Hippocampus erectus These specialized fish are poor swimmers and rely on their coloring and texture to camouflage themselves among coral, seagrass, or mangroves where they ambush much smaller prey by sucking them into their toothless snouts. They choose a mate for a season or a lifetime, have com
excellent camouflage, and their body structure of bony plates, they have little danger
Isistius brasiliensis This small, cigar-shaped shark is dark brown on top and light on the underside, with a darker band around its neck. The light underside glows, attracting fish, whales, and sharks. It attaches itself to the prey and uses its serrated bottom teeth to cut out a perfectly circul
Danger to Humans According to the International Shark Attack File, the cookie cutter
Indian River Lagoon, on Florida’s east coast, has historically served as habitat for an abundance of marine life. But human pressures have changed all that, and Florida Museum researchers now are working to understand the population dynamics of species that still inhabit the lagoon while searching f
research, you have to work quickly and carefully, and sharks aren’t the only potential danger
Hypanus sabina These smaller stingrays grow to around 12 to 14 inches wide, and are brown to yellowish-brown on tip, and whitish underneath. They are oval with long, pointed snouts, appearing almost spade-shaped. They have long venomous spines on their tails, but they are not aggressive, so must
Danger to Humans Stingrays do not attack people, however if it is stepped on, the
With toothlike spines and barbs, thorny skates are just as sharp as their name suggests. But these shark relatives are far more mysterious than they first appear. Scientists at the Florida Museum of Natural History are using new genetic sequencing technology to understand why current management e
Unlike rays, however, skates lack stinging barbs and spines and pose no danger to
Somniosus microcephalus This large, heavy-set shark grows to an average 8-14 feet long but can get to be 24 feet. It has a short, rounded snout, small eyes, and relatively small dorsal fins. Although it is an apex predator, it is a slow swimmer, and likely ambushes its prey and scavenges for
Danger to Humans According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF) there has
Carcharhinus limbatus This medium sized, stocky shark is dark grey to brown on top transitioning to white underneath. It has characteristically marked black-tipped fins. Blacktip sharks prefer to hunt small schooling fishes, taking out prey as they move quickly through the school, often breac
Danger to Humans Records from The International Shark Attack File (ISAF) show that
Epinephelus itajara This large, solitary fish will defend its territory when threatened, with aggressive body language and a rumbling sound it makes with its swim bladder. Its large, thick, elongated body can grow to over 8 feet long (and up to 800 pounds), from rounded snout and small eyes, to s
Danger to Humans Very large goliath grouper have been observed to stalk divers and
Friends, beer and . . . butterflies? Is this how we do conservation now? Our scientists have worked hard to identify and study species at risk of extinction for decades, but they know it takes a village to pull them back from the brink. So, they got creative with beer and butterflies. Way bac
of fun talking to guests about the cool Schaus Swallowtail butterfly that was in danger
Carcharhinus plumbeus This brownish-gray shark has a recognizably large and triangular dorsal fin and somewhat long pectoral fins. It averages 6 feet long and about 110-150 lbs. True to its name, this shark prefers the sandy bottoms of coastal areas, and is known for seasonal migration like many
Danger to Humans Due to its preference for smaller prey and its tendency to avoid
