This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The fan mussel is among not only the largest, but the rarest of the bivalve molluscs in the Atlantic Ocean. They can be found off the coast the northeast Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and around the British Isles down to Mauritania. They face the threats of bottom trawling and […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The velvet crab, aka velvet swimming crab or devil crab, hails from the northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Since the 1980s, commercial targeting of these crabs has intensified significantly, particularly in the UK, Ireland, and Scotland where they are highly prized for international export. Overfishing poses a localized threat of […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

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 […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

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 […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The cobia, aka black kingfish, black salmon, codfish, crabeater, ling, lemonfish, prodigal son, and black bonito, is a migratory fish that can be found in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. They face the threat of overfishing from commercial and sport fishing ventures. Climate change effects water temperatures and alters […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Atlantic blue crab, aka blue crab or Maryland blue crab, hails from the western Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, and has been introduced to international waters. These crabs face the threats of overfishing; habitat loss and destruction; climate change, that can lead to severe weather; and microplastics […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Atlantic sturgeon is not only native to both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, but they are also associated with river basins as well. They are often considered a living fossil. These large fish face the threats of habitat loss and destruction at the hands of residential and commercial developments, […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The common murre, aka common guillemot, is a large species of auk that can be found in the northern Pacific Ocean and northern Atlantic Ocean. They spend most of their lives out at sea, only coming to shore to breed. These birds face the threats of hunting; trapping; overfishing; land […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The black musselcracker hails from the Atlantic and Indian Oceans off of South Africa. These fish are ray-finned, which are in the bony fish classification. Due to high residency, slow growth, late maturity, longevity, and hermaphroditism (being both male and female), they suffer from overexploitation. Male and female sex ratios […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.

This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Atlantic petrel is a gadfly petrel endemic to the South Atlantic Ocean. Gadly petrels are so named due to their speedy, weaving flight, almost as if evading gadflies (horse flies). These birds face the threats of hunting; trapping; invasive species, and with them predation of chicks and eggs; land […]

Thanks for reading! Follow Critterman for more updates and insights.