Blue Iguanas

Blue Iguanas are the most endangered species of iguanas on Earth and fewer than 30 are left in the wild.

They are one of the largest lizards in the western hemisphere and can easily be recognized by their spiny crests and long, curved claws.

Here are some sites for Blue Iguana conservation:

·        Wildlife Conservation Society

·        International Reptile Conservation Foundation

·        Blue Iguana Recovery Program

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Taken at Shedd Aquarium, Chicago.

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Jelly Fish

I visited the Shedd Aquarium recently and here are some pics and videos.

Jelly Fishes come in all sizes - the smallest species can fit into a contact lens and the biggest species (The Lion's Mane) has tentacles that stretch to 100 feet!

A Jelly's body is 95% water. Instead of a brain, it has a nerve net. A jelly's mouth not only accepts food, but also serves as outlet for waste and as a pathway for eggs or sperm.

Many Jellies have tentacles and feeding arms that are linked with stinging cells. When they come in contact with the prey, these cells shoot out like tiny harpoons to sting or kill.

One Jelly Fish can lay thousands of eggs each day. This type of mass production often leads to lots of jellies at one time.

Jellies can live even in dead zones, where most animals cannot. Dead zones are polluted, oxygen-starved areas in the ocean. In these zones, the jellies can grow and reproduce unchecked as they are safe from predators.

Further more, jellies do not need to eat much to live. Some jellies can survive for weeks without feed, while others shrink in size. The scarcity of food has less impact on jellies than on other animals.

Some jellies such as Crystal Jellies make their own light using green flourescent protein (GFP) in their cells. This phenomenon is called bioluminescence. GFP is used commonly in biomedicine today and has led to discoveries about cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

Moon Jelly

Hairy Jelly

The white, curly shapes seen in the bell are the Jelly's reproductive organs.

Upside - Down Jelly

These jellies live only in the shallow, sunlit waters of mangrove forests and lagoons.

Blue blubber Jelly

These jellies range in color from very light blue to navy blue and purple.

Northeast pacific sea nettle

Sea nettles hunt by trailing long tentacles and oral arms covered with stinging cells that paralyze prey.

Purple striped sea nettle

These jellies are found in the Northeast Pacific waters.

Spotted Lagoon Jelly

These Jellies moves their body toward the sunlight, which helps their crop of symbiotic algae to grow.

Japanese Sea Nettle Jelly

Sea Nettle's tentacles can reach up to nearly 10 feet.

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