fish & reptiles
INDO-PACIFIC Tropical Seashore
The fish, snakes, lizards and crocodiles found along the tropical seashores!
Fish
Family Glaucostegidae: 'Shovelnose Rays'
Split from the family Rhinobatidae (the Wedgefish); together both these families are sometimes known as 'Guitarfish', because of their length and rounded heads. These are bottom dwelling fish with ray like heads and shark like tails.
Glaucostegus typus, 'Common Shovelnose Ray'. Often seen snuffling around in murky shallows. When in shallow water, their distinctive arrangement of fins can be seen, with three fins following each other, two located far back along the body, and the tail tip. This species was apparently the first type of shark/ray that was proven to see in colour.
Class Reptilia
Superfamily Chelonioidea: Marine Turtles
(Arnavon Islands, Solomons)Eretmochelys imbricata, 'Hawksbill Turtle' hatchling.
Order Squamata: Lizards and Snakes
Cryptoblepharus leschenault, 'Snake-eyed Skink'. Endemic to the Lesser Sundas of Indonesia.
Family Elapidae
Laticauda spp., 'Sea Kraits'
(Palau)'Sea Krait'.