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Sea scallops are a cosmopolitan family of bivalves found in all of the world’s oceans. However, they are not found in any body of freshwater. These bivalves suffer from lowered pH levels that make it difficult for their larvae to calcify and build healthy shells. Nutrient runoff causes algae blooms […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The European green crab, aka shore crab or green shore crab, is a widespread invasive species, that is listed among the 100 of the world’s worst invasive alien species. While native to the north-east Atlantic Ocean and Baltic Sea, in Europe, they have colonized similar habitats in Asia, Australia, South […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The cownose ray gets its name from the 2 lobes at the front of their head that resemble a cow’s nose. They prefer shallower waters and estuaries. Being migratory, these critters will dwell as far north as Chesapeake Bay in the summer and as far south as southern Brazil in […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The corydoras, aka coridora, cory, or cory cat, a member of the armored catfish family, hails from South America. They can be found from east of the Andes mountains to the Atlantic coast. These freshwater fish come in a variety of shapes and color morphs. With a general lack of […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The plecostomus, aka suckermouth catfish or common pleco, are members of the armored catfish family (Loricariidae), named for the rows of armor-like scutes that cover the upper parts of their head and body. Even though their name Hypostomus plecostomus is typically used in reference to the common plecostomus that is […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The bat sea star, aka bat star, broad-disk star, sea bat, webbed star, usually has 5 arms, but they can have as many as 9 arms. These sea stars face the threat of sea star wasting disease (SSWD) which causes lesions to form on the body, that eventually decay, causing […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The flathead catfish, aka mudcat or shovelhead cat, an invasive species in some locales, is the 2nd largest catfish in North America after the blue catfish. Seeing as they are highly targeted by recreational anglers and commercial harvesters, they face the threat of overfishing. They also face the threats of […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Sacramento sucker, aka western sucker, is an inferiorly mouthed (lower positioned mouth) fish that hails primarily from lakes, rivers, and streams of California, but can also be found in Oregon and Nevada. They face the threat of water diversions that drastically reduce natural streamflows, while heavy groundwater pumping lowers […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Atlantic rock crab, aka peekytoe crab, can be found from Iceland to South Carolina, in the United States. These crustaceans dwell at depths of up to 2,600 feet. They face the threat of being outcompeted for food and habitat by the highly invasive green crab. These crabs also face […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The rainbow trout, aka steelhead or steelhead trout, is an anadromous (migrates from saltwater to freshwater) species of fish that originally hails from the Pacific Ocean regions. These fish have been introduced to every continent, sans Antarctica. They migrate from saltwater to freshwater after living from between 2 – 3 […]

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