Guess who has the most powerful jaw on the planet?
SHARKS have the most powerful jaw on the planet! Although sharks have the most powerful jaw, they cannot chew their own food. A shark bites its food with its lower jaw first and then its upper jaw. It tosses its head back and forth to tear loose a piece of meat which it swallows whole. Sharks never run out of teeth and they can grow and use over 20,000 teeth in its lifetime! But not all sharks use their jaws to eat meat. Some sharks are actually quite harmless! Oddly enough, the most harmless sharks tend to be the largest! The basking shark, the whale shark, and the megamouth sharks all fit this description. These huge sharks eat plankton, a tiny shrimp-like creature found in the ocean.
The perception of sharks as dangerous animals has been popularized by the popular fictional works about shark attacks, such as the Jaws film series. So, next time you go to the beach and are scared of going in the ocean because of sharks, don’t be. Sharks aren’t there to hurt you.
Sign up for Summer Sea Camp at the Roundhouse!
Inquire within, call us at (310) 379-8117, or visit our website at www.roundhouseaquairum.org/camp
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
June Creature Feature
California Mussel Clam
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/
Description: Mussel clams form in large colonies. To eat, the mussel opens its shells tiny hairs, or cilia, draw in water carrying tiny particles of food. The California mussel attaches to rocks by fibers called byssal threads. These threads are produced in liquid form by the byssal gland. A large mussel moves by breaking old threads, then attaching new ones to another spot; a small mussel creeps around on its foot.
Defense: Mussels take over in tidepool areas and areas where they can use their strong byssal threads, like near crashing waves. They form large groups and out compete for space. However, lobsters, crabs and sea stars eat them in areas where waves don’t pound as hard.
Where they are Found: California mussels can be found from Alaska to Baja California.
Diet: California mussels love to eat detritus, or plant and animal waste, and living plankton.
WOW!!! It takes three years for a California mussel to grow to full size, about 5 inches.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
June Newsletter
The Exciting Adventures of a Roundhouse Intern
A Short Story with a Happy Ending
By Kristen Boysen
My favorite thing this spring was my time spent at the Roundhouse Aquarium. As an intern, I got to see in the inner-workings of the aquarium- from teaching classes, to chopping up squid, to feeding the sharks, to cleaning the eel tank. It was a great opportunity especially since I want to go into a marine-science career. I learned the basics of working with marine animals, which is an important skill for marine scientists. I also really liked working with the classes and teaching them about our planet. The Roundhouse kept me busy! But, it was great, I learned a lot, and I would recommend it to anyone!
Fun with Field Trips
My Experience Teaching at the Roundhouse Aquarium
by Katie Russell
During my semester as an Educational Intern not only did I teach about the ocean, I learned about it too! My experience at Roundhouse Aquarium has been so great—I love working with kids and learning more about our oceans. My favorite thing to teach is the Sea Star and Sea Cucumber part of the field trip; it’s so fun to see how excited kids get about touching live sea creatures. Roundhouse has been such a valuable experience for me, and I can’t wait to keep learning about the ocean and sharing my experience with others.
Sign up for Summer Sea Camp at the Roundhouse!
Inquire within, call us at (310) 379-8117, or visit our website at www.roundhouseaquairum.org/camp.
A Short Story with a Happy Ending
By Kristen Boysen
My favorite thing this spring was my time spent at the Roundhouse Aquarium. As an intern, I got to see in the inner-workings of the aquarium- from teaching classes, to chopping up squid, to feeding the sharks, to cleaning the eel tank. It was a great opportunity especially since I want to go into a marine-science career. I learned the basics of working with marine animals, which is an important skill for marine scientists. I also really liked working with the classes and teaching them about our planet. The Roundhouse kept me busy! But, it was great, I learned a lot, and I would recommend it to anyone!
Fun with Field Trips
My Experience Teaching at the Roundhouse Aquarium
by Katie Russell
During my semester as an Educational Intern not only did I teach about the ocean, I learned about it too! My experience at Roundhouse Aquarium has been so great—I love working with kids and learning more about our oceans. My favorite thing to teach is the Sea Star and Sea Cucumber part of the field trip; it’s so fun to see how excited kids get about touching live sea creatures. Roundhouse has been such a valuable experience for me, and I can’t wait to keep learning about the ocean and sharing my experience with others.
Sign up for Summer Sea Camp at the Roundhouse!
Inquire within, call us at (310) 379-8117, or visit our website at www.roundhouseaquairum.org/camp.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Looking for suggestions....
I administer this blog for the Roundhouse Aquarium....and would love to get your comments....what do you want to know....what can we do better....do you like the blog....please let me know so I can improve the blog....thanks
just e-mail me at:
admin@roundhouseaquarium.org
just e-mail me at:
admin@roundhouseaquarium.org
May Creature Feature
Ocean Sunfish
Description: Ocean sunfish are also known as Mola Molas. These huge, flat silvery-gray fish can grow to be over 5,000 pounds! Ocean sunfish grow from tiny eggs and can grow to be 10 feet long and 14 feet high, from dorsal fin to anal fin. They have a truncated tail fin referred to as a clavus—a scalloped fringe of muscle along their blunt rear end, which they use as a rudder. These fish are the heaviest bony fish in the world!
Defense: Their sheer size makes the ocean sunfish less susceptible to predators. However, they are hunted by sea lions, sharks and killer whales.
Where they are Found: Ocean sunfish can be found in ocean waters above 50 degrees F all over the world. They can often be seen basking in the sun near the surface of the water but do swim to much deeper depths.
WOW!!! Mola Molas are related to pufferfish!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
May Newsletter
Weeds of the Sea
Your only experience with seaweed may have been when it got tangled around your leg when you were swimming in the ocean. But did you know that seaweed is not a weed at all. It is actually a form of algae that plays an integral role in the lives of every living thing in this world. Seaweed can be found as an ingredient in everyday items, including toothpaste, shampoo, flour, macaroni and cheese, make-up and even flaming hot Cheetos! Seaweed proteins, also known as carageenan or algin, is an emulsifer or thickening agent. The sugars from this algae help to keep your ice cream from getting clumpy and make your mac and chesse extra creamy. Giant kelp, a common type of seaweed found off the coast of CA, helps reduce the afternoon chop of the waves from the wind that surfers often complain about while providing shelter and food for the local marine animals. This specific type of seaweed can grow up to one foot per day! Seaweed also provides every breathing thing over 75% of the oxygen needed to survive. So, these “weeds” are actually vitally important to animal survival.
However, numerous kelp forests are in danger. Pollution for storm drains and run-off kill this algae. So what can you do to help? Simple, care for the earth. Throw your trash in the trash can, recycle, bring in reusable bags, pick up trash, the list goes on. I bet you didn’t know that these little lifestyle changes really do help you breath a little better! So, next time you get your leg wrapped around a piece of kelp, embrace it and be thankful for this amazing “weed.”
Your only experience with seaweed may have been when it got tangled around your leg when you were swimming in the ocean. But did you know that seaweed is not a weed at all. It is actually a form of algae that plays an integral role in the lives of every living thing in this world. Seaweed can be found as an ingredient in everyday items, including toothpaste, shampoo, flour, macaroni and cheese, make-up and even flaming hot Cheetos! Seaweed proteins, also known as carageenan or algin, is an emulsifer or thickening agent. The sugars from this algae help to keep your ice cream from getting clumpy and make your mac and chesse extra creamy. Giant kelp, a common type of seaweed found off the coast of CA, helps reduce the afternoon chop of the waves from the wind that surfers often complain about while providing shelter and food for the local marine animals. This specific type of seaweed can grow up to one foot per day! Seaweed also provides every breathing thing over 75% of the oxygen needed to survive. So, these “weeds” are actually vitally important to animal survival.
However, numerous kelp forests are in danger. Pollution for storm drains and run-off kill this algae. So what can you do to help? Simple, care for the earth. Throw your trash in the trash can, recycle, bring in reusable bags, pick up trash, the list goes on. I bet you didn’t know that these little lifestyle changes really do help you breath a little better! So, next time you get your leg wrapped around a piece of kelp, embrace it and be thankful for this amazing “weed.”
Friday, April 3, 2009
April Newsletter
Earth Day
Come Celebrate Earth Day with the Roundhouse!
Join us on April 18th and 19th for environmental crafts, stories, and to learn more about how we can help the ocean.
We’ll also be at Pollywog Park April 18th for the Manhattan Beach Earth Day Celebration, stop by our booth.
Celebrate the Earth and everything in it!
Earth Day Earth Day is April 22nd, a day to celebrate the air, the waves and everything in between. So what can we do to create a healthier earth? Here are 5 simple things you can do every day to save the earth:
1. Use a reusable bag when you shop. It reduces waste and most of these bags are inexpensive. Keep these bags in your car so that you remember them next time you go to the store!
2. Throw your trash in the trash can! Sounds too easy but over 6 million tons of marine debris enter the ocean through the storm drains because people do not throw their trash away.
3. Don’t let go of balloons! No, they do not float up into outer space! Thousands of balloons end up in the ocean and can harm or kill many marine animals that mistake them for food.
4. Precycle!! Buy products in bulk or with less packaging or recyclable packaging to reduce waste. Remember also to recycle your plastics, aluminum, paper and cardboard.
5. Tell others about the importance of keeping our earth clean! If we can spread the news, we can create a healthier earth for ourselves and our children.
For more info on what you can do to help, check out these websites:
http://ww2.earthday.net/
www.earthday.gov
Come Celebrate Earth Day with the Roundhouse!
Join us on April 18th and 19th for environmental crafts, stories, and to learn more about how we can help the ocean.
We’ll also be at Pollywog Park April 18th for the Manhattan Beach Earth Day Celebration, stop by our booth.
Celebrate the Earth and everything in it!
Earth Day Earth Day is April 22nd, a day to celebrate the air, the waves and everything in between. So what can we do to create a healthier earth? Here are 5 simple things you can do every day to save the earth:
1. Use a reusable bag when you shop. It reduces waste and most of these bags are inexpensive. Keep these bags in your car so that you remember them next time you go to the store!
2. Throw your trash in the trash can! Sounds too easy but over 6 million tons of marine debris enter the ocean through the storm drains because people do not throw their trash away.
3. Don’t let go of balloons! No, they do not float up into outer space! Thousands of balloons end up in the ocean and can harm or kill many marine animals that mistake them for food.
4. Precycle!! Buy products in bulk or with less packaging or recyclable packaging to reduce waste. Remember also to recycle your plastics, aluminum, paper and cardboard.
5. Tell others about the importance of keeping our earth clean! If we can spread the news, we can create a healthier earth for ourselves and our children.
For more info on what you can do to help, check out these websites:
http://ww2.earthday.net/
www.earthday.gov
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