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Despite being so close to the seas and oceans and enjoying this world of water each summer, there’s much more waiting to be discovered beneath the surface. So here, at Palma Aquarium, we’d like to let you in on 8 fascinating facts about the marine world.
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Only 5% of the oceans have been explored
The marine world is one of the great unexplored areas of our planet. This is because it occupies more than 70% of the planet’s surface and discovering more about life under the surface is a real challenge for researchers.
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Unknown similarities
Shells, eggshells, hedgehog spikes, part of the tortoise’s shell and human bones are all made up mainly of calcium carbonate, which means that we’re more closely connected to the marine world than we thought.
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There are more than 400 types of shark
Sharks have a bad reputation mainly due to the way they have been portrayed in films like The Meg or Jaws. However, the truth is that these animals are very different from the way we imagine them.
Sharks have lived on our planet for millions of years. They are cartilaginous fish, as unlike other types of fish, their skeleton is made of cartilage. Did you know that there are species of shark that when they are asleep, they use half of their brain to rest and the other half to keep moving?
If you’d like to learn more about sharks, don’t miss a visit to Palma Aquarium where you can quiz our Ocean Experts!
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The seabed
On seabeds situated at depths of more than 3,000 metres (abyssal zones), the pressure is approximately 500 atmospheres. To give you an idea, that’s like having 300 elephants sitting on you! Yet despite this, countless animals inhabit these depths, each one stranger than the last.
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The oceans produce more than 50% of the world’s oxygen
Our oceans are not only home to countless species of flora and fauna, but they are also one of our principal sources of oxygen. They absorb 30% of the carbon dioxide produced by humanity, thereby reducing the impact of global warming.
If you’d like to learn more about how we can help the world reduce the consequences of climate change, check out the work we carry out at the Palma Aquarium Foundation.
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Each year, almost 13 million tons of plastic end up in our oceans
It’s estimated that plastics take between 100 and 1,000 years to disintegrate – very bad news given the vast amounts of plastics that each year end up in our planet’s seas and oceans.
Here at Palma Aquarium and the Palma Aquarium Foundation, our aim is to raise awareness and contribute to reducing the amount of plastics that can be found in the habitats of marine species through actions that include beach cleaning, educational visits and awareness-raising talks targeting schools, businesses and other groups.
Can you help us by making your contribution? Collaborate with us
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Male seahorses
Unlike many other animal species, seahorses dance together when mating. Once the eggs have been fertilised, the female passes them to the male for incubation. Once this process is complete, the male expels the fry.
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Coral life
Although they are frequently mistaken for rocks or plants, corals are actually animals, which also go by the name of polyps. These animals have lived in the sea for millions of years, in fact they were around at the time of the dinosaurs! Their structure is very different from that we normally associate with animals: they are tube-shaped and have a mouth with tentacles on the lower part of their body that enable them to cling to surfaces and their body is covered with calcium carbonate, which gives them that stony texture that makes us mistake them for just another rock.
Did you know that Palma Aquarium is home to Europe’s largest collection of living corals?
We’ll see you Palma Aquarium to learn more fascinating facts about the marine world!
