Common name : Seed shrimp Scientific name : Zonocypretta kalimna Family : Cypridinidae Native to : Oceans worldwide Interesting fact : The eggs of the ostracods can survive complete drying and still be viable after many years. Conservation status : Vulnerable Living really deep at 7000 metres are these small crustaceans, around 0.2-30.0 mm in […]
Common name : Harlequin filefish, Beaked leatherjacket, Longnose filefish Scientific name : Oxymonacanthus longirostris Family : Monacanthidae Native to : Indo-Pacific Ocean Interesting fact : It rests in between branches ofacropora corals looking like a piece of the reef. Conservation status : Not Evaluated The orange spotted filefish is found in lagoonsand coral reefs feeding
The Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus (scientific name) or hyacinth macaw is native to 3 regions in South America. The hyacinth macaw is the largest parrot by length, measuring up to 3.3 feet in height. Its feathers are entirely blue, with a touch of bright yellow near its beak and around the eyes. They have extremely strong beaks
Common name : Spanish shawl nudibranch Scientific name : Flabellina iodinea Family : Flabellinidae Native to : Oceans worldwide Interesting fact : They are hermaphrodites, having reproductive organs for both sexes, but cannot fertilize themselves. Conservation status : Not Evaluated The nudibranch is an extraordinarily coloured mollusc. They are soft-bodied, shedding their shells after the
Common name : Amur snakehead Scientific name : Channa argus Family : Channidae Native to : Russia, China, North Korea and South Korea Interesting fact : It has specialized organs for aquatic and aerial respiration, allowing it to live outside water for several days. Conservation status : Not Evaluated The Northern snakehead is a freshwater
The Eclectus roratus (scientific name) or eclectus parrot is a native to Solomon Islands, New Guinea, nearby islands, as also North Eastern parts of Australia and the Maluku Islands. The eclectus parrot is very different from other parrots, because of the stark differences in colouring between male and female. While the male is bright green
Common name : Nightingale ribbon worm Scientific name : Katechonemertes nightingaleensis Family : Prosorhochmidae Native to : Worldwide Oceans Interesting fact : Nemertea can shrink to one-tenth of its size. Conservation status : Vulnerable Nemerteas are very slim worms and less than 20 cm long with patterns of yellow, orange, red and green colouration. They
Common name : Northern needlefish, Garfish, Swordfish Scientific name : Strongylura marina Family : Belonidae Native to : Atlantic Oceans Interesting fact : Needlefish can jump out of water at a speed of 38 metres per hour. Conservation status : Least Concern The needlefish has an elongated jaw and a slender body. It is silvery
Common name : Unicorn whale Scientific name : Monodon monoceros Family : Monodontidae Native to : Arctic Ocean Interesting fact : Narwhals communicate with clicks, whistles and knocks. Conservation status : Near Threatened Narwhals are toothed whales that feed on flatfish, Arctic doe and polar cod. The male has a tusk-like, protruding upper canine tooth.
Common name : Blue mussel, Common mussel Scientific name : Mytilus edulis Family : Mytilidae Native to : Temperate seas worldwide Interesting fact : Freshwater mussels are used for pearl cultivation. Conservation status : Endangered Mussels are bivalve molluscs that have wide, asymmetrical shells that are dark blue, black or brown with a silvery nacreous
Common name : Jewfish, Dusky kob, Butterfish, Japanese meagre, River kingfish, School jew, Silver jewfish, Southern meagre Scientific name : Argyrosomus japonicas Family : Sciaenidae Native to : Indo-Pacific region Interesting fact : Mulloways have large ear bones which are collected for jewellery. Conservation status : Endangered The mulloway is a silver to bronze-green fish
The Balearica pavonina (scientific name) or black-crowned crane is found in the dry savannah, South of the Sahara, Africa. However, its nest is in wetter habitats. They are the only cranes which nest in trees. With a height of 3.3 feet and wing-span of 6 feet, these birds are black in colour with white wings.
Common name : Purpura marginalba Scientific name : Tenguella marginalba Family : Muricidae Native to : Australia and Indo-Pacific region Conservation status : Not Evaluated The mulberry oyster borer is a sea snail that has a strong, conical shell with 5 rows of purple or blackish, square nodules giving it a mulberry appearance. True to
Common name : White-chinned moray, Speckled moray, Common spotted moray Scientific name : Gymnothorax moringa Family : Muraenidae Native to : Western Atlantic, North Carolina and Mexico Interesting fact : An extra set of jaw and teeth in its throat allows it to break up food and digest it. Conservation status : Least Concern About
Common name : Common jelly, Saucer jelly Scientific name : Aurelia aurita Family : Ulmaridae Native to : Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic Oceans Interesting fact : The moon jellyfish lacks heart, brain, blood and gills. Conservation status : Not Evaluated The moon Jelly is translucent, 25-40 cm in diameter and has 4 horseshoe-shaped gonads, visible