Marine wildlife of Baa Atoll
The marine wildlife of Baa Atoll consists of marine species that live in a circular archipelago in the Maldives, inside the administrative division of Baa Atoll, which is the southern part of Maalhosmadulu Atoll. Baa Atoll was named a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 2011.[1]
The whole is approximately 38 km by 46 km, covering a surface of 1 127 km².[2] However, the atoll shelters only 5,5 km² of emerged land, consisting of sandy islands not higher than 3,19 m, and of which half do not exceed an area of 10 hectares. Administrative subdivision of Baa shelters 11 910 inhabitants, distributed on 13 of the 75 islands, 8 other islands being island resorts; the capital is Eydhafushi.
The archipelago is located inside the eponym UNESCO Biosphere reserve since 2011.[1] Its shallow waters, particularly rich in coral and fish as well as turtles and dolphins, made a favored place for seaside and underwater tourism.[1]
The ecosystem is characterized by a very high rate of coral cover, highly diverse and dominated by table, digitate and branched corals of the genus Acropora. The shallow waters of this atoll and its particular richness in corals and fish have made it destination for underwater tourism.[1] The presence of huge animals such as Manta rays or whale sharks add spectacular encounters to the beauty of the place.[3]
All of the images illustrating this article, except for the satellite view, were taken in the waters of Baa Atoll.
General view
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Map of the Baa atoll. The north is on the right.
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Plane view of a part of Baa atoll.
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A typical unhabited island of Baa atoll, with its coral reef.
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A view of the resort island of Fonimagoodhoo.
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A typical underwater landscape of Baa atoll dominatd by coral, at Voavah.
Marine mammals
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A spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris)
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A couple of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
Reptiles
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Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)
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Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
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An olive Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), stuck in a drifting net.
Fish
Rays and sharks (“Chondrichthyes”)
Rays
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Manta ray (Manta alfredi)
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Eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari)
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Jenkins stingray (Himantura jenkinsii)
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A feathertail stingray (Pastinachus sephen)
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Black-blotched stingray (Taeniura meyeni)
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Porcupine stingray (Urogymnus asperrimus)
Sharks
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Two young blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) on a beach.
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An adult blacktip shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus).
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A coral shark (Triaenodon obesus)
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A leopard shark (Stegostoma fasciatum)
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A nurse shark (Nebrius ferrugineus)
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Whale shark (Rhincodon typus)
Ray-finned fishes (Teleostei)
- Elopomorpha (“eels”)
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Gymnomuraena zebra
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Gymnothorax favagineus
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Gymnothorax javanicus
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Gymnothorax undulatus
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Heteroconger hassi
Aulopiformes
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A sand lizardfish (Synodus dermatogenys)
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A variegated lizardfish (Synodus variegatus)
Lophiiformes
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Giant frogfish (Antennarius commerson)
Mugiliformes
Atheriniformes
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Atherinomorus lacunosus
Beloniformes
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Platybelone argalus
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Tylosurus crocodilus
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Hyporhamphus dussumieri
Beryciformes
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Myripristis berndti
Syngnathiformes
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Aulostomus chinensis
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Corythoichthys haematopterus
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Fistularia commersonii
Scorpaeniformes (scorpionfish, stonefish…)
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Pterois antennata
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Pterois radiata
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Scorpaenopsis sp., maybe S. diabolus
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Scorpaenopsis oxycephala
Perciformes
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Pseudanthias squamipinnis
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Aphareus furca
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Malacanthus latovittatus
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Caesio xanthonota
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Echeneis naucrates
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Decapterus macarellus
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Rastrelliger kanagurta
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Gymnosarda unicolor
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Caranx ignobilis
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Caranx lugubris
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Caranx melampygus
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Caranx sexfasciatus
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Elagatis bipinnulata
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Seriola rivoliana
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Trachinotus baillonii
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Mulloidichthys vanicolensis
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Parupeneus barberinus
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Parupeneus cyclostomus
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Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides
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Plectorhinchus vittatus
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Scolopsis bilineata
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Platax orbicularis
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Siganus corallinus
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Zanclus cornutus
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Sphyraena barracuda
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Monodactylus argenteus
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Calloplesiops altivelis
Groupers
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Cephalopholis miniata
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Epinephelus coeruleopunctatus
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Epinephelus fasciatus
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Epinephelus fuscoguttatus
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Epinephelus merra
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Plectropomus laevis (juvenile)
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Variola louti
Emperors
Snappers
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Lutjanus bohar
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Lutjanus gibbus
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Lutjanus kasmira
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Macolor niger
Butterfly fish
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Chaetodon auriga
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Chaetodon bennetti
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Chaetodon citrinellus
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Chaetodon collare
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Chaetodon decussatus
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Chaetodon falcula
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Chaetodon guttatissimus
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Chaetodon lunula
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Chaetodon madagaskariensis
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Chaetodon melannotus
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Chaetodon meyeri
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Chaetodon trifascialis
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Chaetodon trifasciatus
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Chaetodon xanthocephalus
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Forcipiger flavissimus
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Heniochus acuminatus
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Heniochus diphreutes
Angelfish
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Pomacanthus imperator
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Pygoplites diacanthus
Hawkfish
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Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus
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Paracirrhites arcatus
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Paracirrhites forsteri lurking in aPocillopora
Clownfish and damselfish
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Amphiprion clarkii
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Amphiprion nigripes (endemic)
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Abudefduf vaigiensis
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young Chrysiptera brownriggii
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Dascyllus aruanus
Wrasses
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Bodianus axillaris
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Coris aygula
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Epibulus insidiator
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Female Gomphosus caeruleus
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Halichoeres hortulanus, in two types.
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Hemigymnus fasciatus
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Labroides dimidiatus
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Pseudodax moluccanus
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Young Thalassoma amblycephalum
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Thalassoma hardwicke
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Thalassoma lunare
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Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
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Cheilinus fasciatus
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Cheilinus undulatus
Parrotfish
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Scarus niger (female)
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Scarus niger (male)
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Scarus prasiognathos (female)
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Scarus prasiognathos (male)
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Scarus frenatus
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Scarus rubroviolaceus (female)
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Scarus rubroviolaceus (male)
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Scarus russelii
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Scarus scaber (female)
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Scarus scaber (male)
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Scarus tricolor (female)
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Scarus tricolor (male)
Blennies
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Ecsenius midas
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Ecsenius minutus (endemic)
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Meiacanthus smithi
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Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos
Gobies
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Amblyeleotris aurora
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Koumansetta hectori
Surgeonfish and unicorn fish
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Acanthurus mata
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Ctenochaetus striatus
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Acanthurus xanthopterus
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Naso brachycentron
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Naso brevirostris
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Naso unicornis
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Paracanthurus hepatus
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Zebrasoma desjardinii (pre-adult)
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Zebrasoma flavescens
Pleuronectiformes
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Bothus pantherinus
Tetraodontiformes
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Balistapus undulatus
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Balistoides conspicillum
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Balistoides viridescens
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Melichthys indicus
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Odonus niger
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Rhinecanthus aculeatus
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Sufflamen chrysopterum
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Oxymonacanthus longirostris
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Paraluteres prionurus (mimetic of Canthigaster valentini)
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Arothron hispidus
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Arothron meleagris, yellow version
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Arothron nigropunctatus
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Canthigaster valentini
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Diodon hystrix
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Diodon liturosus
Ascidians
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Ascidians Atriolum robustum
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Ascidians Didemnum molle
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Didemnum sp.
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Aplidium sp.
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Pyura sp.
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Unidentified ascidians
Echinoderms
Sea stars
Brittle stars
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Ophiactis sp.
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Ophiothrix sp.
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Ophiothrix sp. 2
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Ophiothrix sp. 3
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An unidentified brittlestar
Crinoids
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Comissia sp.
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A unidentified crinoid
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A unidentified crinoid
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A unidentified crinoid
Sea urchins
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Metalia sternalis (stranded test)
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Fibularia sp.
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A "sand dollar" (Clypeaster humilis)
Sea cucumbers
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Pearsonothuria graeffei
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A unidentified stichopodidae
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A unidentified synaptidae
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A unidentified Dendrochirotida
Molluscs
Gastropods (sea snails)
Order Neogastropoda
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Monetaria caputserpentis échouées sur la plage.
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Monetaria sp.
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Gibberulus gibberulus albus
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Lambis chiragra arthritica
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A conch of the family Strombidae
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An unidentified conch (maybe Canarium sp.)
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Mammilla sp.
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Tutufa bubo eating a Linckia multifora.
Other Caenogastropoda
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Conus sp. (maybe Conus bandanus)
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conus sp.
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Conus sp. (maybe conus vexillum)
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Conus sp. (maybe Conus violaceus)
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Chicoreus sp.
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Coralliophila neritoidea
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Drupa sp.
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Vasum sp.
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Terebra sp.
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Coriocella hibyae (endemic)
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Tectus sp.
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Tectus sp.
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An unidentified species of the family Architectonicidae
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An unidentified species of the family Cerithiidae (maybe Cerithium sp.).
Opisthobranchia (sea slugs)
- Sea hares (Anaspidea, family Aplysiidae)
- Other Opisthobranchia
Cephalopods
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An octopus (Octopus cyanea)
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A cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus)
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A reef squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana)
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Empty shell of Spirula spirula
Bivalves (clams, oysters, cockles, mussels…)
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Hyotissa hyotis
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A giant clam Tridacna crocea
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A giant clam Tridacna maxima
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A giant clam Tridacna squamosa
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A giant clam (Tridacna sp.)
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Spondylus sp.
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Spondylus sp.
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Spondylus sp.
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Pinna sp.
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Unidentified bivalve, covered with a sponge.
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Unidentified oysters
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Unidentified bivalve
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Unidentified bivalve
Crustaceans
Crabs
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A spider crab of the family Majoidea (maybe Cyclocoeloma tuberculata)
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A spider crab of the family Majoidea (maybe Naxioides taurus)
Hermit crabs
Lobsters and associates
Shrimps
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Cuapetes sp.
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A shrimp of the family Alpheidae (maybe Synalpheus tumidomanus)
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An unidentified shrimp
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An unidentified shrimp
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Krill washed ashore on a beach.
Other types of crustaceans
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Goose barnacles (Lepas sp., Cirripedia group)
marine worms
polychaete worms
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Christmas tree worms (Spirobranchus giganteus) in a Porites.
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Sabellastarte sp.
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Lanice sp.
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Two worms of the Polynoidae family, on a sea cucumber.
Platyhelminthes (flat worms)
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Pseudoceros sp. 32[1]
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Pseudobiceros sp.
- ^ According to Marine Flatworms APP.
Other types of worms
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An echiuran worm (Achaetobonellia maculata).
Cnidarians
Corals
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Acropora palifera
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Pachyseris sp.
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An unidentified coral, probably of the family Faviidae
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Brain coral (Platygyra sinensis)
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Goniopora sp.
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Plesiastrea versipora
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Mushroom coral Fungia fungites
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An unidentified coral
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Blue coral Heliopora coerulea
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Melithaea sp.
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Siphonogorgia sp.
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Siphonogorgia sp.
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Dendronephthya sp.
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Dendronephthya sp.
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Scleronephthya sp.
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Black coral Cirrhipathes sp.
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Lobophyllia sp.
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Lobophytum sp.
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Lobophytum sp.
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Lobophytum sp.
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Soft coral Sarcophyton sp.
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Unidentified soft coral (Alcyoniidae)
Hydrozoans
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A jellyfish Cephea cephea
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A jellyfish Thysanostoma loriferum
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Fire coral (Millepora platyphylla)
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An hydrozoan Zygophylax sp.
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Hydrozoan of the Plumularioidea group
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Unidentified hydrozoan.
Sea anemones
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Boloceroides sp.
Other hexacorallian corals
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Amplexidiscus fenestrafer (Corallimorph)
Sponges
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Carteriospongia cf. foliascens
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Acarnus sp.
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An unidentified sponge.
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An unidentified sponge.
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An unidentified sponge.
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An unidentified sponge.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Baa Atoll, Maldives: UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve on Visitmaldives.com.
- ↑ Paul S. Kench et al., "The geomorphology of Baa (south Maalhosmadulu) atoll and its reef islands", in Andréfoüet et al., Biodiversity, resources, and conservation of Baa atoll (Republic of Maldives) : a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve, Washington DC, Atoll Research Bulletin, 2012
- ↑ The Manta Trust on marinesavers.com
Sources
Main scientific reference
- Andréfouët, Serge, ed. (2012). "Biodiversity, resources, and conservation of Baa atoll (Republic of Maldives) : a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve". Atoll Research Bulletin: 247. ISSN 0077-5630.
Bibliography
- Jen Veron, Corals of the world, Townsville, Australie, ed. Mary Stafford-Smith, 2000 (ISBN 0 642 32236 8).
- E. Lieske et R.F. Myers, Guide des poissons des récifs coralliens, Lausanne, Delachaux et Niestlé, 1994, 400 p. (ISBN 2-603-00982-6).
- Rudie H. Kuiter, Photo guide to fishes of the Maldives, Apollo Bay, Atoll, 1998, 257 p. (ISBN 1 876410 18 3).
- Neville Coleman, Marine life of the Maldives, Apollo Bay, Atoll, 2004, 257 p. (ISBN 1 876410 54 X).
Databases
Taxonomic databases and references
Internal links
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