221 Amazing Marine Animals Encyclopedia

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

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

Scientific name : Thaumoctopus mimicus Family : Octopodidae Native to : Indonesia and Malaysia Interesting fact : The suckers have a touch sensor and chemoreceptor allowing the animal to taste its food. Conservation status : Not Evaluated The mimic octopus mimics the shape of other sea creatures to attract prey and avoid predators. It has

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

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

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

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