Life Around Us: Under the Sea!
21 March 2023
Seas and Oceans make up 71% of the Earth’s surface and is home to over 228,000 diverse and unique marine species. In this blog we will be discovering some of these spectacular animals and what makes them each extraordinary.
Shark
With over 500 species in existence, sharks have swan in the oceans for more than 400 million years. These magnificent creatures hold the record of being both the first and second largest aquatic animal to exist today; with Whale Sharks growing to an average of 33ft and Basking Sharks having an average length of 26ft! Yet, fossils found across the world suggest that over 2.3 million years ago lived the largest shark of all – the Megalodon!
With strong tails and microscopic scales on their skin, sharks have adapted to be able to swim comfortably at an average speed of 4.79 mph. And like many fish, sharks can use their gills to filter oxygen from the flowing water. Alongside this, what makes these animals so impressive at hunting is that they have a 6th sense which enables them to detect the electromagnetic field emitted by living animals when they move!
Like these jaw-some animals, children can pretend to splash around in our Shark themed cape! The iconic features which identify a shark are depicted with the utmost detail through the plush dorsal fin on the rear of the cape and the felt teeth which frame the hood, mimicking the hundreds of teeth residing in a shark’s jaws. Plus, the soft velour fabric used throughout ensures kids will love wearing this comfortable cape. This Sealife dress-up is really something kids can sink their teeth into!
Octopus
Probably one of the quirkiest creatures to inhabit the ocean, the Octopus is well known for having eight independently moving tentacle. Well, there is more to these cephalopods than having a couple extra limbs! Octopuses are highly intelligent experts in escape, as their soft bodies allow them to fit through incredibly small openings. They are even able to fool animals around them by camouflaging themselves! Octopuses do this as they have tiny organs called chromatophores dispersed throughout their skin which change colour to match their surroundings with incredible detail! And when that doesn’t work, they often release clouds of black ink to obscures themselves and befuddle other animals’ sense of smell. Research conducted on octopuses even found that they are capable of both short- and long-term memory, so it is no wonder that these ingenious creatures have gone so far to inspire legends such as the Kraken which is said to inhabit the waters off the coast of Norway!
Create your own Octopus myths with Pretend to Bee’s Octopus dress up set! The Plush Octopus headband and tentacle belt shimmer and shine to mimic the underwater effect and is sure to captivate children’s imagination. This tenta-cool Sealife costume will make kids smile as they propel themselves through playtime!
Tropical fish
Tropical fish are found in aquatic tropical environments near the equator. These bodies of water could be freshwater rivers and lakes or saltwater areas like coral reefs and oceans. Like most fish, they often travel in large groups called schools, where they synchronise their swimming to be close together and confuse other marine creatures, increasing their chance of survival. The most common tropical fish found around the world is the goldfish, but there are around 990 other species of tropical fish which come in a whole variety of incredibly vibrant colours; like Pink Bettas which are, you guessed it, Pink! These bright colourations appear as these fish having both pigmented and iridescent cells. Like tropical fish, Pretend to Bee’s Tropical Fish Dress-up uses a variety of eye-catching colours. The vibrant pattern of pinks, greens and yellows of the plush fish themed headband perfectly match the shimmer from the nylon foil of the fish tail waistband. This dress-up set is a fin-tastic addition to every child playtime!
