Emma's Earth Explorations

   Not something you'd find at your local buffet.  The Giant Clam:   Tridacna gigas Description : As the largest mollusks in the world, Giant Clams can reach a size of four feet long and weight of 500 pounds. A Giant Clam's main feature, its shell, is made up of two halves that can open and close through use of a hinge. Although their shells range in various sizes, colors, and patterns, all Giant Clams have a fleshy interior mantel that can weigh up to a quarter of the clam's weight! Habitat : These mollusks are primarily found in waters of down to 20 meters in depth in the Indo-Pacific region and other tropical and subtropical areas. Because of their shallow environment, Giant Clams thrive in coral reefs where they embed themselves into the sand. In particular, they thrive in habitats with high calcium carbonate levels that strengthen their shells.  Diet : Through the filter feeding process, Giant Clams gain energy from their main diet of phytoplankton. However...

   The gardens of the oceans... The Great Barrier reef is the world's largest coral reef system, boasting over 600 different species of corals in its waters. Although coral reefs may seem more sculpted from stone rather than life, corals are much like the flora of the earth—living organisms.  One of the famed bragging points of this reef system is that it can be seen from outer space, an impressive feat considering that our manmade sculptures of metal and glass can't even be seen without extensive light * cough POLLUTION* illuminating the atmosphere. Additionally, this ecosystem is the largest to be created out of living organisms. Everything here is alive, and as fascinating as the fauna of the Great Barrier are, I think the flora deserve a spotlight too.  Here are some of the most impactful, influential, and interesting corals I've learned in my Great Barrier Reef exploration.  The Staghorn Coral  ( Acropora cervicornis)   Staghorn coral can b...

  Mermaids & Manatees Part II The Dugong:   Dugong dugon Description : Although Dugongs have similar appearances with manatees , these are two entirely different species. Both species have similar gray-brown colorations, however, the Dugong's body is more torpedo-shaped. An easily distinguishable aspect of this species is its flat, shovel-like snout. These downturned snouts assist in foraging for seagrass, the Dugong's main food source. Dugongs are also smaller; they can reach up to nine feet in length and one ton in weight. Lacking dorsal fins, the Dugong instead utilizes flippers and its forked tail to maneuver through the water.  Habitat : These creatures are distributed all over the world, although most of their range is concentrated near the tropical coastal waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans near the equator. A majority of the Dugong population lives near Australia, and all Dugongs typically live areas with seagrass beds.  Diet : Dugongs feed exclusiv...

This fish is one of the most recognizable species in both the Great Barrier Reef and Gen Z's childhoods.    The Yellow Tang:   Zebrasoma flavescens Description : The Yellow Tang's bright full-body yellow coloration is what makes distinguishes it from other Tangs. They can grow up to around 8 inches in the wild and have a white barb used for defense and attack on each side of the base of their caudal fin; these barbs are considered to be modified scales of the Tang.  Habitat : A Yellow Tang lives in saltwater reefs all over the world, however, they are most commonly found near Hawaii; about 70% of the Yellow Tang population lives in these waters. This species is native to the Pacific Ocean but may also be found in the Atlantic Ocean.  Diet : As herbivores, Yellow Tangs feed exclusively on plants. Algae is their preferred food source, and Yellow Tangs may even eat the algae off of turtles as part of a symbiotic relationship.  Behavior : Although they do toler...