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December 7, 2024

Holiday SEAson: 5 Festive Ocean Creatures

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Celebrate the holiday SEAson with these five festive ocean creatures! Whether you’re looking for decorating ideas or thinking about your favorite holiday treats, these ocean animals are sure to inspire you. Dive in and discover how they bring their festive flair to the underwater world! 

5 FESTIVE OCEAN CREATURES

CHRISTMAS TREE WORM

This spindly species may look like a miniature tree, but it’s actually a type of worm — aptly named the Christmas Tree Worm! Its colorful “branches,” known as radioles, help it catch food drifting through the water. If startled, the worm quickly retreats into the reef crevices it calls home. While they might seem like the perfect substitute for a holiday tree, keep in mind these fascinating creatures only grow to about 1.5 inches tall! 

RED LIONFISH

The Red Lionfish might look as festive as a candy cane with its striking red and white stripes, but those long spines are venomous — so handle with care! In fact, these bright colors and spiny fins deter predators from attacking the lionfish. Known for their aggressive behavior and stealthy ambush hunting skills, these fish have few natural predators. Unfortunately, they’ve become invasive in many parts of the world, spreading far beyond their original coral reef habitats in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Lionfish populations have risen drastically in the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic, threatening other fish populations and the overall balance of the ecosystem.

COOKIE CUTTER SHARK

You may not be the only one snacking on treats this holiday season! The Cookie Cutter Shark gets its name from its unique feeding strategy — biting off chunks of other animals like sea lions, other sharks, and even dolphins, and leaving a circular bite-mark behind. They feed from prey much bigger than themselves, including seals, sharks, and dolphins. As a parasitic species, the Cookie Cutter Shark feeds off other creatures without killing them. This creature is rarely seen, but mostly lives in temperate and tropical waters.

DECORATOR CRAB

Need some help getting your home ready for the holiday season? Take a cue from the Decorator Crab! This name refers to several crab species known for adorning their shells with algae, coral, sponges, and other organisms as a form of camouflage. With their unique and crafty style, these creative crabs are sure to get you in the holiday spirit!  

IVORY BUSH CORAL

Dreaming of a white winter? The Ivory Bush Coral offers a touch of snowy magic year-round, resembling a tree dusted in fresh snow. At depths of 50 to over 100 meters (164 to 328 feet), this deep-seal coral gets its ‘snowy’ appearance from the absence of symbiotic algae that make coral vibrant, revealing its white calcium carbonate structure. Beyond its beauty, the Ivory Bush Coral provides structure and protection for many species throughout its lifetime, and filter feeds on plankton carried by the deep-sea current. This coral primarily dwells in the western part of the Atlantic Ocean. For the Ivory Bush Coral, every winter is a white winter!