Animals & Science

Though many people think of turtles as being monochromatic, many species have sections of bright colors on their carapaces (shells), plastrons (the underside of the turtle) and scales. Some of the...

Tadpoles are the larvae of the anurans---frogs and toads. While relatively easy to find, as they are restricted to water bodies and may amass in large numbers, tadpoles seem to confound easy...

The purpose of an animal's skull is to protect the life center or brain and sensory organs. Because animals are uniquely adapted for the particular environmental stresses they face, identification...

The eastern United States offers a variety of bird-watching terrain: cities, farmland, forests, coastal marshes and mountains. Opportunities to watch and study neotropical migratory birds from as...

Though expert opinions vary, angiosperms, or flowering plants, total more than 250,000 species in 405 families worldwide, with numbers growing as new plants are identified in tropical rainforests,...

There are several species of Chub Fish in the Caribbean that are difficult to identify while scuba diving or snorkeling. Learn to identify Chub Fish with tips from a Caribbean scuba instructor in...

When scuba diving or snorkeling in the Caribbean, most octopus can probably be identified as the common octopus. Learn to identify common octopus with tips from a Caribbean scuba instructor in...

The Atlantic Spadefish is a very distinctive looking fish that is usually very large and easy to identify. Learn to identify Atlantic Spadefish with tips from a Caribbean scuba instructor in this...

Yellowtail Snapper fish are easily identified in the tropical waters of the Caribbean by their bright yellow stripes. Learn to identify Yellowtail Snapper fish with tips from a Caribbean scuba...

Striped Parrot fish are difficult to identify because they enjoy many color changes throughout life. Learn to identify Striped Parrot fish with tips from a Caribbean scuba instructor in this free...

The Yellowtail Hamlet Fish is hard to identify as it is an uncommon fish that is found mostly in the southern Caribbean. Learn to identify Yellowtail Hamlet fish with tips from a Caribbean scuba...

Wondering how to identify a Red Spotted Hawkfish? Look for the small, shy fish found near coral in the Caribbean. Learn to identify Red Spotted Hawkfish with tips from a Caribbean scuba instructor...

Wondering how to identify the Yellowhead Jawfish? It is often found burrowing into sandy ground in the Caribbean. Learn to identify yellowhead jawfish with tips from a Caribbean scuba instructor...

The Banded Coral Shrimp is one of the most common shrimp that can be identified in the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Learn to identify Banded Coral Shrimp with tips from a Caribbean scuba instructor...

Sand Diver fish can often be identified by a dark spot on the gill cover of the fish. Learn to identify sand diver fish with tips from a Caribbean scuba instructor in this free tropical fish...

Sargassum Triggerfish are rarely seen by scuba divers, but their distinctive features make them easy to identify. Learn to identify Sargassum Triggerfish with tips from a Caribbean scuba...

In the Caribbean, the Trunkfish can be identified by their distinctive body shape. Learn to identify Trunkfish with tips from a Caribbean scuba instructor in this free tropical fish identification...

The Smooth Trunkfish can range in size and are often identified in the tropical waters around Florida and the Bahamas. Learn to identify Smooth Trunkfish with tips from a Caribbean scuba...

Bluehead Wrasse fish experience a variety of color changes and are difficult to identify. Learn to identify Bluehead Wrasse with tips from a Caribbean scuba instructor in this free tropical fish...

Identifying the Peacock Flounder is easy as it is the most common flounder fish found in the coral reefs of Florida and the Caribbean. Learn to identify the Peacock Flounder fish with tips from a...

The Rock Beauty fish is identified as a member of the Angelfish family and has a very distinct appearance. Learn to recognize Rock Beauty fish with tips from a Caribbean scuba instructor in this...

Identifying Blue Angelfish can be difficult because of the similarity in appearance to other Angelfish. Learn to identify Blue Angelfish with tips from a Caribbean scuba instructor in this free...

Barred Hamlet fish have a several color variations and can be difficult to identify. Learn to identify Barred Hamlet Fish with tips from a Caribbean scuba instructor in this free tropical fish...

In the Caribbean reef, Glassy Sweeper fish are often identified as Copper Sweepers because of their shiny copper color. Learn to identify Glassy Sweeper fish with tips from a Caribbean scuba...

The Spotfin Butterfly fish is easy to identify as it is one of the most common Butterfly Fish species in the Caribbean reef. Learn to identify Spotfin Butterfly fish with tips from a Caribbean...

Scarlet Striped Cleaning Shrimp identification is much easier with video to show you what they look like. Watch this video of Scarlet Striped Cleaning Shrimp to help you identify them.

Red Spotted Horseshoe Worm identification is much easier with video to show you what they look like. Watch this video to help you identify Red Spotted Horseshoe Worms.

White Margate identification is much easier with video to show you what they look like. Watch this free video of White Margates to help you identify them in the reef.

Ocean Surgeonfish identification is much easier with video to show you what they look like. Watch this free video of Ocean Surgeonfish to help you identify them.

Honeycomb Cowfish identification is easy once you identify their honeycomb marking and the spines on their foreheads. Watch this free video to help you identify Honeycomb Cowfish in the reef.

Yellowhead Wrasse identification is much easier with video to show you what they look like. Watch this video of Yellowhead Wrasses to help you identify them in the reef.

Fairy Basslet or Royal Gramma fish identification is easy once you notice their purple and bright yellow colors. Watch this video to help you identify the Fairy Basslet.

Red Lion Fish identification is easy once you notice their feather-like spines and stripes. Watch this video of Red Lion Fish to help you identify them in the reef.

Saddled Blenny identification is easy once you notice the saddles along a Saddled Blenny's back. Watch this video of Saddled Blennies to help you identify them in Caribbean reefs.

Blue Runner identification is easy once you identify their silvery color and black tips on their tail fins. Watch this video of Blue Runners to help you identify them.

Slender File Fish identification will be much easier after watching this video of Slender File Fish in the wild.

Butter Hamlet Fish Identification is easy once you identify their gray yellow color and black saddle near its tail. Watch this video of Butter Hamlets to help you identify them in the reef.

Red Hind identification is easy once you identify the red spots all over its white body. Watch this video of Red Hinds to help you identify them in the reef.

Spanish Hogfish identification is easy once you identify the purple upper half and yellow lower half of their bodies. Watch this video of Spanish Hogfish in the wild to help you identify them.

Bar Jack fish identification is easy once you notice their silvery color and blue stripe down its back. Watch this video of a Bar Jack to help you identify them on the reef.

Garden Eel identification is difficult, but will be much easier if you watch this video of wild Garden Eels.

Gray Angelfish identification is easy once you notice their gray color and yellow inner surface of their pectoral fins. Watch this video of wild Gray Angelfish to help you identify them in the...

Balloon fish identification is easy once you notice their spines, and yellow irises of their eyes. Watch this video of wild balloon fish to help you identify them in the Caribbean.

Porcupine fish identification is easy once they puff up and show their spines. Watch this video of a wild porcupine fish to help you identify it in the reef.

Juvenile Spotted Drum identification is easy once you notice their color, and long flowing dorsal and tail fins. Watch this video of a juvenile spotted drum fish to help you identify them in the reef.

The red-lipped blenny is usually spotted on a rock or a coral head, displaying aggressive behavior. Look for the red-lipped blenny, which has an almost vertical head, with help from a scuba diving...

The spiny head blenny is a tiny fish that usually has only its head sticking out of its home. Identify the spiny head blenny by its yellow-green eyes with help from a scuba diving instructor in...

The secretary blenny is a tube-dwelling blenny that usually has a brown body with irregular, pale body bars. Look for the secretary blenny in dead coral areas with help from a scuba diving...

The roughhead blenny has a lot of slender projections on the top of its head that are difficult to see without a magnifying glass. Distinguish the roughhead blenny from other blennies by its...

The spotted drum adult retains the same black and white-striped pattern of the juvenile spotted drum fish. Look for the white spots on the spotted drum's dorsal fin and tail with help from a scuba...