A bird’s feathers grow from the epidermis of the bird’s skin and can be divided into ‘semiplumes’, ‘filoplume’, ‘bristle’ and ‘powder feathers’. Given their impeccable daily routine, birds maintain their feathers by preening, dust bathing and even bathing in the water. When birds preen themselves with their beaks, they pick up oil by rubbing the […]
Why are a bird’s feathers water-insulated and waterproof? Read More »
Common name : Northern elephant seal Scientific name : Mirounga angustirostris Family : Phocidae Interesting fact : Elephant seals can hold theirbreath under water for up to 2 hours. Conservation status : Least concern The elephant seal has a trunk-like proboscis (that of an elephant) that can produce loud noises. There are two types–the Northern
Common name : Purple firefish Scientific name : Nemateleotris decora Family : Microdesmidae Native to : Indo-West Pacific region Interesting fact : Elegant firefish are highly monogamous with couples building a nest and taking turns guarding it. Conservation status : Not Evaluated Living among reefs, sandy patches and rubble is this slender, colourful fish with
Milk appears white because it reflects all light wavelengths. If it were to do absorb all light wavelengths and reflect nothing back, then it would appear black. Milk is primarily water, which absorbs the light wavelengths; but it also has other components: fat, protein, lactose, minerals and vitamins. The fat and protein molecules in the
Scientific name : Electrophorus electricus Family : Gymnotidae Native to : Worldwide Oceans Interesting fact : Electric eels have cells called electrocytes that produce electricity. Conservation status : Least Concern These are about 800 species of this snake-like fish living in the shallow waters of the ocean. Some are found deeper and others live in
Common name : Banjo shark Scientific name : Trygonorrhina fasciata Family : Rhinobatidae Native to : Australia Conservation status : Least Concern The eastern fiddler ray is a guitarfish found in shallow coastal sandy bays, seagrass beds and rocky reefs. They are brown with shades of yellow or olive and distinctive triangular patterns behind their
Common name : Cancer magister Scientific name : Metacarcinus magister Family : Cancridae Native to : West coast of America Interesting fact : It is named after a place called Dungeness in Washington, where it is found in abundance. Conservation status : Not Evaluated Dungeness crabs live in eelgrass beds and water bottoms and are
Animals have developed adaptability to blend in their surroundings. This is necessary so that they may remain hidden from their hunters or even from their prey that they are hunting. This is called ‘camouflage’. They can camouflage by merging themselves with their backgrounds or by having patterns on their bodies that break up their outline,
Common name : Sea pig, Sea camel Scientific name : Dugong dugon Family : Dugongidae Native to : Indo-Pacific Ocean Interesting fact : A female gives birth in shallow water tojust one calf after a gestation period of 13-15 months. Conservation status : Vulnerable Dugongs are elephant-like, large marine mammals found in shallowbays and mangroves.
Wolf-like dogs lived in the wild in earlier ages where they slept out in the open, without much warmth or safety or comfort, unlike their pampered ‘pet’ friends now. They lived in packs and travelled constantly looking for food and shelter. For resting, they would perform the circling behaviour, smoothen out the uneven surface to
While walking on their webs, spiders do not come in contact with the strands of their webs all at once. Their legs are covered with hundreds of little hair and they move lightly over their webs with just the tip of their hair of their legs. Additionally, a spider uses its claws to grip each
According to research, sunlight plays a vital role in affecting our general health and happiness. The correlation between light and mood is unquestionable. Our body produces serotonin, a neurotransmitter, that regulates our appetite, moods and memory, and melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleep. As the sun rises and hits upon our optic nerves, a gland
Flies need soft and moist areas to breed and thrive. Therefore, when organic material like fruits, vegetables, dead organisms or even a feces start to decompose and smell bad, it becomes the ideal breeding ground for larvae of flies. Additionally, flies are detritivores; they play an important role as ‘cleaners’ in our ecosystem by consuming
Common name : Fork tail, Indian ariomma, Indian drift fish Scientific name : Ariomma indicum Family : Ariommatidae Native to : Indo-Pacific Oceans Conservation status : Not Evaluated Drift fish are small-to-medium fish with compressed slender bodies, about 1 metres long. They have large heads, blunt noses, small terminal mouths, two distinct dorsal fins and
Common name : Sailfin Dragonet Scientific name : Callionymus pusillus Family : Callionymidae Native to : Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Sea Conservation status : Least Concern Dragonets are a group of colourful fish, with 139 species, living in sandy bottoms of the ocean. They have elongated, scaleless bodies, flat triangular heads with large mouths and