This Saturday, shark week will take a slight detour into skates, covering this alleged ”Devil Fish”. Skates are the group of batoids belonging to the Rajiformes order. They appear to resemble sting rays but can be distinguished by their thicker and shorter tails that lack the venomous spines. Skates are found all across the world in both marine environments and even estuaries.
Author: Callmejoe3
All reviews by this author
Humpback Whale, adult and calf (Monterey Bay Aquarium Collection by Safari Ltd.)
5 (7 votes)
The sounds of whales often fill the ambiance of the ocean, and none are more popular than the songs of the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). This species traditionally occupies the sole Balaenopterid genus outside of Balaenoptera, but molecular studies position the humpback as the closest relative of the fin whale (B.phylsaus), rendering Balaenoptera paraphyletic.
Sally Lightfoot Crab (Incredible Creatures by Safari Ltd.)
4.5 (2 votes)
If there’s any animal ready to jump in the line, it’s the Sally Lightfoot crab (Graspus graspus). Also known as the red rock crab, G.graspus belongs to the genus of ‘lightfoot crabs’ that are named such due to their rapid movements and ability to leap from rock to rock along the shorelines, with the ”Sally” rumored to have been named after a Caribbean dancer.
Bigeye Thresher Shark (Monterey Bay Aquarium Collection by Safari Ltd.)
4.3 (4 votes)
Of the three species of thresher shark, the biggest outlier appears to be the bigeye thresher (Alopias superciliosus). The bigeye thresher and its close relatives belong to the order of mackerel sharks, Lamniformes. The bigeye thresher is found in tropical waters all across the world. This species inhabits deeper waters than its relatives, spending the day avoiding predators at depths of 300-500m and moving to the surface during the nighttime to hunt for prey.
Hector’s Dolphin (NZ Wildlife Figures Pack by Stewart Sales & Services)
4.7 (3 votes)
Out of the 90+ species of cetaceans, only one is endemic to New Zealand, the Hector’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori). Within the Delphinidae family, this species’ genus forms a clade with the right whale dolphins (Lissodelphis spp.) and former members of Lagenorhynchus.
Stingray (Animal Planet – Deep Sea Submarine Playset by Chap Mei)
4 (1 votes)
Amongst the many different species of batoids, attention will shift to the relatively obscure spotted ray (Raja montagui). The spotted ray, also known as the Homelyn ray, is a victim of a common name polyphyly as it’s actually a skate, which is a separate order from true rays.
Bowhead Whale (Wild Safari Sealife by Safari Ltd.)
3.5 (4 votes)
Today will be dedicated to the largest Arctic resident, the bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus). When initially described by Linneaus in 1758, the bowhead whale was classified as the same species as other right whales (Eubalaena spp.). After decades of morphological and molecular studies, the bowhead was assigned to a separate genus within the shared family, Balaenidae.
Indian Elephants, 1998-2005 (Wild Life Asia and Australia by Schleich)
4.8 (4 votes)
Few animals encountered over the course of human history have a superlative reputation like elephants, especially the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). Asian elephants are the only extant species within their genus and one of 3 living species of elephants, though Asian elephants are much more closely related to mammoths than they are to African elephants (Loxodon spp.
Narwhal (Monterey Bay Aquarium Collection by Safari Ltd.)
5 (3 votes)
For me, there are not many ”normal” whale species. Most either look normal until you learn more about them or openly advertise their weirdness like the narwhal (Monodon monoceros). The narwhal is the only extant member of its genus and its closest relative is the beluga (Delphinapterus leucas), both belonging to the Monodontidae family.
Whale Shark (Monterey Bay Aquarium Collection by Safari Ltd.)
3.7 (3 votes)
Typically, the most famous sharks are the sensationalized ”man-eaters” like the great white (Carcharodon carcharias) or tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier). Instead, our focus will shift to a slow-moving filter-feeder, the whale shark (Rhincodon typus). The whale shark belongs to the order of Orectolobiformes, also known as ”carpet sharks”, and is the sole extant member of its family and genus.
Pacific White-Sided Dolphin (Sealife by CollectA)
4 (5 votes)
The overrepresentation of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.) undermines the real diversity within the Delphinidae family, thus warranting a look at a species like the Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens). This species is endemic to the North Pacific, spanning across Baja California, Southern China, and the Bering Sea.
American Bison, adult and calf, 2004 (Wild Life America by Schleich)
4.8 (5 votes)
Few animals evoke the history of North American wildlife conservation like the American Bison (Bison bison). Prior to colonization, this species had a historical range extending from Eastern and Midwest parts of the United States into the interior of Mexico and Canada. Today it’s more scattered and sparse.
Manatee, adult and calf (Wild Safari Sealife by Safari Ltd.)
3.5 (4 votes)
Whales typically dominate the discussion of fully aquatic mammals, though Sirenians should be acknowledged for making the transition around the same time. As oppose to ungulates, these creatures are related to proboscids and hyraxes. Amongst the extant species, there are 3 that belong to the manatee genus (Trichechus).
Ostrich, 2004 (Wild Life Africa by Schleich)
3 (3 votes)
Even when surrounded by amazing large cats and herbivores that can weigh several tons, the common ostrich (Struthio camelus), does not fail to impress. Ostriches are the largest of the extant land birds alongside other birds of the infraclass, ratites, like emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae) and cassowaries (Casuarius spp.
Gray Whale, calf (Monterey Bay Aquarium Collection by Safari Ltd.)
4.2 (5 votes)
If there’s any cetacean that sets the North Pacific apart from the rest of the world, it’s the gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus). Gray whales are a very familiar species, as their skin color and overall appearance make them easily distinguishable from other baleen whales. Gray whales have been traditionally placed in their only family from other baleen whales, Eschrichtiidae, based on their morphology.