Fun Facts:

• Six of the 74 known species of angelfish live in North Carolina waters.
• Many species feed on sponges.
• Unlike some fish, angelfish are active during the day.
• Most angelfish are brightly colored, however, their colors and patterns change dramatically as they grow. This can make them difficult to identify.

Fun Facts:

• Alligators replace lost teeth at a rate of 2,000-3,000 during their lifetime.
• They may eat only once or twice a week during hot weather.
• The jaws of a mature alligator snap shut with a force of more than 2,000 pounds per square inch.
• North Carolina is believed to be the northern limit for alligators. In our state, it is protected as an endangered species.

Fun Facts:

• Octopuses are highly evolved invertebrates, have excellent eyesight and a highly developed nervous system.
• The species common to North Carolina waters is Octopus vulgaris, which has a short lifespan of 12 to 18 months.
• Octopuses are classified as mollusks (an animal with a shell), however through the long process of evolution they lost their outer shell and developed other defenses, such as speed, camouflage, inking and a strong beak with which to seize prey.
• Most octopus species forage at night, a time when their major predator, moray eels, are on the hunt.