This article was originally published on Critter Science.

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 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 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 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 […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Australian gannet, aka Australasian gannet or tākapu, is a sizable seabird from the booby and gannet family. They hail from Australia and New Zealand. These seabirds face the ongoing threat of overfishing, which can not only potentially out compete with these birds for food, but can also result in […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The cutthroat trout is actually a clade of 4 species of the family Salmonidae that are native to the cold-water tributaries of the Pacific Ocean, Rocky Mountains, and Great Basin in North America. They face the threats of habitat loss, destruction, and division at the hands of dams and waterway […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Snares penguin, aka Snares crested penguin, Snares Islands penguin, or Pokotiwha (Māori), hails from the small island chains of New Zealand. These penguins face the threats of commercial fisheries, primarily squid fisheries, that these critters have to compete with for food. Pollution, mainly from oil spills, is another challenge […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The common diving petrel, aka smaller diving petrel or the diving petrel, is an auk-like small petrel that dwells among the southern oceans. These birds face the threat of invasive species in the form of black rats, that are known to kill and eat their chicks. However, these seabird’s numbers […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The snow crab, aka queen crab or spider crab, dwells as far north as the Arctic Ocean and as far south as California. These crustaceans face the threats of overfishing and over harvesting, climate change, that causes warming ocean temperatures, a faster metabolism, and lack of available food. The parasitic […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Fiordland penguin, aka Fiordland crested penguin, tawaki, pokotiwha, or New Zealand crested penguin, hails from New Zealand. They are also sometimes found in southern Australia. They are threatened by invasive species, in the form of stoats, habitat division, at the hands of roads and railroads, that can divide their […]

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