Why can't I play with the sharks mom?

Today its raining.  I took a stroll through Port Royal and just happened to overhear a young child ask their mother why they could not pet the sharks.   At first my thoughts were you will be eaten.   Then I realized where I was.   The mother replied that they could not as the shark area was closed.   Being fairly new here I knew that during this weather we did not do the shark program nor do we do the stingray encounters.  I have recently learned that much like myself they are affected by the weather.  They get moody just like myself.  I guess now I know that I am a shark.  So to answer your question. you can't play with the sharks because they may bite you.

What do the Dolphins at Dolphin Cove eat?

I seem to get this question a lot.   I will answer it here and of course I will answer it again.  Dolphins are marine mammals and as a result they eat fish.  They also eat other things such as shrimp, crab and squid.   They are also given vitamins on a daily basis.  Since Dolphin Cove Jamaica is a natural lagoon they have the opportunity to fish / hunt for food on their own.   I have witnessed these beautiful creatures work together to catch fish.  They do it in many ways.  The most exciting I have seen is when the Dolphins stun their prey with their tails.   This just goes to show how smart and creative these beautiful animals are.  

Dolphin Trek available only at Dolphin Cove Jamaica.

Dolphin Cove Jamaica

Ouch, I stepped on a sea urchin. What do I do.

Read about these pretty things and how they hurt.   My best advice,  Pee on it.

General Description

A sea urchin found in Sangenjo, Galicia, Spain. Note the tube feet sticking out between the spines. © 2005 Janek Pfeifer

Sea urchins are sea creatures that live in oceans all over the world.  Similar to sea stars, sea urchins have a water vascular system. Their spherical shape is typically small, ranging from about 3 cm to 10 cm in diameter, and their bodies are covered with a spiny shell. The skeleton of a sea urchin is also known as the test. The shells within the test of these creatures are made up of packed, fitted plates which protect them from being damaged.  As for the spines outlining their shell, these are movable and help the sea urchin to camouflage or protect itself from predators. Sea urchins can vary greatly in colour.  Some of the most frequently seen colours are black, red, brown, purple and light pink.  On the bottom side of a sea urchin there are five teeth that these organisms use to ingest algae and break down other foods they consume to survive. These five teeth continually grow throughout the sea urchin’s life.  On the outside of their body, they also have hundreds of transparent tubes that emerge which allow them to stick to the bottom of the ocean or to move at a very slow pace.  These unusual tubes are called “tube feet.”  Their tube feet are much longer than the spines outlining their shells and they are also used by the sea urchin to trap food and in respiration.   

Reproductive Characteristics

Sea urchins are sexually reproducing organisms.  First millions of eggs are released by the females and they unite and fuse with the sperms released by the males.  The unification of the jelly-coated egg and the tiny sperm usually occurs outside the female’s body; however in some rare cases the fertilization will take place within the female’s body.  Once the fertilization of the gametes occurs, a larva is formed.  This larva is also known as a pluteus.  The sex of the larva is impossible to distinguish until it itself begins to release either eggs or sperms during its adulthood.  The average size of the eggs that female sea urchins produce is about 100-150 microns, and the average size of the sperms is about 1×5 microns plus the tail.  The time that adult sea urchins start reproducing is during the ages of 2-5 years. 

Habitat

Sea urchins can be found all over the world in all oceans, warm or cold water.  They live in a variety of environments in many different parts of the world.  Some common places they live are in rock pools and mud, on wave-exposed rocks, on coral reefs in kelp forests and in sea grass beds.  Sea urchins also commonly lodge themselves half way into the surface of sand, mud or holes.  This way they can be protected from large waves or currents.  Sea urchins also live in areas where they can find sources of algae, sea grass, seaweed and other foods they can consume.  One other very important characteristic of the sea urchin is that it is nocturnal.  Sea urchins will usually hide in holes or crevasses during the day and only feed at night.  A common place to find a sea urchin as well is in coral reefs.  Examples of where sea urchins are very commonly found are on the reefs of Hawaii, of the Caribbean and of Australia.

Adaptations to the Environment

Sea urchins have several adaptations to help them survive.  To protect themselves from predators, sea urchins will react immediately if something sharp touches their shell and they will point all of their spines towards the area being poked.  They are also light-sensitive.  This is why they are nocturnal.  This light sensitivity also allows sea urchins to move their spines in reaction to shadows.  In order to protect themselves from being swept away from the powerful ocean currents and waves, sea urchins lodge themselves into holes or crevasses.  Finally sea urchins, somewhat like starfish, have a certain regenerative ability.  If a spine is damaged or lost, a sea urchin can re-build it.  However if there is too much extensive damage to the test, the sea urchin won’t be able to heal it.

Importance in the Environment

Like most creatures, sea urchins are vital for the survival of other living creatures surrounding them.  They have many predators and due to this, if the sea urchin population decreased, the sea creatures that feed on them might begin to die out as well. A few predators that feed on sea urchins are sea otters, star fish and humans.  However for there to be a healthy balance in their environment, it’s very important that the population of sea urchins do not decrease or increase all that much.  This problem occurred in the 1980’s in the Caribbean when the sea urchin population began to increase at an extremely rapid rate.  At one point there was almost a density of eighty sea urchins per square meter. This immense number of sea urchins began to eliminate the sea weed which lived in the same area.  They were also eroding the coral reef.  Luckily before any huge damage had occurred, there was a mass die-off of sea urchins in the area believed to be caused by a water-carried disease.  Sea urchins have also been reported to cause erosion of reefs in places such as the eastern Pacific, Kenya and the Red sea.  So although sea urchins are important to the survival of an ecosystem, they can also become dangerous in great numbers.

Endangered?

At the moment sea urchins are very populous and located all over the world in many different oceans.  Therefore they seem to be in no immediate danger of disappearing or becoming endangered in general. However in the past sea urchins have shown mass mortality due to an increased amount of pollution in the oceans and also due to an increased amount of fishing by humans. Hurricanes and a rise in the temperature of water have also wiped out a great amount of sea urchins.  Evidently sea urchins are very susceptible to change, and with global warming, which is changing the temperature of the oceans and increasing the amount of tropical storms, they may become endangered in the future.  

Dolphin Experience at Half Moon Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica

Interesting write up about dolphins I found online.

Humans cherish and admire beings who possess noble traits. The resourcefulness, confidence and grace of dolphins endear them to our hearts and minds. It is because we search for the same characteristics in ourselves that we cherish these magnificent animals.
We like to think that dolphins enjoy being around us as much as we do them. Is it possible that dolphins share our company simply for diversity? Some species can become bored with their own kind. Who gets more out of the relationship: the human or dolphin? They provide us with insight into the realms of anatomy, behavior and communication. Still, our curiosity pushes us to learn more. Although we admire other animals, dolphins remain high on our list of species that fascinate us.
Scientists believe that marine mammals are descendants of animals that once lived on land. The skeleton of a dolphin supports this theory. There is a modified form of hands in the front flippers of a dolphin. Two small, unattached bones located behind the rib cage are believed to be remains of the pelvic girdle, to which hind limbs once attached. Most people wouldn’t know it, but dolphins have a common ancestor with hoofed animals, specifically cows. With so many cow lovers out there as well, it wouldn’t be a surprise. 

True or false, Stingrays

If you have been to one of our Dolphin Cove locations you know we have stingrays as a added attraction.  You are able to snorkel, swim, and touch these beautiful creatures.   Here are some interesting facts for you to decide if they are true or false.   (Hint, they are all true)  Never fear because at Dolphin Cove we do NOT remove the barbs that can kill you,  We clip them (for your safety and because it is cruel to remove them) Stingray Facts Stingrays are diverse group of fish characterized by flattened bodies. They can be found in oceans in tropical and subtropical areas around the world. Stingrays like warm and shallow water. Most of their time, they will be hidden on the ocean floor. There are 60 different species of stingrays. Some of them are threatened.

Interesting Stingray Facts:
Largest stingrays can reach 6.5 feet in length and weigh up to 790 pounds.
Stingrays are close relatives of shark. Like sharks, they don't have bony skeleton. Their skeleton is made of cartilage, same material that builds our nose and ears.
Their flattened body ends with long tail that usually contains spine and venom. Spine can be serrated in some species.
They use spine and venom to protect against predators. Stingrays can kill a lot of different animals, including humans.
Ancient Greek dentists used stingray's venom as anesthetic.
People that live in the areas where stingrays can be found use their spines to make a weapon (daggers). Venom remains deadly even if it is extracted from a dead stingray.
Their eyes are located on the top of the head, but they don't use eyes to find prey. Stingrays have electro-sensors which help them detect electrical charges that prey emits.
Mouths are located on the bottom side of their body. When they catch clams, shrimps, and mussels, they will crash and eat them using their powerful jaws.
Besides mouth, they have gill slides and nostrils on the bottom side of their body.
They swim by moving flippers up and down. These movements are similar with movements of the wings in birds and it is sometimes said that stingrays "fly" through the water.
They are usually solitary, but they sometimes swim in the groups. Group of stingrays is called "school".
Most of their time, they will be hidden on the ocean floor. Shape and color of their body allow them to slip under the sand and become invisible for enemies.
Stingrays give birth to 2-6 young stingrays each year.
Baby stingrays are born fully developed; they look like miniature versions of adult animals. Babies take care of themselves from the moment of birth.
They live 15-25 years in the wild.

Prospect Outback Adventures

Our sister site www.prospectoutbackadventures.com is running a special.   This and every Thursday till further notice.   

This an every Thursday we are offering a special for you. It includes an Open Air Jitney ride to tour the estate, a Camel ride and includes Dunns River falls for only $69.00. Free transport from Ocho Rios and a special rate of transport from Montego Bay and Negril for only $25.00

Please check them out on facebook or their webpage www.prospectoutbackadventures.com