(PAN) TROPICAL 
Open Ocean

The vast and beautiful open ocean of the tropics is the largest ecosystem on the planet...

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 Many of the same species of sea-jellies, fish and birds are distributed across the tropical open seas of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. This makes the 'tropical open oceans' the largest ecosystem on the planet!

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Most sea-jellies are predatory animals. Their stings are meant to subdue their prey for capture and consumption. Some species (especially those that become isolated in lakes) lose their toxic weaponry and become photosynthetic; their bells become stained brown with symbiotic algae that allows them to convert sunlight into energy, like most corals.

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The biggest fish on the planet is Rhincodon typus, 'Whale Shark'. It is the only species in the family

The biggest bony fish on the planet are the three species of Sunfish. They look like giant heads with tails, and often bask sideways at the surface of the ocean. The most widespread is the Mola Mola 'Sunfish' found in tropical and temperate oceans around the world. Mola alexandrini, 'Southern Ocean Sunfish', 'Bump-head Sunfish' is found around south-west Pacific.

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The most spectacular fish of the open tropical oceans are the flying fish.

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Of the marine turtles, the most commonly see is Chelonia mydas, 'Green Turtle', as it is widespread throughout the world's tropical and warm temperate seas.

The 'true sea snakes' are purely marine animals, they can't crawl on land and are quite floppy when picked up (although you probably shouldn't pick them up). This distinguishes them from the 'Sea Kraits', usually classified in the different Subfamily Laticaudinae, which are slightly more amphibious and can crawl up on land to rest and digest.

Sea Snakes are mostly found across the tropical Indo-Pacific ocean. In my experience, they seem more common in the continental shelf waters in the Arafura and Timor seas off northern Australia. They are best seen on calm days when the water surface is slick and smooth. But you may have to wait for many hours on the deck of a ship to see one. But it is worth it to see something most people have never seen! 

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The terns are the most common and obvious birds of tropical seas...

The most spectacular birds above the tropical open oceans are the Frigatebirds.

A specialised group adapted to the more remote parts of the tropical open oceans are the tropicbirds...

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Of the dolphins found in the tropical open oceans, the one most familiar to people is the 'Bottlenose Dolphin'. However, this now usually considered to be three or even four different species. Two occur across larger areas of the tropics, with the larger 'Common Bottlenose' Tursiops truncatus, being more widespread and also found in deeper more open water. The closer they examine these two species, the less closely related they seem to be.

The most energetic of dolphins in the tropical open ocean is the widespread Stenella longirostris, 'Spinner Dolphin'. This species probably includes many species; as the very least there are many distinct forms around the world. In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, far away from land, I have seen very tiny forms of Spinner Dolphins.

One of the more common larger whales of the tropical open oceans is a winter visitor coming here to breed; the Megaptera novaeangliae, 'Humpback Whale'.

Places to experience the tropical open oceans

In Australia, there are birds breeding on the islands of Ashmore Reef. In Indonesia waters: for whale sharks, visit Cenderawasih Bay in West Papua. For the best jellyfish lake, go to Kakaban. In the Philippines: for whale sharks they are off Donsol Philippines.

Ecosystem Guides Book: Tropical Open Ocean

A guide to the ecology & wildlife of the tropical open oceans.

"Ecosystem Guides - Tropical Open Ocean" book available on Amazon.com here

(and on Australian Amazon here)

excerpts from the book...

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