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Stuffed Red Tide Algae Replica ~
Tapir and Friends Animal Store
The Official Web Site of The Tapir Preservation Fund ~ Online with Tapir Conservation Since 1996

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Stuffed Red Tide Algae Replica

F1568 B137 - Stuffed Plush Red Tide Algae, 5 inch shape

US $10.00

123 456 789 101112 131415 161718 1920

International Orders Welcome

Our Red Tide Algae

This strange-looking stuffed red tide algae is an unusual replica. It is 5 inches round and is made of burgundy and red fabric and has large plastic eyes and wears a sympathetic expression. If you aren't an algae lover, you will be after you own these adorable little fellas. I am not sure you'll want to put it in your tub though! This plush red tide algae toy makes a nice pet, a gift, toy or gag and could work well for a school play or show-and-tell as a school science project. Check out our other aquatic plant toys and gifts.

About Red Tide Algae

Red tide algae is more commonly known as harmful algal bloom or HAB. These plantlike organisms form in the water column and cause a discoloration of the water color, but doesn't always discolor the water red. This plankton bloom is not effected by the tides. The multitude of organisms can cause the depletion of oxygen and this can be harmul to marine animals, especially fish. Red tide is also potentially harmful to human health. Humans can become seriously ill from eating oysters and other shellfish contaminated with red tide toxin.The cause of red tides is controversial. Red tides occur off coasts all over the world and have occurred for thousands of years. Not all red tides have toxins or are harmful.

The Tag on Our Red Tide Says:

FACTS: Red tides occur when environmental conditions allow certain types of algae to multiply so rapidly that they end up tinting the water! (Although algae come in a variety of colors, algal blooms are typically caused by reddish organisms.)

While in many cases blooms are not harmful, Alexandrium tamarense produces a neurotoxin that can kill. Initial symptoms include tingling, numbness, and a burning sensation of the lips and tongue. As the poison progresses, a rash, loss of motor control, behavioral changes, difficulty breathing, and, without treatment, even death can occur.

In addition, the algae can deplete oxygen supplies in the water, block sunlight, and mortally interfere with both the feeding and filtration - processes of small marine life. The consequences can be felt all the way up the food chain.

In fact, some academics believe that the first of the 10 plagues in the Old Testament may have been a red tide! " . . . And all the water that was in the Nile turned to blood. And the fish in the Nile died and the Nile became foul." They speculate that the death of frog-egg-eating fish allowed frogs to proliferate; when the abundance of frogs died of starvation, gnats and flies flourished, which brought disease, etc. - though whether the algae can be credited with a hailstorm, only God knows.