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    Year 5 6 Weird and Wonderful Marine Life

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    whiteswandiaries
    Marine life

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    Year 5 6 Weird and Wonderful Marine Life

    Uploaded by

    whiteswandiaries
    8 views3 pages
    Marine life

    Original Title

    Year-5-6-Weird-and-Wonderful-Marine-life

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    © © All Rights Reserved

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    Marine life

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    8 views3 pages

    Year 5 6 Weird and Wonderful Marine Life

    Uploaded by

    whiteswandiaries
    Marine life

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3

    Reading Comprehension

    Marine life consists of plants, animals and other living organisms that reside in the

    sea or the ocean. Marine life accounts for a hefty ninety-four percent of the Earth’s

    living species! The World Register of Marine Species reports that there are 240,470

    accepted species but this is believed to be only a small fraction of what really exists

    underwater as only 5% of ocean waters are thought to have been explored.

    Here are five unusual and interesting sea creatures for you to enjoy!

    1.Anglerfish: This angry looking fish lives in the deep,

    dark, depths of the ocean. There are more than 200

    different species of anglerfish worldwide. Anglerfish are

    usually dark grey to dark brown in colour and have huge

    heads. Their most distinctive feature is the lamp hanging

    above their head. This lamp is actually a piece of dorsal

    spine which has a tip of luminous flesh called an esca. The glow that is emitted is

    created by bioluminescent bacteria that inhabit the esca. The purpose of the light is

    to lure prey close enough to be snatched into their huge, teeth-filled mouths.

    Anglerfish eat just about anything that they come into contact with including other

    fish, small turtles and squid.

    Did you know? The jaws of an anglerfish are so large that it can eat prey larger
    than itself!

    2.Blobfish: This fish does not have a full skeleton or

    muscles, instead its body is made from a jelly like

    substance which when out of water gives it this blob like

    appearance due to the damage caused by

    decompression. The blobfish can withstand immense sea

    grammarsaurus.co.uk
    Reading Comprehension

    pressure where it lives at depths between 600-1200 metres, where the pressure can

    be 120 times greater than it is at sea level. When in its own habitat, blobfish

    actually appear more like a typical bony fish. Blobfish inhabit the deep waters off

    the coast of Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand.

    3.Sand striker: This bristle worm buries most of its body

    into the ocean floor, leaving its wide-open mouth and five

    antennae exposed. When a fish brushes past the

    sensor-like antennae, the sand strikers mouth snaps shut

    with such speed and force that it can snap its prey in

    two. The mouth of a sand striker is filled with sharp teeth-like structures that can

    inject toxins that stun its prey. The sand striker can measure anywhere between

    10cm and 3metres long. It mainly lives in the Atlantic Ocean but can also be found

    in the Indian and Pacific Ocean regions too.

    4.Blue Whale: The blue whale is a marine mammal that is

    not only the largest animal in the ocean, but on the

    whole of the Earth. Their tongues alone can weigh as

    much as one elephant! The blue whale can dive up to

    500m to catch its food but it must come to the surface of

    the water for air. Blue whales eat krill (small

    crustaceans) and can eat as many as 40 million per day,

    they also eat plankton. The average lifespan of a blue

    whale is 80-90 years. Blue whales are classed as an

    endangered species and have been so since 1970. The species is threatened by boats,

    pollution, climate change and fishing.

    Did you know? Other marine mammals include seals, polar bears,
    sea otters and dolphins.

    grammarsaurus.co.uk
    Reading Comprehension

    5.Flying Fish: These fish are seen worldwide jumping

    out of the water and ‘flying’ distances of up to 200

    metres to escape predators including mackerel, tuna

    and swordfish. There are at least 40 known species

    worldwide and can measure up to 45cms in length.

    Their torpedo shape helps them to gather enough speed

    to break the water’s surface and their wing shaped pectoral fins help them to glide

    through the air. Flying fish feed on plankton- microscopic plants and animals that

    float along in the water.

    Did you know? Barbados was known as The land of the flying fish due to the
    number of flying fish that inhabited the waters there.

    grammarsaurus.co.uk

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