Common name : West Indian Ocean coelacanth, African coelacanth, Gombessa Scientific name : Latimeria chalumnae Family : Latimeriidae Native to : Atlantic and Indian Ocean Interesting fact : Coelacanths have electricity detecting organs in their snouts. Conservation status : Critically Endangered Coelacanth means ‘hollow spine’ in Greek, referring to its hollow fin spines. It is […]
Oxygen is a very strong oxidant. It is necessary for mitochondria, the ‘energy plants’ of our cells to work and ‘burn’ glucose to get energy. High doses of it oxidize and damage molecules and tissue of our body. Our body is constantly trying to get rid of the ‘free radicals’ oxygen atoms available to interact,
Common name : Atlantic cod, Codling, Haberdine, Kil’din cod Scientific name : Gadus morhua Family : Gadidae Native to : Atlantic Ocean Interesting fact : Cod liver oil is extractedfrom cods for its vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids. Conservation status : Vulnerable Two popular species of cods are the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and the
Common name : Orange clown fish Scientific name : Amphiprion percula Family : Pomacentridae Native to : Indo-Pacific Ocean Interesting fact : Clown fish are all bornas males and switch sex only when required. Conservation status : Endangered The clown fish, popularized by the movie (FindingNemo), is found in tropical coral reefs. It grows 10-18
Sumo wrestling involves wrestlers to be as big in size as humanly possible. In earlier times, Sumo wrestlers were expected to be more wiry and muscular in size unlike what they are now in the twentieth century. Currently, the idea is to have more body mass that allows wrestlers to have more leverage against their
Common name : Bigspotted triggerfish Scientific name : Balistoides conspicillum Family : Balistidae Native to : Indo-Pacific Ocean Interesting fact : A trigger-like spine in front of the dorsal fin helps the fish wedge itself into crevices. Conservation status : Not Evaluated The clown triggerfish is a small black fish with round white spots on
Common name : Warty frogfish Scientific name : Antennarius maculatus Family : Antennariidae Native to : Indo-Pacific Ocean Conservation status : Not Evaluated The clown frogfish easily blends into its rocky, coralenvironment with its colourful patterns and the ability tocamouflage. Growing up to 15 cm long, it has a globulous, extensible body with the skin
Common name : Bluestreak cleanerwrasse, Striped cleaner wrasse Scientific name : Labroides dimidiatus Family : Labridae Native to : Indo-Pacific Ocean Interesting fact : Cleaner wrasses arehermaphrodites and can change sex when required. Conservation status : Least Concern True to its name, the cleaner wrasse cleans unwanted parasites and dead tissues on other reef fish.
In normal circumstances, people are faced with scary situations which give rise to excess fear in them. The natural response to it is either to take flight or fight the situation. However, sometimes some people are unable to cope with the extreme stress related to persistent fear of a certain situation or object and they
Why do we have ‘phobias’ that are completely irrational? Read More »
Common name : Jewel stone Scientific name : Spirobranchus giganteus Family : Serpulidae Native to : Tropical oceans worldwide Interesting fact : The plumes are quickly retracted even when slightly disturbed. Conservation status : Least Concern Christmas tree worms live embedded on corals, and comein many colours. They are tube-dwelling worms with two cone-shapedspiralling plumes
Horseshoe crabs, lobsters and most molluscs have blue blood. Human blood gets its red colour because of haemoglobin where the iron atoms bind to oxygen to give the red colour. Crustaceans or crabs and lobsters get the blue colour from the pigment called ‘hemocyanin’ that carries oxygen in their blood. The copper atoms absorb oxygen
Identical twins share the same genetics and DNA. However, they have small differences that might occur in the womb environment. Not every aspect of our physical appearance is determined by our genes. When a single fertilized egg splits in two after conception, twins are born who share the same DNA. Chance fluctuations of hormone level
Why do identical twins have different fingerprints? Read More »
Common name : Rabbitfish Scientific name : Chimaera monstrosa Family : Chimaeridae Native to : Oceans worldwide Interesting fact : Chimaeras are sold as food in some regions of the world. Conservation status : Near Threatened Chimaeras are cartilaginous fish with 38 species, found in depths of 2500 metres or more. They are black to
Snails and slugs have this unique ability to secrete a mucus from their bottom, which enables them to move efficiently. This slimy substance enables them to move easily. It also protects them from the dangers in and around them in their environment. Without the mucus, it becomes extremely dry and difficult for the snail to
Common name : Nautilus, Pearly nautilus Scientific name : Nautilus pompilius Family : Nautilidae Native to : Pacific and Indian Oceans Interesting fact : Its beautiful shell is popular in the shell trade and was used to make attractive‘Nautilus shell cups’. Conservation status : Not Evaluated This living fossil has brown zebra stripes on its