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Humpback Whale

Humpback whales are known for their magical songs, which travel for great 

distances through the world's oceans. Scientists are studying these sounds to 

decipher their meaning. It is most likely that humpbacks sing to 

communicate with others and to attract potential mates. 

Humpbacks are powerful swimmers, and they use their massive tail fin, 

called a fluke, to propel themselves through the water and sometimes 

completely out of it. These whales, like others, regularly leap from the water, 

landing with a tremendous splash. Scientists aren't sure if this breaching 

behavior serves some purpose, such as cleaning pests from the whale's skin, 

or whether whales simply do it for fun. Which is what is happening in both of 

these photos.

Loggerhead Sea Turtles

Loggerhead turtles are the most abundant of all the marine turtle species in 

U.S. waters. But persistent population declines due to pollution, shrimp 

trawling, and development in their nesting areas, among other factors, have 

kept this wide-ranging seagoer on the threatened species list since 1978.

The largest of all hard-shelled turtles—leatherbacks are bigger but have soft 

shells—loggerheads have massive heads, strong jaws, and a reddish-brown 

shell, or carapace. Adult males reach about three feet (nearly one meter) in 

shell length and weigh about 250 pounds (113 kilograms), but large 

specimens of more than 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms) have been found.

They are primarily carnivores, munching jellyfish, conchs, crabs, and even 

fish, but will eat seaweed and sargassum occasionally.

The Common Octopus

The common octopus would be unique for its appearance alone, with its 

massive bulbous head, large eyes, and eight distinctive arms. But by far 

the most striking characteristic of the octopus is the wide array of 

techniques it uses to avoid or thwart attackers.

Its first—and most amazing—line of defense is its ability to hide in plain 

sight. Using a network of pigment cells and specialized muscles in its 

skin, the common octopus can almost instantaneously match the colors, 

patterns, and even textures of its surroundings. Predators such as 

sharks, eels, and dolphins swim by without even noticing it.

The common octopus is considered the most intelligent of all 

invertebrates, the common octopus is found in the tropical and 

temperate waters of the world’s oceans. 

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