Common name : Giant tiger prawn Scientific name : Penaeus monodon Family : Penaeidae Native to : Oceans and worldwide seas Interesting fact : While molting, a prawn reabsorbs most of the protein and chitin from the old shell, as the new shell forms underneath. Conservation status : Least Concern Prawns belong to the sub-order […]
The Hirundo fluvicola (scientific name) or streak-throated swallow is native to South Asia, specifically India. 4.7 inches in length, it has chestnut coloured plumage on the upper parts, with the neck, wings and tail being a darker brownish colour, and the crown being a more reddish-chestnut colour. The throat, chest and belly are all creamy-white
Common name : Bluebottle, Jellyfish, Stingingbluebottle, Stinger Scientific name : Physalia physalis Family : Physaliidae Native to : Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans Interesting fact : The tentacles have nematocysts thatare extremely venomous and deliver painful stings, killing prey. Conservation status : Not Evaluated Though the Portuguese man o’ war looks like a jellyfish yet
Common name : Mereswine Scientific name : Phocoenidae Family : Phocoenidae Native to : Oceans worldwide Interesting fact : Porpoises useecholocation to locate their prey. Conservation status : Critically Endangered Porpoises are dolphin-like, but much smaller aquatic mammals.Also related to whales, they have small, round heads and blunt jaws lined with spade-shaped teeth. They can
Common name : Blowfish, Balloonfish, Globefish Scientific name : Diodon holocanthus Family : Diodontidae Native to : Tropical and temperate waters worldwide Interesting fact : Porcupine fish can inflate its bodyby swallowing air or water. Conservation status : Not Evaluated Similar to the pufferfish, the porcupine fish has spines onits back that are raised when
Native to : Waters worldwide Conservation status : Not Evaluated Plankton are organisms living in oceans, seas or freshwater bodies throughout the world.These include drifting animals, protists, archaea, algae and bacteria. They are divided into phytoplankton (producers capable of photosynthesis), zooplankton (feeding on other plankton) and bacterioplankton (recyclers such as bacteria or archaea). They cannot
The Corvus splendens (scientific name) or house crow is also known as the Indian or grey-necked crow. Endemic to the Indian sub-continent, it is found commonly in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and parts of Maldives, Thailand and Southern Iran.16 inches in length, this bird is slimmer than its cousins. While the forehead, crown and throat
Common name : Wimple piranha Scientific name : Catoprion mento Family : Serrasalmidae Native to : South America Interesting fact : The thin lateral line running from the head to tail is a sense organ that detects pressure changes in water and helps navigate through obstacles. Conservation status : Not Evaluated Piranhas have sharp, interlocking
Common name : Guadalupe fur seal Scientific name : Arctocephalus townsendi Family : Diodontidae Native to : North Atlantic, North Pacific and Southern Oceans Interesting fact : The eyesight and hearing of pinnipeds are adapted for both air and water. Conservation status : Least Concern Pinnipeds are semi-aquatic marine mammals found in polar and sub-polar
The Ara macao (scientific name) or scarlet macaw is found in the tropical rainforests of South America, all the way from Mexico to Bolivia, Peru and Brazil. The scarlet macaw is 32 inches long, but most of its length is made up by the tail. The plumage is bright scarlet. The tail feathers and rump
Common name : Pink anemonefish,Salmon clownfish Scientific name : Amphiprion perideraion Family : Pomacentridae Native to : Asia-Pacific region Interesting fact : It is a protandeous hermaphrodite–the largest male in a group of about 8 fishes becomes a female. Conservation status : Not Evaluated The pink skunk clownfish lives among sea anemones in reef lagoons
The Ara rubrogenys (scientific name) or red-fronted macaw is found only in the semi-desert mountainous regions of Bolivia.Just 24 inches in height, these birds are known as mini macaws. It is mostly green, but has a spectacular red accent on the forehead, crown, and behind the eye, as well as on the bend of its
Common name : Pineapple fish, Knight fish Scientific name : Cleidopus gloriamaris Family : Monocentridae Native to : Indian and Pacific Oceans Interesting fact : It has bioluminescent organs (under the lower jaw) that are used to communicate and attract prey. Conservation status : Not Evaluated The pinecone fish are yellowish-orange in colour having rounded
Common name : Sardine, Soused pilchards, True sardine, Fair maid Scientific name : Sardina pilchardus Family : Clupeidae Native to : North-East Atlantic, Iceland, North sea, Senegal, Mediterranean, Sea of marmara Black sea Conservation status : Least Concern Pilchards are migratory fish migrating northward in summer and southward in winter. They live in large schools
Common name : White-banded triggerfish Scientific name : Rhinecanthus aculeatus Family : Balistidae Native to : Indo-Pacific region Interesting fact : Spawning occurs around sunrise with eggs hatching around sunset. Conservation status : Not Evaluated The picasso trigger is a colourful fish found on reefs and sand flats. It is white with dark bands extending