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Ramshorn Snail
The term ''ramshorn snail'' or ''ram's horn snail'' is used in two different ways. In the aquarium trade it is used to describe various kinds of freshwater snails whose shells are planispiral, meaning that the shell is a flat coil. Such shells resemble a coil of rope, or (as the name suggests) a ram's horn. In a more general natural history context, the term "ramshorn snails" is used more precisely to mean those aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae that have planispiral coiled shells. Ramshorn snails have been bred for the aquarium trade and various color forms have been selected. The two species commonly found in aquariums are ''Planorbella duryi'' and ''Planorbarius corneus'', both in the family ''Planorbidae''. One species (Columbia ramshorn, Marisa cornuarietis) is from a totally different family, the ''Ampullariidae''. Ramshorn snails can sometimes become a nuisance in an aquarium, because some of them breed so profusely. Description Most of t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hemocyanin
Hemocyanins (also spelled haemocyanins and abbreviated Hc) are proteins that transport oxygen throughout the bodies of some invertebrate animals. These metalloproteins contain two copper atoms that reversibly bind a single oxygen molecule (O2). They are second only to hemoglobin in frequency of use as an oxygen transport molecule. Unlike the hemoglobin in red blood cells found in vertebrates, hemocyanins are not confined in blood cells but are instead suspended directly in the hemolymph. Oxygenation causes a color change between the colorless Cu(I) deoxygenated form and the blue Cu(II) oxygenated form. Species distribution Hemocyanin was first discovered in ''Octopus vulgaris'' by Leon Fredericq in 1878. The presence of copper in molluscs was detected even earlier by Bartolomeo Bizio in 1833. Hemocyanins are found in the Mollusca and Arthropoda including cephalopods and crustaceans and utilized by some land arthropods such as the tarantula ''Eurypelma californicum'', the em ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Crayfish
Crayfish are freshwater crustaceans belonging to the clade Astacidea, which also contains lobsters. In some locations, they are also known as crawfish, craydids, crawdaddies, crawdads, freshwater lobsters, mountain lobsters, rock lobsters, mudbugs, baybugs or yabbies. Taxonomically, they are members of the superfamilies Astacoidea and Parastacoidea. They breathe through feather-like gills. Some species are found in brooks and streams, where fresh water is running, while others thrive in swamps, ditches, and paddy fields. Most crayfish cannot tolerate polluted water, although some species, such as ''Procambarus clarkii'', are hardier. Crayfish feed on animals and plants, either living or decomposing, and detritus. The term "crayfish" is applied to saltwater species in some countries. Terminology The name "crayfish" comes from the Old French word ' (Modern French '). The word has been modified to "crayfish" by association with "fish" (folk etymology). The largely American ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Botia
''Botia'' (Indian loaches) is a genus of freshwater fish in the loach family (Botiidae). It was a large genus with about 20 species. In 2004 Maurice Kottelat proposed in his paper (along with the description of ''Botia kubotai'', see References below) to divide the genus into four related genera based on fish appearance and locality: * ''Botia'' for Indian loaches (shorter body). * '' Chromobotia'' for clown loach. * '' Syncrossus'' for tiger loaches (elongated body). * '' Yasuhikotakia'' for Mekong loaches (shorter body). Another genus, '' Parabotia'', was considered a separate genus earlier. It has an elongated body quite similar to '' Syncrossus'', but with its range mostly restricted to China. With all these as separate genera, ''Botia'' species are restricted to South Asia (including Burma). The fish in these genera possess a pair of razor-sharp spines under their eye sockets. These spines normally lie flat, but may be extended when the loach feels threatened. This behavi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Clown Loach
The clown loach (''Chromobotia macracanthus''), or tiger botia, is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the botiid loach family. It is the sole member of the genus ''Chromobotia''. It originates in inland waters in Indonesia on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. In Sentarum, West Borneo that fish named: ulanguli. It is a popular fish in the freshwater aquarium trade and is sold worldwide. Taxonomy and naming The fish was first described as ''Cobitis macracanthus'' by Pieter Bleeker in 1852. In 1989, its scientific name was changed to ''Botia macracanthus''. In 2004, Dr. Maurice Kottelat divided the genus '' Botia'', containing 47 different species, into seven separate genera, resulting in the clown loach being placed in a genus of its own, ''Chromobotia''. Its scientific name roughly translates to “Large-thorned colourful warrior”. The common name, "clown loach" comes from the fish's bright colours and stripes (often tropical fish with stripes that stand out are co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Loach (fish)
Loaches are fish of the superfamily Cobitoidea. They are freshwater, benthic (bottom-dwelling) fish found in rivers and creeks throughout Eurasia and northern Africa. Loaches are among the most diverse groups of fish; the 1249 known species of Cobitoidea comprise about 107 genera divided among 9 families. Etymology The name Cobitoidea comes from the type genus, ''Cobitis'', described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae''. However, its origin predates modern zoological nomenclature and derives from a term used by Aristotle to refer to "small fishes that bury... like the gudgeon." Description Loaches display a wide variety of morphologies, making the group difficult to characterize as a whole using external traits. They range in adult length from the 23 mm (1 in) miniature eel-loach, ''Pangio longimanus'', to the 50 cm (20 in) imperial flower loach, ''Leptobotia elongata'', with the latter weighing up to 3 kg (6.6& ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tetraodontidae
Tetraodontidae is a family of primarily marine and estuarine fish of the order Tetraodontiformes. The family includes many familiar species variously called pufferfish, puffers, balloonfish, blowfish, blowies, bubblefish, globefish, swellfish, toadfish, toadies, toadle, honey toads, Haaris Anwar fish, sugar toads, and sea squab. They are morphologically similar to the closely related porcupinefish, which have large external spines (unlike the thinner, hidden spines of the Tetraodontidae, which are only visible when the fish have puffed up). The scientific name refers to the four large teeth, fused into an upper and lower plate, which are used for crushing the hard shells of crustaceans and mollusks, their natural prey. The majority of pufferfish species are toxic and some are among the most poisonous vertebrates in the world. In certain species, the internal organs, such as the liver, and sometimes the skin, contain tetrodotoxin, and are highly toxic to most animals when ea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anacharis
''Elodea'' is a genus of 6 species of aquatic plants often called the waterweeds described as a genus in 1803. Classified in the frog’s-bit family (Hydrocharitaceae), ''Elodea'' is native to the Americas and is also widely used as aquarium vegetation and laboratory demonstrations of cellular activities. It lives in fresh water. An older name for this genus is ''Anacharis'', which serves as a common name in North America. The introduction of some species of ''Elodea'' into waterways in parts of Europe, Australia, Africa, Asia, and New Zealand has created a significant problem and it is now considered a noxious weed in these areas. ''Elodea canadensis'', sometimes called American or Canadian water weed or pond weed, is widely known as the generic water weed. The use of these names causes it to be confused with similar-looking plants, like Brazilian elodea (''Egeria densa'') or hydrilla (''Hydrilla, Hydrilla verticillata''). American water weed is an attractive aquarium plant and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cabomba
''Cabomba'' is an aquatic plant genus, one of two belonging to the family Cabombaceae. It has divided submerged leaves in the shape of a fan (hence the vernacular name fanwort) and is much favoured by aquarists as an ornamental and oxygenating plant for fish tanks. Use in the aquarium trade has led to some species being introduced to other parts of the world, such as Australia, where they have become weeds. Species *'' Cabomba aquatica'' Aubl. (fanwort) *'' Cabomba caroliniana'' A. Gray (green cabomba) *'' Cabomba furcata'' Schult. & Schult.f. (red cabomba) *'' Cabomba haynesii'' *'' Cabomba palaeformis'' Fassett ''Cabomba'' as an aquarium plant ''Cabomba'' is frequently planted in aquaria, as an attractive-leaved water plant that is fast-growing (up to one inch per day). Green cabomba (''C. caroliniana'') is the most common, and the easiest aquarium subject. By contrast, red cabomba (''C. furcata'') is considered to be one of the hardest plants to care for in the aquari ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fish
Fish are aquatic, craniate, gill-bearing animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish as well as various extinct related groups. Approximately 95% of living fish species are ray-finned fish, belonging to the class Actinopterygii, with around 99% of those being teleosts. The earliest organisms that can be classified as fish were soft-bodied chordates that first appeared during the Cambrian period. Although they lacked a true spine, they possessed notochords which allowed them to be more agile than their invertebrate counterparts. Fish would continue to evolve through the Paleozoic era, diversifying into a wide variety of forms. Many fish of the Paleozoic developed external armor that protected them from predators. The first fish with jaws appeared in the Silurian period, after which many (such as sharks) became formidable marine predators rather than just the prey of arthropods. Mos ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Algae
Algae (; singular alga ) is an informal term for a large and diverse group of photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms. It is a polyphyletic grouping that includes species from multiple distinct clades. Included organisms range from unicellular microalgae, such as ''Chlorella,'' ''Prototheca'' and the diatoms, to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelp, a large brown alga which may grow up to in length. Most are aquatic and autotrophic (they generate food internally) and lack many of the distinct cell and tissue types, such as stomata, xylem and phloem that are found in land plants. The largest and most complex marine algae are called seaweeds, while the most complex freshwater forms are the ''Charophyta'', a division of green algae which includes, for example, ''Spirogyra'' and stoneworts. No definition of algae is generally accepted. One definition is that algae "have chlorophyll ''a'' as their primary photosynthetic pigment and lack a sterile covering of cells around thei ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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