The Sandbox

Creatures of the Pacific Ocean

Can you identify the species in the Pacific Ocean?

1. Orca (Killer Whale), Orcinus orca

Diet: fish, other marine mammals such as seals and sea lions, squid or octopus
Habitat: inshore and offshore
Weight: (male) up to 5 tons (female) up to 3 tons
Length:2.6-9 me Range: All oceans, mostly in the polar regions.

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2. Pacific Salmon

Salmon are anadromous by nature, meaning they hatch in freshwater, swim to the sea to grow and mature, only to return to freshwater to reproduce. Their ability to find their way home when it’s time for tem to reproduce is one of the most remarkable things about salmon. They have been know to battle strong currents and waterfalls to reach their hatching place before they will release eggs and sperm and die shortly thereafter. In the past, salmon provided food for the Indians living along the coast and interior of British Columbia. The salmon populations in some rivers has been drastically reduced by dams, pollution and the destruction of forests. Populations of Pacific salmon are made up of the following five species: Chinook, Pink, Sockey, Chum, and Coho.

In addition to having different spawning habits, each species has a unique appearance and life history. Generally, sockeye, coho and chinook migrate long distances to spawn. Pink and chum usually spawn closer to the ocean.

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3. Knife Fish, Notopterus notopterus

Weedy regions of rivers and backwaters in Southern Asia are the home of the knifefish. The fish are named after their vertically compressed shape. Their colour vaires widely, even within one species which makes them hard to identify.

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4. Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fishes constitute the family Chaetodontidae. Several species are known as four-eyed fish because of a pair of eyelike spots on the back. These coloured fish resemble butterflies and are found near coral reefs. They are broad from top to bottom and narrow from side to side.

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5. Marlin - Istiophoridae

Marlins include 3 genera and 11 species. The largest black marlin is more than 4.5 meters long and weighs up to 900 kg. Marlins use their bill, or rostra to slash through schools of tuna and later retrun to pick off injured victims.

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6. Flying Fish, Cypselurus opisthopus

The flying fish has developed wing-like pectoral fins that enable it to glide through the air. To emerge from the sea it holds its fins close to its body, takes off from the crest of a wave then spreads its fins to climb and glide. Usually the fish can rise no higher than 1.5m above the surface of the water but in favourable conditions can increase this height to more than 7m.

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7. Moorish Idol, Zanclus canescens

The Moorish idol is found in the tropical coral reets and is striped for camouflage. The Moorish idol occurs throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific. It is a beautiful fish with broad vertical black bars on a yellowish-white background. Its small mouth and bristle-like teech enable it to forage among cracks and crevices in the coral. Although, the Moorish idol resembles the butterflyfishes, it is in fact closely related to the surgeonfishes.

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8. Sea Anemone

Sea anemones lack a definitive respiratory system and therefore rely on clean water with a high oxygen content. As are result, they are affected when man encrouaches upon the coastlines. They are know to live to ripe old ages, even in the aquarium. They are often found in the surging tide zone. Various species of sea anemones seek habitats and have a symbiotic relationship with animals that utilize them for protection.

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