Pygmy seahorse (group overview)
Hippocampus (pygmy complex)
Pygmy seahorses are miniaturised Hippocampus noted for extreme crypsis and male brooding; many live on gorgonians.The py···
Species Directory
Animals
Animals are classified from largest to smallest in the order: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. The animal kingdom contains all animals, and the phylum is further divided into phylums such as Chordata (vertebrates) and Arthropoda (insects, crabs). The class includes mammals, birds, etc., and the order is Primates and Carnivora.
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About Animals
Animals by Scientific Class Names
The scientific names of animals are named and classified using the binomial nomenclature system of biology. This system is based on a series of hierarchical structures, from the broadest to the most specific, including kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. The following is the general structure of the scientific names of animals:
| Class | name | Example |
| Kingdom | Animalia | Homo sapiens、Canis lupus familiaris |
| Phylum | Chordata | Balaenoptera musculus、Aves |
| Class | Mammalia | Panthera tigris、whale |
| Order | Primates | Gorilla gorilla、Macaca mulatta |
| Family | Hominidae | Homo sapiens、Gorilla |
| Genus | Homo | Homo sapiens、Homo neanderthalensis |
| Species | Homo sapiens | Modern humans only |
This classification method helps biologists clearly understand and study the relationship between species, and promotes various biological studies.
Animals Profiles
Browse species cards with scientific names, category labels, conservation status, and short summaries.
Yellow Goosefish / Japanese Anglerfish
Lophius litulon
Lophius litulon—the yellow goosefish (Japanese anglerfish)—is a large demersal predator in theNW Pacific (family Lophi···
Spot‑fin Porcupinefish
Diodon nicthemerus
Diodon nicthemerus—the spot‑fin porcupinefish (also called slender‑spined porcupinefish)—belongs to thefamily Diodon···
Atlantic Trumpetfish
Aulostomus maculatus
Aulostomus maculatus—the Atlantic trumpetfish—belongs to the family Aulostomidae and is a classicstealth ambush predat···
Prawn goby (shrimp‑goby symbiosis · overview)
Gobiidae (symbiotic shrimp‑goby clade: Amblyeleotris, Cryptocentrus, Stonogobiops)
Prawn goby is a vernacular for gobies that live in mutualistic symbiosis with alpheid “pistol” shrimps(Alpheus spp.). ···
Leafy Seadragon
Phycodurus eques
The leafy seadragon (Phycodurus eques) is a member of the Syngnathidae (seahorses & pipefishes),renowned for its orn···
Lutjanus quinquelineatus (Five‑lined Snapper)
Lutjanus quinquelineatus
Lutjanus quinquelineatus—the five‑lined snapper—is a common Indo‑Pacific reef snapper of the familyLutjanidae. It be···
Chaetodontidae (Butterflyfishes · Family Overview)
Chaetodontidae
Chaetodontidae—the butterflyfishes—are among the most conspicuous reef indicator fishes in the tropics.Key genera incl···
Antennarius (Frogfishes · Genus Overview)
Antennarius
Antennarius—the frogfishes—belongs to the family Antennariidae and epitomisescamouflaged ambush predation. The first d···
Rajiformes (Skates · Order Overview)
Rajiformes
Rajiformes—in modern usage typically referring to the skates within the batoids—differs from stingraysby being oviparo···
Bolbometopon muricatum (Bumphead Parrotfish)
Bolbometopon muricatum
Bolbometopon muricatum—the bumphead parrotfish—is the world’s largest parrotfish(family Scaridae). Adults have a dist···
Japanese Red Stingray (Hemitrygon akajei｜syn. Dasyatis akajei)
Hemitrygon akajei (syn. Dasyatis akajei)
The Japanese red stingray (Hemitrygon akajei; historically Dasyatis akajei) is a coastaldasyatid common in the northwest···
Pleuronectiformes (Flatfishes · Order Overview)
Pleuronectiformes
Pleuronectiformes—the flatfishes (flounders, soles, turbots, halibuts)—are defined byeye migration during metamorphosi···
Exocoetus volitans
Exocoetus volitans
Exocoetus volitans—a widespread flyingfish of the family Exocoetidae—is among the mostcommon oceanic species globally.···
Barracudas
Sphyraena
Sphyraena—the barracudas—belongs to the family Sphyraenidae.They are iconic fast predators with elongate bodies, a hug···
Echidna nebulosa (Snowflake Moray)｜syn. Muraena pardalis
Echidna nebulosa (syn. Muraena pardalis)
Echidna nebulosa—the snowflake moray—is a crushing‑toothed muraenid specialised for crustaceans.It appears in older l···
Sea Snakes (Group Overview)
Hydrophiinae / Laticaudinae (Elapidae)
Sea snakes are marine elapids comprising two main groups: the true sea snakes (Hydrophiinae, mostlyfully marine and vivi···
Groupers
Epinephelus sp.
Epinephelus is a genus of serranid groupers—iconic benthic ambush predators of tropical and subtropical seas.Most speci···
Hawksbill Sea Turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata
Eretmochelys imbricata—the hawksbill sea turtle—is recognised by its sharp, hawk‑like beak andoverlapping (imbricated···
Linckia laevigata (Blue Sea Star)
Linckia laevigata
Linckia laevigata—the blue sea star—is an ophidiasterid asteroid conspicuous on tropical Indo‑Pacific reefs.It is bes···
Crown‑of‑thorns Starfish
Acanthaster planci
Acanthaster planci—the crown‑of‑thorns starfish (COTS)—is a major coral predator on Indo‑Pacific reefs(family Acant···
Echinoidea (Sea Urchins · Overview)
Echinoidea
Echinoidea—the class of sea urchins, sand dollars and heart urchins—belongs to the phylum Echinodermata.Their test com···
Giant Clam
Tridacna gigas
Tridacna gigas—the giant clam—is a flagship bivalve of family Tridacnidae.Its mantle hosts zooxanthellae for photosynt···
Nautiloidea (Subclass · Overview)
Nautiloidea
Nautiloidea is an ancient subclass of cephalopods. Today only a handful of living species remain—notably Nautilus and A···
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