Rounded White Scrimshaw Hei Matau

The Hei Matau has its origins in Maori Legend. 

For the Maori, the Hei Matau represents Strength, Prosperity, Fertility and a great respect for the Sea. It is believed to grant Safe Passage over Water and has special significance as a gift.

Bought for my travels <3 

Can be found at Click Here

Aquarium

Excited to discover new things with my job, We are able to go on an Aquarium over night. Very interesting to sleep  with the mammals. I'll report back when I do. :) I'm really loving the full access I have to my job, it is a fun experience not many get to enjoy doing.

Spade-toothed beaked whale (Mesoplodon traversii)

World's Rarest Whale Seen For First Time, Washed Up Dead On Kiwi Beach

"This is the first time this species—a whale over five meters in length—has ever been seen as a complete specimen, and we were lucky enough to find two of them," says Rochelle Constantine of the University of Auckland. "Up until now, all we have known about the spade-toothed beaked whale was from three partial skulls collected from New Zealand and Chile over a 140-year period. It is remarkable that we know almost nothing about such a large mammal."

The two whales were discovered in December 2010, when they live-stranded and subsequently died on Opape Beach, New Zealand. The New Zealand Department of Conservation was called to the scene, where they photographed the animals and collected measurements and tissue samples.

The whales were initially identified not as spade-toothed beaked whales but as much more common Gray's beaked whales. Their true identity came to light only following DNA analysis, which is done routinely as part of a 20-year program to collect data on the 13 species of beaked whales found in New Zealand waters.

Via Click here for full article report

Bowmouth Guitarfish

Interesting Discovery, There is a species of fish that is a near-perfect mix of a shark and a ray called a bowmouth guitarfish.

Working at the Aquarium

 

                         In one day I have learned so much, It is interesting how that works out.

Discovering a World I never had, Makes the World seem just that much

bigger! I want to learn so much, Explore so much and never stop.



Bamboo Shark Egg, I pondered this as it sat
 in front of me during training. What an
interesting new tid bit I never knew.

 

This is the Shark and Stingray Touch pool, There is also the Invertebrates touch pool, Both

where I will be working and learning. The Invertebrates touch pool in very interesting, learned

more then I knew. I think my favorite part is the Horseshoe crab, I will be starting first

on this one. There are nine different invertebrates my partner and I will get to choose from

to show the general public. The Vertebrates are though my favorite part, I really enjoy watching

the Stingrays and touching their jelly like skin. The striped bamboo shark are very thick to

the touch, I hadn't gotten the chance to feel them until today, They seem as if they don't normally

like to be touched. They start off with stripes on their bodies, but as they get older they 'disappear',

The one I was able to observe up close and touch had already lost its stripes and older. Having

to wear a blue vest and name tag, cute lol.

 

On my way to discovery..