A fish that prefers to walk on its ‘hands’ rather than swim is one of the few species that has survived totally unchanged, since dinosaurs walked the earth. Fifty million years ago, handfish were found trotting across the rivers of the world, but now these shallow bottom dwellers are some of the rarest animals on Earth. The Spotted Handfish, with its unusually large overgrown pectoral fins that look like hands, …
Recent extremes in sea ice loss has opened new waters to humpback and fin whales that once ranged through the far north only in summer. And as climate change drives the ice into further retreat, such 'summer' species may begin competing with bowhead whales that once had the habitat to themselves. Read about this new research in Science Daily.
This sighting of a sea slug (a nudibranch) was spotted by Redmap member Azri Saparwan south of Adelaide - and what a beauty! Check out the sighting of Mexichromis macropus on Redmap here.
If you love fishing and have some time this summer holiday then check out the Fish-On website! It provides awesome information on Australia's top 100 fish to catch - and tips on how to catch them.
Scientists and everyday citizens are coming together to study 1800s naval logs in bid to understand modern climate change! The maritime log books include precise measurements of longitude and latitude, weather, the location of icebergs and the edge of the ice shelf that can be compared to today's conditions. But scientists need the community's help to sieve through the information. Read more in the National Post.
WHEN manta rays (Mobulidae) are sighted along Broome’s beautiful coast, there’s always great excitement and sharing of photos on social media. So a presentation by manta ray researchers visiting Broome brought manta fans out in droves. Read more at Science Network WA.
The usually tropical loving dugong is more at home in warm Queensland waters - but Redmap volunteer Michael Standen spotted this one in southern NSW. See his sighting here!
Will Victorians catch more tropical fish in the future? Read the Redmap article in the summer edition of Fishing Lines Magazine. (page 8).
Australia's plankton population, a vital key in the human food chain, has moved 300 kilometres south in 30 years, new research has found. Scientists attributed the shift to the warming oceans caused by climate change. In some regions there was also a shift from cold-water to warm-water plankton species. Read about this new research in ABC News.
YOU can do it reef walking, snorkelling or scuba diving. It is a great way to spend your holidays, and you can help save the world's coral reefs in the process. The University of Queensland's CoralWatch citizen science project contributes to important research projects designed to help manage and save coral reefs from the impacts of humans and climate change. Read more in The Sunshine Coast Daily.
