marine life along the Fukushima coast and in international waters outside Japan's 12-mile territorial limit. The samples showed high levels of radioactive iodine and cesium in fish, shellfish, and seaweed. The nuclear crisis at Fukushima is ongoing. Officials from the nuclear plant originally said they expect an end to the crisis in January 2012, although recent statements suggest the crisis may be prolonged. (via CNN) View the full article

Click through to see the images. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has begun work on a mobile application for either the iOS (iPhone / iPod Touch / iPad) or Android based devices in hopes of better educating the general public about coral reefs and ocean stewardship. This application will be used for both national education (primarily ocean conservation) and local public education (primarily recreational fishermen) when it rolls out. The Coral App will serve a national audience by displaying news content related to coral reefs featured in the CRCP's web and Facebook pages, coral bleach warnings and seasonal outlooks, sustainable seafood consumer information, and other relevant NOAA data and information. The local audience (Florida) will be served by delivering state recreational fishery regulations applicable to a user's exact location and time (including local MPA boundaries shown relative to user) and NOAA data relevant to local users (ocean temperature, currents, etc) into a single, user-friendly interface. Coral App will make state fishery regulations more accessible and add a mechanism for user interaction and tools to help disseminate recreational fishery regulations. (ref) The app will initially focus on the national public with the second iteration adding in the local regulations for fishermen. At this point they have not decided which platform to focus on - either iOS or Android. Personally I'd like to see it developed for Android as it's a more open system and as of April 2011 has significantly more market share. What do you think? Sound off in the comments below. (via Yahoo!, FedBizOpps) View the full article

Click through to see the images. Frogfish (family Antennariidae) have always intrigued me. Maybe it's the way they sometimes use their pelvic and pectoral fins to walk along the ocean floor. Maybe it's how well camouflaged they are in their surroundings. Maybe it's how their eyes can sometimes be bigger than their stomachs when it comes to their next meal. Yep, that's it. Frogfishes diet consists of fish, crustaceans, and even each other and they can eat a meal that's up to two times their body size. When they first spot their intended victim, they will initially follow it with their eyes and then begin to slowly stalk it. Once they get within a certain distance (roughly seven body-lengths), they begin to move their front dorsal fin (called the illicium) in such a way as to mimic their prey to draw them in closer. As the target moves closer, they will slowly adjust their position to better strike. When the time is right, a frogfish will suddenly open its mouth and it's mouth cavity will expand up to twelve times it's normal volume. This volume increase sucks in large amounts of water along with its intended prey and this striking can happen in as short as 6 milliseconds. That's fast. Fast enough that it has scientists wondering how it does it as this time is shorter than the time it takes for a muscle to contract. Take a look at the below videos and watch as frogfish target their prey. In the first video, a cardinalfish nearly the size of the frogfish is devoured. In the second video, a lionfish is the victim. These are amazing creatures. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Two van containers full of "rubber" were confiscated by Philippines Bureau of Customs officials recently. It turns out that the shipment wasn't rubber after all. It was found to be black coral, sea turtles, and shells with an estimated value of over P35 million dollars. 134 bundles (21,169 pieces) of "sea fan" black coral and 15 bundles (432 lbs) of "sea whip" black coral were found in the containers including a sea turtle estimated at over 80-100 years of age. “The Moro Gulf and the Sulu Sea off Cotabato are supposed to be unexplored reef areas but with this collection, we can see that they have also been disturbed,” said Ludivina Labe, a senior marine biologist of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). “It’s like a forest that has been cut down,” Labe said. “One reef complex was decimated.” It's estimated that only one colony of black coral is found per acre of sea floor. Based on this figure, Philippine officials estimate that roughly 17,300 acres of reef were decimated of their black coral population. The size of the poached pieces indicates that it took at least 25 years (or more) for these corals to grow to the size that was confiscated as black coral only grow 1 cm per month (4-5 inches per year). Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez states: “(The illicit trade) is being fueled by the demand of the multibillion-dollar marine ornamental industry for exotic decorative species and the increasing popularity of coral-accented jewelry and fashion accessories." The current plans are to potentially give some of the contraband to marine biology schools for study while returning the already dead black coral to the ocean. Officials are still attempting to track down the poachers. The consignee (Exequiel Navarro) of the seized contraband has been charged with violation of the Fisheries Code. Under the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, which punishes the destruction of endangered species, Navarro faces up to 12 years imprisonment and P1 million dollars in fine. Black Corals are protected under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). (via Inquirer News and follow-up) View the full article

Click through to see the images. The purpose of the video appears to promote Cairns tourism ... and it does a successful job showcasing the natural energy and beauty of the Great Barrier Reef. While you can appreciate the production value by watching the embedded video below, I recommend watching it in 1080p on youtube.com (click on the youtube icon). View the full article

The first comprehensive study of sea creatures around the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia reveals a region that is richer in biodiversity than even many tropical sites, such as the Galapagos Islands. The study provides an important benchmark to monitor how these species will respond to future environmental change. View the full article

The first comprehensive study of sea creatures around the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia reveals a region that is richer in biodiversity than even many tropical sites, such as the Galapagos Islands. The study provides an important benchmark to monitor how these species will respond to future environmental change. View the full article

Whale sharks are often thought to be solitary behemoths that live and feed in the open ocean. However, scientists have now found that this is not necessarily the case, finding that whale sharks can be gregarious and amass in the hundreds to feed in coastal waters. View the full article

Whale sharks are often thought to be solitary behemoths that live and feed in the open ocean. However, scientists have now found that this is not necessarily the case, finding that whale sharks can be gregarious and amass in the hundreds to feed in coastal waters. View the full article