Marine Life

If you spot a splash of electric blue drifting along the shoreline, it's probably not a plastic bag. That pulsing blob is likely either a Portuguese man-of-war or a blue jellyfish, one of the most striking marine invertebrates you can find floating near beaches in the Northern Hemisphere (primarily in the North Atlantic region).

By Nico Avelle

Freshwater jellyfish may sound like an oxymoron—because jellyfish live in the ocean, right? Not all of them. Craspedacusta sowerbii, also called the peach blossom jellyfish, thrives in rivers, lakes and even gravel pits.

By Nico Avelle

Moon jellyfish might look like ghostly saucers adrift in the blue, but they're more than just ocean ambiance. These translucent animals, known scientifically as Aurelia aurita, are part of a family of jellies that have lives perfectly tuned to drifting through the sea.

By Nico Avelle

How do jellyfish reproduce? That depends on which jellyfish you mean.

By Nico Avelle

When you think of a showdown between deep-ocean giants, what comes to mind is probably the colossal squid vs. giant squid.

By Nico Avelle

Vampire crabs might sound like horror flick creatures, but they’re actually one of the most striking pets you can keep in a paludarium.

By Nico Avelle

Snow crab is a seafood favorite known for its sweet, succulent meat and long, spindly legs. Found in the cold waters of the North Pacific and Bering Sea, snow crab is a top pick for crab lovers who enjoy cracking shells and dipping the tender meat in melted butter.

By Nico Avelle

Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister) is more than just a seafood favorite; it’s a symbol of coastal culture from California to Alaska. This tasty crustacean is beloved for its sweet, tender crab meat and iconic crab legs.

By Nico Avelle

The horseshoe crab might look like a creature from another planet, but it’s a vital part of Earth’s marine ecosystems.

By Nico Avelle

Seafood lovers, gather 'round! When it comes to crab on your plate, two heavy hitters often make a splash. That's why we're here to talk about Dungeness crab vs. snow crab.

By Nico Avelle

If you've ever seen images of baleen whales covered in little white bumps, you’ve probably wondered—what’s the deal with barnacles on whales? These crusty hitchhikers may look like pests, but they tell a fascinating story of marine life, symbiosis and survival.

By Nico Avelle

Ever notice those little crusty clumps stuck to rocks, boat hulls or even whales? Those are barnacles, and while they might not look like much, they're marvels of the natural world.

By Nico Avelle

The blue crab is one of the most recognizable crustaceans in the coastal waters of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Found in the Chesapeake Bay, the blue crab plays a crucial role in marine science and fisheries.

By Zach Taras

The Japanese spider crab is a fascinating and impressive animal. In fact, it is the largest arthropod in the ocean!

By Zach Taras

This adorable sea slug (also called a leaf slug or sea sheep) is one of the most unique examples of marine life on Earth. Similar to mollusks and other nudibranch species, these little guys spend most of their lives crawling slowly along the sea floor in warm, shallow waters without a care in the world.

By Mitch Ryan

Octopuses are known their eight legs, squishy bodies and impressive problem-solving skills. But did you know there are over 300 types of octopus species?

By Ada Tseng

Octopuses are cephalopods that have three hearts and eight arms that are covered with suckers. The largest octopus is the giant Pacific octopus. As its name suggests, the Giant Pacific Octopus lives in the North Pacific Ocean.

By Ada Tseng

There are about 200 documented species of jellyfish pulsing their way through the world's waters. Most range from the size of your belly button to the size of a car tire.

By Kimberly Olson

Shrimp, in addition to being a tasty addition to many cuisines around the world, is sometimes used as an insult to call a person small or short. But did you know there are over 2,000 species of shrimp, and many shrimp actually grow to be quite large? The world's biggest shrimp is not what you'd typically call shrimpy in size.

By Ada Tseng

The soft, cylindrical sea cucumber looks like a vegetable — and in some countries, it's a delicacy because of its nutritional value and health benefits. But it actually belongs to the phylum of echinoderms, closely related to starfish (aka sea stars), sand dollars, sea urchins and sea lilies.

By Ada Tseng

The immortal jellyfish, known as Turritopsis dohrnii, has the ability to reverse age and theoretically live an eternal life. Because of its ability to regrow its cells, it could theoretically escape death over and over again.

By Ada Tseng

The ocean quahog (Arctica islandica) is a clam that redefines what it means to have a long lifespan. This species is famous for being one of the longest-lived animals on Earth, with individuals surviving up to 500 years! That's older than Shakespeare's first play.

By Zach Taras

Let's get the obvious out of the way: The geoduck (Panopea generosa) looks more than a little NSFW. But it's totally PG, we swear! Found primarily in the Pacific Northwest, this massive mollusk has captured the attention of scientists, seafood lovers and curious minds alike.

By Mack Hayden

Deep in the ocean, living in eternal darkness, is the dumbo octopus (of the genus Grimpoteuthis), a creature that few humans have seen face-to-face. When someone is lucky enough to spot one, they're often captivated by its charms.

By Kimberly Olson

The most dangerous sea creatures in the world don't always have large teeth like great white sharks or weigh over 10 tons (9 metric tonnes) like the killer whale. The sea creatures that are a threat to humans are often the smaller, more innocent-looking ones that carry lethal amounts of venom.

By Ada Tseng