K NOW YOU R
MARINE ANIMALS
E AGL E R AY Eagle rays belong to a group of cartilaginous fish called Elasmobranchs. Just like mantas and stingrays, rather than sticking to the bottom these rays swim freely in the water column, using their shovel-like front to forage for food on the sandy bottom of lagoons for crustaceans and mollusks.
C OW TA I L R A Y Cowtail ray or the Feathertail ray, named for the shape of it’s unique tail is a species of sting ray that lives mainly on the sandy bottom of lagoons and reef flats, camouflaging themselves in the sand. Adults are sometimes seen accompanied by remoras or trevallies.
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FOOD & BEV ER AGE
R EE F M A N TA R AY S Reef manta rays are one of the largest ray species, reaching 4m from wing tip to wing tip. With no stingers they are known as gentle giants, using spoon like cephalic fins on the front to direct plankton into their huge mouth and filter through modified gills. Between the months of December and March there is an increased chance to see these amazing animals closer to our island.
BL AC K T I P R E E F Blacktip reef sharks can be easily identified by the black tip on their top dorsal fin. They are one of the most commonly seen type of sharks inhabiting the Indian ocean and tropical coral reefs. When seen, they are usually a timid species, growing up to 5ft and eating mainly small small reef fish.
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L EMON SH A R K
NUR SE SH A R K
Lemon sharks are classified as a vulnerable to extinction shark species by the IUCN. Growing up to 3.4m they are one of the larger species of shark seen around commonly and are called lemon sharks because of their yellowish brown to olive color, which helps them blend into the inshore sandy areas they frequent.
Nurse sharks are a very special type of shark. Whilst other sharks have to constantly swim to breathe, Nurse sharks are one of the few species of sharks that can ventilate whilst stationary. This is because of an organ named spiracles, which they can actively pump to flush oxygen rich water over their gills. Nurse sharks use their tiny, serrated teeth and vacuum their prey; predominantly benthic mollusks and crustaceans.
B L U E F I N T R E VA L L Y
PA R R O T F I S H
Also known as the Bluefin Jack, this is a widely distributed species of fish throughout tropic waters. They can grown up to 117cm and weigh up to 43.2kg. They can be found in inshore areas such as bays, lagoons and shallow reefs, as well as deeper offshore reefs too, often seen travelling in groups or with larger animals such as rays and sharks. Parrot fish live in reefs all around the world typically active in the day and creating a mucus cocoon to keep themselves protected while they sleep.
Parrot fish live in reefs all around the world typically active in the day and creating a mucus cocoon to keep themselves protected while they sleep. In addition to being a stunning animal they are very important to the low lying islands of the Maldives as they produce the white sand that we so love as a by-product of ingesting coral polyps as they graze on algae. By this, its estimated on parrotfish produces 50kg sand per year.
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POW DE R E D BLU E
HERMIT CR AB
The Powdered Blue Tang is a species of Surgeonfish found all throughout the Maldives. They are herbivorous fish that feed mainly on algae and, as such, they are very important for the health of coral reefs, much like the Parrotfish. They are seen sometimes in schools of thousands grazing on the algae that grow on and near corals keeping algal balance n the reef.
Hermit crabs are found on beaches almost all over the world. They use calcified mollusk shells as mobile shelters that protect them from predators and sun exposure, with almost 800 species carrying these mobile homes. They are constantly on the search for a new shell as they grow. With modern day increases in plastic pollution, we now see these hermit crabs finding protection in bottlecaps and other plastic waste that wash up or are left on their environment.
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Tel: +960 658 0500 | WhatsApp (available 24/7): +960 730 9300 Email: reservations.icmaldives@ihg.com Maldives.InterContinental.com