PULAU SIPADAN

FOREWORD
Program Based Learning (PBL) is one of the aspect that are
being evaluated for subject Biodiversity and Evolution of Protista
and Animalia (SBB3023). During this PBL session, we are
encouraged to become active in discovering and solving the problem
given. The assignment for this PBL project is Exhibition at Pulau
Sipadan, Sabah and Royal Belum, Perak. The task for this PBL is to
search information and brainstorming about exhibition at Pulau
Sipadan and Royal Belum and also to prepare the outcome of the
expeditions in the most interesting and memorable to everyone.

As a result from the PBL session that we have carried
out, we have decided to make this mini project which is produce a
mini tourist guide book for Pulau Sipadan and Royal Belum. This
mini tourist guide book contains all guidance that may needed by a
tourist to visits Pulau Sipadan. This book also contains the
information about almost all animal species that exist in this
magnificent place. The time taken in order for us to complete this
mini project is about 4 weeks. With full cooperation given by the
group members, finally this book was produced completely.

Thanked to God with His bless we are able to
complete this mini project and for that, , we would like to thanked
our beloved lecturer, Dr Syakirah binti Samsudin who helps us a lot
throughout the process of completing this PBL and also the mini
project. Besides that, thanks a lot to all of our group members for
the commitment and cooperation given to complete this mini
project. Lastly, we hope that this mini book will help tourists and
others to explore and learn more about this amazing island. What
are you waiting for? Let's visits Pulau Sipadan and experiences it
yourself!

INTRODUCTION

LOCATION

Sipadan Island is an island of outstanding natural beauty, rising 600
metres (2,000 ft) from the seabed. It is located in the Celebes Sea off
the east coast of Sabah, East Malaysia (which is on the island of
Borneo). The island is only 12 hectares (30 acres) and is covered by
pristine rainforest. It was formed by living corals growing on top of an
extinct volcanic cone that took thousands of years to develop. Sipadan
is located at the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin, the centre of one of
the richest marine habitats in the world.




































HOW TO GO THERE?

Tawau airport is the nearest airport to Sipadan, Mabul and Kapalai.
Most visitors fly to Tawau airport or come by bus, minivan or taxi from
Sabah's northern towns of Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Sukau and Lahad
Datu. There are frequent flights (relatively inexpensive) from Kuala
Lumpur to Tawau (2.45 hrs) and from Kota Kinabalu (50 minutes). In
order to be able to transfer on the same day to the island, please make
sure your flight lands latest 14.00pm.

Once you arrive in Tawau, you will continue by land transfer to the port
town of Semporna (1.30 hours). From Semporna, you will continue on
the same day by boat (check the boat schedules) to your
accommodation on Mabul island (45-60 minutes).

Sipadan Permits

In an effort to preserve the island, there is a permit system limiting the
maximum numbers of divers to 120 per day. Since January 1
st
2005,
and in order to protect the island environment there are no resorts on
Sipadan (all moved to Mabul and Kapalai). Sipadan Island is open for
divers and visitors from 6am to 4pm.


ABOUT SIPADAN ISLAND.

SIPADAN got its name from the word Sempadan which means
border/boundary and Pulau Sipadan would mean "Border Island",
a suitable name to describe the island located near the boundary of
Malaysia and Indonesia. However, according to another resource,
Sipadan got its name from Siparan, the name of a man who was found
lifeless on the beach.

In order to protect Sipadan Island, Malaysia government orders
all on-site dive and resort operators of Sipadan Island to move their
structures off the island by the 31st of December 2004, and this time
they mean it! The move is declared as a victory for conservation over
greed. However some operators with no alternatives are left with very
little in the way of compensation. Others hurry to improve their resorts
on nearby islands realising that these would now become the places to
stay and from which to dive Sipadan. Many express doubts that
Sipadan will remain free of resorts for long and fear that someone with
connections' might come from nowhere to be awarded rights to
operate a dive resort on the island.

UNIQUENESS OF SIPADAN ISLAND

Sipadan is the most famous of Semporna's islands. Rated as one of
the world's top ten dive destinations, many come here to indulge in
the island's opulence. For the true diving enthusiast, the island needs
no introduction. Sipadan is unique as the only oceanic island in
Malaysia. Its geographical position in the heart of the Indo-Pacific
basin, places Sipadan in the centre of the richest marine habitat in the
world.


More than 3,000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species have
been classified in this rich ecosystem. Trigger fish, moray eels and
anemone fish mingle copiously. Sipadan was internationally recognized as
a native reserved in 1919. In 1933 it was pronounced as a bird sanctuary.
Large flights of Imperial pigeons, swallows and sea eagles often crowds
the sky in spectacular swirls.

This island is also renowned for its spectacular large population of
the ever graceful green and hawksbill turtle, which gather to mate and
nest. Another unique find is the turtle tomb where many skeletal remains
of turtles are found. Rising 600 meters from the seabed, this island
provides fantastic wall dives and features hundreds of underwater
gardens. Unusually large schools of barracuda and big-eye trivially invade
the water, placing themselves in whirlpool-like formations. Mantas, eagle-
rays and whale sharks are aplenty. The creatures of the sea here incredibly
varied.

Here you can find rare species of moray eels, the false stonefish,
scorpion fish, barracudas and also a great variety of turtles and sharks.
Some of the shark species found in these waters are not aggressive and
interact in a peaceful way with the divers. Many people come to see the
Turtle Tomb, a cavern situated at about 20 meters underwater. This is
full of skeletons belonging to turtles that failed to find a way out.

As for diving spots, there are more than a dozen popular places
where you can practice this sport. Barracuda Point and Drop Off are
among the best known, the latter being the only spot on Sipadan Island
where night diving is performed. You can also take your underwater
camera, and capture images of the fascinating sea creatures around.

DO YOU KNOW?

The natural treasures of this island are its greatest assets. Here,
you can still find wild deer in secluded coves.

Dugongs, a cousin of the American manatees were known to swim
the tides. Now they are hardly ever seen but are still held as one of
Sipadan's secrets.

This ravishing island is protected by regulations imposed on
islanders and visitors alike, in an effort to preserve its natural life.
No one is allowed to collect turtle eggs here, even the natives.

More than 3,000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species
have been classified in this rich ecosystem.

FOR MORE INFO, PLEASE LOG ON TO
WWW.SIPADANGUIDEBOOK.COM.MY

IF YOU HAVE ANY ENQUIRES, YOU CAN CONTACT US AT
03-7864536

Banded Boxer Shrimp



Squat anemone
shrimps


Phylum : Chordata
Class : Actinopterygii
Family : Pomacanthidae
Genus : Holacanthus
Species : ciliaris

The most unusual adaptation of the
angelfish that live in saltwater is
the food they consume. Almost 90
percent of their food comes from
sponges, which are not an ideal
choice.
Angelfish are a protogynous
hermaphrodite, which means that they
can change sex from female to male.
This is an adaptation that allows them to
reproduce when there is no other male in
the territory. Queen angelfish can also
crossbreed producing a hybrid called the
Townsend angelfish.
The first angelfish were imported into
Hamburg, Germany in 1909. However,
they were unsuccessful in breeding
them at that time. The first successful
spawning and raising of fry occurred in
1921.
Queen angelfish get their royal title from the speckled, blue-ringed black spot
on their heads that resembles a crown. Fairly large for reef-dwellers, they can
grow up to 45 centimetres in length. They have rounded heads and small beak-
like mouths and their long upper and lower fins stream dramatically behind
them. Queen angelfish is decked out with electric blue bodies and blazing
yellow tails. Queen angels are among the most strikingly colourful of all reef
fishes. The average life span of queen angelfish is up to 15 years. The size can
be up to 45 cm and the weight can be up to 1.6 kg.
They are shy fish, found either
alone or often in pairs at the coral
reef in the warm waters of the sea.







Their diet consists almost entirely of
sponges and algae, but they will also
nibble on sea fans, soft corals, and
even jellyfish.

Phylum : Chordata
Class : Actinopterygii
Family : Pomacentridae
Species : Amphiprion
ocellaris








After hatching from their eggs, clownfish larvae are swept up by currents
and travel kilometres away from their birthplace. They then sniff their
way back to their home suburb.
Anemone fish is overall yellow,
orange, reddish or blackish
colour and many show white
bars or patches. Anemone fish
has no distinction in colour
between sexes. The anterior white bar is placed just behind the eye; the middle
bar goes straight down the middle of the fish; and the posterior bar occurs near
the caudal fin. The largest can reach a length of 18 centimetres while the
smallest barely can reach 10 centimetres.
Anemone fish undergo external fertilisation. Anemone fish are sequential
hermaphrodites, meaning that they develop into males first, and when they
mature, they become females. Anemone fish make great parents. The male will
actively clean and care for the eggs, sometimes even forgetting to eat. It is up to
the female then to protect the nest and her mate. It they are successful, anemone
fish may then mate for life.
Anemone fish is omnivorous and can feed on undigested food from their host
anemone. Anemone fish lives with sea anemones in the sea. Since the anemone
fish lives with the anemone, this fish is immune to the stings of anemones. This
is because they are covered in a layer of protective slime.

Phylum : Chordata
Class : Actinopteryii
Family : Chaetodontidae
Species : Heniochus
diphreutes








The butterfly fish is a difficult fish to keep as they need very specific
water conditions that need regular and close monitoring and so the
butterfly fish is only found in specific water conditions in the wild
Butterfly fish form mating pairs that they remain with for life. Butterfly fish
release their eggs into the water which form part of the plankton. This is the
reason why many butterfly fish eggs are accidentally eaten by animals that live
on plankton. When the eggs hatch, the baby butterfly fish known as fry develop
armoured plates on their bodies to protect them when they are so vulnerable.
Butterfly fish is brightly in colour and usually travelling in pairs. These slim,
disk-like fishes resembled the leaves on a tree especially those of the wiliwili
and hau trees, which have flat, oval leaves that turn yellow as they age. The
scientific name Chaetodon refers to the brush-like teeth of butterfly fishes.
Many have dark bars hiding their eyes and false eyespots, ocelli elsewhere on
their bodies, which may fool predators as to their direction of travel.
This fish feed on the plankton in the water, coral and sea anemones and
occasionally snack on small crustaceans.
They can be found around the coral reefs, near the bottom and pluck coral,
tiny animals and algae
Adaptive characteristics :
Their compressed, oval shape is highly
manoeuvrable, allowing them to hold their
position while feeding. Their protection lies in
the sharp spines in the dorsal and anal fins that
make them hard to swallow. Their slim shape
also allows them to slip quickly into crevices.


Phylum : Chordata
Class : Actinopterygii
Family : Sphyraenidae
Species : Sphyraena








Barracuda's age can be determined by counting the rings on the scales
and on the otolith, structure in the inner ear. Number of rings matches the
age of the fish.
Barracuda can swim at the speed of 25 miles per hour. This feature is useful
both for hunting and for escape from predators. They also have sense of sight
that extremely important when hunting. This is because this fish see and are
attracted to shiny objects, like a quick, silver or white fish.
Barracudas vary in size, depending on the species. Barracuda can reach 6 feet in
length and weigh up to 103 pounds. Upper part of the body is covered with
scales that can be black, brown, grey or blue in colour. Belly is always white
and irregular dark spots are located on both sides of the body. Barracuda has
elongated body with pointed head. It has two dorsal fins and tail fin shaped like
a fork. Barracuda has very sharp, dagger-like teeth which prevent slipping of
the prey from the mouth.
Feeding :
G rouper, anchovies, mullets and snappers.
Besides fish, barracuda sometimes eats
squids and crustaceans.
Habitat :
near the coral reefs, in the open sea, in the
shallow water of mangrove forests and on
the depth of up to 325 feet.

During mating season, males and females release eggs and sperm cells in the
water where they will combine to form fertilized eggs. Females produce and
release more than 1000 eggs but only few eggs will manage to survive until
the adulthood.
Phylum Chordata
Class Chondrichtyes
Order Carcharhiniformes
Family Carcharhinidae
Genus Carcharhinus
Species C. melanopterus
Feeding
mode:
active predator

Habitat:
Shallow and
inshore water


Adaptive features:
Have pectoral fins with
sickle shaped, and dorsal
fins with S-shaped
Interesting fact: easily
frightened away by
swimmers

Morphological view:
easily identified by the prominent black tips on
its fins (especially on the first dorsal fin and
the caudal fin).

BLACK
TIPPED
REEF
SHARK
Black jack fish has an oblong,
compressed form with the
dorsal profile more convex than
the ventral profile. The profile
between snouts and the nape is
concave with indent centered
near the nostrils. It also has
large mouth with an inner
smaller band of teeth and the
lower jaw contains a single row
of spaced conical teeth. The
timing of spawning is poorly
unknown with occurrences
recorded in February, April,
May, and July to September.
Black jack fish feed on fish and
crustaceans.
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Actinopterygii
Family : Carangidae
Species : Caranx lugubris
The caudal peduncle has paired
bilateral keels. The chest
completely covered in scales
which like the rest of the body
are small and cycloid in nature.
It is rarely found in shallow
inshore waters, preferring deep,
clear offshore waters. It inhabits
deep reefs and reef drop offs
being common around oceanic
seamounts and has been
recorded from lagoons in the
Solomon Islands.
The black jacks fins are grey
to black, and the scutes are
black. The upper limit of the
operculum often has small dark
spot present.
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Actinopterygii
Order : Perciformers
Family : Scaridae
Genus : Bolbometopon
Species : B. muricatum








Bumphead parrot fish form shoals of 20 to 100 fish, resting in shallow,
sandy lagoon flats, around caves and shipwrecks at night. During the day,
the adults move to the seaward side as they scour the coral reef for food.

Bumphead parrot fish tend to live near coral reaf. They have beak-like teeth
plates only partially covered by fleshy lips.
Bumphead parrot fish has vertical head profile. This fish feeding mode is
corallivores. Bumphead parrot fish begin life as females, with even the males
possessing hermaphroditic qualities and undergo physiological changes to
become a male when the dominant male dies, or leaves the group.
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Chondrichtyes
Order : Myliobatiformes
Family : Dasyatidae
Species : N. kuhlii
Blue spotted stingray lives near rocky coral reefs. Their adaptive features is that
it has a very long tail accommodating two venomous spines on the base of the
tail







Blue spotted stingray has flat disc-like oval body with a dark green with blue
This stingray feeds on shrimp, small bony fish, mollusks, crabs and other
worms. The mating mode of blue spotted stingray is ovoviviparous.

Rays' bright coloration serves as a
warning for its venomous spines

Phylum : Chordata
Class : Actinopterygii
Order : Angulliformes
Family : Muraenidae
Genus : Rhinomuraena
Species : R. quesita
Blue Ribbon Eel
Morphological view:
The adult males are blue with
a yellow dorsal fin and yellow
face. The adult females are
green and yellow with white
on the dorsal fin.
Feeding mode:
feed on live fish such as
guppies, silversides, rosy
reds, or small marine fish
Mating mode:
Hermaphrodites
Habitat:
In lagoons or
coastal reefs
Adaptive features:
They are found with
their heads exposed
through reef rock,
mouths usually open to
aid in breathing.
Interesting fact:
All ribbon eels start off as male
and are black with a yellow
dorsal fin. As they mature, the
male eels turn mostly bright blue
with yellow accents around the
mouth and on the dorsal fin. After
the males body reaches a certain
length, it begins to turn yellow
and will develop female parts
until it is able to lay eggs

Morphological view:
Striped white and black
with yellow dorsal and
caudal fins along with the
signature long white
banner fin that can
extend out past the
caudal fin

Phylum : Chordata
Class : Actinopterygii
Order : Perciformes
Family : Chaerodontidae
Genus : Heniochus
Species : H. diphreutes
Feeding mode:
Omnivore
Mating mode:
No external
dimorphisms
Habitat:
Sticks close to the reef
slope and in lagoons
Adaptive features:
Has more of a stub
mouth and a more
rounded anal fin
Interesting fact:
Can be kept in small
schools in a larger home
aquarium



Phylum : Chordata
Class : Actinopterygii
Order : Perciformers
Family : Ephippidae
Genus : Platax
Species : P. orbicularis








Bat fish plays a very important role in keeping the reef free of algae,
eating far more algae on reefs damaged by over fishing than traditional
algae-eaters such as parrotfish and surgeonfish.
Bat fish tend to live on or near coral reefs, forming larger schools to travel
across open ocean. They are usually swimming well above the bottom often in
pairs or small groups. Juveniles are often solitary, seen sheltering in the reef to
avoid predators. Bat fish able to form large tight schools for defence in open
ocean
Bat fish has an almost rounded body. This fish feeding mode is omnivores. Bat
fish s juveniles are pelagic until they reach about 20mm in length, when the
juveniles of some species settle on reefs or in lagoons.
Phylum : Chordata
Class :Actinopterygii
Order :Tetraodontiformes
Family :Ostraciidae
Genus :Ostracion
Species :cubicus
Breeding occurs in harems
consisting of one male and 2-4
females, during the spring
when the ocean waters have
warmed up.
In the wild this boxfish feeds
primarily on algae with a
compliment of microorganisms,
invertebrates, mollusks,
sponges, sand dwelling
polychaetes, crustaceans,
foraminiferans and small fishes.
As they grow older the body
becomes more elongated and the
colour can change to different
colours, but mainly a yellow-
green.
They prefer deeper coastal slopes, lagoons and any other area with
crevices and ledges that they can use for shelter. Males are
territorial, each protecting a small area along with the residing
females.
The Cute Boxfish has an
almost perfectly shaped
cube for a body. It is
yellow or cream calour
with dark-blue spots.







Phylum : Chordata
Class : Actinopterygii
Order :Scorpaeniformes
Family : Platycephalidae
Genus :Cymbacephalus
Species : beauforti
Crocodilefish dwell in sandy patch
and detritic zone where their
camouflage is most effective, usually
associated with reefs or mangroves in
shallow water and protected areas.
They are found in a range of depth
from 2 to 3 m, with a maximal depth
of 12 m.
The Crocodilefish is a
medium sized fish which
grows up to 50 cm, but the
average size mostly
observed is 35 cm. The
body is elongated and the
head is particular because
of its flat appearance like
a duck-billed.
Crocodilefish are carnivorous ,their diet is based on small fishes
and crustaceans.

DID YOU KNOW???
They have lappets at the rear of their globulous eyes, which help to
break up the outline of the black iris and improve their camouflage.
Crocodiles have acute senses, an evolutionary advantage that makes
them successful predators
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Lophiiformes
Family Antennariidae
Genus Antennarius
Species maculatus
The warty frogfish is found
in sheltered rocky and coral
reefs; adults are usually
associated with sponges
down to 20 metres (66 ft)
deep.
The female will fill up with so
many eggs that her body becomes
enormously distended and buoyant.
The male will nudge the female's
abdomen as they make their way to
the surface where spawning takes
place. Some species jealously guard
their eggs, while for others parental
duties end with mating, the
thousands of eggs being released as
a drifting egg raft.
DID YOU KNOW?
Has the ability to change its colors to blend in with whatever the
colors of its habitat might be. This fish can actually walk along
the bottom using its fins as legs.

Phylum : Chordata
Class : Mammalia
Order : Cetacea
Family : Delphinidae

Dolphins are fishlike in form, with
streamlined, hairless bodies. Their
powerful, horizontal flukes, or tail
fins, drive them through or out of the
water, while their fore fins and dorsal
fin are used for steering. A layer of
blubber protects them from cold and
seals small wounds. Dolphins breathe
air through a single, dorsal blowhole.
Various methods of feeding exist among and within species. Fish and squid are
the main food, but the false killer whale and the orca also feed on other marine
mammals.. Orcas and bottlenose dolphins have also been known to drive their
prey onto a beach to feed on it, a behaviour known as beach or strand feeding.
Some species also whack fish with their flukes, stunning them and sometimes
knocking them out of the water.






Dolphin reproduction starts with the
copulation of a couple of dolphins. The
copulation occurs belly to belly initiating
the gestation. The gestation period is
varied from species to species ranging
from 11 up to 17 months in the case of
the killer whale, being 12 months for the common bottlenose dolphin. Dolphin
mothers usually go to shallow waters to deliver the calves.
- Dolphins dont smell very well.
- Young dolphins will remain with
their mother for a period of 2 or 3
years.
- A dolphin may be able to dive up
to 1,000 feet.

Phylum : Chordata
Class : Chondrichthyes
Order : Myliobatiformes
Family : Myliobatidae
Genus : Aetobatus
Species : A.narinari
They have the enlarged, wing-like pectoral fins
characteristic of the order. Some species have a
sharp-edged serrated spine at the base of the long, whip-like tail. Their teeth are
flat, for crushing and grinding mollusc and crustaceans.
Coral reefs and bays represent their normal habitat, although some spotted
eagle rays occasionally venture into estuaries. They can be seen swimming in
inshore waters to depths up to 60 meters.










- As compared to their circular body, their tail is three times longer.
- These species do not have the caudal fin.
- They are also identified as a game fish.
- The females get along with numerous males during the breeding season.

Eagle ray fish are predators, and the majority of their diet consists of
gastropods, mollusks and crabs. They also eat shrimp, octopus, worms and
small fish.
Eagle rays are ovoviviparous animals, meaning the females retain the eggs
inside of their bodies. The eggs hatch while still in the mother and embryos
receive nutrition from the yolk sac and then receive additional nourishment
from the mothers uterine fluid. The female gives birth to live young.
It lives in a shallow, coastal water area with lush of seagrass beds.
Green turtle eats algae, seagrass and seaweed. For their
reproduction, the female will control the process, they will mating in
water and deposited eggs at high tide line beach. Green turtle has
an adaptive characteristic which serrated (saw-like) beak, that
allowed them to scrape algae off rocks and tear grasses and
seaweed.


Phylum : Chordata
Class : Reptilia
Order : Testudines (Cheloni)
Family : Cheloniidae
Species : Chelonia mydas
Green turtle has a very
short body structure with
dorso ventrally flattened
body, beak is unhooked
and its snout is very
short, single pair of
prefrontal scales.

Did you know ?
For respiration, green turle capacity
exchange in one breath is 50%.
Grey shark are mostly found in depths of less than 60m (200 ft)
in the sea. It have broad, roundsnout and large eyes. The first
dorsal fins are usually plain or white tipped, dark tips on the
other fins, broad and black rear margin on the tail fin and also
lack of a ridge between the dorsal fins.

They feed on bony fishes, cephalopods such as squid and
octopus and also crustaceans such as crabs and lobster.


Phylum Chordata
Class Chondrichtyes
Order Carcharhiniformes
Family
Carcharhinidae
Species Calcharhinus amblyrhynchos
Mating:
Male grey shark will bite
at the females body or
fins to hold onto her for
copulation. Each female
has a single functional
ovary (on the right side)
and two functional
uterus. About 1-6
offsprings are born every
year.
Did you know:
Grey shark has excellent
sense of smell. It can smell
tuna fish billionth part of the
water
Ghost pipefishs body
is longer than 15 cm,
it float near
motionlessly, with the
mouth facing downward. Similar
to pipefishs but different in the
presence of pelvic fins, a
prominent spiny, dorsal fin and
star-shaped plates on skin.
This fish feed on tiny crutaceans and other plankton by sucking
inside through their long snout. Female ghost pipefish use their
enlarged pelvic fins to brood thier eggs until they hatch and
usually this fish can be found alongside a variety of hosts
including crinoids, soft corals, sea grass, hydroids and algae.
Adaptive characteristics
of this pipefish are they
can camouflage as their
defenses. Hard body
plates also makes them
difficult to swallow for
many predators.
Interesting Facts:
Females pipefish can be up
to twice as large as males
and groups of smaller
males are often seen
accompanying a larger
female as she produces and
incubates the eggs.
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Syngnathiformes
Family Solenostomidae
Genus Solenostomus
GARDEN
EELS
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Actinopterygii
Order : Anguiliformes
Family : Congridae
Subfamily : Heteroconrinae


Interesting facts??
Rarely leaves its sang burrow
even to spawn.



Male and female move burrows
to increase proximity during
mating season. They will stretch
from adjacent burrows and
intertwine bodies to spawn. After
mating, female will release
fertilized eggs into the current
(pelagic spawner). After eggs
hatch in current, larvae continue
to float until reaching a size
threshold. At that point, the
juvenile garden eel will dig its
own burrow.


Characteristics: Whitish
body densely-covered with
small black spots. Juvenile
is entirely black. Body
diameter to about 1.4cm.



Feeding: Zooplankton from the
current it flows past. All the eels
in a colony generally face the
same direction which is into the
current.


GROUPER
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Perciformes
Family Serranidea
Subfamily Epinephelinae
Juvenile are found closer to the shore and usually seek protection in
seagrass beds or tidal pools until they reach maturity. Mature
groupers, tend to reside on the bottom of tropical and subtropical
waters and most species live on coral reefs.
Groupers are mostly monandric protogynous hermaphrodites, means
mature only as females and have the ability to change sex after sexual
maturity. The largest males often control harems containing three to
15 females. Groupers often pair spawn, which enables large males to
competitively exclude smaller males from reproducing.
Characteristics: have a
stout body and a large
mouth. Not built for long-
distance, fast swimming.


Feeding: Feed on a variety of fish
such as parrotfish. Also known to
prey on octopus, crab, lobster and
crustaceans. Juvenile groupers
tend to eat plankton, crustaceans,
microalgae and other small
microorganisms.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Chondrichthyes
Subclass Elasmobranchii
Order Carcharhinifprmes
Family Sphyrnidae
HAMMERHEADS
Characteristics:
structure of their
head which are
flattened and
laterally extanded
into a hammer
shape called a
cephalofail. The
eyes position
mounted on the
sides of the sharks
distinctive hammer
head.

Feeding:
Eat a large range
of prey including
fish, squid,
octopus,
crustaceans and
other shark.
Stingrays are a
particular
favourite.

The mating of hammerheads occur once a year. Male biting the
female violently until she agrees to mate with him. Hammerheads
are viviporous (give birth to a live baby). Fertilization is internal
with the male transferring sperm to the female through one of
two intromittent organs called claspers.


Adaptive
characteristics:
The eyes position
allows them a vertical
360 degree view. The
shape of the head help
the shark find food,
aiding in close-
quarters
maneuverability and
allowing sharp
turning movement
without losing
stability.

DO YOU KNOW??
It has narrow head with jaws
meeting at an acute angle and
with its upper jaw protruding
out and curving slightly down
much like the bill of a hawk.
It also feed on soft bodied
animal like jellyfish, squid
and tunicates and feed mainly
on sponges. Hawksbil turtle
can be found throughout the
worlds tropical oceans,
predominantly in coral reef
but rarely seen in water more
than 21 meters deep.
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Reptilia
Family : Cheloniidae
Species : Eretmochelys imbricata
Female and male only meet for
mating. 6 months nesting of the
hawksbill is longer than other sea
turtle.
They are toothless, powerful
accompany a raptor-like beak
that give the hawksbill its name.
This beak is perfectly suited for
crushing, bitting and tearing its
favourite food sponges.
They are a fundamental link in
marine ecosystems and help
maintain the health of coral
reefs and sea grass beds.
Leopard sharks have short,
broadly-rounded snouts, their
first dorsal fins are moderately
large and its origin is over their
pectoral fins inner margins.
Their pectoral fins are broadly
triangular and they have very
conspicuous dark saddles and
dots on their body. Their size
average is between 1.2 1.5 m
and their maximum total length
is about 1.8 m and weigh up to
18.4 kg. They have grey to
bronze-grey upper bodies with
light ventral (under) surfaces.
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Chondrichthyes
Family : Triakidae
Species : Triakis semifasciata
It is an ovoviviparous species,
which means that is produces eggs
that develop and hatch internally,
and therefore gives birth to live
young.
Leopard shark has smaller and
numerous red blood cells than
related shark species. This allow
the shark to absorb oxygen more
easily and may confer a
competitive advantage over some
of its close relatives in low oxygen
environment like estuaries.
Feed on large variety of prey
including crabs, shrimps,
octopi, fat innkeeper worms,
fish, and fish eggs.
During courtship male lionfish will
aggregate with multiple females to
form groups of three to eight fish,
performing a suite of complex courtship
and mating behaviours. The elaborate
courting display is performed by male
and includes circling, following and
leading the female, as well as using its
many spines in territorial displays with
competing males.
Lion fish has distinctive bands of
red and white stripes and
conspicuous, elongated, fan-like
fins. The red and white stripes are
intermingled with varying reddish,
golden brown and black-brown
bars or stripes, alternating against
a pale yellowish-white
background. The long pectoral
and dorsal fins of the common
lionfish are transparent and
covered in rows of dark spots. The
pelvic fins are black with numerous
white spots.

Phylum : Chordata
Class : Actinopterygii
Order : Scorpaeniformes
Family : Scorpaenidae
Genus : Pterois
Species : Pterois volitans
The lion fish feeds on a wide variety of
small fish, crabs, and shrimps.
They live in lagoons, turbid inshore
areas, and coral or rocky reefs. They
will shelter under ledges or in caves
and crevices.
The long pectoral and dorsal fins
of the common lionfish are
transparent and covered in rows
of dark spots. The pelvic fins are
black with numerous white spots.
Characteristics fleshly tabs around
the face and numerous projecting
spines on the head vary in their
shape and size but are long on
juveniles and somewhat leaf-like in
the adult.
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Scorpaeniformes
Family Scorpaenidae
Genus Taenianotus
Species Taenianotus
triacanthus
Common name Leaf scorpion fish
It is carried out internal fertilization
which the eggs fertilized while they
are still inside the female. It larvae
also will intermingle with the
plankton of the ocean and be swept
away by current.
The head and mouth are large and eyes with dark line. The large dorsal fin starts just
behind the eyes and has 12 spines and 8 to 11 soft rays. The anal fin has 3 spines and
5 to 6 soft rays. The venom of the leaf fish is weaker than that of the lionfish and
stonefish. The skin often has blotches which enhance a camouflage effect. It also has
appendages around the mouth.
It feeds on small fishes, shrimps, crabs and
small crustaceans and also larvae.
This species can be found in tropical
waters on coral reefs, from shallow
water to the depth of 130 meters.
It secretes slime or mucus from their skin. The
mucus or slime provides protection against
parasites and infections and helps it to move
faster in the water. The toxins release from
their slime for protecting from enemy.
Fins are an external appendage or limb of a fish that are used for stabilizing, directing,
or propelling different fish species in water. Each fins perform specific function such as
dorsal fins to lend stability in swimming, ventral fins also to lend stability in swimming,
caudal fins to propel through the water, and pectoral fins for locomotion and side to side
movement.
Did you know?
Mandarin
Fish
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Percifomers
Family Callionymidae
Genus Synchiropus
Species spendidus
Morphological view:
One of the most stunningly
beautiful and interesting fish in
the ocean
Feeding mode:
They feed mainly on small worms, protozoans and small crustaceans such as
isopods, mysids and amphipods
Mating mode:
The visiting males may tour around
various sites in one evening spreading
their sperm among a number of
different females.
Adaptive features:
They swim with a rapid pulsating
of their fins which tends to make
them look like they are hovering
much like a humming bird.
Interesting fact:
Their bright vivid coloration also serves to give out warning to predators of their nasty
smell and taste.
Habitat:
Normally they are found
inhabiting broken coral rubble
beds or under dead coral.

Phylum : Chordata
Class : Actinopterygii
Order : Beloniformes
Family : Belonidae

Needle fish is mostly found in the temperate and tropical waters. They stay
at the surface of the water and artificial light at night excites them. This ray has
smooth skin, a broad, rectangular terminal mouth located at the front of the
head, and a tail that lacks a spine.






Needle fish derives its name from the elongated jaw and its slender body..
They mostly feed on shrimps, killifishes, crustaceans, cephalopods, silversides
and planktons. During mating, the eggs of the needlefish are attached by a
sticky thread which gets entangled in the floating debris or seaweeds. The
larvae are capable of feeding as soon as they hatch.

They are strongly attracted to bright
light at night.They jump out of the
water attracted by artificial light.


Phylum : Chordata
Class : Actinopterygii
Order : Syngnathiformes
Family : Solenostomidae
Species : S.paradoxus

Ornate ghostpipe fish normally found in shallow tropical and subtropical waters
of the Indo-Pacific region, mainly near coral reefs, rocky drop-offs or seaweed
beds. They feed on tiny crustaceans such as shrimps, sucked inside through
their long snout. Ghostpipefish are external skin-brooding species.







Ornate ghostpipe fish has elongate snout and laterally compressed body.
Colour patterns include dark red with yellow and orange patches and yellow
with lighter spots. Ornate ghostpipefish are sexually dimorphic. The females
are an average length of 130 mm and the males, on average, are 37% smaller.

Ornate ghostpipefish is one of the marine animal that can mimicking soft
corals, hydroids, whip corals and gorgonian corals. The colourful and
distinctive creature of ghostpipefish made it probably the most beautiful
among the family.

Phylum : Chordata
Class : Actinopterygii
Order : Syngnathiformes
Family : Syngnathidae
Species : H.bargibanti
They are found at depths between 16 and 40 meters. H. bargibanti can be found
in tropical waters in the Pacific around Australia, Indonesia, Japan, New
Caledonia, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines. Pygmy seahorse consume
some other types of crustaceans. The female lays her eggs in a brood pouch in
his trunk region. They are fertilized by the male, and incubated until birth with
gestation averaging two weeks.







Pygmy seahorse have fused jaws that suck food into tubular mouths. The
pygmy seahorse is both tiny and well camouflaged. It is very difficult to spot
amongst the sea grasses, soft corals, or gorgonians that it inhabits. Other
distinctive pygmy seahorse characteristics include a fleshy head and body, a
very short snout, and a long, prehensile tail.

Pygmy seahorses is remarkably well camouflaged. The colour of the fish
matches the gorgonian it inhabits, and the body tubercles look very similar to
the polyps of the gorgonian.

Phylum : Chordata
Class : Actinopterygii
Order : Perciformers
Family : Scaridae
Genus : Cetoscarus
Species : Bicolor
Parrotfish are known for their
numerous teeth that form a
parrot like beak which they use
to get algae from the corals.
Their bodies are deep with
large pectoral fins which are
used for movement and steering
while the tail is only used to get
a higher speed. Parrotfish are
brightly colored fish whose
colors tend to change or vary
depending on their sex and
age.
Parrotfish are found mostly on
tropical coral reefs and
lagoons in the Indo-pacific
region.
Consumed algae which that extract
from chunks of coral that are
ripped from the reef.
Parrotfish spawn all year round
with an increased rate of
reproduction during the summer
months. They also take the
hermaphroditic approach to
reproduction and
most parrotfish are born female
and then morph into males
when needed.
The biggest threat to parrotfish is fishing related activities. Their meat is
considered a delicacy in many parts of the world but they are not fished
regularly.


Puffer fish vary in size from one
inch long pygmy puffer, to a two
feet long freshwater giant puffer.
Puffer fish can be discretely or
brightly colored. Puffer fish do not
have scales. Their skin is thick and
rough

Phylum : Chordata
Class : Actinopterygii
Order : Tetraodontiformes
Family : Tetraodontidae
Genus : Arothron
Species : Hispidus

Most puffer fish are found in
tropical and subtropical ocean
waters in the Indian, Pacific and
Atlantic Oceans, but some are
also known to live in brackish
and fresh water.

Puffer fish have four teeth that are
fused in the beak-like structure. They
use their teeth for opening of mussels,
clams and shellfish. Puffer fish also eat
algae and worms.

Male guides the female to the shallow
water where she will release between
three to seven eggs. Young fish are
protected by the hard egg shell that
will crack to hatch.
One puffer fish contains enough toxin to kill 30 adult men. Sharks are the
only species immune to the puffer fish's toxin. They can eat puffer fish
without any negative consequences.
Parrotfish


Titan Trigger Fish