#690: Sea Squirt

Sea Squirts are sedentary Tunicates, firmly fixed to rock, coral or some other substrate. They are named for their tunic-like rigid covering, which is composed of living tissue. The upper surface contains two siphons, which violently expels water when the animal is removed from its environment, hence the common name of "squirt". The upper, larger, siphon contains cillia, which suck in the water, removing the nutrients and expelling the rest out of the lower siphon. Sea Squirts are hermaphrodites, and fertilisation is external. Juvenile larvae are free-swimming, but within 36 hours will have settled into a sessile lifestyle.

#689: Sea Snake

The Sea Snakes are a subfamily of venomous snakes adapted almost entirely to a marine existence. Many species are laterally flattened, and all have a paddle-like tail. Only one Genus, the Laticauda (which includes this Banded Sea Krait), is capable of moving on land. The other species have greatly reduced scales, rendering them helpless outside the aquatic environment. Sea Snakes feed on fish and small cephalopods. Although most species are considered fairly mild-natured, they are amongst the most venomous of all snakes. These bites are generally quite painless, with no swelling of the wound, but the symptoms include headache and general muscular pain, followed by partial paralysis and the possibility of renal failure or cardiac arrest.

#688: Sea Otter

The Sea Otter is one of the smallest marine mammals, but the heaviest member of the Mustelid Family. Unlike most marine mammals, she does not rely on blubber to retain warmth, instead possessing a very thick, insulatory pelt. Her fur is the thickest in the Animal Kingdom and, as such, put her in high demand from the early fur trappers. She was pushed to the brink of extinction, and is only now recovering, thanks to the ceasation of this industry. Sea Otter lead a largely aquatic existence, diving for crustaceans and molluscs as well as fish. She uses stones to dislodge prey and break over shells, and will even store a favoured rock in the loose piece of skin under her armpit. Whilst she feeds independently, Sea Otter gather together in rafts to rest and keep themselves together.

Here's the lineart, if you wish to colour her in yourself:

#687: Seahorse

The Seahorse is characterised by his upright posture, segmented body, horse-like face and prehensile tail. There are 54 species spread across the world, varying in colour and number of body rings. Seahorse swim vertically and are weak swimmers, using their dorsal fin and pectoral fins to steer. The Pygmy Seahorse is the slowest moving fish in the world. Because of this, he spends much of his time anchored to a stationary object. His long snout acts as a vacuum, sucking small crustaceans from the water. Fertilzation is external, with the eggs implanted into the male's pouch, where they are incubated and nourished until they hatch and he gives birth.

#686: Seal

When I first became fascinated in animals, Seals were considered in an Order of their own - now DNA studies place them within the Carnivora Suborder: Caniforna, along with mustelids, bears and canines.

Seals can be divided into three types: the "true seals", walruses and the eared seals. Eared seals (also known as Fur Seals or Sea Lions) are capable of holding themselves erect on their front flippers and moving quadrupedally. True seals, however, are more adapted for the aquatic life. Her body is exceedingly stream-lined, lacking in external ears. Her hindlimbs are bound to her pelvis and she is unable to bring them beneath her body. On land, she must move in a clumsy, slug-like manner, wriggling along using her front flippers and abdominal muscles.


Other Seal Entries:

Fur Seal
Walrus (to come)

And other "true" seals that have featured:
Ribbon Seal
Elephant Seal

#685: Screamer

There are three species of Screamer, a handsome South American waterfowl. He is named for his screaming call. This is the Southern Screamer. He makes his home near water in marshes and open areas, where he grazes on water plants. Screamers bear large spurs on his wings, which are used in territorial disputes and fights over mates. These can break off during the combat, but grow back quickly. Chicks are precocial, and learn to swim upon hatching. They imprint easily on humans and are thus ammenable to domestication.

#684: Scorpionfish

 

The Scorpionfish are a Family of predominantly-marine fish, which contain some of the most venomous fishes in the world. There are hundreds of species, spread across the tropic and temperate seas. They are characterised by their spines, which adorn their body and appendages, and which contain venom glands. Most are ambush predators, relying on camouflage to hide them from their prey and using suction to, literally, inhale it. This fellow is a Spinycheeked Scorpionfish, found around the Florida coast.

Other species I have drawn:
Lionfish

And similar but not closely related (same Order, NOT same Family):
Stonefish (to come)
Demonstinger