To The Aquarium !

So, today we went to the Vancouver Aquarium to see all the marine life, and it was quite fascinating! Upon arrival, we were seperated into our two classes: Block 3 and Block 4, and from there went on to do two seperate assignments. One of these, was the Marine Lab, in which we were able to touch and observe sea 'critters'. This helped me personally understand some of the biological world, because through experience and some story telling (thanks to our helper) I was able to learn, just like in class. With experiences like seeing how Sea Cucumbers react to environments of just water, and environments of just air, it helps people form better understandings of what they're learning. After around an hour and 20 mins, we then proceeded to have lunch, which might I add, was not cheap. Following this, we were then given the task of walking around/ observing the Aquarium itself, searching for answers to a sheet of questions we were given. Some of the questions were more difficult to answer than others (i.e 'Describe the symbiotic relationship of the Clown Anemone Fish', opposed to 'Describe the colour of the crocodile'). It was kind of tedious, not being knowing where to start, but I got the job done with the help of some friends. All in all, I thought going to the Aquarium was good fun, and I enjoyed watching the Sea life and learning new information.

Clown Anemone Fish + Sea Anemones
1.) The Clownfish depends on the sea anemones for protection form predators
In return, the fish cleans the anemone, and thus, a symbiotic relationship is formed

Sea Otter Swimming!
2.) Sea Otters spend a lot of time cleaning their coats because clean fur is better for trapping oxygen.
3.) Before the 1900's, Sea Otters were found near Amchitka Island, Alaska, and Monterey, California.
They were later re-introduced to Canada in the years 1969 and 1970

Sea Anemones
4.) These Sea Anemones are a vibrant green colour

Japanese Sea Nettle
5.) Their adaptations for survival, are their ability to throw powdered sea nettle on an attackers  faces,
causing them to sneeze. This is my favourite marine invertebrate because it looks awesome,
and has a cool 'ability'.

Beluga Whale getting fed
6.) The scientific name for a Beluga whale is " Delphinapterus Leucas" There are 2 Beluga whales found in the Vancouver Aquarium.

Sea Horse wading through the kelp
7.) Unfortunately, the Aquarium got rid of Potbelly Seahorses, but in turn they had these little guys. The way they move is unique from other species, for they use their long tail to propel them to and fro, and allow them to grab onto things.

Pacific Sea Nettle
8.) This sort of looked like a human heart, just for the way it moved. While wafting through the water, it  sort of contracted itself, like it was a "beating & pumping" heart. Based on this, I figured that this was an organism that looked most like a Human Nervous System organ.

Starry Flounder lying still
9.) The adaptations this organism has are advantageous to their environment. They usually lie still to look dead at the bottom of the ocean, and then ambush prey, and due to their exterior skin/ colour this can also act as a camouflage from predators.

Moon-Jellies
10.) They move slowly, propelling themselves forward with the head part of their body, or Medusa, wafting through the water. To feed on plankton and other organisms, Moon-jellies kill their prey by stinging it with nematocysts found on its tentacles.

Pacific Octopus in hiding
11.) The suction cups located on their arms are good for grabbing prey as they swim by, or attaching to things such as a cave wall, or rock. They are also considered some of natures best predators because they are hard to spot and are great at hiding, just like in the picture.

Stellar Sea Lion swimming in the water
12.) These animals eat fish and squid, and hunt using techniques most mammals use (i.e they hunt in packs or chase down prey in large groups.) 

Caiman just chilling
13.) The Caiman come from Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina and Paraguay. They are mostly found in South America.
14.) Crocodiles, or in this case, Caimans, appear to be brownish-grey in colour. This helps with its survival, for it camouflages them in the murky waters they reside in, and helps it ambush its prey. 

The Arapaima, looking at me
15.) This is the largest fish in the Aquarium, apart from some of the sturgeons, and is called the Arapaima

Redhook Silver Dollar
16.) This is a vegetarian fish, which eats the seeds of riverside shrubs

Piranhas
17.) Piranhas are not considered threats to humans, even when swimming in their waters. Some can be hostile, but most are not. They become a threat only when removing a hook from within it's mouth when fishing.

Shark just swimming
18.) Sharks don't have bones, they have a skeleton made of cartilage instead

Two fishes swimming together
19.) Other animals that can be found in the shark tank are, the Green Sea Turtle, Blacktip Reef Shark, White Spotted Bamboo shark, Stingray, Laced Moray, Common Bluestripe Snapper, Redtail Butterfly fish, Yellowface Angelfish and the Indo-Pacific Sergeant.

A picture of a picture of a Red Sea Urchin
20.) The scientific name of the Giant Red Sea Urchin is the Strongylocentrotus Franciscanus. It has developed spiky needles that surround it's body, defending it from predators.

Archerfish
21.) It feeds from the water on the surface, leaping for insects or spitting prey down with water

Sea Turtle
22.) This sea turtles scientific name is Chelona Mydas, and the name of the one found in the Vancouver Aquarium is "Schoona".

Me and Joshua posing in front of some Jellies :D