The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-05-23
SEA
SECRETS

Q. What is the green material
resembling lettuce leaves that
grows near the shore on rocks?
- Helen Foster, Fl. Lauderdale,
Florida.
A. This is Ulva, or sea-lettuce,
of which there are several kinds
This marine algo grows III great
profusion along rocky shores and
has great tenacity of life, being
frequently exposed to the full
force of the sun during periods
of ebb tide and withstanding the
pounding of the surf at other
times. The most common sea
lettuce IS the broadleafed form
which you have observed. An
other variety quite common on
the east coast of Florida resem-
bles the shredded green cello
plane used to decorate floats
and as packing material. Large
patches Of Viva frequently serve
as hiding places for small fishes,
shrlmpS, crabs, SnallS, etc.
Q. Do jellyflshes have any
enemies?
A. Because of the singing
properties of most of them and
the fact that they offer very
little in the way of food ma
terial, it is very doubtful that
jellyfiShes have many enemies in
a pre- atory sense. However,
there may be exceptions to this,
Captive sea turtles kept at the
oceanarium at Marineland, Flor
ida, have been observed to eat
certain kinds of jellyfish. and it
is reported that they also are
eaten 70 some extent by the
huge but sluggish ocean sunfish,
Mola mola.
@. How large do sea snakes
grow?
A. The true sea snakes of the
family Hydrophidae of the In
dian and Pacific Oceans (there
are no Atlantic forms) are usual
ly of small to moderate size, al
though one species attains a
length of eight feet. These snakes
spend their entire lives in the
sea, though few of the more
primitive members breed ashore
on rocky islands. All of the sea
snakes are poisonous, having
descended from cobra-like an
cestors, and are distinct in hav-
ing broad, paddle-shaped tails,
Their principle food consists of
cells and certain other fish.
Q. Do whales spout water?
Not under ordinary conditions,
though this idea is widely be-
lieved. Since whales are air.
breathing mammals of the Or
der Cetacea. taking in any guam
tity of water into their lungs
would be fatal to them However,
in the Arctic and Antarctic re-
gions where whales are COM
monty hunted, the spout" of a
large whale can be seen for
quite some distance, hence the
well-known whalers' cry of
Thar she blows" This is be-
cause of the white cloud Of mist
resulting when the hot breath of
the whale is suddenly expelled.
In the smaller porpoises which
belong to the same Order, an en-
larged section of the nostril pas
sage allows any water taken in
accidentally to collect there in
stead of passing into the lungs.
This collected water may then
be expelled with an explosive
snort, A porpoise blowing his
nose" will likewise produce a
sizeable stream Of mist
Q. DO sharks have more than
one set Of teeth?
A Yes, sharks ordinarily have
many rows of teeth, with only
the front series in actual use AS
these are gradually shed or left
imbedded in anything the shark
may happen 10 bite. the next
reserve tooth" sill move for
ward to take It's place. Thus is
shark jaws are examined, the
rows Of teeth will be seen 10 de-
crease progressively IN size as
one goes backward, the smallest
teeth are being the most recent
ly formed. The occurrence Of the
elfln shark. (Scapanorhynchus)
in the Indian Ocean was first de-
termlned by the finding OF