221 Amazing Marine Animals Encyclopedia

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 […]

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

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.

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

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

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

Common name : Eulachon, Hooligan, Oolichan, Ooligan Scientific name : Thaleichthys pacificus Family : Osmeridae Native to : Pacific coast ofNorth America Interesting fact : Due to its highfat-content, it can burn like a candle when dried. Conservation status : Least Concern The candlefish is blue to brown on the back and the top of

Common name : Red snapper, Orangerockfish, Fantail Scientific name : Sebastes pinniger Family : Sebastidae Native to : Pacific coast Interesting fact : They live really long life with alifespan of 75 years. Conservation status : Critically Endangered The canary rockfish is a brilliant orange-red fish living in rocky bottoms. Juveniles, however, enjoy shallow waters

Common name : River Ganges shark, Zambezishark, Nicaragua shark Scientific name : Carcharhinus leucas Family : Carcharhinidae Native to : Atlantic and Indian Oceans Interesting fact : It is nicknamed as the‘pit bull of the sea’ due to its aggressive behaviour. Conservation status : Near Threatened Lining the tropical coasts are these large, aggressive sharks

Common name : Sea wasp,Marine stingers Scientific name : Chironex fleckeri Family : Chirodropidae Native to : Tropical and sub-tropicaloceans of the world Interesting fact : Sea turtles, predators of the jellyfish, are not affected by sting. Conservation status : Not Evaluated The box jellyfish is one of the deadliest jellyfish. Its body is a

Common name : Southern bluefin tuna Scientific name : Thunnus maccoyii Family : Scombridae Native to : Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, Madagascar, New Zealand and South Africa Interesting fact : Bluefin Tuna has a nickname–Tunny. Conservation status : Critically Endangered The bluefin tuna, the largest of the tunas, is prized for sushi and has 3

Common name : Sulphur bottom whale, Sibbald’s rorqual Scientific name: Balaenoptera musculus Family : Balaenopteridae Native to : Cold and temperateoceans of the world Interesting fact : When these exhale throughtheir blowholes, the water can reach a height of 30 feet. Conservation status : Endangered The blue whale is the largest living animal with a