April 1st, 2014
Monday was purely a homework, class and more homework sort of day. Unfortunately, it was also a very beautiful day outside, and I didn't get to enjoy a lot of it. Today on the other hand had the perfect mix of work and play. My only class today was my marine biology practical. I have really started to look forward to my practicals because I get to get my hands dirty, but I am also guaranteed to see something I have never seen before.
The practical today was on the different morphological features of different feeding groups (i.e. predators, grazers and so on). So basically I walked around and got to look at a bunch of specimens and explain why they are what they are and how I can tell that by how they look. These are the four critters I had to draw and label...
Brachidontes rostratus (Beaked Mussel)
Helicidaris erythrogramma (Purple Sea Urchin)
Sepioteuthis asutralis (Southern Calamari Squid)
Ibacus peroni (Butterfly Fan Lobster)
Afterwards, our lecturer, Jack, quizzed us on some of the differences you find in fish. For example, the shapes of fins (used for speed or moving along the bottom) and the position of the mouth (hunt prey on the bottom or from above). It was interesting to realize the parallels of how fish are built to move fast and how swimmers manipulate their body position to get the same affect. This is why I love science!
I took some pictures of some other pretty cool animals that were in lab...
Brittle star
Blue Swimmer Crab
Close up view
It was a very simple but fun lab to do!
Today marked not only April Fools day but also the hottest day since I have arrived. It was in the 90s and humid! After lab, we went to the rope swing to cool off and have some fun. I did some dives and then Mitch and I finally got some decent backflips off the rope swing.
The rest of the night I relaxed and read a book. Tomorrow is supposed to be rainy, so it will be a good day for me to work ahead in my classes.
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