Sea Seal Research Paper

Characteristics Count?
People often see sea organisms that look the same and think that they have the same name; however, they do no not have the same name do to their characteristics. What is a characteristic? By definition a characteristic is a specific feature(s) or quality that help distinct an organism. Thus, a person might spot a seal and then make a conclusion that sea lions and seals contain the same name and are alike; however, this is not true due to the fact that sea lions have visible ear flaps, solid color, and long flippers with claws where as seals have ear holes, spots with multiple colors, and short flippers with claws. Thus, sea lions and seals have different characteristics that set them apart even though they both belong
For example, a marine scientists on a expedition discovers a new marine organism and is able to capture the organism. In doing so the marine scientists notices that the marine organism looks similar to a shark and posses identical characteristics that relate to a shark as well such as fins, gills, and bones. Additionally, the marine scientist proceeds to dissect the marine organism and notices that the organism has a backbone, which leads the marine scientist to put the organism under the phylum vertebrate chordata. Thus, the marine scientist looks at internal characteristics as well. Afterwards, the marine scientist begins to examine the skeleton and then makes a discovery noting that the skeleton is made up of cartilage, and cartilage is "tough, elastic tissue" (Oceanography: An Invitation pg.434). Additionally, the marine scientist also discovers that this marine ogranism has "jaws with teeth, paired fins"(Oceanography: An Invitation pg.434) and while at the marine scientist saw the organism in the wild it seems to have an active lifestyle. Thus, this leads the marine scientist to put this organism to the class chondrichthyes, which includes sharks, and rays. This makes it possible for the marine scientist to announce that there is a new shark species. Following up the announcement, the marine scientist names the new shark
However, if the marine scientist is dissecting the new shark species and notices the sharks large heart, brain, and liver the marine scientist will conclude that the shark is a predatory animal due to the sharks external characteristics such as the sharks pointy teeth, large eyes, and large streamline tail. Additionally, the marine scientist will also find remains of bony fishes (osteichthyes), such as tuna. This leads the marine scientist to also suggest that the new shark spends the majority of the time in the pycnocline zone which is where most of the sharks prey habits. While dissecting the shark the marine scientist also see that the shark has a hole on top of its skull next to its eyes. Additional, the marine scientist will be able to generalize that this shark rolls up its eyes when attacking just like the great white