Over the course of twenty four weeks, our Dive Deeper course jumps into the world of marine biology and explores different animals and habitats all around our oceans. Following on from our Ocean Explorers course, Dive Deeper offers a deep dive into the underwater world as we learn about the life under the waves. Every class is all-encompassing, so you can dip in and out for a week at a time or stay with us for the full cycle and become a fully-fledged Ocean Explorer: Deep Diver! Let’s dive in and check out our topics. This time – tools in the ocean.
Tools in the Ocean
Tool use in the animal kingdom is normally associated with primates and other terrestrial animals, but there are animals who have been recorded to use tools in the ocean! Tools are something used that help an animal get food, water, for grooming or protection. In the ocean these can be stones, shells, sticks and seaweed. Let’s look at some of the amazing marine species that display some remarkably interesting behaviours.
Boxer Crab
These small crustaceans are found in warm waters around coral reefs. It looks like the boxer crabs are holding cheerleading pom poms, but these are sea anemones! These stinging sea anemones that are attached to the crab’s claw offer protection; they use a “punching” motion as a defence mechanism when they are threatened.
Octopus
Octopus are extremely intelligent animals, and this can be seen in their use of tools. Octopus have been recorded to use multiple things as tools in the ocean. Shells and empty coconuts can provide octopuses with a fantastic way of hiding on the move. The cephalopods can carry around these tools and hop inside of them when trying to evade predators.
Sea Otter
These adorable marine mammals are experts at using tools in the oceans. Sea otters use kelp to anchor themselves, or their pups, to prevent them floating away when resting. But this isn’t where their tool use stops. Crabs, urchins, and shellfish are part of sea otter diets, and to get through their hard exteriors otters will bash them against rocks or hit them with stones to get to the soft inside to eat.
Dolphin
Dolphins are also another highly intelligent marine animal, this can be shown in the innovative ways they have learnt to hunt, some of which include tools. Some female dolphins in Western Australia have been seen using a sea sponge to protect their beak whilst they rummage in the sandy seabed for food. This behaviour has been shown to only pass down from mother to daughter. As well as this, empty shells have been used as tools to scoop up fish from the water and funnel them into the dolphins’ mouth, but differently to the sponge, this tool use has been shown to be taught within social groups!
Decorator Crab
As their name suggests these crabs decorate themselves! They use things they find in the environment to cover their bodies and hide or ward off predators. These tools include plants, shells, and gravel, but also other animals like hydrozoans!
‘Tools in the Ocean’ is just one of the 24 topics we have in our Dive Deeper course. In the class, we’ll learn all about what crustaceans are and explore the different species in our oceans!
Ready to start your ocean exploring journey? To sign up and become an Ocean Explorer today click here. While you wait for your first class, why not follow us on Facebook, where we regularly share fun facts, craft ideas and cute videos. You might also like to sign up to our monthly WiseKids newsletter for a monthly dose of marvellous marine-themed content straight to your inbox!
