Common name : Carpet shark, Spotted wobbegong Scientific name : Orectolobus maculatus Family : Orectolobidae Native to : Indo-Pacific Ocean Interesting fact : Wobbegong in Australian aboriginal language means ‘shaggy beard’ referring to the fleshy growth around the fish’s mouth. Conservation status : Near Threatened The spotted wobbegong trout blends in with the sea floor […]
Common name : Spermacet whale, Cachelot, Pot whale Scientific name : Physeter macrocephalus Family : Physeteridae Native to : Oceans worldwide Interesting fact : Sperm whales are called so due to the massive organ in the forehead containing 900 litres of spermaceti, a wax-like liquid used in echolocation. Conservation status : Vulnerable The sperm whale
The Francolinus pondicerianus (scientific name) or grey francolin is endemic to the scrublands and open country areas of India which are 500 metres above the sea level and certain areas of Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Also known as the Indian partridge, this bird is 11-13 inches in length and has a barred brown-rufous plumage all
Common name : Spanish dancer Scientific name : Hexabranchus sanguineus Family : Hexabranchidae Native to : Indo-Pacific Ocean and the Red Sea Interesting fact : Rhinopores are two horn-like sensory organs on the head that help these fish locate food or a mate. Conservation status : Not Evaluated The Spanish dancer nudibranch is a large,
Common name : Sharpnose mullet, Brown mullet Scientific name : Neomyxus leuciscus Family : Mugilidae Native to : Pacific Ocean Interesting fact : Eating this fish is claimed to cause hallucination. Conservation status : Not Evaluated The shovel-headed mullet lives in sandy shores, tide pools and rocky areas. They grow up to 46 cm long
Common name : Common sea pens, Phosphorescent sea pens Scientific name : Pennatula phosphorea Family : Pennatulidae Native to : Worldwide Oceans Interesting fact : Each sea pen is a colony of either male or emale polyps that release sperms and eggs in the water column for fertilization. Conservation status : Endangered Sea pens are
The Milvusmigrans (scientific name) or black kite has a very cosmopolitan distribution, but is a native resident of India and South-East Asia. Medium-sized bird of prey, the black kite is largely brownish with very little rufous colouring in the plumage. The head and neck are a lighter colour. The base of the beak is yellow
Common name : Short snouted seahorse Scientific name : Hippocampus hippocampus Family : Syngnathidae Native to : Oceans worldwide Interesting fact : The male has a pouch on the ventral side, used for carrying the eggs. Conservation status : Data Deficient The seahorse has a horse-like head and lives in seagrass beds, estuaries and coral
Common name : Demon stinger, Devil stinger Scientific name : Inimicus didactylus Family : Synanceiidae Native to : Western Indo-Pacific Ocean Conservation status : Not Evaluated Masters of camouflage, sea goblins are venomous fish with spines on their backs. Found buried in sandy areas or on coral outcrops, they wait for their prey and catch
The Ardeola grayii (scientific name) or Indian-pond heron is also known as the paddybird. An average 17.5 inches in length, this bird is usually hunched and hence its long neck appears short and stocky. While the underparts, specifically the belly, legs and rump are white, the wings are a dark brown colour near the shoulders.
Common name : Leopard sea cucumber Scientific name : Bohadschia argus Family : Holothuriidae Native to : Indian and Pacific Oceans Interesting fact : Sea cucumbers communicate by sending hormone signals through the water. Conservation status : Least Concern Shaped like a cucumber, the sea cucumber lives on the sea floor. They have leathery skins
The Loriculus galgulus (scientific name) or blue-crowned hanging parrot is mostly found in the forested lowlands from Thailand to Borneo. This parrot is mostly green in colour, with a crown of blue on its head. The adult male has a black beak, a red throat and a rump and yellow lower back. The female is
Scientific name : Sphyrna lewini Family : Sphyrnidae Native to : Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans Interesting fact : The hammer of the shark is made of cartilage and has sensory organs that detect changes in the water. Conservation status : Endangered The shark has a hammer on its head with the eyes and nostrils
The Eos bornea (scientific name) or red lory is native to the Moluccas Islands in Indonesia. They are pugnacious, flamboyant birds, which are very playful and colourful in appearance. 12 inches in length, the red lory, as the name suggests, is bright red in colour, with blue, black markings on its back and wings. It
Common name : Atlantic Salmon Scientific name : Salmo salar Family : Salmonidae Native to : North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans Interesting fact : The age of a salmon can be determined by the rings on the otolith, its earbone. Conservation status : Least Concern Salmons, being anadromous, are born in freshwater, migrate to the