Cocaine in Crustaceans

Recently, there have been reports that recreational chemicals are being found in crustacean populations in the UK. Whilst it is a great piece of clickbait to drive website traffic, it reminds us of the presence of potentially harmful chemicals in our rivers and,...

7 Most Exotic Species for Your Saltwater Aquarium

Owning a saltwater aquarium for most people, is not just a hobby, it’s an art in itself. Aquarists like to produce and maintain the brightest and most colorful tank, reproducing the fascinating world that we so rarely get to see in the ocean, right there in their own...

Parasitic Polyclad Worms

Photo Credit: 100%hydrophylic (ReefCentral)Parasitic Polyclad Flatworms and Eggs.Polyclad worms are a type of flatworm that can wreck havoc on our prized corals. In this article we are going to take a look at a particular type of parasitic flatworm that some aquarists may be unfamiliar with. The name “Polyclad” refers to its internal network of gastro-vesicular cavities (poly-clad) connected to its single mouth. These poly-clad cavities allow the worm to distribute food throughout their body as it is being consumed. They go unnoticed on corals because they often take on the appearance or color characteristics of the host coral, making them difficult to notice for the unaware eye. The order of Polyclad worms is divided into two sub-orders: cotylea and acotylea. The

Fossilized remains of 430 million-year-old ‘sea monster’ found

Life reconstruction of Sollasina cthulhu. (Credit: Elissa Martin, Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History) The fossilized remains of a 430 million-year-old sea creature that had tentacles longer than its body have been found in Herefordshire, Britain. Given the name Sollasina cthulhu, due to its resemblance to the fictional Cthulhu sea beast thought of by American author H.P. Lovecraft, the creature was significantly smaller than the fictional monster, but perhaps just as scary to other sea creatures alive at the time. “Although the fossil is just 3 [centimers]wide, its many long tentacles would have made it appear quite monstrous to other small sea creatures alive at the time,” a press release describing the find reads. “It is thought that these tentacles, or ‘tube feet’, were used