Vertebrates are deuterostomal animals with bony or cartilaginous axial endoskeleton — known as the vertebral column, spine or backbone — around and along the spinal cord, including all fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. The vertebrates consist of all the taxa within the subphylum Vertebrata and represent the overwhelming majority of the phylum Chordata, with currently about 69,963 species described.
Mackerel is a common name applied to a number of different species of pelagic fish, mostly from the family Scombridae. They are found in both temperate and tropical seas, mostly living along the coast or offshore in the oceanic environment.
The Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri, is a mountain range that stretches 1,600 km (990 mi) along the western coast of the Indian peninsula. Covering an area of 160,000 km2 (62,000 sq mi), it traverses the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. The range forms an almost continuous chain of mountains along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, from the Tapti River to Swamithoppe in Kanyakumari district at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula. The Western Ghats meet with the Eastern Ghats at Nilgiris before continuing south.
The blue shark, also known as the great blue shark, is a species of requiem shark, in the family Carcharhinidae and the only member of its genus which inhabits deep waters in the world's temperate and tropical oceans. Averaging around 3.1 m (10 ft) and preferring cooler waters, the blue shark migrates long distances, such as from New England to South America. It is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.
This is a list of the extreme points of the United Kingdom: the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location. Traditionally the extent of the island of Great Britain has stretched "from Land's End to John o' Groats".
The deepwater stingray or giant stingaree is a species of stingray and the sole member of the family Plesiobatidae. It is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific, typically over fine sediments on the upper continental slope at depths of 275–680 m (900–2,230 ft). This species reaches 2.7 m (8.9 ft) in length and 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in width. It has an oval pectoral fin disc with a long, flexible, broad-angled snout. Most of the entire latter half of its tail supports a distinctively long, slender, leaf-shaped caudal fin. Its coloration is dark above and white below, and its skin is almost completely covered by tiny dermal denticles.
The Japanese sawshark is a species of sawshark in the family Pristiophoridae. This shark has a long, narrow rostrum. Its first dorsal fin originates behind the tips of the pectoral fins, and its caudal fin is angled almost straight in line with the body. The Japanese sawshark reaches a maximum length of up to 1.36 m.
Sepia limata is a species of cuttlefish native to the southwestern Pacific Ocean, specifically southern Queensland to New South Wales, Australia. It lives at depths of between 17–183 metres (56–600 ft).
Leptodactylodon stevarti is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is known with certainty only from the area of its type locality, Monts de Cristal in northwestern Gabon. Only two specimens are known. However, there is an uncertain record from Equatorial Guinea that could represent this species or other, undescribed species. The specific name stevarti honours Tariq Stévart from the University of Brussels, an expert in western Central African orchids who help with the fieldwork. Common name Stévart's egg frog has been coined for the species.
Pristimantis luscombei is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is known from north-eastern Peru, adjacent Amazonian Ecuador, and from Acre state, Brazil. Some of the paratypes were later identified as belonging to another species, described in 2014 as Pristimantis miktos. At the same time, Pristimantis achuar was identified as synonym of Pristimantis luscombei.
Callulops marmoratus is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea and only known from its type locality, Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area in the southwestern Chimbu Province, on the southern escarpment of the New Guinea Highlands.
The plains minnow is one of the 324 fish species found in central United States. It is a large minnow that was once a common bait fish. The plains minnow requires shallow, slow-moving streams to complete its life cycle. Pollution, dams, and introduced sport fish have caused populations to decline.
Sanguirana igorota is a species of true frog, family Ranidae. It is endemic to Cordillera Central of the island of Luzon, Philippines. Its closest relative is Sanguirana luzonensis, and it has even been considered synonym of that species; a later study suggests still unresolved relationships between S. igorota, S. luzonensis, and S. tipanan. Common name Taylor's Igorot frog has been coined for this species.
Ibacus alticrenatus is a species of slipper lobster that lives in the waters of Australia and New Zealand.
Xenophrys damrei is a species of megophryid toad endemic to Cambodia. It is only known from its type locality, Bokor Plateau in the Dâmrei Mountains of southern Cambodia. The species description was published in 2011 but was based on samples collected by Malcolm Arthur Smith in 1914. The species has not been observed in surveys ever since, although this might reflect seasonal variability. The known specimens measure 69 mm (2.7 in) and 57 mm (2.2 in) in snout–vent length.
Limia melanonotata, the blackbanded limia, is a toothcarp in the family Poeciliidae. It is endemic to the island of Hispaniola.
Neoromicia robtertsi is a species of vesper bat found in Madagascar. It is a recently described species, as it was first described in 2012.
Kalko's round-eared bat is a species of leaf-nosed bat endemic to Panama.
Miniopterus sororculus is a species of bat endemic to the highland forests of Madagascar.
Nothobranchius sainthousei is a species of brightly red- and blue colored seasonal killifish in the family Nothobranchiidae. It is endemic to freshwater habitats in the Chembe district of the Luapula Province in northern Zambia. It was named in honour of Ian Sainthouse, a "renowned breeder and collector of killifish, for his special longstanding dedication to researches on the genus Nothobranchius".
