Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Tetraodontiformes Family: Triacanthidae Genus: Triacanthus Species: T. biaculeatus Physical Description Triacanthus biaculeatus, also known as the Short-nosed tripod fish, is a species of marine fish in the family Triacanthidae. It is native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean Triacanthus biaculeatus has a relatively flat silver coloured body with […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines Family: Trionychidae Genus: Lissemys Species: L. punctata Specimen Description The skull has vomer-prefrontal struts, the postorbital arch narrower than the horizontal diameter of the orbit, a closed fenestra postotica (broad ascending strut of pterygoid sutured to opisthotic), and a short maxillary bridge (between the foramen intermaxillaris and […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Tetraodontiformes Family: Diodontidae Genus: Diodon Species: D. liturosus Physical Description The Black-blotched porcupinefish is a medium-sized fish which grows up to 65 cm (26 in), but the average size most likely to be observed is 45 cm (18 in). Its body is elongated with a spherical head with big round protruding eyes and […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Suidae Genus: Sus Specimen Description The skin of the wild boar is so thick and tough with double coat of fur that can be brown, red, black or grey. Upper coat is composed of harsh, bristly hair. Undercoat is much softer. Piglets have brown fur, covered […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibia Order: Caudata Family: Amphiumidae Genus: Amphiuma Species: A. means Description Lizards are reptiles. There are over 4,675 species of lizard, Included in this large number are lizards with four legs, some with two legs and some with no legs at all, lizards with frills, horns or wings and lizards […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Polypteriformes Family: Polypteridae Genus: Polypterus Species: P. senegalus Specimen Description Polypterus senegalus has diphycercal tail which is the tail having two lobes the upper and lower and the two lobes are identical and alike, so and the vertebral column extending to the tip without any upturning.  Their tail […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Thaliacea Order: Doliolida Family: Doliolidae Genus: Doliolida Species: D. muelleri Description These are free swimming animals. Larval stage tailed, with elongate envelope and intermediate vesicle between tail and cephalo-enteron. They have an oral and atrial (cloacal) siphon that are located either opposite. Tunicates are bilaterally symmetrical, at least during the early developmental stages. They possess a pharynx with gill slits, […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Tetraodontiformes Family: Balistidae Genus: Pseudobalistes Species: P. flavimarginatus Physical Description Yellowmargin Triggerfish are pinkish to grey with a cross-hatched pattern on the sides of the body and yellow fin margins. There is a deep groove in front of the eyes and five or six rows of distinct spines […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Family: Viperidae Genus: Daboia Specimen Description All vipers have a distinctive triangular head. This head shape is due to the placement of their large venom glands in the mouth. Some nonvenomous species have evolved a similarly shaped head in order to potentially trick predators into thinking they […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Crocodilia Family: Crocodylidae Genus: Crocodylus Specimen Description The tail of crocodile is long and powerful. The colour of juvenile is usually pale tan, with black stripes and spots on the body and tail, which gradually fade with age, although never disappear entirely. The dorsal side of the tail […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Scatophagidae Genus: Scatophagus Species: S. argus Physical Description The Spotted Scat Scatophagus argus is an extremely attractive fish. Adults are silvery or greenish with dark blotches and markings. Small juveniles have alternating dark and whitish to yellowish bars and often reddish-orange patches on the head and along the […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibia Order: Urodela Family: Cryptobranchidae Genus: Cryptobranchus Specimen Description Cryptobranchus alleganiensis has a lower jaw is curved and possess numerous teeth. These teeth are small, bicuspid, and arranged in a single row. The bicuspid teeth can be seen even in the larval form of the salamander.  The vomerine teeth are […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Zanclidae Genus: Zanclus Species: Z. cornutus Physical Description Moorish idol has a compressed discoid body and reach a maximum length of 23 cm. It have a tubular snout with a small mouth containing numerous elongate bristle-like teeth. Dorsal spines elongated into a whip-like filament. Moorish idols stand […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia   Order: Rhynchocephalia Family: Sphenodontidae Genus: Sphenodon Specimen Description The tail of the tuatara is hard, the dorsal spines that runs through its back extending to the tail tip making the tail it more tough. The tuatara both show caudal autotomy, that is creature can break off its tail when caught […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Colubridae Subfamily: Colubrinae Description The Female rat snake can lay between 6 and 24 eggs sometime in mid to late July. The females put a significant amount of their total body weight (up to one third of their mass!) into the production […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines Family: Cheloniidae Genus: Eretmochelys Specimen Description The skull is long and narrow. The length is approximately equal to twice the width. Skll have deep parital noches and the snout tapers to a point. The jaws are v shaped and narrow. The secondary palate is wll developed and […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Gobiidae Subfamily: Gobionellinae Genus: Awaous Species: A. banana Physical Description Awaous banana, the River goby, is a species of goby native to fresh and brackish water stream and rivers. The body is thin, long, and narrow with a medium-sized round eye and a terminal small mouth. Pectoral fins very short, pelvic […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Antilocapridae Specimen Description Hooves are another specialty for many antelope. Each hoof has a split down the middle, dividing the hoof into two toes About the Animal Iguanodon lived during the Early to Late Cretaceous period from 145-65 million years ago. They were very successful dinosaurs that had been around […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Placodermi Order: Antiarchi Family: Bothriolepididae Genus: Bothriolepis Description This is a bottom feeding armored fish lived in brackish water and seas, in the middle of the Late Devonian period, about 370 million years ago. Bothriolepis canadensis is belongs to a diverse genus of antiarch placoderms. Historically, Bothriolepis resided in an array of paleo-environments spread across every […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Elapidae Genus: Naja Specimen Description The cobra has a triangular head with rounded edge, not broader than neck. The most peculiar feature of the cobra head is the presence of hood, It has a spectacled or manacled mark on it’s dorsal surface, It can […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Crocodilia Family: Crocodylidae Genus: Crocodylus Specimen Description       About the animal Crocodiles are large reptiles found in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia. They are members of the order Crocodilia, which also includes caimans, gharials and alligators. There are 13 species of crocodiles, so […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Crocodilia Family: Alligatoridae Genus: Caiman Species: C. crocodilus Description Spectacled caimans are carnivores reptiles. The female Spectacled caimans lays 20 to 40 eggs in the mound made of rotting vegetation and soil. Decaying vegetation releases heat which keeps the eggs warm. Eggs hatch after incubation period of 90 […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Acipenseriformes Family: Acipenseridae Genus: Acipenser Species: A. ruthenus Specimen Description The tail of is Acipenser ruthenus is strong and rigid. The tail is bifurcated, that is it divides into two, having two fork like branches. The upper part is longer and having pointed end. The lower branch is smaller and […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Appendicularia Order: Copelata Family: Fritillariidae Genus: Fritillaria Species: F. pellucida Description They are Small, solitary, free-swimming tunicates, Characterised by the retention in the adult of a muscular tail and a notochord, a rudimentary or embryonic spinal column typical of all chordates. Their body is divided into two sections, the trunk and […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Squaliformes Family: Squalidae Genus: Squalus Species: S. acanthias Specimen Description Piked dogfish has a “Heterocercal tail”, that is having the upper lobe larger than the lower with the vertebral column extending into the upper lobe. It’s tail swings from side to side, it creates twice as many jets […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Thaliacea Order: Salpida Family: Salpidae Genus: Salpa Species: S. maxima Description These marine organism are commonly called tunicates as their body is covered by a membrane called tunic. It is a pelagic organism live at depths ranges from 0 – 182 m down. The larve possess a notochord and  in […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Tetraodontiformes Family: Ostraciidae Genus: Tetrosomus Species: T. gibbosus Description This is a  peaceful species. Humpback Turretfish can grow up to 30 cm what is approximately 11 inches. It have a very distinctive shape. The dorsal surface of their body is sharp and pointing, has short tail region. The […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Clade: Acrodonta Family: Chamaeleonidae Specimen Description Chameleons  are specialized for slow arboreal locomotion. Given that chameleons often live in arboreal habitats, where perches are small, gripping tightly with their feet, hands, and tail is critical for maintaining stability. Effective and stable progression is vitalbecause of the limited […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Crocodilia Family: Crocodylidae Genus: Crocodylus Specimen Description In crocodile, the nuchal scales further down the neck are characterised by four large scales in a square, flanked by two lateral scutes (one on each side). There are four longitudinal rows of dorsal scutes running down the back (not visible […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Beryciformes Family: Holocentridae Genus: Sargocentron Species: S. rubrum Description Sargocentron rubrum is a colourful fish, that live in the marine environment their body has subequal stripes of brownish red and silvery white, spinous dorsal dark red with a large, quadrangular, whitish blotch in middle of each membrane (except […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Rajiformes Family: Rajidae Genus: Raja Species: R. clavata Specimen Description Since, the Raja Clavata is living at the bottom of the continental shelf and upper slope of the coastal sea floor, the jaws and teeth are exclusively designed to feed on larger crustaceans and small teleost fish such […]

Kingdom: Animalia Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Rajiformes Family: Rajidae Genus: Dipturus Species: D. batis Physical Description The Common Skate has a long and pointed snout giving the disc a broadly rhombic shape with the front margins distinctly concave. The dorsal surface of the disc is olive-grey or brown with a variable pattern of light spots and […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Subclass: Elasmobranchii Superorder: Batoidea Description The Stingrays settle on the bottom while feeding, and it is feeds primarily on molluscs, crustaceans, and occasionally on small fish. Some stingrays’ mouths contain two powerful, shell-crushing plates. The dental plates of a ray is characteristic of a cockscomb shape, with heavy, bent, oblique cusps, strong distal cusplets and prominent serrations but […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Perissodactyla Family: Equidae Genus: Equus Specimen Description A Pony’s hoof may look like a solid object, tough and hard all the way through. However, The hoof is made up of several different layers and structures, each with a specific function. There are three bones inside the hoof. The […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Ascidiacea Order: Enterogona Family: Ascidiidae Genus: Ascidia                                     Reference http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=103407 http://species-identification.org/species.php?species_group=zmns&id=569

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Family: Varanidae Genus: Varanus   Specimen Description The jaws of monitor lizard is flexible and has a U shape. The teeth are conical and arranged facing backward. Teeth has serrations that helps them to rip the meat from the flesh. The jaws are powerful and has a […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Tetraodontiformes Family: Molidae Genus: Mola Species: M. mola Physical Description Ocean sunfish have a large body that is compressed and ovular. They are the largest bony fish, measuring up to 3.1 m in length, 4.26 m in height, and weighing up to 2235 kg. They are scale-less, and […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Istiophoridae Genus: Istiophorus Physical Description Their body is elongate and compressed, The upper jaw prolonged into a very long and pointed beak. It possess two dorsal fins, the first very large, tail and sail-like, hence the name, pelvic fins narrow but very long, almost reaching anal […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines Family: Cheloniidae Genus: Chelonia Species: C. mydas Specimen Description The Forelimbs of the green turtles are flippers adapted for swimming. These forelimbs are long and paddle-like. Long digits are fused throughout the flipper. Only one or two claws are present on each fore flipper. These forelimb adaptation […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Rhynchocephalia Family: Sphenodontidae Genus: Sphenodon Specimen Description       About the animal The name “tuatara” comes from the Maori for “peaks on the back.” Tuataras have spiny crests along their backs made from soft, triangular folds of skin. These spines are more prominent in males, who can raise […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Pleuronectiformes Family: Scophthalmidae Genus: Scophthalmus Species: S. maximus Physical Description Turbot are large flatfish their body is almost circular. Flatfish with asymmetric and almost round body (eyes on the left side). Scaleless skin but with bony protuberances irregularly distributed. Big mouth and small eyes. Dorsal and anal fins […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Description Lizards are reptiles. There are over 4,675 species of lizard, Included in this large number are lizards with four legs, some with two legs and some with no legs at all, lizards with frills, horns or wings and lizards in nearly every color imaginable. Lizards generally […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Osteostraci Genus: Cephalaspis Species: C. lyelli Description Cephalaspis is a jawless fish that swam through the waters of the Devonian.‭ ‬Although jawless,‭ ‬it still had a mouth that was situated to the underside of the head,‭ ‬suggesting that it was a bottom feeder.‭ ‬Also there seems to be sensory organs on […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Superorder: Xenarthra Order: Cingulata Specimen Description Armadillo is a Spanish word meaning “little armored one” and refers to the bony plates that cover the back, head, legs, and tail of most of these odd looking creatures. Armadillos are the only living mammals that wear such shells. An armadillo’s armor […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Subfamily: Bovinae Genus: Bison Specimen Description Bison has a thick, brown coat. The skin is covered with hairs that provides insulation from the cold and moist weather. During the winter It prevents melting of the snow and soaking of the skin. The thick hide is […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Genus: Bos Specimen Description Calfskin or calf leather is a leather or membrane produced from the hide of a calf, or juvenile domestic cattle. Calfskin is particularly valuable because of its softness, and fine grain, as well as durability. It is commonly used for high-quality […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Siluriformes Family: Clariidae Genus: Clarias Species: C. batrachus Physical Description The walking catfish has an elongated body shape, and reaches almost 0.5 m in length and 1.2 kg in weight. Often covered laterally in small white spots, the body is mainly coloured a gray or grayish brown. This catfish has long-based dorsal and anal fins, as […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Order: Amphioxiformes IG-NHM-C2-1a,b Description Amphioxus, plural amphioxi, or amphioxuses, also called lancelet, any of certain members of the invertebrate subphylum Cephalochordata of the phylum Chordata. Amphioxi are small marine animals found widely in the coastal waters of the warmer parts of the world and less commonly in temperate waters. Both morphological […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibia Order: Urodela Specimen Description Salamanders has a relatively flat and curved skull, when it compares with the size of the body it is bigger. bony sockets in the skull hold small, bead like eyes. a typical salamander skull has different cranial plates. On the dorsal side Premaxilla, Frontal plate, […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Rajiformes Family: Rajidae Description The jaws of the skate is wide and powerful it located on the ventral side of the organism as it is feeds on the bottom surface. There are between 40–56 rows of teeth present in each of the jaws. The repeated jaw opening and […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Syngnathiformes Family: Syngnathidae Specimen Description Pipefish have prehensile tail that are thin and long . Like the seahorse, the male pipefish also carries the eggs. In some species, the male has a pouch on the underside of his tail. For those without a pouch, the eggs are glued […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibia Order: Urodela Family: Cryptobranchidae Genus: Cryptobranchus Species: C. alleganiensis Specimen Description Cryptobranchus alleganiensis has a lower jaw is curved and possess numerous teeth. These teeth are small, bicuspid, and arranged in a single row. The bicuspid teeth can be seen even in the larval form of the salamander.  The […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Pomacanthidae Genus: Apolemichthys Species: A. xanthurus Physical Description The Indian Yellowtail Angelfish belong to the family Pomacanthidae. This is a mid-sized angel that will only grow to about 6 inches (15 cm) in length. It is creamy overall, bordered entirely with a broad dark margin and has […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Tetraodontiformes Family: Ostraciidae Genus: Ostracion Species: O. cubicus Physical Description Ostracion cubicus can be easly identified by it’s unique box shaped body with bright colouration most of them have black spots on them. Juveniles bright yellow with black spots, the spots decrease proportionately and the bright yellow becomes […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Infraorder: Tragulina Family: Tragulidae Specimen Description The mouse deer or chevrotain is the smallest hoofed mammal in the world. They have spindly legs with even-toed hooves which supports it’s round body, These small sized deer that Standing on their pencil-thin legs and walks on its tiptoes, They […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Beloniformes Family: Exocoetidae Genus: Exocoetus Species: E. volitans Physical Description The Tropical Two-wing Flyingfish have elongated broadly cylindrical bodies. They are dark dorsally and silvery ventrally. Their fins are pale to slightly dusky. They have a short head with a short blunt snout and a small mouth without teeth. […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Scorpaeniformes Family: Cyclopteridae Description The ventral sucker of tlumbsucker is an adhesive disc that are located ventrally, behind the pectoral fins. These ventral suker is pelvic fins that are modified to form a clinging disc with a thickened margin on the ventral surface of the body. The fish […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Tetraodontiformes Family: Ostraciidae Genus: Ostracion Species: O. nasus Description Ostracion nasus is known as the Shortnose boxfish is a species of boxfish found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. This species grows to a length of 30 centimetres. It has a typical box shape just like every box fish. The eyes are big and place on the sides. […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Superclass: Tetrapoda Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Lacertilia Description Lizard (suborder Sauria), any of more than 5,500 species of reptiles belonging in the order Squamata. Lizards are scaly-skinned reptiles that are usually distinguished from snakes by the possession of legs, movable eyelids, and external ear openings. However, some traditional (that is, non-snake) lizards lack one or more of […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibia Order: Anura Specimen Description Cryptobranchus alleganiensis has a lower jaw is curved and possess numerous teeth. These teeth are small, bicuspid, and arranged in a single row. The bicuspid teeth can be seen even in the larval form of the salamander.  The vomerine teeth are arranged in parallel to, […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Ascidiacea Order: Enterogona Suborder: Aplousobranchia Family: Polyclinidae Genus: Aplidium IG-NHM-C2-3 Description These are sessile organisms, usually seen attached with a substrate, like rocks and coral reefs. All sp. from this group forms colonies by asexual budding. in some species the colony members are encased in a gelatinous tunic (unique outer […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Casuariiformes Family: Dromaiidae Genus: Dromaiu Description The Emu Egg had many fascinating features. Not only is it deep black and larger than most eggs out there compared to other egg laying animals, but it is also designed to be stronger than most other eggs. The main reason for […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Scorpaeniformes Family: Cyclopteridae Genus: Cyclopterus Species: C. lumpus Physical Description The body of lumbsuckers are compressed, deep anteriorly. Head relatively small, less than 5 in standard length.  Gill openings large, extending below level of upper pectoral fin ray. First dorsal fin present but covered by thick layer of skin […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines Family: Cheloniidae Genus: Caretta Species: C. caretta Specimen Description The head of the loggerhead is relatively large, wide posteriorly, and the snout tapers anterior to the orbits. The parietal notches (wide U-shaped emarginations formed by the posterior borders of the squamosal, parietal and spraoccipital bones) are large. […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Crocodilia Family: Crocodylidae Genus: Crocodylus Specimen Description Crocodiles are larger, have V-shaped jaw. Each crocodile jaw carries 24 sharp teeth meant to grasp and crush, not to chew, some of their teeth can be seen even when the jaw is fully closed. he teeth are continuously replaced along […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Crocodilia Family: Crocodylidae Genus: Crocodylus Specimen Description Crocodiles are polyphyodont (a polyphyodont is any animal whose teeth are continually replaced during its entire life time). They are able to replace each of their 80 teeth up to 50 times in their 35- to 75-year lifespan. There is a […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Pristiformes Family: Pristidae Genus: Pristis Species: P. zijsron Physical Description The modern day sawfish species have been in the ocean around 56 million years. Sawfish get their name from their rostrum or “saws”–long, flat snouts edged with pairs of teeth which are used to locate, stun, and kill […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Subfamily: Bovinae Genus: Syncerus Specimen Description The hide on the buffalo is incredibly thick and serves diffrent function such as keeping the animal warm, and covering the entire body, apart from that buffalos hid e is known to protects the animal during battles with other […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Family: Pythonidae Genus: Python Species: P. molurus Specimen Description The Indian rock python skeleton consists of a 20 foot long. It has over 650 ribs and over 700 vertebrae. There is a tiny pair of rear legs are present adjacent to the anal region of the snake, […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Family: Scincidae Genus: Tiliqua Physical Description The Blue-Tongued lizard is characterized by its long blue tongue which is used in defensive displays. The skin is relatively smooth, covered by overlapping scales with a fish-like appearance. Coloration of the body is that of a grayish ventral side, and […]

A female frog lays hundreds of eggs, after which the male fertilises them. A layer of jelly holds the eggs together and provides protection to the eggs. This whole mass of fertilised eggs in the jelly is called a spawn. After a few days, the tadpoles hatch out of these eggs. They then feed on […]

Type status : Holotype, NHM , London,UK. Phylum – Chordata Order – Pycnodontiformes Formation – Upper Greensand Formation Country – United Kingdom Continent – Europe Class- Osteichthyes It carries five rows of tritorial teeth. The central series is composed of eight reniform teeth (Kidney shaped). They have an elongated sulcus on the anterior face of each […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Gasterosteiformes Family: Syngnathidae Genus: Hippocampus Species: H. guttulatus Physical Description It has a small but distinct coronet, with 5 rounded knobs or blunt points. The horizontal plate in front of coronet as high as coronet itself, with a more or less prominent spine at its front edge, coronet […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Ascidiacea Order: Pleurogona Family: Styelidae Genus: Styela IG-NHM-C2-2 Description These are sea squirts, characterized by their brown or yellow, rough and wrinkled surface. They typically have a length of 8–12 cm (3.1–4.7 in), but can reach up to 20 cm (7.9 in). They can be found on virtually any hard […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Carcharhiniformes Family: Carcharhinidae Genus: Galeocerdo Species: G. cuvier Specimen Description The tiger shark has very powerful jaws with distinct dentition. The jaws house large teeth with curved cusps and finely serrated edges. Each tooth has a deep notch on the outer margin lined with numerous cusplets. Upper and […]

Phylum:    Chordata Order: Pycnodontiformes Order: Pycnodontidae Kingdom : Animalia Formation : Gault Formation Country- United Kingdom Continent – Europe Class- Osteichthyes Right mandible (lower Jaw) with most of the crown (tritoral) teeth. The dental armature is composed of four ranks on the anterior and three on the posterior area of the mandible. The inner row […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Elapidae Genus: Naja Specimen Description The cobra venom contains postsynaptic neurotoxins that spread rapidly in its victim’s bloodstream, causing respiratory failure and, eventually, death. Cobra venom is an example of a molecule that prohibits the interaction of acetylcholine molecules (transmitted from nerve endings surrounding […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Superclass: Cyclostomata Specimen Description It a have slender eel-like body mea­suring from 45 cm to 1 m in length. It process two dorsal fins the first one is the anterior dorsal fin, which is the smallest and the second one is the posterior dorsal fin which is the largest […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Family: Varanidae Genus: Varanus Species: V. bengalensis Specimen Description The head of Xenopus laevis is wedge-shaped and smaller than the body. It has a unique morphology because it lacks a tongue and a visible ear. It has two small eyes found on the top of the head […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Superclass: Tetrapoda Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Lacertilia Specimen Description     About the animal Lizard (suborder Sauria), any of more than 5,500 species of reptiles belonging in the order Squamata. Lizards are scaly-skinned reptiles that are usually distinguished from snakes by the possession of legs, movable eyelids, and external ear openings. However, some traditional (that is, non-snake) […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Cnidaria Class: Anthozoa Order: Actiniaria Family: Actinostolidae Genus: Paranthus Species: P. rapiformis Description P. rapiformisis a small white sea anemone which burrows into the sediment, usually subtidally, but it may be exposed at extreme low water. Their Body is soft, translucent. The can varies from color pink to cream, reddish brown to […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Superclass: Osteichthyes Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Suborder: Labroidei Family: Scaridae Description Mouth is terminal, usually with prominent lips; mouth slightly to extremely protrusive; maxilla not exposed on the cheek; teeth in jaws usually separate and caniniform, the anteriormost 1 or 2 pairs typically enlarged and often directed forward; pharyngeal jaws (located […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Superclass: Tetrapoda Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Lacertilia   Specimen Description       About the animal       Reference

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Clade: Acrodonta Family: Chamaeleonidae Physical Description Chameleons are well known to most people, easily recognizable by their body shape, independently moving eyes, paw-like hands and feet, and ability to change color rapidly. The main physical features include their diagnostic zygodactyl feet, in which adjacent digits are fused […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Suborder: Feliformia Family: Viverridae Genus: Paradoxurus Specimen Description The Asian palm civet have a soft skin which is easily recognizable by its coloration it varies from ashy black to dark black, the skin surface is covered with coarse hair, which gives the overall fluffy looks. The skin […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Appendicularia Order: Copelata Family: Oikopleuridae Genus: Oikopleura Species: O. dioica Description This is a small appendicularian usually between 0.5 and 1.0 mm but may reach 1.3 mm. They have an an ovoid trunk and a narrow tail, the length of the tail is about four times the body length. In this species the sexes […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Pleuronectiformes Family: Cynoglossidae Genus: Cynoglossus Species: C. dubius Description Cynoglossus dubius, is  commonly known as the Carrot tonguesole because of it’s shape  reassembles a laterally compressed carrot. It is a species of tonguefish. The fish have pointing anterior and posterior ends the dorsal and the ventaral fins are thin and countious […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Perissodactyla Family: Equidae Genus: Equus Specimen Description The skin of horse is soft and thick. It provides a protective barrier against the environment, regulates temperature, and gives your horse its sense of touch. Depending on the species and age, the skin may be 12 to 24% of an […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Subfamily: Bovinae Genus: Boselaphus Specimen Description Marsupials are the group of mammals commonly thought of as pouched mammals. They give live birth, but they do not have long gestation times like placental mammals. Instead, they give birth very early and the young animal, essentially a helpless […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Pristiformes Family: Pristidae Genus: Anoxypristis Species: A. cuspidata Description The head of pointed sawfish is flattened. The snout is like a bkade bearing 18-22 pairs of lateral teeth. The blade like snout is slender, not tapering distally. Nostrils very narrow with small nasal flaps. Rostral teeth short, flattened, […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Panthera Species: P. leo Specimen Description Lions earn their moniker as king of beasts through efficient hunting and a lack of predators. One feature that puts them at the top of the food chain is their claws. The claw on a large lion can […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Lepisosteiformes Family: Lepisosteidae Genus: Lepisosteus Species: L. osseus. Specimen Description Lepisosteus osseus has a heterocercal tail, which is having a tail with two unequal lobes  the upper lobe larger than the lower with the vertebral column extending into the upper lobe. Single dorsal fin and anal fins are […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Serranidae Genus: Epinephelus Description Epinephelus is genus of moderate to large or very large in sized fishes. Opercle with 3 spines; lower preopercular edge smooth. Mandible prominent; maxillae more or less scaly; supramaxillae present. Large canines; on both jaws teeth of inner series depressible. Dorsal fin single IX-XI + 13-20; anal fin III + 7-10; caudal finrounded, marginate or truncate. Scales ctenoid, small, embedded […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Ascidiacea Order: Stolidobranchia Family: Styelidae Genus: Polycarpa IG-NHM-C2-4 Description Polycarpa grows to a height of 5 to 15 cm (2 to 6 in). It has an urn-shaped, hollow body with two siphons, one at the top and the other on the side. The body colour of this tunicate is white […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines Family: Geoemydidae Genus: Melanochelys Species: M. trijuga Specimen Description The turtle’s Skelton is unique as it’s had a dome shaped shell over the body, an adaptation that protects it from predators. The carapace and plastron each arose from two types of bone, dermal bones that form in the skin and endochondral bone derived […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Myliobatiformes Family: Dasyatidae Genus: Himantura Species: H. walga Description The dwarf whipray has a maximum length of 45 cm (18 in). The disc width is commonly about 24 cm (9 in). In outline it is oval with a bluntly-pointed snout. The whip-like tail is longer than the body and lacks the skin […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Primates Specimen Description A monkey’s hand is long, strong and covered with  hairs, the nails are hard and sharp. They have five fingers just as humans do, even though their hands are similar to humans in some ways, there are many differences. Primates–especially those that walk on the […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Thaliacea Order: Pyrosomida Family: Pyrosomidae Genus: Pyrosoma Species: P. atlanticum Description Pyrosomes are hollow tubular colonies of individual zooids that reside next to one another in a common tunic and result from asexual reproduction.  Pyrosomes often produce light (bioluminescence) and are capable of forming dense aggregations. Tunicates come in two […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Tetraodontiformes Family: Balistidae Genus: Odonus Species: O. niger Physical Description The Redtoothed Triggerfish is also known as the Niger Triggerfish, the Black Triggerfish, the Blue Triggerfish and the Purple Triggerfish.  The color varies from blue to purple to black, even on the same specimen and the teeth are […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Ascidiacea Order: Enterogona Family: Ascidiiae Genus: Ascidia Species: A. mentula Description Ascidia mentula is a large solitary sea squirt that can be over 18 cm in length. Its elongate body is usually smooth, often with low rounded swellings. The test is thick, cartilaginous and translucent red – pink, or greenish – […]

Kingdom: Animalia   Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Clade: Acrodonta Family: Chamaeleonidae Specimen Description Chameleons have a prehensile tail that they use to wrap around tree branches. The long and flexible tail allows them to secure their position while movement (to accomplish balance when necessary). They keep their tail wrapped as roll while not in […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Rhynchocephalia Family: Sphenodontidae Genus: Sphenodon Specimen Description The tuatara has thick skin covered with scales. Their skin is greenish gray and is sometimes speckled. Tuatara shed their skin at least once per year as adults, and three or four times a year as juveniles. The spiny crest on […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Subclass: Neopterygii Order: Scorpaeniformes Family: Triglidae Genus: Trigla Species: T. lyra Description These are marine fishes that live at depths up 700 m usually in deep-water. It can grows up to a maximum length of 60 cm. This is a bathydemersal species, found on sand and mud substrata. In […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Crocodilia Family: Crocodylidae Genus: Crocodylus Specimen Description Crocodiles are larger, have V-shaped jaw. Each crocodile jaw carries 24 sharp teeth meant to grasp and crush, not to chew, some of their teeth can be seen even when the jaw is fully closed. he teeth are continuously replaced along […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Polypteriformes Family: Polypteridae Genus: Polypterus Species: P. senegalus Physical Description They have long and slender in form, they are noted for a bunch of primitive features. Their scales are hard and shiny and are different from other fish by their rhomboid shape. The Dorsal fin is really made […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata   Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Family: Colubridae Genus: Dendrelaphis Species: D. punctulatus Specimen Description The tail of the Common vine snake is very long and thin.The colour of the tail is bronze, brown or blackish- brown which ends with a pointed tip. The Subcaudal scales are paired in a zigzag manner. […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Subclass: Holocephali Specimen Description The living holocephalans include three families in the order Chimaeriformes. An erectile first dorsal fin with a spine and a long, low spineless second dorsal Chimaeras protect themselves from such threat by having the large toxic spine located just in front of the first dorsal fin. […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibia Order: Anura Family: Pipidae Genus: Xenopus Species: X. laevis Specimen Description The head of Xenopus laevis is wedge-shaped and smaller than the body. It has a unique morphology because it lacks a tongue and a visible ear. It has two small eyes found on the top of the head […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Lophiiformes Family: Ogcocephalidae Genus: Ogcocephalus Species: O. vespertilio Description The Brazzilian Batfish or the seadevil is belonging to the family Ogcocephalidae, they live to depths of up to 3300 feet on the ocean-floor, covered in sand. The fish are flat, resembling pancakes. It preys on bottom-dwelling invertebrates. The Brazilian batfish […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Anguilliformes Family: Congridae Genus: Conger Species: C. conger Physical Description Conger conger has a snake-like body, but scaleless, slightly compressed anteriorly, well compressed posteriorly to anus, the latter before midpoint of body, dorsal outline of head convex, depressed over eye. Eye is small, inter-orbital space is broad and […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Crocodilia Family: Crocodylidae Genus: Crocodylus Specimen Description The epidermal exoskeleton of the Crocodile consists of oblong horny scales, arranged in transverse rows. The dermal exoskeleton consists of bony scutes that underlie the epidermal scales of the dorsal surface. The overlying scales, are always rubbed off, so that the […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibia Order: Urodela Specimen Description Salamanders has a relatively flat and curved skull, when it compares with the size of the body it is bigger. bony sockets in the skull hold small, bead like eyes. a typical salamander skull has different cranial plates. On the dorsal side Premaxilla, Frontal plate, […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Infraclass: Euselachii Superorder: Selachimorpha Specimen Description Depending on the species, there may be either one or two dorsal fins. The first dorsal fin is the most prominent as it is situated on the top of the animal, behind the head. This is frequently the fin that is seen sticking […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Ascidiacea Order: Stolidobranchia Family: Styelidae Genus: Dendrodoa Species: D. grossularia IG-NHM-C2-5 Description Dendrodoa grossularia is a solitary, reddish-brown sea squirt, up to 2 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter, which occurs singly or aggregated in dense, bumpy clusters. Individuals are rounded in shape and bright red or orange red […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Superclass: Tetrapoda Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Lacertilia Physical Description Lizard (suborder Sauria), any of more than 5,500 species of reptiles belonging in the order Squamata. Lizards are scaly-skinned reptiles that are usually distinguished from snakes by the possession of legs, movable eyelids, and external ear openings. However, some traditional (that is, non-snake) lizards lack one or more […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Subfamily: Caprinae Genus: Ovis Specimen Description Ounce for ounce, sheepskin is stronger than steel. The sheep skin or wool is a highly thick material that composed of numerous fibers. Wool is one of the few fibers that will maintain body heat when wet. It helps […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Lamniformes Family: Lamnidae Genus: Lamna Species: L. nasus Physical Description The porbeagle is a stout, heavy shark with a pointed, conical snout and a crescent-shaped caudal, or tail, fin. Its name is thought to arise from a combination of ‘porpoise’ referring to its shape, and ‘beagle’ referring to […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Crocodilia Family: Crocodylidae Genus: Crocodylus Specimen Description Crocodiles have huge compressed skull. The orbits are placed on the dorsal side of the skull, so that it’s eye stays above the water surface. The skull is narrow at the anterior region, and become larger and broader towards the posterior. […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Crocodilia Family: Crocodylidae Genus: Crocodylus Specimen Description The skin of crocodilians is thick and cornified, and is clad in non-overlapping scales known as scutes, arranged in regular rows and patterns. The outer surface of the scutes consists of the relatively rigid beta-keratin while the hinge region between the […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Scorpaeniformes Family: Dactylopteridae Genus: Dactyloptena Species: D. orientalis Physical Description The Oriental flying gurnard is a box like fish covered in heavy armor with extra large pectoral fins. The head is large and the body tapers down to a thin point on the caudal fin. The overall color is light […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Hemichordata Class: Pterobranchia Order: Cephalodiscida Description Cephalodiscida is one of two orders in the class Pterobranchia, which are small, worm-shaped animals. Members belong to the hemichordates.[1][2] Species in this order are sessile, living in clear water and secrete tubes on the ocean floor Reference http://www.bie.ala.org.au/species/NZOR-4-75824 http://www.species-identification.org/species.php?species_group=zsao&id=4023

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Family: Varanidae Genus: Varanus Specimen Description             About the animal There are at least 50 known species of monitor lizards, with new ones being discovered all the time. Some have been known to be as small as 8 inches, but most (such […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Crocodilia Family: Crocodylidae Genus: Crocodylus Specimen Description Crocodiles are larger, have V-shaped jaw. Each crocodile jaw carries 24 sharp teeth meant to grasp and crush, not to chew, some of their teeth can be seen even when the jaw is fully closed. he teeth are continuously replaced along […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Ascidiacea Order: Aplousobranchia Family: Clavelinidae Genus: Clavelina Species: C. lepadiformis IG-NHM-C2-6 Description This is a colonial sea squirt, although each individual is only attached together by a fine stolon, a root-like extension running between the base of each animal. The body is transparent and does not exceed a length of […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Ascidiacea Order: Pleurogona Family: Styelidae Genus: Botryllus Species: B. schlosseri Description These colonial sea squirts form 2-4 mm thick sheets. The zooids (animals) are positioned in star shaped formations. In the center of each star there is a common cloak siphon (opening). Each formation includes between 6 and 12 individuals. […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Crocodilia Family: Crocodylidae Genus: Crocodylus Specimen Description The organization of the crocodylian forelimb is similar to that of most tetrapods. Organizationally, extrinsic forelimb musculature attaches the pectoral girdle to the axial skeleton. The forelimbs have five fingers. Webbing between the forelimb varies between species, but in most it […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Uranoscopidae Genus: Ichthyscopus Description Ichthyscopus Lebeck is a ray-finned fish species from the family of stargazer, their head and body is compressed. Mouth is large, protractile, almost vertical. The respiratory valve inside lower jaw without dermal appendage. Both of the lips are with fimbriate ridges. Dorsoposterior end of gill flap with […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Genus: Bos Specimen Description Bulls have a thick hide which covered with short and tiny hairs the colour of the hair can varies from white, brown, red, and Black.  Leather produced from cattle hides is also an important material subsequently used for a variety of […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Torpediniformes Family: Torpedinidae Genus: Torpedo Species: T. marmorata Physical Description Torpedo marmorata  is a small ray which reaches a maximum of 100cm total length, but is rarely found over 80cm (Bester, Unknown). The disc is thick, flabby and rounded with the leading edge being almost straight, although median […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Crocodilia Family: Crocodylidae Genus: Crocodylus   Specimen Description The tail of crocodile is long and powerful. The colour of juvenile is usually pale tan, with black stripes and spots on the body and tail, which gradually fade with age, although never disappear entirely. The dorsal side of the […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Phoronida Family: Phoronidae Genus: Phoronis Species: P. australis Description These are worms are unsegmented worms belonging to Phylum Phoronida. This is a small phylum with less than 20 species. They build and live inside tubes made of chitin. Phoronis australis is thus far, the only phoronid known to be encountered with cerianthids and it is […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Hyperoartia Order: Petromyzontiformes Family: Petromyzontidae Genus: Petromyzon Specimen Description The caudal fin of the petromyzon is well developed and present at the tail which is continuous with the posterior dorsal fin and the caudal fin is supported by a thin cartilaginous fin-ray. The caudal fin has two lobes, the lower […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Family: Varanidae Genus: Varanus Physical Description There are at least 50 known species of monitor lizards, with new ones being discovered all the time. Some have been known to be as small as 8 inches, but most (such as the Nile monitor lizard that has become popular […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Scorpaeniformes Family: Cyclopteridae Genus: Cyclopterus Species: C. lumpus Description Cyclopterus lumpus has rigid laterally compressed body, with eyes present on either sides. First dorsal fin present but covered by thick layer of skin forming a characteristic high crest with embedded spines. Bony tubercles present, arranged in 3 widely separated […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Family: Varanidae Genus: Varanus Specimen Description Most of the monitor lizards have “U” shaped skull. The frontal region is compressed. The two large orbits on the sides. The skull of the lizard is often mobile, with flexible jaws, they can widen their throat by dropping the lower […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Panthera Species: P. leo Specimen Description Ligaments and tendons are part of the musculoskeletal system, with ligaments attaching bones to bones and tendons muscles to bones. Ligaments and tendons are made of dense layered collagen fibers, called fibrous connective tissue. Ligaments serve as connectors, […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Ascidiacea Order: Stolidobranchia Family: Pyuridae Genus: Boltenia Description This egg-shaped sea squirt is easily recognized by the branched tentacles giving it a cactus-like appearance. The diameter can reach 45 mm, 35 is more common. The color is usually yellow or light brown, sometimes with a tint of red or green. […]

  Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Rhynchocephalia Family: Sphenodontidae Genus: Sphenodon Specimen Description The skull of the tuatara two openings a temporal fenestra on each side of the skull, with complete arches. In addition, the upper jaw is firmly attached to the skull. This makes for a very rigid, inflexible construction. The tip of the upper jaw […]

Phylum:    Chordata Order: Pycnodontiformes Order: Pycnodontidae Kingdom : Animalia Formation : Ypresian, England Country- United Kingdom Continent – Europe Class- Osteichthyes The right mandible contains three rows of teeth. The inner or principle row has five normal teeth in series and a sixth, the anterior one, replaced by what a twin tooth . The twin […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Aulopiformes Family: Synodontidae Genus: Saurida Species: S. tumbil Description Greater lizardfish has a cigar-shaped body, rounded or slightly compressed. The head pointed and depressed, the snout broader than long. Color is generally brown above and silver below, the back with faint cross bands. The tips of the dorsal […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Hemichordata Class: Enteropneusta Order: Enteropneusta Family: Ptychoderidae Genus: Balanoglossus Description These are free swimming animals. Larval stage tailed, with elongate envelope and intermediate vesicle between tail and cephalo-enteron. They have an oral and atrial (cloacal) siphon that are located either opposite. Tunicates are bilaterally symmetrical, at least during the early developmental stages. They possess a pharynx with gill slits, a dorsal neural tube, and […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Struthioniformes Family: Struthionidae Genus: Struthio Description Ostrich eggs are the largest of any living bird, which doesn’t come as a surprise, considering ostrich itself is the largest living species of bird in the world. A female ostrich can lay 40-100 eggs per year, which roughly amounts to one […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibia Order: Urodela Family: Cryptobranchidae Genus: Cryptobranchus Species: C. alleganiensis Specimen Description The tongue of an adult salamander is relatively broad and pad like, tightly attached to the floor of the mouth, with only part of the margin of the tongue free. Consequently the capacity of the projection is limited, […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Salmoniformes Family: Salmonidae Genus: Salmo Species: S. salar Description fish exchange gases using gills on either side of the pharynx. Gills are tissues which consist of threadlike protein structures called filaments. These filaments have many functions including the transfer of ions and water, as well as the exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide, acids […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Subfamily: Caprinae Genus: Capra Specimen Description Goat can have short- or long-haired coat. Most species have guard hair on the surface and soft insulating hair close to the skin. Goats with long, lustrous coat are highly appreciated in textile industry (they are used as a […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines Family: Cheloniidae Genus: Chelonia Species: C. mydas Specimen Description Green sea turtles are the largest of all the hard-shelled sea turtles, but have a comparatively small head. It have a short neck and had brown and yellow markings. The dorsal surface of the turtle’s head has a […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Chaetodontidae Genus: Heniochus Species: H. acuminatus Physical Description The Pennant Coralfish is also known as the Longfin Bannerfish, Coachman, Featherfin Coralfish, Butterflyfish, Common Bannerfish, Angelfish Pennant and Pavillon.  It looks similar to the beautiful Crowned Scythe, better known as the Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus). The fish […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Subclass: Elasmobranchii Order: Squaliformes Family: Squalidae Genus: Squalus Species: S. acanthias Specimen Description The spiny dogfish has a double dorsal fin. The anterior dorsal fin is larger than the posterior dorsal fin. The spiny dogfish has the presence two spines, one immediately in front of each dorsal fin. The spines carry a […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines Family: Cheloniidae Genus: Chelonia Species: C. mydas Specimen Description       About the animal The green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is one of the largest and most widespread of all the marine turtles. The oval carapace varies from olive to brown, grey and black with bold streaks and blotches.but the […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Subfamily: Caprinae Genus: Ovis Specimen Description Unlike their wild cousins the domestic sheep doesn’t have long and fluffy wool on their body instead they have short hairs, these hairs are tightly packed and varies color from white, brown and black. Some breeds are capable of […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Clade: Acrodonta Family: Chamaeleonidae Specimen Description         About the animal Chameleons are reptiles that are part of the iguana suborder. These colorful lizards are known as one of the few animals that can change skin color. However, it is a misconception that chameleons change […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Crocodilia Family: Crocodylidae Genus: Crocodylus Specimen Description About the animal Crocodiles are large reptiles found in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia. They are members of the order Crocodilia, which also includes caimans, gharials and alligators. There are 13 species of crocodiles, so there are many […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Echeneidae Genus: Echeneis Species: E. naucrates Physical Description Echeneis naucrates has modified dorsal fin used as a sucking disc to attach to hosts makes the sharksucker easy to distinguish from other fish. This oval-shaped sucking disc consists of 16-28 laminae and is positioned from the top […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Pycnodontiformes Family: Pycnodontidae Genus: Pycnodus Description Pycnodus  Bowerbanki  is a extinct species of ray-finned fish ranging from the Cretaceous to Eocene periods. As its name suggests, it is the type genus of Pycnodontiformes. The known whole fossils of Pycnodus are around 12 centimetres (5 in) long, and have a superficial resemblance to angelfish or butterflyfish. The animals, as typical of all other pycnodontids, […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Anguilliformes Family: Anguillidae Genus: Anguilla Species: A. australis Physical Description Shortfin eels are one of the three Anguillidae species found in New Zealand. They differ from longfin eels in the length of their dorsal fin. In shortfin eels, the dorsal and anal fins are the same length so […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Family: Scincidae Genus: Tiliqua Specimen Description                 About the animal Common Blue-tongue Skinks are a large-bodied lizard in the family Scincidae. Australia has several species of Blue-tongue, the Common Blue-tongue is the most commonly encountered by people and is one […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Family: Varanidae Genus: Varanus Specimen Description The monitor lizard’s tail can account for more than half of the body’s total length, and the lizard is naturally disposed to use this formidable weapon with whip-like action. When confronted or even mildly agitated, the monitor will whip around with […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Clade: Parareptilia Order: Mesosauria Family: Mesosauridae Genus: Mesosaurus Description Mesosaurus is an extinct reptile which lived approximately 300 million years ago during the Early Permian Period. Mesosaurus is one of the first reptiles to return to an aquatic lifestyle. The nostrils are on top of the skull and the legs are […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata   Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Family: Elapidae Subfamily: Hydrophiinae Physical Description Sea snakes are a paradoxical creature; on the one hand, they have a reputation for being gentle beautiful creatures that people often interact with while diving, and they don’t create anywhere near the fearsome and terrifying reactions that most of […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Eulipotyphla Family: Erinaceidae Genus: Hemiechinus Species: H. auritus Description Hedgehogs are easily recognized by their spines, which are hollow hairs made stiff with keratin. Their spines are not poisonous or barbed and unlike the quills of a porcupine, cannot easily be removed from the animal. However, spines normally […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Family: Pythonidae Genus: Python Species: P. molurus Specimen Description The pythons have a box shaped skull. The orbits are large and placed on the on the side. The most prominent feature of the pythons skulls is the jaws. The jaws of the python is embedded with over […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Clade: Acrodonta Family: Chamaeleonidae Specimen Description         About the animal Chameleons are reptiles that are part of the iguana suborder. These colorful lizards are known as one of the few animals that can change skin color. However, it is a misconception that chameleons change […]

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Osteoglossiformes Family: Notopteridae Genus: Notopterus Species: N. notopterus Physical Description The Bronze Featherback Notopterus notopterus gets its name from the small dorsal fin on its back. This fin stands upright and sways back and forth just like a feather in the wind. The adult Featherback will be a plain brown while […]