Common name : Prince Alfred’s ray, Inshore manta ray, Resident manta ray Scientific name : Manta alfredi Family : Mobulidae Native to : Oceans worldwide Interesting fact : The skin is covered in mucus protecting it from infections. Conservation status : Vulnerable Manta rays are large eagle rays that have triangular pectoral fins, horn-shaped cephalic […]
Scientific name : Synchiropus splendidus Family : Callionymidae Native to : Australia and Indo-Pacific Oceans Interesting fact : In the evenings, the mandarinfish surfaces to perform the dancing ritual for mating. Conservation status : Not Evaluated Mandarinfish are beautifully coloured fish living in reefs nd lagoons. They grow only up to 6 cm long and
Common name : Sea cow, West African manatee Scientific name : Trichechus senegalensis Family : Trichechidae Native to : Florida Interesting fact : It is the only animal that has a cornea connected to the blood stream. Conservation status : Vulnerable Manatees are large aquatic mammals that are up to 13 feet long and weigh
The Coraciiformes (scientific name) or kingfisher is a small-to-medium-sized brightly coloured bird that has a very cosmopolitan distribution throughout the world. Its plumage is bright, generally blue and green in colour. This is a result of the structure of its feathers which scatters blue light. It has bill like that of a stork to help
Common name :Common dolphin fish, Dolphin fish, Dorado, Green dolphin Scientific name :Coryphaena hippurus Family :Coryphaenidae Native to :Oceans worldwide Interesting fact :Mahi-mahi means strong-strong and these fish are fast swimmers with a speed of 57.5 km per hour. Conservation status :Least Concern This surface dwelling ray-finned fish is golden on the sides and bright
The Anodorhynchus leari (scientific name) or lear’s macaw is a noisy social parrot which roosts in colonies located in cliffs or canyons, found mostly in Brazil. First described by Charles Lucien Bonaparte in 1856, this bird was not seen for over a century after and only rediscovered in 1978. The lear’s macaw is as long
Common name : Pacific mackerel, Japanese mackerel, Spotted mackerel Scientific name : Scomber australasicus Family : Scombridae Native to : Atlantic and Pacific Oceans Interesting fact : Eggs of mackerels float on water as they contain oily drops. Conservation status : Least Concern Mackerels are found in both temperate and tropical seas. They are torpedo-shaped,
Common name : Trunkfish Scientific name : Lactoria cornuta Family : Ostraciidae Native to : Indo-Pacific region Interesting fact : It exudes a deadly toxin when stressed. Conservation status : Not Evaluated Aptly named, it has long horns on its head and inhabits coral reefs, lagoons, sandy and rocky bottoms. Its yellow-to-olive body has white
The Fratercula arctica (scientific name) or the Atlantic puffin lives on the open ocean ranging from East coast Canada to West coast Europe. 60% are found off the coast of Iceland. Known as ‘Clowns of the Sea’, Atlantic puffins have bright orange-coloured beaks and feet. The male is slightly larger than the female, measuring 8
Common name : Red lobster Scientific name : Eunephrops bairdii Family : Nephropidae Native to : Oceans worldwide Interesting fact : They have blue blood due to the presence of hemocyanin. Conservation status : Data Deficient Lobsters are large marine crustaceans living in crevices and burrows on the sea floor. They have hard exoskeletons and
Scientific name : Parvulastra vivipara Family : Asterinidae Native to : South Australia Interesting fact : They are hermaphrodites, fertilizing themselves and giving birth to live young, that emerge from an opening on the parents. Conservation status : Vulnerable Living in rocky crevices of calm, sheltered waterways are these tiny, orange seastars measuring only 13
The Upapa epops (scientific name) or the hoopoe is a brightly coloured bird native to Afro-Eurasia. Weighing approximately 12 inches, this medium-sized bird has a distinctive ‘crown’ of feathers on its head. It has a long thin bill, with a fawn-coloured head. Although they are known to eat seeds and small vertebrates, their diet is
Common name : Lion’s mane Scientific name : Cyanea capillata Family : Cyaneidae Native to : Atlantic and Pacific OceansInteresting fact : Lion’s mane jellyfish is the largest jellyfish in the world. Conservation status : Not Evaluated The lion’s mane jellyfish gets its name from its tentacles. It has a pointed, star-like bell and tentacles
Common name : Hawaiian turkeyfish, Turkeyfish Scientific name : Pterois sphex Family : Scorpaenidae Native to : Indo-Pacific Ocean Interesting fact : The sting of a lion fish from its venomous dorsal fins can be quite painful to humans. Conservation status : Not Evaluated The lion fish is a venomous, hostile and territorial fish inhabiting
Common name : Common ling, European ling Scientific name : Molva molva Family : Lotidae Native to : Atlantic Ocean Interesting fact : The salted eggs of the ling are a popular delicacy in Spain. Conservation status : Not Evaluated The ling is a cod-like fish living in shallow coastal waters. Its slender body is