Oluwatoyin Balogun’s Post

Ocean Besties: Dolphins and whales 🐬🐳. Dolphins and whales are often observed together in the wild. Some of their interactions include: 💙 Cooperative hunting Some species of dolphins and whales have been seen hunting together or near each other. With both species working to herd or disorient prey, it helps give them both access to food more easily. 💙 Strength in numbers Dolphins often swim alongside larger whales (like sperm whales or humpbacks) for protection from sharks or orcas. The whales can benefit from the dolphin's advanced echolocation and alerts through their behaviour to nearby dangers. 💙 Play time! Dolphins and whales are both highly social and curious animals - and often engage in play. Whales have been spotted lifting dolphins, dolphins often play a game of chase, and they can both mimic each other. Dolphins and whales are closely related (both belonging to the order Cetacea). There's still so much we don't know about life in the ocean, and these unique connections show the the lives of all species are interlinked. ➡️ Follow The Marine Diaries for more ocean stories 🎥 Dolphin Dronedom #Symbiosis #OceanBesties #MarineBio #MarineBiology #MarineScience #Ocean #OceanScience #Oceans #Whale #Humpbackwhale #Whales #Dolphins #Dolphin #CommonDolphin

Seagrass & Such Series: A Closer Look- Sea Otters as a Keystone Species in Kelp Forests. Sea otters were previously hunted by humans and by the 1900’s this lead to a significant drop in their population. Following protection measures, hunting declined and sea otters numbers began to increase once again. Scientists were able to observe their reintroduction to their kelp forest habitat and how their return affected their surrounding environment. The number of sea otters plummeted again in the 1900’s, this is believed to be due to being hunted by orcas. Their usual prey of sea lions and whales became scarce due to overfishing therefore they turned to the sea otter population for sustenance. Alongside the once again decline in number of sea otters, sea urchins were left unchecked, meaning they were able to rapidly reproduce, biting through the holdfast or roots of the kelp. Whilst conducting research in Alaska, the scientist James Estes confirmed that sea otters are a keystone species. Their role in their environment is crucial in ensuring their habitat is balanced, one species not outcompeting another. https://bit.ly/49jBouf Daniel Terrell / Pexels #seagrassseries #ocean #oceanconservation #marinebiology #oceanecosystems #kelpforests #marinehabitats #seaotters

Did you know that the Dumbo Octopus gets its name because of its ears? 🐙 They resemble a particular elephant in a Disney movie, and they both use them to move around! Instead of flying this octopus uses its ears to propel itself through the water. Their name is actually not just for one species but for a whole genus of deep-sea umbrella octopuses! ☂️ These cute creatures are the deepest living of all octopuses, living down at depths of at least 13,100 feet. This then requires them to have the ability to live in very cold waters with no sunlight! The lack of visibility for them however doesn’t bother them as much as us, as they’re rarely sighted in the enormous deep ocean. This means that they’re hardly ever caught in fishing nets, so are not as threated by humans in ways that many marine species are. 🎣 Living so deep down also makes some differences to your common ideas of octopuses, with Dumbo Octopuses having no ink sacs. This is because it scarcely encounters predators such as diving fishes, sharks, and tunas. They’re also opportunistic hunters meaning they feed on a variety of sources, which is a common trait amongst many deep-sea creatures due to their habitat. 🦈 The largest Dumbo octopus found measured at a whopping 5 feet 10 inches long, whereas they’re usually recorded at an average size of 7.9-12 inches long! They also live for 3-5 years and don’t find direct shelter, instead preferring to migrate. 🌊 Due to their habitat and how rarely they’re seen, Dumbo Octopuses are not affected by human intervention. However, little is known about them and their contributions to the ecosystem! 🪸 Photo 📸: https://lnkd.in/eecgp9Jn Pages to look at 👀: @octonation @in.vertebabe Information📝: https://bit.ly/3Zc3d35 #scicomm #MScAquaBio_uop #marinebiology

Why Is It Called the Hunter’s Moon? https://lnkd.in/graW2Ft This particular full Moon is commonly referred to as the full Hunter’s Moon. It is so-named because it was considered a signal for hunters to begin hunting in preparation for the upcoming cold winter. At this time, game animals were also fattening up to ready themselves for the winter season. Moreover, since fields had recently been cleared out under the Harvest Moon, hunters could easily spot deer and other animals that had come out to search for remaining scraps. Additionally, foxes and wolves would also come out to prey on these animals. The earliest use of the term “Hunter’s Moon,” cited in the Oxford English Dictionary, is from 1710. Some sources suggest that other names for the Hunter’s Moon are the Sanguine or Blood Moon, either associated with the blood from hunting or the color of the changing autumn leaves.

#EndangeredSpeciesDay ~ In 2016, the global threat status of leopard (𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘶𝘴) was up-scaled from near threatened to vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Leopards have a wide global range and are locally common in some parts of Africa and tropical Asia; however, research has shown that their population numbers and distribution are drastically decreasing in large parts of their range due to habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting for the skin trade and conflict with humans. Although the leopard is the most adaptable and versatile of the big cats, the persistence of many sub-populations is threatened. This includes leopards in the Cape mountains, which, due to their low densities, large home range requirements and limited availability of suitable habitat, are more vulnerable than many other leopard populations. Follow and support the work of the Cape Leopard Trust to help us make a difference!   𝐴𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑎𝑦: 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑟𝑑 𝐹𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑖𝑛 𝑀𝑎𝑦, 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝐸𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝐷𝑎𝑦 𝑏𝑦 𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑠.   #EndangeredSpeciesDay2024 #endangeredspecies #endangered #threatened #vulnerable #iucnredlist #Pantherapardus #leopard #leopards • Endangered Species Coalition

Predators come in all sizes... I'm referring to birds of prey. 😂 The smallest bird of prey in the world is the Eurasian Pygmy Owl.🦉 This tiny owl is native to forests across Europe and parts of Asia. It measures about 16-18 cm (6.3-7.1 inches) in length and weighs only around 70-100 grams (2.5-3.5 ounces). The largest bird of prey in the world is the Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus). This massive bird is found in South America, primarily in the Andes mountains. The largest bird of prey is the Andean Condor. This massive bird is found in South America, primarily in the Andes mountains. Its wingspan can reach up to 3.3 meters (10 feet 10 inches), making it the largest wingspan of any land bird. It weighs between 3.5 to 7.5 kg (7.7 to 16.5 pounds). That's a huge difference in weight compared to the Eurasian Pygmy Owl! #BirdsOfPrey #Raptors #Falconry #Birdwatching #Condor #PygmyOwl #avitrol #birdcontrol #pestcontrol #wildlife #birds

Did you know, that today is WORLD PARROT DAY? I seized the moment to have this encounter with a Beautiful Parrot while on a 7 Day Western Caribbean Cruise to the Grand Cayman & Cayman Islands, Montego Bay, Jamaica & Cozumel, Mexico. Every year on May 31st, World Parrot Day highlights the threat to wild and captive parrots throughout the world. It’s also a day to learn more about this intelligent and magnificent bird. When you picture a parrot, you probably think of a colorful bird that talks or mimics sounds. Both of these things are true of most parrots, but not all of them. Even the parrots that can’t talk are still considered intelligent. The most intelligent parrot is the African Grey Parrot. Besides the African Grey Parrot, other popular types of parrots include the Cockatiels, Fischer’s Lovebirds, Monk Parakeets, Cockatoos, Amazon Parrots, and Macaws. Currently, there are about 350 species of parrots around the world. Nearly half of these species are endangered. About a quarter of all parrot species are critically endangered. The destruction of habitats, hunting, and the illegal trade of wild parrots are all reasons certain species have become endangered. #WorldParrotDay #parrots #birds #colorful #seizethemoment #beautiful #endangered #chanceofalifetime #Amazing #cruise #wonder #Godscreatures #awesomeness #caymanislands #grandcaymanislands #montegobay #Jamaica #Cozumel #Mexico

🌊🐋 #MarineMammalMonday 🐋🌊 Today’s Spotlight: Pantropical Spotted Dolphin 🔍 Scientific Name: Stenella attenuata 📍 Range: Tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide 📏 Size: 5-7 feet long ⚖️ Weight: Up to 250 pounds ⏳ Life Span: Estimated at 40 years 📉 Population Status: Protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) Pantropical spotted dolphins are known for their distinctive spots, which develop as they age. They are highly social animals, often found in groups of up to 1,000 individuals, and are famous for their acrobatic leaps. These dolphins primarily feed on small fish and squid, diving to depths of around 650 feet to hunt. They prefer warm, open oceans and exhibit localized migratory patterns based on prey. In regions like the eastern tropical Pacific, they form strong associations with yellowfin tuna, which has made them vulnerable to #bycatch in tuna fishing operations. Additional threats include, gear entanglement and hunting. Photo Credit: NOAA