Species

A collection of animal species from around the world.

Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibians
Invertebrates
Fish

*Sources for information and photos (unless they were taken by me) can be found at the bottom of each species profile.

Invertebrate, Hawaii Alexander Julius Jensen Invertebrate, Hawaii Alexander Julius Jensen

Kauaʻi Cave Wolf Spider

The Kauaʻi cave wolf spider has adapted to the lightless caverns of southern Kauaʻi by losing its eyes entirely. It creeps slowly — consuming ~40% as much oxygen as surface-dwelling wolf spiders — pursuing its primary prey: the Kauaʻi cave amphipod, a blind crustacean endemic to the same caves.

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Invertebrate, Pacific Ocean Alexander Julius Jensen Invertebrate, Pacific Ocean Alexander Julius Jensen

Japanese Pygmy Squid

The Japanese pygmy squid — one of the world’s smallest cephalopods with a mantle length of just 16 mm (0.6 in) — hunts crustaceans up to twice its size. It paralyses them, then slips its mouthparts inside their exoskeletons to slurp out their insides, leaving their shells intact.

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Fish, Pacific Ocean Alexander Julius Jensen Fish, Pacific Ocean Alexander Julius Jensen

Pacific Blackdragon

A female Pacific blackdragon is ~60 cm (2 ft) long and uses a bioluminescent lure on her chin to attract prey. Her skin is 'ultra-black', among the darkest in nature, and her teeth are anti-reflective, so as not to reflect light from her lure and alert her prey. The male is only ~8 cm (3 in) long.

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Invertebrate, Pacific Ocean Alexander Julius Jensen Invertebrate, Pacific Ocean Alexander Julius Jensen

Coconut Octopus

The coconut octopus carries seashells or coconut shells beneath its arms as it travels — using a few of its arms to hold the shells and the others to walk awkwardly along the sea floor. If this octopus encounters danger, it assembles the shells around itself, forming a kind of armour.

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