Zoology Reference Libraries

One of thirty-five species of pocket gophers, the plains pocket gopher resides in the farming lands and grasslands of the Great Plains of North America, from Texas to Manitoba in Canada and even as far east as the west Indiana extremities. This range holds a recognized eight subspecies of pocket gophers. Although this gopher’s physical adaptations are minimal, it has adapted to life...

The Paramyladon, an extinct genus of ground sloth, was native to North America. It lived from the Pliocene era to the Pleistocene era, a period of about 4.889 years. Remains of this creature have been found as far south as Guatemala, throughout North America, and even as far north as Alberta, Canada. Paramyladon has been easily mistaken with another ground sloth called Glossotherium, due to...

The Antarctic Sea Urchin (Sterechinus neumayeri), is a species of sea urchin in the family Echinidae. It is found in the Antarctic Ocean living on the seafloor. It is common around the circumpolar waters, including the Balleny Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Terra Nova Bay, and Victoria Land. It is found at depths of about 820 feet. The colors of this species range...

Slate Pencil Urchin (Heterocentrotus mamillatus), also known as Red Slate Pencil Urchin or Red Pencil Urchin, is a species of sea urchin found in the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans. It is most abundant off the coast of Hawaii. Specimens found off the coast of Hawaii have bright red spines, more so than others found elsewhere, which generally have yellowish or brown spines....

White Sea Urchin (Echinus acutus), is a species of sea urchin in the Echinidae family. It is found in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, the North Sea and the English Channel at depths up to 330 feet below sea level. It is found mainly on coarse substrates with mud and gravel. The White Sea Urchin grows to a diameter of 6 inches. The test (shell) is circular in cross section...

Knotted Fan Coral, (Melithaea ochracea), is a species of colonial soft coral that is found in tree-like fans on shallow reefs in the South China Sea between Taiwan and Indonesia, including Singapore and Malaysia. In Taiwan, it is the most widespread coral in its family Gorgonacea. It is found on the higher parts of reef fronts where its numerous small polyps can feed at water flow rates varying...

Bathykorus bouilloni is a species of jellyfish found in the Arctic Ocean at depths of 2,600 feet below sea level and extending to roughly 8,200 feet below sea level. Its range extends around Greenland and the north of Canada. This jellyfish is a recently discovered specimen that was first described in 2010. It is the only species within its genus, Bathykorus. Its genus name is derived from...

Octopus Coral, (Galaxea fascicularis), also known as Fluorescence Grass Coral, Galaxy Coral. Star Coral, Crystal Coral, Brittle Coral and Starburst Coral, is a species of colonial stony coral commonly found on reef slopes in the Indian and Pacific ocean regions, as well as the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. It is most commonly found where wave action is weak, usually at a depth of 79 inches to...

The Coral Nudibranch, (Phyllodesmium horridum), is a species of sea slug in the Facelinidae family. It is found off Australia and Japan, as well as around the South African coast from False Bay to Sodwana Bay. This species is intertidal, existing in the low to high tide regions, but some reaching depths up to 100 feet below sea level. This creature is a marine gastropod mollusc. It generally...

Chalice Corals, are a family of stony corals in the Pectiniidae family. Members of this family are mostly colonial but at least one species, Echinomorpha nishihirai, is solitary. These corals are endemic to the Indian and Pacific oceans. Pectiniids have a number of different forms but are basically streamlined and smooth. Polyps are large and brightly colored and resemble those of members...