Blue Tangs are often found roaming the reef, in search of their favourite food - algae. They are surgeonfish which may appear either singly or in large schools, which can contain hundreds of individuals.
The name surgeonfish comes from the defensive spines located on the caudal peduncle (the part of the fish between the tail and the rest of the body) which are as sharp as a surgeon's scalpel. They are herbivorous, eating plants and algae, so their spines are used only for defense.
Blue Tangs are sometimes found schooling with other members of the surgeonfish family. These schools form around dusk ...
In a new study, Israeli researchers reviewed the scientific literature to evaluate the risks asthmatics take when diving.
They found that although there is some indication that asthmatics may be at an increased risk of pulmonary barotrauma (burst lung), the risk seems to be small.
Thus, under the right circumstances, they concluded that patients with asthma can safely dive without any apparent increased risk of an ...
Fishermen are always looking for a tasty catch - but it is the fish that have a natural advantage when it comes to spotting dinner, according to new research from The University of Manchester.
In a paper published this month in the Biophysical Journal, Dr Nicholas Roberts reports how individual light sensitive cells within the retina of goldfish are able to detect polarised light.
It's believed this type of polarisation vision improves visual contrast and can help an animal catch its prey more easily.
Researchers say this latest research is important because it is the first direct experimental evidence of a polarisation detection ...
The campaign proposes a detailed plan to change in common vessel operational procedures that contribute to the degradation of the wreck. A complete educational and awareness program will also be rolled out to encourage more environmentally friendly briefings and best ...
Christine Ward-Paige, PhD student at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada, says..."We believe that scuba divers/snorkellers possess valuable information about the critters they see in the ocean - especially about conspicuous species like sharks. Reports about the places where you don't see sharks (either today or 50 years ago) are just as important as places where you do see sharks."
The study will not only provide valuable information about where sharks are surviving, but it will also show that scuba divers can provide valuable information. To date, most of ...
An international team of marine scientists returns to the Chatham Islands next week hoping to fit satellite tags on up to 13 great white sharks. The tags will allow the scientists to track the sharks’ movements for up to nine months.
The team is led ...
The 27,400 ...
Just as State Department officials announced that Libya will be dropped from America's list of state sponsors of terror, the Independent Online is suggesting that the North African country might be the next hot travel/dive destination. Located on the southern edge of the Mediterranean, Libya is following Saudi Arabia's lead, hoping ...
Back in November, I mentioned South Africa’s Shark Lady and her “Crystal Cage” – a virtually invisible Lexan cage with 250 times the impact strength of glass. Capable of withstanding an attack by a great white, the Crystal Cage isn’t really a cage at all. Rather, it’s a ...
Juergen Freund of Queensland, Australia is a winner in the NatureÂ’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards 2007 competition. His image titled Dwarf Minke Whale won first place in the Oceans category.
One of the most prestigious photo contests in the world, drawing over 17,000 entries from photographers in ...