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A Green Moray Eel (Gymnothorax funebris), snaking through the teal blue ocean. Credit to underwater photographer Micheal Ziegle. This month’s article series is going to discuss a small Caribbean island off the coast of Cuba known as Isla de la Juventud. This translates into English as the Isle of Youth, & Rejuvenation. The island is approximately 213.88 nautical miles (396.10576 kilometers or 246.128708 miles) from the mainland North American Continent. Isla de la Juventud is an island off the coast of Cuba, owned by the Cuban government. It is the second largest island Cuban Island, only second to the main island. The island is approximately 2419.05 square kilometers (934 square miles or 597,760 acres). The island is south of Havana, & is the seventh-largest island in the West Indies as a whole. The official language of the island is Spanish, & tourism is high. Ecologically, the island is covered in Pine forests. The island is mild, & not as tropical as the rest of the Caribbean. The island is incredibly well known for its gorgeous beaches, never-ending nightlife, historic prisons, biodiversity, & its reputation as a pirate hideaway. The coastline of the island is extremely biodiverse, & filled with nature preserves & coral reefs. The coral reefs are very large, & are of the fringing kind. These coral reefs house many interesting creatures, one of the strangest being the Green Moray Eel. The Green Moray eel is a large species of Moray Eel found in the western Atlantic Ocean. It is the largest species of Moray Eel so far. It is considered to be a true eel, meaning that it is classified under the order Angulliformes. Though they are commonly found in shallow water reefs, they inhabit waters as deep as 130 feet. They are generally found alone, & do not live in packs, or groups. In this article, we will discuss the life & discovery of the Green Moray Eel, the mating techniques, tactics, strategies, habits, procedures, & practices of the Green Moray Eel, the distribution of the Green Moray Eel, the scientific detailings of the Green Moray Eel, & the bite of the Green Moray Eel. With that being said, let us delve into this Underwater Beast. The Life & Discovery Of The Green Moray Eel The Green Moray Eel was first discovered by Camillo Ranzani, an Italian Priest, Professor, & Naturalist. He described the species in 1840, one year before his death. The maximum recorded length of a Green Moray Eel is 8 feet long, however individuals are usually closer to 5.5 feet long. Their maximum weight is approximately 65 pounds. There is no sexual dimorphism, & individuals look very similar regardless of sex. Individual’s lifespans range from 6 to 36 years. Though the Green Moray Eel is an understudied species, it is clear that they are more intelligent than most other reef fish. Green Moray eels are able to remember a diver for more than 2 weeks, & are able to show affection. Additionally, they are able to show jealousy over specific divers, who they deem to have a close relationship with. As a species, Green Moray Eels have existed since the Late Miocene, approximately 11 to 6 million years ago. In the wild, Green Moray Eels generally don’t interact with humans unless prompted. They can be rather vicious when provoked, & have been known to tear off divers fingers. They are territorial, & can become aggressive if humans or other eels intrude upon the little caves that they live in. Individuals are solitary, & don’t typically interact with one another unless they are breeding. Though moray eels are poor swimmers, they are incredibly agile, & are able to swiftly move through the water column. Moray eels are have very quick reaction times. This species does not have any fins, & is very smooth as well as flat. Though they lack fins, they are the only oceanic fish that are able to swim both forward & backward. They control their buoyancy by releasing chemicals in their blood that keep them lighter than the water around them. Moray eels are able to sleep by turning off half their brain, & moving themselves to an area where they feel safe. After moving to said area, they will sleep for a few hours at a time. Their eyes will remain open for this time, making it difficult to tell whether or not they are awake. The diet of a Green Moray eel largely consists of small fish, octopi, crabs, shrimp, & squid. During the day, they are ambush predators, & will simply wait for a fish to swim by instead of actively hunting it. During the night, they become incredibly active predators, & will actively go through the coral reef to find food. They locate food through scent, & have an incredibly strong sense of smell. Their metabolism seems to be normal. The primary predators of the Moray Eel are large Grouper Fish, Barracudas, & Sea Snakes. If attacked, occasionally, groups of Moray Eels will gather to attack the predator, & prevent the other Moray Eels from injury. Despite their name, Green Moray Eels are dark grey or brown, however underwater, they appear to be a yellowish-green. The reason for this is because they excrete a lot of mucus, that underwater, gives them the appearance of being yellow or green. They are incredibly smooth, with small eyes. As of 2026, they are ranked as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. They were last assessed on the 17th of August, 2011, & their ranking has not changed since. Their population trend is unknown. The Mating Techniques, Tactics, Strategies, Habits, Procedures, & Practices Of The Green Moray Eel The Moray Eel breeds via sexual reproduction, & has 2 distinct sexes. Moray eels are not hermaphroditic naturally. Their breeding system is polygamous, meaning that both males & females will take multiple partners each mating season. It is not clear when exactly they sexually mature. Their breeding season lasts from July to September, in which thousands of Moray Eels will congregate to breed with each other. It is also not how they initiate the release of eggs. When they do, females will release thousands of eggs, & males will release their sperm into the water nearby. Once the eggs are fertilized, the parents will have no involvement in their lives. Upon being introduced into the world, they have to fend for themselves. The Distribution Of The Green Moray Eel The Green Moray Eel is found in the western Atlantic Ocean, from New Jersey to Brazil. In these areas, they live & hunt in coral reefs, living in small crevices throughout the reef. Though they can be found in shallow water coral reefs, they inhabit depths as deep as 130 feet (39.624 meters). The Scientific Detailings Of The Green Moray Eel One of the most interesting things about the Green Moray Eel is the fact that they have both an inner & outer Jaw. Green Moray Eels have an outer jaw, that they will use to clamp onto prey, this is the jaw that is visible to us. On the inside of their mouth, they have an inner jaw, that they will jerk forward to grab any food caught in their outer jaw. This way the food that gets caught in the outer jaw, gets pulled into the inner jaw. This allows them to swallow large prey, whole. They have very long flexible spines, & lack any kind of fins. Individuals have 2 rows of teeth on their upper jaw & one row of teeth on their lower Jaw. As moray eels don’t have gill covers, they constantly have to open & close their mouths to respirate. As of 2026, there are no recorded parasitic infections of the Green Moray Eel in captivity or the wild. Green Moray Eels produce a mucus like substance all around their bodies, leading to them feeling slimy to the touch. This mucus is also present in their mouth, & has a kind of toxin known as Crinotoxins in it. Though the effect of it is minimal, it is still toxic. This toxin cannot affect someone through their bite though, as Moray Eels are not venomous. Their phylum is Chordata, meaning that they developed these 5 characteristics all species under the phylum of chordata develop 5 similar characteristics either In adulthood or as juveniles. The characteristics that they develop include, a notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, endostyle or thyroid, pharyngeal Slits, & a post-anal tail. Their class is Actinopterygii, which means that they are ray-finned fish. This also means that their actinopterygian fin rays attach directly to the proximal or basal skeletal elements. This class comprises over 50% of living vertebrate species. Their order is Anguilliformes, which is the order of true eels. There are approximately 1,000 species categorized under this order, with 164 genera. Their family is Muraenidae, which is the family of Moray Eels. There are approximately 200 species categorized under this family. Species categorized under this family are almost exclusively marine, with there being very few freshwater moray eels. Their genus is Gymnothorax. Gymnothorax has approximately 120 species of moray eel categorized under it, & it is the largest genus of Moray Eel. Their binomial name is Gymnothorax Funebris. The Bite Of A Green Moray Eel Though divers commonly interact with Moray Eels, they are known to bite people. If provoked, a moray eel is able to bite off a person’s thumb with a 250 to 900 PSI. Below, will be a step by step guide as to how to deal with a Moray Eel’s bite. If you feel that you are in immediate danger or discomfort from a moray eel bite, then please seek medical attention. This guide is only to be used for minor Moray Eel injuries, & is not applicable or appropriate in all circumstances. Do not rely solely on this guide, & seek medical advice for personalized advice. With that being said, below is a guide to treating the Bite of a Moray Eel. Step No. 1: Remove Yourself From The Ocean. If you have not already gotten out of the ocean, then you must properly treat the wound. Step No. 2: Wash The Wound With Soap & Water. After removing yourself from the ocean, wash the wound thoroughly with soap & water. Step No. 3: Apply Pressure On The Wound To Stop The Bleeding. Apply light pressure on the wound with a cloth or a rag to stop the bleeding. Step No. 4: Apply Antibacterial Ointment. Apply Antibacterial Ointment on the wound, then cover it with a sterile bandage wrap. Step No. 5: If You Feel That Your Discomfort Level Is Too High, Consider Taking A Pain Reliever. Depending on your pain & discomfort level, consider taking an over the counter painkiller, such as Advil or Tylenol. These may help with pain, & possibly swelling. Step No. 6: Call Your Doctor. If you feel that you have not adequately dealt with the injury, do not hesitate to call your primary physician. Do not rely solely on this guide, & seek appropriate medical attention. A gorgeous Green Moray Eel darting across the ocean, near the sea floor. Credit to photographer P. Lindgren. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Green Moray Eel” Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the National Aquarium. Retrieval Date: April 17th, 2024. https://aqua.org/explore/animals/green-moray-eel Citation No. 2: “Marine Encyclopedia Of Ocean Fishes: Green Moray Eel” Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Oceana. Retrieval Date: April 17th, 2024. https://oceana.org/marine-life/green-mo Citation No. 3: “Gymnothorax Funebris” Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Florida Museum Of National History. Retrieval Date: April 17th, 2024. https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/gymnothorax-funebris/ Citation No. 4: “Green Moray Eel” Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Virginia Aquarium. Retrieval Date: April 17th, 2024. https://virginiaaquarium.com/green-moray-eel Citation No. 5: “Gymnothorax Funebris” Written By Kyle Wilson, & Published in 2006. Published by the Animal Diversity Web. Retrieval Date: April 17th, 2024. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Gymnothorax_funebris/ Citation No. 6: “Sea Wonder: Green Moray Eel” Written by Unknown, & Published on February 14th, 2020. Published by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. Retrieval Date: April 17th, 2024. https://marinesanctuary.org/blog/sea-wonder-green-moray-eel/ Citation No. 7: “What To Do About A Moray Eel Bite” Written by Corey Whelan, & Published on March 2nd, 2021. Published by Healthline. Retrieval Date: April 17th, 2024. https://www.healthline.com/health/moray-eel-bite Citation No. 8: “What It’s Like To Be Bitten By A Moray Eel” Written By Michelle Pugh & Brook Morton, & Published on December 9th, 2018. Published by The Scuba Diving Magazine. Retrieval Date: April 17th, 2024. https://www.scubadiving.com/what-its-like-to-be-bitten-by-moray-eel Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Pitfire Artisan Pizza Olivenbaum Music Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A brilliant photograph of the colourful houses of Chiloe Island, Chile. Credit to Tales From The Lens. https://talesfromthelens.com/ In this article, we shall be discussing the oceans surrounding Chiloe, Chile. Chiloe Island, also known as the Greater Island of Chiloe, is an island in the Chiloe Archipelago off the coast of Chile. The island is located off the southern coast of Chile, & is the largest island in the Chiloe Archipelago. The island has a rather small population, that being 154,775 people. The island has an area of approximately 3,291 square miles (8,523.651). The island is vaguely shaped like a rectangle. The island isn’t well known outside of Chile, & generally doesn’t receive much tourism. Ecologically, the isle is incredibly biodiverse. The southwestern portion of the island consists of temperate forests, & swamps. Mountains adorn the island from the Northwestern area to the southeast area. The island consists of beautiful rugged coastlines, that border the Pacific Ocean, & the Sea of Chiloe. While the Western shores have a relatively straight coastline, the Northern & Eastern shores have hundreds of bays, inlets, & peninsulas. There are very few cities along the Western shores of Chiloe. The few cities that are on the island, are generally in capes, inlets, or small bays. The island has many whales, dolphins, & pinnipeds to offer ecologically. The island has a marginal sea named after it, called the Sea Of Chiloe. This is the only body of water separating the island from the mainland. The island is temperate, & generally cool as well as misty. The island’s rainforests & mountains are also temperate, & receive a fair amount of rain each year. The island is located off the southern coast of Chile, & is the largest island in the Chiloe Archipelago. The island has a rather small population, that being 154,775 people. The island has an area of approximately 3,291 square miles (8,523.651). The island is vaguely shaped like a rectangle. The island isn’t well known outside of Chile, & generally doesn’t receive much tourism. Ecologically, the isle is incredibly biodiverse. The southwestern portion of the island consists of temperate forests, & swamps. Mountains adorn the island from the Northwestern area to the southeast area. The island consists of beautiful rugged coastlines, that border the Pacific Ocean, & the Sea of Chiloe. While the Western shores have a relatively straight coastline, the Northern & Eastern shores have hundreds of bays, inlets, & peninsulas. The Salinity, Tides, Temperatures, Marine Geography, & Depth Of The Oceans Surrounding Chiloe Unfortunately, the salinity of the oceans surrounding Chiloe has not officially been measured yet. Salinity is measured in 1000 gram increments of water. For every 1000 grams of water, there will be a certain number of grams that are pure salt. This is how salinity or saline level is measured. There are also no ongoing factors that would lead to the salinity level being altered. The tidal charts for Chiloe can be found on a small amount websites, 2 of which are: https://www.tideschart.com , & https://tides4fishing.com . Generally, the tides do not go over 7.2 meters (23.622 feet) high, & do not go below -1.24 meters (-4.068241 feet). The oceanic temperature charts can be found on similar websites, including https://seatemperature.info , & https://www.tideschart.com . The yearly average oceanic temperature is approximately 12.008333333333° Celsius (53.6149999999993554° Fahrenheit). Using a wetsuit guide, it is recommended that those who swim, dive, or do oceanic sports in the water at this temperature should wear 7 millimeter thick full-body wetsuit, or an 8 millimeter thick semi-drysuit. While swimming isn’t very common around the island, kayaking, & occasionally diving is. There are very few rip currents, & the ocean is generally safe for swimmers, apart from being cold. The most popular beaches for swimming, kayaking, & related oceanic activities are currently: Playa Tongoy, Playa Arena Gruesa, & beaches along Parque Nacional De Chiloe. Pollution is very limited, & the water is generally very clean. As of 2026, there are no officially designated marine protected areas around the island. The Most Prominent Marine Ecosystems Of Chiloe Ecosystem Type No. 1: Intertidal Zones Intertidal zones are located along the coastlines, & are exposed to air at low tide. These zones are where the ocean meets the shoreline, & contrary to popular perception, are absolutely teeming with oceanic life. From crabs to bivalves, this ecosystem has a unique variety of marine life, as well as a unique variety of features. These zones generally have species from the phyla Echinodermata, Arthropoda, & Mollusca in them. Additionally, these zones may have tide pools. These zones are the closest to the shoreline, & are extremely rocky on Chiloe. Ecosystem Type No. 2: Kelp Forests Kelp forests are some of the largest ecosystems of Patagonia. Kelp forests are large areas of kelp, that stretch for miles & miles. Each kelp stalk ranges from 25 to 100 feet (7.62 meters to 30.48 meters) tall. There are between 25 & 30 species of kelp in each forest. These forests are paramount to the marine life of Patagonia, as they provide shelter, food, & areas to breed as well as spawn. In addition to being the summit of marine life, these kelp forests are cardinal to absorbing carbon dioxide. Similar to trees, kelp absorbs carbon, often at a much faster rate. Without these kelp forests, mitigating the effects of carbon dioxide emissions would be a much bleaker task. These kelp forests are usually found in areas no shallower than 27 feet (8.2296 meters), & areas no deeper than 179 feet (54.5592 meters). The Documented Marine Flora Of Chiloe Unfortunately, very little is known about the native marine flora of Chiloe. Occasionally, there are harmful algal blooms along the coastline. These harmful blooms are caused by the algae species Alexandrium catenella. Harmful Algal blooms are known to cause oxygen depletion in the water, & to release algae produced toxins. These will negatively affect the local wildlife, & render certain areas uninhabitable for multiple weeks or months due to the lack of oxygen. The Documented Marine Fauna Of Chiloe Chiloe Island is an incredibly biodiverse island, & is home to many unique terrestrial, avian, & oceanic creatures. These creatures not only contribute to a unique environment, but they bring in quite a lot of revenue for the island in ecotourism. There are many companies that will offer whale watching, penguin watching, & dolphin watching tours to both tourists & locals. These tours drive international & domestic tourists, as many would not get to see a penguin naturally otherwise. Many marine creatures are migratory or do not inhabit Chiloe year round. For this reason, tracking the exact amount of species in the area is extremely difficult. This is the reason why we are only choosing to include the most prominent marine animals in this article. The most prominent marine creatures found around the oceans of Chiloe include the following: Lagenorhynchus australis (Peale’s Black Chinned Dolphin), Balaenoptera musculus (Blue Whale), Arctocephalus australis (South American Fur Seal), Mirounga leonina (Southern Elephant Seal), Otaria flavescens (South American Sea Lions), Grampus griseus (Risso’s Dolphin), Cephalohynchus commersonii (Commerson’s Dolphin), & Lagenorhynchus obscurus (Dusky Dolphins). The glorious coastline of Chiloe Island, Chile. Credit to photographer Kyle Little. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Wetsuit thickness & temperature guide”, Written By Mark Evans, & Published On April 24th, 2023, at 3:05 PM. Published By Scuba Divers Magazine. Retrieval Date: April 9th, 2024. https://www.scubadivermag.com/wetsuit-thickness-and-temperature-guide/#Scuba_diving_wetsuits Citation No. 2: “Seabirds & Whales of Chiloe Island: The Diverse Marine Wildlife Of Northern Patagonia”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Far South Expeditions. Retrieval Date: April 10th, 2024. https://farsouthexp.com/portfolio/chiloe-whale-watching-tour/ Citation No. 3: “Marine Animals of Patagonia” Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Swoop Patagonia. Retrieval Date: April 10th, 2024. https://www.swoop-patagonia.com/visit/wildlife/marine-animals Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Pitfire Artisan Pizza Olivenbaum Music Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A striking portrait of marine scientist Richard Rathbun, the subject of today’s article. This article is part of our Marine Hall of Distinction collection. In this special collection, we discuss the marine biologists who have contributed most to marine biology & oceanography. We do this to commemorate these marine biologists & show gratitude for everything they have contributed to our oceans. Today's marine scientist is Richard Rathbun. Richard Rathbun was one of the most distinguished authorities on marine science in the 19th, & early 20th century. He was an essential figure to the development of the Smithsonian Institution, & was well known for his work with invertebrate zoology. He was extraordinarily accomplished in the fields of marine sciences, museum sciences, palaeontology, & geology. In today’s article, we will delve into his formative years & education, his personal life & career, as well as his achievements, awards, & accomplishments. With that being said, let’s plunge into the fascinating life of Richard Rathbun! His Formative Years & Education Richard Rathbun was born on January 25th, 1852, in Buffalo, New York. He was born to Charles Rathbun, & Jane Furey Rathbun. His father, Charles, was a descendant of a lineage of enterprising stone masons that immigrated from England during the early 1600's, & operated numerous successful quarries around the greater Buffalo area. He was educated as a young man in Buffalo Public Schools, & at the age of 15 years, began working as an overseer & financial clerk in one of his father’s quarries. Upon joining the quarry, he noticed that they would frequently stumble across Silurian-era fossils. This fascinated him deeply, leading him to spend his weekends, evenings, & even holidays researching palaeontology. This fervent interest led him to donate numerous fossils to the Boston Society of Natural Sciences, so much so that he was installed as the curator of palaeontology for their museum. In 1871, he met Charles Fred Hartt, a professor of geology at Cornell University. Dr. Hartt saw a fire in young Rathbun, encouraging him to join Cornell Universities geology program. Rathbun obliged, & entered the University that year, alongside the cohort of 1875. Dr. Hartt also assigned him the task of reviewing, & analyzing a collection of Devonian & Cretaceous fossils that Hartt had collected in Brazil, leading to the publication of his first paper “On Devonian Brachiopods of Erere, Province of Pará, Brazil”, in the bulletin of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences. To prepare & gather information for the paper, he spent time under the guidance of James Hall. Soon after, he published “Preliminary Report on Cretaceous Lamellibranchs collected in the vicinity of Pernambuco, Brazil”, in the Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History in 1874. For research purposes, he attended the lectures of the prestigious Alexander Agassiz, during the last year of his life. His Personal Life & Career After spending 2 years at Cornell, he decided to leave, deciding to work with the Museum of Comparative Ecology, as well as be an assistant in zoology with the Boston Society of Natural History. He stayed in these roles from 1873, to 1875. During the summer months of these years, he volunteered under the guidance of Spencer Fullerton Baird, joining oceanic expeditionsl by the United States Fish Commission along the New England Coast. This sparked his connection with the Smithsonian Institution, as they took a prominent role in leading these expeditions. This connection would last for the rest of his life. In 1875, his mentor Professor Charles F. Hartt arranged for him to be appointed as a a geologist with the Geological Commission of Brazil. This allowed him to conduct a multitude of expeditions in the Bay of Bahia region, study the local fossils, the ethnology of the local people, & the coral reefs. A report on the geology & local coral reefs was published in 1878, through the National Museum of Sao Paulo. Upon returning to the United States in March, 1878, he donated a variety of Devonian & Cretaceous Era fossils to the United States National Museum. His connection with Spencer F. Baird lead him to entering the position of Scientific Assistant for the United States Fish Commission, a position which he stayed in until 1896. In 1880, as the United States National Museum was close to completion, he was transferred from New Haven, Connecticut, to Washington D.C. Upon being transferred, he would be appointed curator of marine invertebrates of the National Museum, while maintaining his position at the United States Commission of Fish. The administrative work assigned to Rathbun gradually grew until his mentor Spencer F. Baird’s death, in 1887. During research conducted in collaboration with marine scientist & professor A. E. Verill, Dr. Verill was made the official head of certain summer investigations with the Fish Commission. Although he was the technical head, Rathbun was the primary overseer of these collections, & handled day to day maintenance. He also worked to create duplicates of their marine invertebrate collection to send to other institutions such as museums, schools, & universities. Between 1880, & 1881, he was hired by the Tenth Census to research & report on the natural history & economic values of lobster, shrimp, crab, sponge, & corals. He contributed approximately 550 pages to this project, along with 106 plates. He would go on later to release similar papers on the decrease in lobster population, cultural value of lobsters, prawn & shrimp fisheries, fisheries in Washington state, fisheries in British Columbia, & giant squid. During the Great International Fisheries Exhibition of 1883, he presented this catalogue of information regarding the economic importance of these groups, along with another catalogue discussing the scientific investigation of the ocean & freshwater areas. He also participated in the preparation & publication of reports for dredging stations for the United States Fish Commission. Around this time, he organized the Paris fur seal Tribunal, which involved yearly surveys to the Bering Sea to assess the Fur Seal population, & also served as the representative on the Joint Commission with Great Britain relative to the preservation of fisheries contiguous in the United States & Canada. In 1896, he left the Commission of Fish in favour of the Smithsonian Institution. He was apparently Assistant Secretary in 1897. Due to his administrative duties, from this point onward, he had little time for original scientific inquiry. In his capacity as secretary,  he personally oversaw the National Gallery of Art being built, & assisted in the ingenuity of powered flight by personally responding to an inquiry of the Wright Brothers. Unfortunately, on July 16th, 1918, Richard Rathbun passed away in his home in Washington D.C. He was married to Lena Augusta Hume at an unknown date, & together they had 1 son, architect Seward Rathbun. His contributions to the field of marine science & palaeontology were immense, & his work will not be forgotten. He is fondly remembered by many, & remains a respected scholar today. His Achievements, Awards, & Accomplishments He was one of the reasons for the first powered flight by the Wright Brothers, as he personally reviewed & orchestrated the delivery of pamphlets on aeronautics to their request in 1899. Orville & Wilbur Wright would go on to use their research to achieve the world’s first powered flight in 1903. He was the Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, & personally oversaw the installation of the National Gallery of Art. He was a fellow of the American Association of the Advancement of Science. He was awarded an honorary M.S. in 1893 by Indiana University, as well as a doctorate in science in 1894 by Bowdoin College. He was honoured by having a genus of Ronquil fish, Rathbunella, named after him, for his contributions to science. He was a member of numerous scientific societies, including the Biological Society of Washington, the Washington Academy of Sciences, the American Society of Naturalists, the Boston Society of Natural History, the Fisheries Society of Finland, the Russian Imperial Society of the Acclimatization of Animals & Plants, the American Fisheries Society, & the American Association of Museums. A scholarly photograph of Richard Rathbun writing at his desk. Directories / Credits No. 1: “Richard Rathbun”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Prabook. https://prabook.com/web/mobile/#!profile/1103904 No. 2: “Richard Rathbun Launched Wright Brothers’ Research”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Smithsonian Institution. https://siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_sic_3900 No. 3: “Richard Rathbun”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Smithsonian Institution. https://siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_sic_2966 No. 4:  “Richard Rathbun Papers, 1870-1918 and Undated”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Smithsonian Institution. https://www.si.edu/object/richard-rathbun-papers-1870-1918-and-undated:siris_arc_217236 No. 5: “Richard Rathbun and His Contributions to Zoology”, Written by Wesley R. Coe, & Published in December 1918. Published by the American Journal of Science. https://ajsonline.org/article/136592-richard-rathbun-and-his-contributions-to-zoology No. 6: “Richard Rathbun”, Written by Marcus Benjamin, & Published on September 6th, 1918. Published by JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1641962 Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

The Persaud Foundation is a marine biology nonprofit organization, based in the United States. Our goals are to protect the ocean through education, conservation, & public involvement. The Persaud Foundation The Persaud Foundation The Persaud Foundation The Persaud Foundation We are a U.S 501(c)3 marine biological nonprofit organization, dedicated to protecting the ocean through education, conservation, & public involvement. We currently run an electronic newsletter called The Persaud Catalog , publish online courses about marine biology, & conduct local conservation & education events in Southern California. The Three Pillars Of Our Organization Our Online Courses: We believe in promoting ocean literacy, supporting the ocean through education, and fostering people's oceanic curiosity. For this reason, in August 2024, we officially launched our first course. We currently have ten courses available, with two more under construction. Every course can be found here. For updates, please sign up for our mailing list! Our Electronic Newsletter: For those who wish to advance their marine biological knowledge, we publish an electronic marine biological newsletter approximately 5 times per month. We publish on a variety of topics within marine biology, from ecology to individual ocean creatures. We strive to have an article for everyone, & attract marine biological enthusiasts, professionals in the field, & all those with a curious mind. Each article can be found here. Our Public Conservation Events & Public Educational Events: We frequently conduct conservation events in California, such as Beach Cleanups. We cannot do this without people like you! To find out the closest beach cleanup, please consult our Events Calendar. We appreciate each & every volunteer that we get, & highly recommend getting involved if you want to make a difference. If you are interested in volunteering with us, please email us at thepersaudfoundation@gmail.com or consult our Eventbrite page. In addition to this, we currently conduct local oceanic education events, which can also be found on our calendar. Reach Out To Us! Name Email Subject Message Upload File Upload supported file (Max 15MB) Submit Thank you for submitting! We willl respond to your message as soon as possible. What exactly does your organization do & what is its mission? We are dedicated to raising ocean literacy, protecting the ocean through education, conservation, & public involvement. As of 2024, we operate a marine biological science communication newsletter “The Persaud Catalog”, published approximately 5 times per month, a marine biological online course program, & we conduct public marine biological conservation events in California. We are a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, based in the U.S. What exactly are your online courses? We believe in protecting the ocean through conservation, & education. Education about the sea is essential to conservation, as people cannot understand the needs of the sea & its creatures if they do not understand our ocean & its creatures. We currently offer 10 online courses , with 2 more under construction and scheduled for release soon. Our courses vary in topic; however, they typically discuss marine creatures, as people cannot understand the needs of these marine animals if they do not understand the marine animals in the first place. Our online courses can be found here. What is the benefit of reading your newsletter? Our newsletter, The Persaud Catalog, publishes approximately 5 times per month, with topics of articles ranging from individual marine animals, to how marine resources were used in different areas historically. In addition, we conduct interviews with marine scientists, ocean ecologists, conservationists, & science communicators alike to share the beauty, value, & wonder of the ocean & marine science with as many people as possible. We work our hardest to provide interesting, informative, & engaging articles to our supporters. Each of our articles can be found in the articles tab of our website, or to search for a specific article or topic, please use our navigational bar. What is the Santa Monica Marine Fauna Survey Program? Our Santa Monica Marine Fauna Survey is a program designed to showcase the beauty of Santa Monica Bay, encourage more residents of the area to take an interest in their marine life, & provide a comprehensive list of the marine life in Santa Monica Bay. Anyone who wishes to support this project is encouraged to submit photographs here , where one of our staff or volunteers will process them, then use them to create a web entry on this page . Do you have an Oceanic Question or Question About our Nonprofit / Newsletter? Email Us & We’ll Get Back To You As Soon As Possible. Reach Out To Us

Our Wonderful Staff Gwenevere Persaud - Executive Director Gwenevere Persaud is our faithful, dedicated, & extraordinarily industrious Executive Director. She has written the majority of our articles, operates every program, hosts every event, & coordinates our volunteers. In December of 2022, she founded The Persaud Foundation with the goal of protecting the ocean through conservation, education, & public involvement. Her favourite marine organism is the gorgeous Wolf Eel (Anarrichthys ocellatus). Jaela Balugo - Board Member Jaela Balugo is one of our amazing members of the dedicated Board of Directors. She is one of the most enthusiastic people about the ocean, about ocean education, & about marine science who has ever graced this planet. Jaela assists with overseeing our programs as a board member, votes on important issues, & assists with advising our science communication programs. Her favourite marine animal is the Baluga Whale for its intellect (and after her last name!). Our Wonderful Volunteers Jasper - Science Communication Volunteer Jasper is one of our delightful, passionate science communication volunteers, dedicated to sharks! Jasper adores sharks, & is currently assisting us in our online course program. Jasper's favourite shark is the Epaulette shark, pictured above! Kapish - Science Communication Volunteer Kapish is an intelligent, devoted science communication volunteer of ours, dedicated to the ocean. Kapish is currently assisting us in our Online Course program, working to create free micro-courses to educate the public on various issues plaguing our oceans. One of Kapish's favourite animals is the Sea Turtle, photographed above! August - Social Media Volunteer August is one of our lovely Social media Volunteers, in charge of designing graphics for our social media & ensuring that our message gets heard by as many people as possible. He is one of the most passionate people about the ocean to ever grace this earth, & is the self-proclaimed biggest Squid Enthusiast in Europe. His favourite animal is the beloved Magnapinna Squid, photographed above in all of its eerie glory! Peyton - Science Communication Volunteer Peyton is one of our newest volunteers, with her work primarily focused on science communication through Social Media. She is incredibly passionate, affable, & one of the friendliest as well as most affable people we have had the pleasure of volunteering with us. Her favourite marine animal is the gorgeous & gargantuan Whale Shark! Micah - Science Communication Volunteer Micah is one of our esteemed volunteers, with his work primarily focused on science communication through our newsletter, The Persaud Catalog. He is determined, rises to the challenge. & one of our most disciplined volunteers. One of his favourite marine animals is the Sunfish, also known as the Mola Mola, featured above in its sun-kissed glory! Credit to Leonardo Patrizi. Onifade - Social Media Volunteer Onifade is one of our creative social media volunteers, with his work primarily focusing on developing captivating informational graphics to be featured on our social media pages. He is determined, industrious, & has been an asset to our organization. His favourite marine animal is the dolphin, with the Pantropical Spotted Dolphin featured above in its oceanic glory. Luna - Science Communication Volunteer Luna is one of our esteemed science communication volunteers who primarily assists in designing our online micro-courses. Currently, she is assisting us in designing a free micro-course on How to Sustainably Tide Pool. She is kind & extraordinarily productive. Her favourite marine creature is the Sea Turtle, with the Leatherback Sea Turtle being photographed above. Orsolya - Science Communication Volunteer Orsolya is one of our extraordinary science communication volunteers who contributes to the newsletter, enabling us to publish as often as we do. She is our primary writer on our The Pacific Tide article series & contributes actively to our Marine Biological Hall of Distinction article series. She is a freelance historian, model, former goat wrangler, & ocean enthusiast. She is detail-oriented & extremely industrious. Her favourite animal is the horse, & she is represented by the Slender Seahorse pictured above. Emily - Science Communication Volunteer Emily is one of our lovely Science Communication Volunteers who contributes to our newsletter, enabling us to publish as often as we do. She is the primary writer for our new article series "Disasters at Sea". She also writes for another climate publication, GlacierHub, & is a graduate of UCSB, as well as an MA of Columbia University. Her favourite marine animal is the Mantis Shrimp, photographed above in it's rainbow glory.

We are a marine biology nonprofit organization, based in the United States. Our goals are to protect the ocean through education, conservation, & public involvement. What exactly does your organization do & what is it's mission? We are The Persaud Foundation, dedicated to raising ocean literacy, protecting the ocean through education, conservation, & public involvement. As of 2024, we run our marine biological science communication newsletter The Persaud Catalog, which is published 5 times per month at least, we publish online courses, we conduct local marine biological education events & we conduct public marine biological conservation events in California. We are a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, based in the U.S. What exactly are your online courses? We believe in protecting the ocean through conservation, education, & public involvement. Education about the sea is essential to conservation, as people cannot understand the needs of the sea & its creatures if they do not understand our ocean & its creatures. We currently offer 10 online courses , with 2 more under construction and scheduled for release soon. Our courses vary in topic; however, they typically are about oceanic animals, as people cannot understand the needs of these animals if they do not understand the animals in the first place. Our online courses can be found here. We also recently began a new series of FREE online courses, called micro-courses, which discuss various dangers plaguing our oceans. These courses are available to anyone, no cost, & teach more about certain issues that our ocean is currently facing, such as overfishing. What is the benefit of reading your newsletter? Our newsletter, The Persaud Catalog, publishes approximately 5 times per month, with topics of articles ranging from individual marine animals, to how marine resources were used in different areas historically. In addition, we conduct interviews with marine scientists, ocean ecologists, conservationists, & science communicators alike to share the beauty, value, & wonder of the ocean & marine science with as many people as possible. We work our hardest to provide interesting, informative, & engaging articles to our supporters. Each of our articles can be found in the articles tab of our website, or to search for a specific article or topic, please use our navigational bar. Where do you most frequently conduct beach cleanups & local conservation events? We semi-frequently conduct local conservation events, or beach cleanups, in Santa Monica, California. Each beach cleanup will be listed in the Events Calendar section of our website, or our Eventbrite profile. We typically limit our attendance for each group, so please be sure to register early & register everyone in your party! Where do you conduct your local marine education events? We semi-frequently conduct local marine biological education events in Los Angeles, California. These events entail different activities such as oceanic educational storytimes, marine biology question & answer sessions, educational fact card distribution, & occasionally, oceanic colouring activities for the youth. Each event shall be listed in the Events Calendar section of our website or our Eventbrite profile. Do you accept donations? Yes! As a nonprofit organization, we gladly accept donations. Each donation is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. We currently accept donations both digitally and by check. For more information on how to donate to us, please visit the donations page of our website. Each person who donates over 65$ will receive a complementary foundation-branded mug! We also accept donations of equipment. For more information, please contact us at theperaudfoundation@gmail.com . For patrons who wish to contribute on a more regular basis, please consider joining our organization as a member! For more information on memberships, please visit the memberships page of our website. Which country are you registered in as a nonprofit? We are a U.S. Registered 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation. For more information on exempt organizations in the U.S., please visit https://www.irs.gov/charities-and-nonprofits . Which country are you registered in as a nonprofit? Our Santa Monica Marine Fauna Survey is a program designed to showcase the beauty of Santa Monica Bay, encourage more residents of the area to take an interest in their marine life, & provide a comprehensive list of the marine life in Santa Monica Bay. Anyone who wishes to support this project is encouraged to submit photographs here , where one of our staff or volunteers will process them, then use them to create a web entry on this page . In each submission, the person should include where the photograph was taken, the approximate size of the subject, as well as any additional information they feel will be helpful. We accept photographs of areas all along Santa Monica Bay, from Point Dume to Palos Verdes. In short, submit a photograph to us of any marine animal, plant, or protist photographed along Santa Monica Bay at this web page, & it will be used to create a comprehensive list of all the marine creatures in Santa Monica Bay.