The Caribbean Sea, like other tropical ocean regions, contains warm, clear water. The water is clear due to the absence of plankton and suspended particles. Plankton is the base of the food web in all oceans and, because there is little plankton in the tropics, tropical ocean water is nearly sterile in comparison with the fertile waters of the temperate oceans. This is in contrast to the popular misconception that tropical ocean regions are very high in biological productivity. In order for life to flourish in the harsh conditions of the nutrient-poor tropical seas, the creatures of the seas have evolved many methods to capture food. The most successful solution to the problem is the coral reef community. The reef is a living structure made by coral animals. The reef itself is adapted to survive and grow in the tropical seas. As it grows, it provides a safe haven for fish and invertebrates to hide and make nests. This draws all kinds of life to the reef. The smaller fish draw larger fish and sharks. So the reef forms the basis of a complete ecosystem. "Beneath The Caribbean" shows the importance of the reef community and introduces viewers to many of the great number of unique and fascinating creatures (both large and small) which live on, around, or near the coral reef, including dolphins, manatees, eels, fish, turtles, and much more. Viewers will also learn about the coastal mangroves and their importance as a nursery for small fish. Featuring beautiful footage taken completely in the wild, viewers will witness the startling complexities of life in a tropical ocean ecosystem.
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The Caribbean Sea is full of beautiful coral reefs such as this. But what makes these reefs possible?
Viewers will meet many interesting creatures in Beneath the Caribbean, like this frogfish using its lure to fish.
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FAQs
Different Morphologies of Anole Lizards
The groups are referred to as ecological morphotypes, or ecomorphs. Table 1 lists the six anole ecomorphs found in the Caribbean islands and their body features. The film discusses only four ecomorphs: the crown-giant, trunk-ground, twig, and grass-bush anoles.
Why do twig anoles have short legs? ›
[NARRATOR:] On twigs, long legs only increase the chance of falling. So ground lizards have evolved long legs and twig lizards short ones that enable their lifestyles. Next, we compare how well two species can climb the slick surfaces of leaves. Anoles have different size toe pads on their feet.
What type of evolution does Dr. Jonathan Losos indicate or describe how the speciation of the lizards had occurred? ›
Convergent evolution, the idea that common environmental factors drive evolutionary change, occurs most often when species adapt to the same environmental circ*mstance in the same way. “It has been exciting to see that these lizards can evolve very quickly,” Losos said.
What is the moral dilemma of the sinking lifeboats? ›
The classic “lifeboat dilemma”, where there are only 10 seats in the lifeboat, but there are 11 passengers on the sinking ship. What decision must be made as to who will stay behind? If you cannot cheat with the set-up and save everyone, you are not thinking hard enough.
Can anoles bite? ›
Most anoles don't like being held, and being handled may stress them out. This can cause them to bite. These bites can sting, but yanking your hand away can cause damage to the anole's mouth and jaw.
Are anole lizards poisonous? ›
Anoles are not a dangerous species. They don't produce any toxins or venom the way some snakes and lizards do. They remain quite small their whole lives. They prey on insects and don't have teeth or claws that can do damage to larger creatures.
Do anole lizards tails grow back? ›
Many lizards, such as the green anole, have the ability to detach and regrow their tails, which helps them escape the grasp of predators. But the new tail's main structural component is made of cartilage rather than the bone that was in the original tail.
What is a skinny lizard with tiny legs? ›
The western skink (Plestiodon skiltonianus) is a species of small, smooth-scaled lizard with relatively small limbs. It measures about 100 to 210 mm (about 4 to 8.25 inches) in total length (body + tail).
Why are anoles so cheap? ›
Because it does not command a very high retail price, and also because doing so can reportedly be difficult, with hatchlings often succumbing, captive breeding of the green anole is virtually nonexistent, and those that you see for sale are usually wild-caught animals.
How did so many phenotypically diverse species of anoles come to exist in the Caribbean? ›
One hypothesis is that each type of anole evolved on one of the islands and then migrated to the other islands, where they found similar habitats; over time they speciated and maintained the same body type.
Losos examined whether similar lizards on different islands were closely related or whether they developed their traits separately, in response to the needs placed on them by their habitat.
What are the ecomorphs of the Anolis lizard? ›
Greater Antillean anoles have repeatedly evolved six similar forms or ecomorphs: crown-giant, grass-bush, twig, trunk, trunk-crown and trunk-ground.
Who said life is a shipwreck but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats? ›
Voltaire 1694–1778. French writer and philosopher. Dans ce meilleur des mondes possibles…
Why wasn t there enough lifeboats? ›
Titanic's original design called for 64 lifeboats. That number was later cut in half, then nearly halved again. The ship's owners felt that too many lifeboats would clutter the deck and obscure the First Class passengers' views.
What is the lying doctor dilemma? ›
The ethical dilemma relates to whether the doctor should inform the patient of his criticality and lessen hope or deliberately mislead him, and improve chances of survival by instilling hope.
What is the rarest type of anole? ›
The Culebra giant anole has not been since 1932! This incredibly rare species is known from just eight specimens and, despite extensive surveys across its historical range, this species has not been found since.
What is the difference between a brown anole lizard and a green anole lizard? ›
Brown and green anoles are about the same size, but green anoles have a larger and longer head. Brown anoles are an invasive spe- cies, not native to the United States. They are natives to Cuba and the Bahamas and first ap- peared in the U.S. in Florida.
What is the nickname for an anole? ›
It is commonly referred to as a "chameleon" due to its ability to change color, but not a true chameleon. Anoles require greenery, occasional shade, and a moist environment.
Which anole is invasive? ›
The Brown Anole is a small, highly invasive lizard native to the Bahamas and Cuba. Scientists estimate that it invaded peninsular Florida 6 separate times in the 1940's. By 1970, the Brown Anole was well established in urban areas all over Florida.
