This is the National Marine Biodiversity Institute in Seocheon-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea.

This is the National Marine Biodiversity Institute in Seocheon-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, Republic of Korea. 80% of life on Earth lives in the ocean. We only know about 1%. The National Marine Biodiversity Institute permanently stores and manages hundreds of thousands of precious specimens. And dozens of scientists are working hard to classify, maintain, and study the specimens. Marine mammals are mammals that have adapted to the underwater environment and live in the ocean. They have reduced their fur and increased their subcutaneous fat layer, which reduces resistance to swimming and allows them to maintain their body temperature underwater. They have a streamlined body shape suitable for swimming, and their legs have changed into fins. Whales and manatees have degenerated their hind legs and the tip of their tails have become wide to gain propulsion when swimming. Whales, pinnipeds, and manatees are representative marine mammals. Seabirds are birds that stay on the ocean their entire lives except during the breeding season. Albatrosses, petrels, shearwaters, shads, and penguins are seabirds, and they are distinguished from water birds such as seagulls, plovers, shorebirds, and ducks that travel between land and coast. Marine reptiles are cold-blooded animals, so most live in tropical and subtropical waters. There are seven species of sea turtles, marine iguanas that live only in the Galapagos, saltwater crocodiles that live along the coasts of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and northern Australia, and sea snakes that live in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. Sea snakes are some of the snakes that live on land that have adapted to the sea and evolved. They have strong neurotoxins and mainly feed on fish. The average body length is 1.2 m, but the largest ones can reach 2.5 m. Looking at the external characteristics of sea snakes, unlike land snakes, they have a flat tail, degenerated scales on the belly, and nostrils located on the top of the head. Behavioral Characteristics Study In order to understand the behavioral characteristics of the sea, seasonal activity characteristics, daily activity start time, activity end time, feeding activity time, sunbathing time, and breathing frequency by time zone are analyzed. For this, video is recorded and behavioral analysis is performed. This study is very important for mass propagation when future propagation or restoration is necessary. Genetic Analysis Study We analyze the route through which the broad-banded sea snake was introduced to Korea, and when the populations of countries surrounding Korea and the Korean population diverged. We are also continuously conducting this study to resolve questions such as whether the marine populations living along the Korean coast genetically interact with the populations of Japan and Taiwan. Survival Strategy Some fish camouflage themselves with a body color similar to their surroundings, hide in the sand, and hide in holes during the day and become active only at night. In some cases, they use a strategy of attracting prey by making themselves look like prey by having hair-like protrusions all over their bodies, and in some cases, they use modified appendages of their dorsal fins to make them look like prey. Some fish try to appear large by forming schools to defend themselves from predators, while others puff up their bodies to appear large. In addition, there are many different strategies for survival, such as carrying poison in their bodies to prevent their opponents from avoiding them, or using the strong spines on their dorsal fins to spit out the food that the predator swallows. Reproductive strategies Fish reproduction varies depending on the species. It can be broadly divided into oviparous, ovoviviparous, and viviparous. Oviparous The fertilized eggs hatch outside the mother body in the form of eggs, and grow using the yolk as nutrients. All protostomes, such as lampreys and hagfish, are oviparous, while 40% of cartilaginous fish and 90% of bony fish are oviparous. Oviparous This refers to the fertilized eggs hatching inside the mother body and giving birth to three offspring. Hatched offspring do not receive nutrients from the mother but instead use the yolk as nutrients, so they are distinguished from viviparous. Rays, skates, sharks, rockfish, ray-finned fish, and seahorses are viviparous. Viviparous This refers to the fertilized egg growing to a certain extent inside the mother and then being born as a complete offspring. They grow by receiving nutrients through the mother's blood. Sharks, reef sharks, reticulated sharks, and squids are viviparous. Unlike mammals, fish do not have a uterus, placenta, sac, or amniotic membrane. Great white sharks, rockfish, and seahorses use the yolk as nutrients to grow and are then born as offspring, while sharks and reticulated sharks obtain nutrients through the mother's blood and are then born as offspring. #Domestic travel #Travel plans #February travel subsidy event