Facts and Features of Amazon's X - Ray Tetra

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Characiformes
Family: Characidae
Genre: Pristella
Scientific Name: maxillaris Pristella
Common Name: X-Ray Tetra
Other names: Golden Pristella Tetra, Water Jilguero
Group: Fish
Number of species: 1
Skin Type: Scales
Size (H): 3.2 cm - 5 cm (1.6in - 1.9in)

Classification and evolution of Amazon's X - Ray Tetra

The X - Ray Tetra is a small species of schooling fish found naturally in coastal regions of the Amazon River in South America.It is also known as the Golden Pristella Tetra and water Goldfinch due to the slight golden color of it's translucent skin.They were first introduced by Ulrey in 1894 and have become one of the largest freshwater fish kept in artificial aquarium today.Although the X - Ray Tetra is the only known species in its genus ,which is closely related to other small and colorful South American fish ,including about 100 other species of Tetra .

Anatomy and appearance of Amazon's X - Ray Tetra

The distinct feature of the X - Ray Tetra is the transclucent layer on it's body, allowing the backbone of the fish to be visible clearly.The scales of the X - Ray Tetra is a silver -yellow that is faint, looking almost golden in some lights.The X - Ray Tetra also has a re-tipped tail and striped dorsal and anal fins which are yellow, black and white in color.This is  relatively small species of fish which consist of  bony internal structure known as the Weberian apparatus ,used in the selection of sound waves and contributes to their acute sense of hearing ( this bone structure is also fond in it's relatives).Females are slightly larger and rounder than thinner male one ,although both are similar in appearance.

Distribution and Habitat of Amazon's X - Ray Tetra

The X - Ray Tetra is found in the coastal regions of the Amazon in Brazil ,Guiana ,Guyana and Venezuela of South America .They differ greatly from other Tetra species as they are able to tolerate brackish water closer to the coast and their common freshwater environments.They live in clear water streams and tributaries during the dry season and with the arrival of the rains, the X - Ray Tetra moves to  flooded marshlands where it gets softer and more acidic water stuff.The X - Ray Tetra breed during the wet season, as they have better water conditions and a greater abundance of food.

lifestyle and temperament of Amazon's X - Ray Tetra

Like many other small ,colorful fish, the X - Ray Tetra is such a species of fish that inhabit the region between the bottom and middle part of the water as a group.They are incredibly quiet and are often tolerant of other species that share their habitat .The X - Ray Tetra is one of the most adaptable species of Tetra , since it is able to live in both fresh and brackish water happily  in both acidic and alkaline conditions .In general  we observed that the X - Ray Tetra is kept in tanks , can quickly change from peaceful to become nervous in the presence of large fish with the same behavior known to display if the size of the school is not large enough.

Life cycles of Amazon's X - Ray Tetra

During the rainy season . the X - Ray Tetra return to the flood areas to spawn.Unlike many similar fish who give birth to live young , the female X - Ray Tetra lays between 300-400 eggs to disperse into the vegetation . X - Ray Tetra  begin to hatch within 24 hours  and become free swimming within a few days .Once able to swim , the little white one , are able to find better food sources and continue to develop their characteristic adult markings.X - Ray Tetra usually live for three or four years in the wild but can reach old age in captivity.

Diet of Amazon's X - Ray Tetra

Like many other species of small fish that live in the Amazon river, the X - Ray Tetra is an omnivorous species whose diet consists of animals and plants.X - Ray Tetra mainly hunting worms , insects and small crustaceans that live near the river bed and their young tend to feed on insect larvae. Although they are also known to supplement their diet with aquatic plants  which are mostly micro - predators that feed on small invertebrates .In artificial communities ,X - Ray Tetra need food such as brine shrimp and blood worm with flakes and pellets to make sure you have a standard nutritious diet.

Predators of Amazon's X - Ray Tetra

The small size of the X - Ray Tetra means that it should not be kept in the same aquarium as large , predatory fish , but can live peacefully with other small , schooling fish that gives no threat.In nature, X - Ray Tetra eaten by a number of aquatic predators including big fish and frogs and also attacked by birds and snakes if they are closer to the water surface.Populations are decreased due to increasing levels of water pollution and loss of habitat.

Facts and Features of Amazon's X - Ray Tetra

The Weberian apparatus ( bony structure ) in the body of X - Ray Tetra works by transmitting sound waves through your vertebrate, which has been received from the air bladder and then are taken in the inner ear, which means that the X - Ray Tetra has excellent hearing.The transparency of their skin is believed to be a form of protection as predators find difficulties to detect than (along with pale yellow marks ) in dense vegetation and sparkling water.Not only is yellowish X - Ray Tetra popular in the tanks but albino version of the species is now also commonly found in artificial communities worldwide .

Relationship of Amazon's X - Ray Tetra with Human Beings

Since it was first introduced in 1894 , this unique animal has been much fascination because of it's transparent body .They are now one of the most popular species of tropical fish to have in household tanks , mainly because of its ease to maintain, as they are rugged, adaptable and undemanding .Fast reproduction rate is also believed to be one of the reasons that have become so popular.Today, the X - Ray Tetra aquarium does not come from nature ,but are commercially cultivated for trade, especially in Eastern Europe and the Far East.

Status and Life Today of Amazon's X - Ray Tetra

The X - Ray Tetra has not been included in the IUCN Red List as a species that is threatened in their environment . However, the industry increased the Amazon river means that there has been an increase in the levels of water pollution and therefore a decrease in the quality of water ,leading to a slight decrease in the population in some areas.

Facts and Features of Coastal Water Tang

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Acanthuridae
Genre: Zebrasoma
Common Name: Tang
Scientific Name: Acanthuridae
Origin: India, the Pacific
Diet: Omnivorous
Size (L): 16 cm - 40 cm (6 inches - 16 inches)
Water Type: Salt
optimum level of pH: 8.0 to 8.5
Duration of the life:12-15 years
Condition: Threatened
Color: Black, Yellow, Red, Blue, Silver
Skin: Scales
Favorite food: Seaweed
Habitat: superficial tropical coral reefs
Average clutch size: 40,000
Prey also: algae, fish, plankton
Attackers: Fish, eel, shellfish
Special features: Pointed snout and razor-sharp scalpel at the end of their tail

The tang is a small to medium sized fish found in warm coastal waters of the tropics.The tangs are well known for their bright colors and are closely attached to surgeon fish and unicorn fish.

There are around  80 species of tang,which lives in tropical waters of the southern hemisphere, as the largest species tang group , the white margin unicorn fish has been known to grow around a meter long.

Tangs are  found around shallow coral reefs where there is large supply of food and places to hide from predators.The tangs is the name due to  razor -sharp scalpel (also known as tang ) on the base of the tail. When tang gets  threatened ,hides in a crevice in  rocks and appears using  scalpel.Scalpel on the base of the tail  can also be used to defend if trapped.

Although the tang is an omnivorous animal ,but also has vegetarian diet .Tang feed mainly on algae and other plants around coral reefs and collect food particles from larger plankton inside water.Tang species later also eat small invertebrates and fish. Because  tang love algae, tang is also  seen with  sea turtles as they swim alongside them cleaning  algae from their shells .

For  its small size, the tang has many predators in the shallow marine environment , including larger fish, eels , sharks , crustaceans and large invertebrates such as jellyfish .Tangs are also kept in  artificial aquariums by humans.

The tangs are known to breed throughout the year in tropical regions ,starting with a male tang and securing himself with a temporary breeding territory of a pair or group of females.The female tang releases an average of 40 000 eggs in the water which are then fertilized by male.Baby tang are known as fry and comes out  in less than a week.

The tang  is one of the most popular species of marine fish which are kept in tanks and aquariums.People are charmed by the peaceful and gentle nature, along with their bright colors and the fact that the tang can live for a long time ( the average is between 12 and 15 years ),compared to other marine fish species of same size.

Tangs are not recommended to stay in small aquariums as tang has the potential to be quite large.The most common type of tang kept in salt water aquariums are the yellow one and bright blue regal tang but instead of  the fact that tangs are  popular ,they need to be well maintained and have to be kept in specific water conditions .

Facts and Features of Hammerhead Shark

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Chondrichthyes

Order: Carcharhiniformes

Family: Sphyrnidae

Genus: Sphyrna

Scientific Name: Sphyrna Zygaena

Type: Fish

Diet: Carnivore

Size: 3.5 to 6 meters (20 ft 11.5)

Weight: 230-450kg (500 pounds 1,000)

Maximum speed: 40 kmh (25 mph)

Life: 20-25 years

Lifestyle: Herd

Conservation Status: Threatened

Color: Grey, Brown, White

Skin type: soft

Favorite food: Fish

Habitat: Warm waters and continental shelves

Litter Size Average: 26

Main Prey: fish, squid, octopus

Predators: Tiger Shark, Great White Shark, Killer Whale

Special Features: Wide, flat head and large eyes

Hammerhead sharks are named due to their flat heads. Hammerhead sharks are large carnivorous fish that feed on large fish and occasionally hammerhead sharks hunt small aquatic mammals.These  sharks are found in the warmer waters of oceans worldwide but hammerhead sharks are mostly found in coastal waters and along  continental shelves. The shallow waters that allow hammerhead sharks  to hunt prey more easily .

There are 9 species of shark worldwide , ranging from 3 feet to 20 feet long! Hammerhead sharks do not  commonly known to attack humans, but can be aggressive if a human comes into contact.

The flat head shaped hammerhead is thought to allow  to detect prey more easily , increasing the sensitivity of Hammerhead to sonar activity . Hammerheads is believed that the use of sound waves detection in a manner similar to the five main senses , so its like the hammerhead shark has a sixth sense .

The head of hammerheads has two projections on either side of the face of the hammerhead , which gives the shark  head shape that resembles a hammer in an almost rectangular . The eyes and nose of hammerheads are on the ends of the hammer that allows the shark  to get a better look and smell of the surrounding waters.

Like other species of shark, hammerhead shark is a solitary hunter at night , but during the daytime hammerhead sharks are known to form groups  up to 100 individuals of  hammerhead Sharks .During the summer months  they are found in larger groups when hammerhead sharks are roaming  together in search of cooler waters .

The great hammerhead shark is the largest species of hammerhead shark and  few species of hammerhead shark that is dangerous to human beings. This is due to the large size of the great hammerhead and also because the hammerhead is known to have an aggressive temperament . Other hammerhead species tend to have little or no danger to humans,as  these shark species are generally much smaller than the great hammerhead and are a bit quiet in nature.