Testudo (Latin for “turtle”) most commonly refers to an ancient Roman armored military formation, a genus of Mediterranean turtle, or the mascot of the University of Maryland. As a military tactic, soldiers used stacked shields to protect themselves during a siege. Classification of Testudo (Giant Turtle) Geographical distribution Testudo is widely distributed in Galapagos Islands, […]
Rhacophorus is a genus of frogs in the shrub frog family Rhacophoridae, and is one of the two genera of true tree frogs, along with the closely related Hylidae. It is found throughout Southeast Asia, including China, India, Japan, and the island of Borneo. Currently, more than 40 species are known. These frogs have strong
Bufo is a genus of true toads in the amphibian family Bufoidae. According to the traditional definition, this genus was a “Wastebasket” genus that included numerous toads living in many parts of the world, but after taxonomic review, most were transferred to other genera, leaving the genus with only 17 extant species from Europe, North
Hyla (Tree frogs), commonly known as Holarctic tree frogs, are a genus of tree frogs (family Hylaidae) that consists of 17 extant species found in Europe, Asia, and North Africa, including the European tree frog (Hyla arborea). Formerly a “wastebasket” genus with over 300 species, it now refers to a smaller group of mainly arboreal amphibians.
The common Surinam toad, Surinamese toad, or star toad (Pipa pipa), is a completely aquatic frog of the family Pipidae, widely distributed in much of tropical South America and the island of Trinidad. Females of this species are well known for “nurturing” eggs in honeycomb-like cavities directly on the skin of their backs, and releasing
Introduction Alytes, commonly known as the Midwife Toads, is a small genus of amphibians found mainly in Europe and North Africa. These toads are famous for their unique parental care behavior—males carry long strings of fertilized eggs wrapped around their hind legs until the tadpoles are ready to hatch. Midwife Toads prefer rocky habitats, woodlands,
Bombinator species are warty aquatic toads approximately 7 cm (2.8 in) in length and best known for their shiny bellies. They often display the invisible reflex when disturbed; the animal will arch its back and limbs to expose its shiny belly and may roll over onto its back. This acts as a warning to predators.
Torpedo are specialized, slow-moving cartilaginous fish that are recognized by their flat, disc-shaped bodies and their ability to generate electrical shocks of up to 220 volts from organs on each side of their heads. This electricity is used for defense and hunting, helping to stun prey such as fish and shellfish. Unlike many stingrays, they
Sphyrna is a genus of hammerhead sharks widely distributed in the world’s oceans. Members of the family tend to live in coastal waters along the intertidal zone rather than in the open ocean, as prey such as invertebrates, fish, rays, small crustaceans, and other benthic organisms are hidden in the sand and sediments of these
The zebra shark (Stegostoma tigrinum) is a type of carpet shark and the only member of the Stegostoma family. It is found throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region, frequently inhabiting coral reefs and sandbars up to 62 m (200 ft) deep. Zebra sharks have a unique appearance. Adults have a cylindrical body with five longitudinal ridges,
Chiloscyllium is a genus of sharks in the family Hemiscylliidae. This genus is distinguished by a relatively long snout with sinuses. The eyes and eyebrow bones are barely raised. The mouth is located closer to the eyes than the tip of the nose, and the lower lip fold is usually connected to the jaw by
Scoliodon has great educational and experimental value because of its availability and size and is a favourite dissection fish for undergraduate students.
Balanoglossus is a genus of acorn worms belonging to the phylum Hemichordata and the class Enteropneusta. These marine worms live in shallow coastal environments, where they burrow into sandy or muddy substrates and feed on organic matter. Because they display a clear division of the body into proboscis, collar, and trunk, Balanoglossus helps scientists understand
