Common name : Common lobster, Clawed lobster Scientific name : Homarus gammarus Family : Nephropidae Native to : Widespread in North-East Atlantic,Mediterranean and Black Sea Interesting fact : They can swim backwards using their soft and flexible tails. Conservation status : Least Concern The European lobster has an asymmetrical pair of pincers with one for […]
Common name : Carpet shark, Cat shark, Blind shark, Walking shark Scientific name : Hemiscyllium ocellatum Family : Hemiscylliidae Native to : Australia and New Guinea Interesting fact : To cope with oxygen depletion during night, the shark increases the blood supply to its brain by shutting down non-essential neural functions. Conservation status : Least
Tonic water glows and will fluoresce under UV rays because of quinine in it. Quinine is one of the most important alkaloids found in the cinchona bark, among many others. It has some rare earth compounds known as phosphors that glow when they hit certain wavelengths of the UV light. Phosphors in the quinine absorb
Common name : Imperial cleaner shrimp,Emperor partner shrimp Scientific name : Periclimenes imperator Family : Palaemonidae Native to : Indo-Pacific region Interesting fact : The emperor shrimp will perform a manicure if a diver happens to put his hand near it. Conservation status : Not Evaluated You can find emperor shrimps hanging upside down, on
Common name : Roman shield Scientific name : Scutus antipodes Family : Fissurellidae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : Elephant snails have a well-developed sense of light and can tell light and shade apart. Conservation status : Not Evaluated The elephant snail looks like someone stepped on it. Its jet-black body has an oval-shaped,
A bird’s feathers grow from the epidermis of the bird’s skin and can be divided into ‘semiplumes’, ‘filoplume’, ‘bristle’ and ‘powder feathers’. Given their impeccable daily routine, birds maintain their feathers by preening, dust bathing and even bathing in the water. When birds preen themselves with their beaks, they pick up oil by rubbing the
Why are a bird’s feathers water-insulated and waterproof? Read More »
Common name : Northern elephant seal Scientific name : Mirounga angustirostris Family : Phocidae Interesting fact : Elephant seals can hold theirbreath under water for up to 2 hours. Conservation status : Least concern The elephant seal has a trunk-like proboscis (that of an elephant) that can produce loud noises. There are two types–the Northern
Common name : Purple firefish Scientific name : Nemateleotris decora Family : Microdesmidae Native to : Indo-West Pacific region Interesting fact : Elegant firefish are highly monogamous with couples building a nest and taking turns guarding it. Conservation status : Not Evaluated Living among reefs, sandy patches and rubble is this slender, colourful fish with
Milk appears white because it reflects all light wavelengths. If it were to do absorb all light wavelengths and reflect nothing back, then it would appear black. Milk is primarily water, which absorbs the light wavelengths; but it also has other components: fat, protein, lactose, minerals and vitamins. The fat and protein molecules in the
Scientific name : Electrophorus electricus Family : Gymnotidae Native to : Worldwide Oceans Interesting fact : Electric eels have cells called electrocytes that produce electricity. Conservation status : Least Concern These are about 800 species of this snake-like fish living in the shallow waters of the ocean. Some are found deeper and others live in
Common name : Banjo shark Scientific name : Trygonorrhina fasciata Family : Rhinobatidae Native to : Australia Conservation status : Least Concern The eastern fiddler ray is a guitarfish found in shallow coastal sandy bays, seagrass beds and rocky reefs. They are brown with shades of yellow or olive and distinctive triangular patterns behind their
Common name : Cancer magister Scientific name : Metacarcinus magister Family : Cancridae Native to : West coast of America Interesting fact : It is named after a place called Dungeness in Washington, where it is found in abundance. Conservation status : Not Evaluated Dungeness crabs live in eelgrass beds and water bottoms and are
Animals have developed adaptability to blend in their surroundings. This is necessary so that they may remain hidden from their hunters or even from their prey that they are hunting. This is called ‘camouflage’. They can camouflage by merging themselves with their backgrounds or by having patterns on their bodies that break up their outline,
Common name : Sea pig, Sea camel Scientific name : Dugong dugon Family : Dugongidae Native to : Indo-Pacific Ocean Interesting fact : A female gives birth in shallow water tojust one calf after a gestation period of 13-15 months. Conservation status : Vulnerable Dugongs are elephant-like, large marine mammals found in shallowbays and mangroves.
Wolf-like dogs lived in the wild in earlier ages where they slept out in the open, without much warmth or safety or comfort, unlike their pampered ‘pet’ friends now. They lived in packs and travelled constantly looking for food and shelter. For resting, they would perform the circling behaviour, smoothen out the uneven surface to