Unique inhabitants of the Pacific Ocean: dugong, holothurian, sea otter

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:45

The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest on Earth. In the west, it is located between Eurasia and Australia, and in the east, between South and North America. In the south, the Pacific Ocean borders Antarctica. Since most of the waters of the Pacific Ocean are in the tropics, the inhabitants of the Pacific Ocean are extremely diverse.

Pacific wildlife diversity

In Indonesian waters there are more than 2000 species of fish, but in the northern seas there are only 300 of them. Here you can also find a wide variety of mollusks, sea urchins, which trace their ancestry from ancient times. Such amazing inhabitants of the Pacific Ocean are also widely represented here, such as the primitive genera of horseshoe crabs, the most ancient fish Gilbertidia and Jordan, giant oysters and mussels, a huge tridacna - a three-hundred-kilogram bivalve mollusk, fur seal, sea otter, dugong, sea lions, holothurians.

Dugong

Astonishing creatures are such inhabitants of the Pacific Ocean as dugongs. These mammals also have simply fabulous names: a siren, a mermaid, a sea maiden - this is precisely the meaning that the translation fromMalay word "dugong". And they are also called "sea cows" - probably because, like ordinary cows, they seem to graze on underwater "meadows" consisting of algae and sea grass. Dugongs tear out whole plants with roots with their strong lips. By nature, these inhabitants of the Pacific Ocean are extremely calm and harmless. Therefore, they were exterminated by people who were attracted by the meat of these creatures, fat and skin. In addition, it should be noted that dugongs are threatened by oil slicks and other pollution of the aquatic environment, nets, fishing with dynamite.

Holothurians

Sea cucumbers or sea pods are also interesting inhabitants of the Pacific Ocean. The fauna of the sea element represents 1150 species of these echinoderms. Many species are eaten by humans - they are called trepangs. Holothurians differ from all other echinoderms in that their body is oblong, worm-like, without spines. Some types of sea cucumber have a spherical shape. In addition, sea pods do not lie on their sides at the bottom, as other representatives of this class do. Holothurians have three rows of ambulacral legs on their abdomen, with the help of which sea cucumbers can move. These amazing creatures feed on plankton, organic residues, processing bottom silt and sand from the bottom. In times of danger, the holothurian can "shoot" out of the anus with the back part of the intestine and water lungs, thereby distracting or scaring away the attackers. Restoration of lost organsgoing pretty fast.

Kalan

In the northern seas of the Pacific Ocean, you can meet the sea beaver or sea otter - as sea otters are sometimes called. These marine inhabitants of the Pacific Ocean are predatory mammals of the weasel family. This animal leads a semi-aquatic lifestyle, perfectly adapted to living in the marine environment. But the most unique thing about sea otters is that these sea beavers are practically the only non-primate animals that use tools.