The fish’s scales act as protective barriers from harmful objects such as bacteria, parasites and fungi in addition to protecting its soft body. They also determine the fish’s age. Water slides over it scales causing no resistance as the fish speeds through the water. However, the hardness of the scales determines the movements of the […]
Common name : Baltic flounder, Mud flounder, River flounder, White fluke Scientific name : Platichthys flesus Family : Pleuronectidae Native to : Oceans worldwide Interesting fact : Flounders hide in the ocean floor with the eye-side facing up. Conservation status : Least Concern A flounder is a group of round, flatfish living in the ocean
Scientific name : Cyphoma gibbosum Family : Ovulidae Native to : Western Atlantic Ocean Interesting fact : The mantle acts like gills absorbing oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide. Conservation status : Not Evaluated The flamingo tongue snail is a small, brightly coloured sea snail living on corals. The shell is covered by live, bright orange-yellow
Common name : Pfeffer’s flamboyant cuttlefish Scientific name : Metasepia pfefferi Family : Sepiidae Native to : Indo-Pacific Ocean Interesting fact : Flamboyant cuttlefish is the only known poisonous cuttlefish. Conservation status : Data Deficient This colourful, flamboyant cuttlefish is patterned and can change its body colour in a flash. Measuring 8 cm, it has
Common name : Japanese firefly squid, Sparkling enope squid Scientific name : Watasenia scintillans Family : Enoploteuthidae Native to : Western Pacific Ocean Interesting fact : Every year, a natural lightshow happens in the coast of Japan as these squids gather for spawning. Conservation status : Least Concern The firefly squid is aptly named, as
Common name : Fin-backed whale, Finner, Common rorqual, Herring whale, Razorback Scientific name : Balaenoptera physalus Family : Balaenopteridae Native to : Oceans worldwide Interesting fact : Fin whales can swim up to a speed of 40 km per hour Conservation status : Endangered Measuring 18.5-22.0 metres long, fin whales are the second largest animals
A sunflower plant contains hormones called the ‘auxins’ that are sensitive to sunlight and will always avoid it. That is why this hormone is mostly found in the shaded part of the flower-stem. It will migrate from the sunny side of the plant to its shaded side of the stem, where it will boost the
Why does the sunflower plant always face towards the sun? Read More »
Common name : Southseas devil, Southseas demoiselle, Fiji damsel Scientific name : Chrysiptera taupou Family : Pomacentridae Native to : Western Pacific Ocean Interesting fact : The male guards the eggs until they hatch. Conservation status : Not Evaluated This blue fish with neon-like reflections lives in lagoons and offshore coral reefs. It is an
Clouds consist of water droplets and ice crystals that evaporate from the earth’s water-bodies. These together are very heavy yet they float. Since their weight is spread out in a large area and with small individual particles, the effect of the earth’s gravitational pull is almost absent. Additionally, the clouds are able to float due
Common name : Banjo shark, Fiddler, Green skate, Parrit, Southern fiddler ray Scientific name : Trygonorrhina fasciata Family : Rhinobatidae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : The egg capsule of the fiddler stingray is golden in colour. Conservation status : Least Concern Fiddler stingrays live in the shallow waters of sandy bays, rocky reefs
Common name : Common sabertooth, Common fangtooth Scientific name : Anoplogaster cornuta Family : Anoplogastridae Native to : Oceans worldwide Interesting fact : Despite its looks, the fangtooth fish is actually harmless and its scientific name ‘Anoplo’ means unarmed. Conservation status : Not Evaluated Living really deep in the sea, up to 5000 metres, is
When the sunlight enters our atmosphere, its waves collide with gas molecules. The longer wavelengths, like red and yellow, pass straight through it. But the shorter wavelengths, like blue, collide with the gas molecules and scatter in all directions. Some of the blue light still makes it through directly, but the rest is reflected back
Common name : European fan worm, Feather duster worm, Mediterranean fan worm Scientific name : Sabella spallanzanii Family : Sabellidae Native to : East Atlantic and Mediterranean Interesting fact : When threatened, its crown is withdrawn into the tube. Conservation status : Not Evaluated Fan worms live in shallow waters attached to rocks, concrete, boat
Scientific name : Pseudorca crassidens Family : Delphinidae Native to : Temperate and Tropical waters worldwide Interesting fact : The scientific name ‘crassidens’ of the false killer whale means ‘thick-tooth’ referring to its fearsome conical teeth. Conservation status : Data Deficient False killer whales are huge growing 5-6 metres long and weighing 1200-2200 kg. Its
The expiry dates of medicines are manufacturers’ guarantee of the full potency and safety of drugs. If the medicine is used within its shelf life, maximal efficacy and safety of the drug is ensured. It reflects the ability of the drug in curing the disease or reducing symptoms. However, expired medication may not adequately treat