Zoology diversity of St. martin Bangladesh. fishesh,molluscs,aves,corals

1. ANIMAL DIVERSITY IN SAINT MARTIN ISLAND
INTRODUCTION:St Martin’s Island a small island in the northeast of
the BAY OF BENGAL, about 9 km south of the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf
peninsular tip and forming the southernmost part of Bangladesh. It is
about 8 km west of the northwest coast of Myanmar at the mouth of the
river naf. The island lies between 92°18' and 92°21'E longitudes and 20°
34' and 20°39'N latitudes. The local people call it Narikel Jinjira. It is
almost flat and is 3.6m above the mean sea level. The 9.66 km wide
channel between the mainland and the island is much shallower than the
open SEA southwest of the island. There are reefs from 10-15 km to the
west-northwest.

2. The island is 7.315 km long and is aligned NNW and SSE. Geographically,
it is divided into three parts. The northern part is called Narikel Jinjira or
Uttarpara and is 2,134m long and 1,402m wide. The southern part is
known as Dakshinpara, which is 1,929m long, with a narrow tail of
1,890m towards the southeast, and a maximum width of 975m. A narrow
central belt or Maddhyapara connects the two parts. The length and the
width of this belt are about 1,524m and 518m respectively and the
narrowest collar is known as Golachipa. In addition to the main island
there are a number of tiny islets ranging from 100 to 500 sq m which are
locally known as Chheradia or Siradia which means separated island.
There is a shallow lagoon in the middle of Uttarpara and it is connected
to the sea during high tide by a narrow channel on the western coast.

3. The topsoil of Uttarpara consists of alluvial sands mixed with shells of
molluscs. There are two small dead lagoons and a stretch of marshy land
in Dakshinpara. Fish landing sites, bazars and schools are present only in
Uttarpara.
Launches and country BOATS ply between the island and teknaf regularly.
The population is about 3,700 and most of them are fishermen
belonging to 535 families. One hundred eighty-two species of wildlife
are recorded from the island. Of these, 4 species are amphibians, 28
reptiles, 130 BIRDS and 20 mammals. TOURISM to the northern part of the
island exists during four months (November to February). The most
densely populated part is Jinjira. There is scarcity of sweet water on the
island. Only a few ponds and a number of TUBEWELLS supply sweet water
for drinking as well as for cultivation. Though the island falls in
the MONSOON zone, the climate is much influenced by the sea. The main
vegetation is COCONUT, betel nut and BAMBOO. Coconut trees are
abundant and more concentrated in the Jinjira area. The SOIL of the
island is not so fertile. The main agricultural products are ONION,
watermelon and some RICE.
The geological structure of the island is simple and is represented by an
anticlinal uplift. A little of the axis of the anticline is traceable along the
west coast of Dakshinpara. The exposed portion of the axis runs NNW to
SSE, approximately parallel to the island. There is a fault along the
northwestern shoreline with a trend nearly parallel to the axis. St Martin's
limestone is composed of molluscan COQUINA HORIZONS (shelly limestone)
and CORAL clusters (coralline limestones). Being very porous and
permeable, the shelly limestone provides an excellent AQUIFER wherever
they occur beneath the ALLUVIUM. Recent marine sands and the shelly
limestone are the chief source of fresh water.

4. St Martin’s Island
Several living small coral colonies are found in small sheltered pools very
near the low tide level around the island. They also occur in the
surrounding shallow sea, mostly growing on the beach rocks and
calcareous sandstone concretions. The dead coral colonies also occur in
pool-like depressions within the high and low tide levels. Some of them
are located at an elevation of nearly 3.50m above the low tide level. The
oldest fossil coral belongs to Late Pleistocene, giving an age of 33,238
years (C14 dating). The clearest indication of the Holocene upliftment of
the island is the appearance of an emerged 3.0m coquina limestone cliff
on the coast of Dakshinpara ranging in age from 450 years at the base to
292 years at the top (C14 dating). The mean uplifting rate of the island,
calculated from the above data, is 19.0 mm/year. The location of the cliff
is 1.5m above the present high tide level and on the eastern upthrown
faulted block.
The emerged dead corals characterised by Porites sp, Acropora sp,
Cyphostrea sp, and Platygyrn sp provide evidence of lower level
emergence, ie, they have been raised above the level at which they are at
present forming/living. The radiocarbon dates from emerged dead
corals are recorded below the ultra low level liquid scintillator's detection
limit (ie 0 BP). This suggests that the dead corals have emerged fairly
recently, indeed are still in the process of emerging. This means that the
environment of St Martin's Island is now not favourable for the growth
and development of the only coral island of the country that started

5. forming at least since the last maximum glacial age (ca 40,000 years
ago).
The number of animals live in Saint Martin are-
Phylum-Chordata
Rupchanda(PACU)
Classification-Class-Actinopterygii. Order-Characiformes.
Family-Serrasalmidae
Characteristics-1)This Rupchanda fish is rich in protein and omega acid
which is most essential nutrition value for healthy life style.
2) The fresh water fish, Rupchanda, is also known as red pacu.
3) It is quite healthy for the body.
4) The fins are supported by rays, as the name indicates.
5) In contrast to the cartilaginous fish they have a rigid skeleton.
6)The swim bladder is also a unique feature of most ray-finned fish,
enabling them to maintain buoyancy as they move up or down in
the water.
Shurma fish(Spanish mackerels)

6. Classification-Class-Actinopterygii
Characteristics-1)Shurma have a very high level of omega 3 and
omega6.
2) It also have impressive level of vitamins, minerals, iron, magnesium,
potassium etc.
3) Shurma fish is a tribe of ray-finned saltwater bony fishes that is
commonly known as the Spanish mackerels, seerfishes or seer fish.
4) This tribe is a subset of the mackerel family (Scombridae) – a family
that it shares with three sister tribes, the tunas, mackerels, and bonitos,
and the butterfly kingfish.
5) Shurma fishcomprises 21 species across three genera.
6) They are pelagic fish, fast swimmers and predatory in nature, that
fight vigorously when caught.
Loitta fish(Bombay duck)
Classification-Class-Actinopterygii. Species: H. nehereus. Family:
Synodontidae. Order: Aulopiformes
Characteristics- 1) The Bombay Duck fish have elongate and
compressed body.
2) Their eyes are small, and snout is very short.
3) The mouth is very wide, armed with slender recurved and depressible
teeth.

7. Koral fish
Classification-Class-Actinopterygii. Order: Perciformes (Perchs). Family:
Centropomidae (Giant perch and glass fishes). Genus: Lates Species: L.
calcarifer .
Characteristics-1)The Barramundi fish has large scales over their body.
2) The scales are generally silver in coloration, but may become darker or
lighter depending on the environment.
3) There are no spots or bars on their fins or body.
4) They can reach a maximum body length of up to 1.8 meters
Special feature-There are no spots or bars on their fins or body.
Tuna fish
Classification-Class-Actinopterygii. Family: Scombridae
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Characteristics-1)The tuna has a very slender caudal peduncle which has
three stabilizing keels on each side.
2) This species' dorsal side is generally metallic dark blue in color while
the underside is silvery or white.

8. 3) Tuna are considered epipelagic-to-midwater fish, which means they
inhabit the upper and middle layers of ocean water.
Churi fish
Classification-Class-Chondrichthyes.
Characteristics-1)Resemble bony fish and terrestrial vertebrates in having
jaws and paired appendages.
2)An electroreceptive system is well developed.
3)Endoskeleton entirely cartilaginous.
4)No swim bladder or lung.
Dogfish
Classification-Class-Chondrichthyes.
Species: S. acanthias
Kingdom: Animalia
Characteristics-1)Dogfish has a pointed snout, large eyes, and spines in
front of its two dorsal fins.
2)It is a brownish slate color, fading to a pale underbelly, with rows of white
spots down its upper body that fade with age.

9. 3)The body of a dogfish was built for fast, long distance swimming. Their
dorsal side is gray, and they have a white ventral side.
Ray fish
Classification-Class-Chrondichthyes. Superorder: Batoidea
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Characteristics- 1)Most are flattened and more or less disk- or diamond-
shaped, with large, winglike pectoral fins.
2)The tail is generally slender and sometimes long and whiplike.
3)In many species the tail has at least one sharp, venomous spine.
Seagull
Classification-Class-Aves. Family: Laridae
Order: Charadriiformes
Kingdom: Animalia
Characteristics- 1)Seagull has strong body, elongated legs and webbed feet.
2)Beak is slightly hooked and usually yellow in color.
3) Seagulls are one of the rare animals that are able to drink salt water.

10. Special feature- They have special glands (located above the eyes) which
eliminate excess salt from the body.
Turtle(Testudines)
Classification-Class-Reptilia. Order: Testudines
Kingdom: Animalia
Charateristics-1)Turtles spend most of their lives in water.
2) They are adapted for aquatic life, with webbed feet or flippers and a
streamlined body.
3)Tortoises are land animals. Their feet are round and stumpy, adapted for
walking on land.
4)Terrapins live on land and in water, usually in swamps, ponds, lakes and
rivers.
Frog
Classification-Class-Amphibians.. Kingdom: Animalia
Order: Anura. Clade: Salientia
Characteristics-1)Frogs have very powerful back legs and webbed feet that
help them jump great distances, as well as, swim.

11. 2)Frogs even use their legs to dig, or burrow, underground for hibernating.
3)Certain frogs can jump up to 20 times their own body length in a single
leap.
Special feature-They are cold blooded.
Phylum-Cnidaria
Coral
Classification-Class-Anthozoa.
Characteristics-1)Coral are shallow-ocean habitats that are filled with sea
life.
2) The massive structure that the coral is comprised of is actually built
out of coral polyps, which are small marine animals that thrive in
colonies.
Jellyfish(Aurelia aurita)
Classification-Class-Scyphozoa.Species: A. aurita
Genus: Aurelia
Characteristics-1)Jellyfish have no brain, heart, bones or eyes.

12. 2)They are made up of a smooth, bag-like body and tentacles armed with
tiny, stinging cells.
3) These incredible invertebrates use their stinging tentacles to stun or
paralyse prey before gobbling it up.
4) The jellyfish's mouth is found in the centre of its body.
Special feature-Jellyfish have no brain, heart, bones or eyes.
Phylum-Arthopoda
Crabs
Classification-Class-Malacostraca. Kingdom: Animalia. Order: Decapoda
Characteristics-1)Decapod. Almost all crabs are decapods, meaning they
have 10 legs. ...
2)Hard Exoskeleton. The hard “crust” is a defining characteristic of crabs,
lobsters and prawns. ...
3)Double Antennae. Most crabs have two pairs of antennae. ...
4)Sideways Walking. ...
5)Land and Water Breathing.
Butterflies

13. Classification-Class-Insecta. Kingdom: Animalia. Order: Lepidoptera
Characteristics-1)Butterflies are beautiful, flying insects with large scaly
wings.
2)Like all insects, they have six jointed legs, 3 body parts, a pair of antennae,
compound eyes, and an exoskeleton.
3)The three body parts are the head, thorax (the chest), and abdomen (the
tail end).
5) The butterfly's body is covered by tiny sensory hairs.
Special features- 1)Butterfly Wings Are Transparent.
2)Butterflies Taste With Their Feet.
3)Butterflies Live on an All-Liquid Diet.
4)A Butterfly Must Assemble Its Own Proboscis—Quickly.
5)Butterflies Drink From Mud Puddles.
6)Butterflies Can't Fly If They're Cold.
7)A Newly Emerged Butterfly Can't Fly.
Phylum-Echinodermata
Sea star/Starfish
Classification-Class-Asreroida. Genus: Asterias. Species: A. rubens
Characteristics-1)Sea stars are characterized by radial symmetry, several
arms (5 or multiplied by 5) radiating from a central body.

14. 2) Mouth and anus are close together on the underside, the anus is at the
center of the disc together with the water intake (madreporite).
Special features-The appendages, or arms, of a starfish give him
his unique star shape. Most starfish have five arms, but some species have
more, ranging from 20 to 40. The arms are covered in small suction cups on
the bottom and spiny skin on top and serve several purposes.
Phylum-Mollusca
Seashells
Jaspidiconus berschaueri
Classification-Kingdom-Animilia. Class-Gestropoda. Family-Conidae.
Genus-Conasprella.
Characteristics-1)Jaspidiconus is a subgenus of sea
snails, marine gastropod mollusks in
the genus Conasprella, family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.
2)These species are found in the Indo-Pacific region.
3)These species eat other gastropods including cones.

15. Trigonostoma rugosum
Classification- Kingdom-Animilia. Class-Gastropoda. Family-Cancellariidae
Genus-Trigonostoma
Characteristics-1)Trigonostoma is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod
mollusks in the family Cancellariidae.
Phyllonotus Oculatus
Classification- Kingdom-Animila. Class-Gastropoda. Genus-Phyllonotus.
Family-Muricidae.
Characteristics-1)Phyllonotus oculatus, common name the oculate apple
murex, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in
the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
2)The adult shell size varies between 50 mm and 124 mm.