Marine
129 Results
The Unseen World of Corals
The Andamans and Nicobar islands host 89 per cent of India's coral diversity. But what exactly are corals? Underwater plants? Vibrant, lively rocks? Or a fascinating fusion of multiple animals? We dive deep into the hidden world
Video
Mantis Shrimp: Facts, Eyesight, Strike
All you need to know about this marine crustacean
Infographic
Mantis Shrimp: Eye-popping Predators of Reefs and Seagrass Meadows
With superhero-like vision and strength and lightning-fast movements, mantis shrimp are formidable marine predators
Species
Save the Whale Sharks of the Lakshadweep Islands
The largest fish in our oceans has thrived in the pristine waters of the Lakshadweep islands, but unregulated large-scale fishing, dumping of waste, and increased ship traffic have disturbed the reefs and the marine diversity of this region
Conservation
Crypsis Unmasked: Marine Masters of Disguise and Their Tools
Uncovering spectacular examples of how marine organisms disguise or hide by taking on various colours, textures, shapes, or debris to blend with their surroundings
Photo Story
Turbid Seas: A Soup of Minerals and Marine Wonders
Turbid waters represent the ocean in flux as living organisms and abiotic elements are churned around by tides, currents, and waves in a delicate balance that sustains complex lives and processes
Wild Vault
Finding Nori: Journey into the Underwater World of Seaweeds
Nearly all marine life depends on the existence of algae (which are all seaweeds), ranging from microscopic phytoplankton to relatively large macroalgae
Species
Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin: Facts, Habitat, Threats
All you need to know about this marine mammal
Infographic
Triggerfish: Facts, Habits, Threats
All you need to know about this fish found around coral reefs
Infographic
Tenacious Triggerfish: The Territorial Reef Residents
Though they have a well-deserved reputation for being aggressive and protective of their territory, these colourful fish also play a key role in the marine ecosystem
Species
Parrotfish: Facts, Habits, Threats
All you need to know about this multi-coloured fish that poop sand
Infographic
An Ode to Sponges
Ancient marine animals that are food on the sea floor, sponges thrive in a variety of environments. Depending on the species, sponges can be predators, competitors, symbionts, or prey
Species
Marine Flatworms: Facts, Social Habits, Diet
All you need to know about these ocean predators that have existed for millions of years
Infographic
Sea Urchins: Defence Mechanism, Habitat, Threats
Everything you need to know about these spiny marine creatures
Infographic
Parrotfish: Rainbows in the Reef
Colourful, sex-changing, sand-pooping fish that feed on algae and keep coral reefs healthy
Species
Exploring the Coral Reefs of Goa’s Grande Island
The most accessible of India’s coral reefs may not be colourful and glamourous, but they are resilient and able to thrive in turbid, low-light environments
Habitat
Dolphins and Porpoises: What’s the Difference?
Here's a quick guide to what sets dolphins and porpoises apart
Explainer
Peering Inside a Pocillopora
In the coral paradise of Lakshadweep, four species of this branching coral stand out on the richly coloured reef. Look inside its branches, and you’ll see a mini ecosystem of invertebrates, fish, and algae
Photo Story
Odd Shape of You: Atypical Fish in the Ocean
Fish don’t always come in the “textbook” shape we associate with them. Their forms often deviate from the norm, and their uniqueness helps them survive and thrive
Photo Story
Christmas Tree Worms: Facts, Marine Habitat, Food
Everything you need to know about theses dazzling, filter-feeding marine creatures
Infographic
Whale Shark: Facts, Diet, Conservation
All you need to know about the largest living fish
Infographic
Butterflyfish: Facts, Habits, Jaw Morphologies
All you need to know about these brightly coloured fish
Infographic
Life in a Seagrass Meadow
A large variety of sea creatures from dugongs and sea turtles to juvenile fish and microscopic life, rely on seagrass meadows to survive and thrive. The disappearance of these underwater habitats affects not just the creatures they host but also coastal fishing communities
Photo Story
Chitons: Primitive Inhabitants of Today’s Seashores
Chitons predate the first dinosaurs by more than 150 million years and have survived multiple mass extinction events
Species
Boxfish: Facts, Diet, Habitat
All you need to know about these toxin-secreting box-shaped fish
Infographic
Boxfish: An Evolutionary Guide to Self-preservation
Boxfishes have a fully loaded arsenal of defences against predators, including an armour and lethal poisons
Species
Lionfish: Facts, Habitat, Venom
All you need to know about this nocturnal, marine, native fish
Infographic
Swimming Amongst Fossils: What Sponges Tell Us About the World
These ancient animals have been an essential part of healthy reef ecosystems for millions of years
Species
Good News for the Sharks?
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment and conservation
Green Humour
Dwindling Dugongs: Meandering Trails in Seagrass Meadows
Exploring the world and habits of the tiny population of dugongs remaining in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Species
Sea Cucumbers: Illegal trade and the Blame Game
How a blanket ban on sea cucumber fishing in India has created an illicit trade and impacted the livelihoods of artisanal communities who have historically harvested them
Conservation
Gooseneck Barnacles: Rare Delicacy or Dinosaur Feet?
Clusters of this small, strange-looking crustacean anchor to hard surfaces in the intertidal zone and are difficult to harvest. In some European countries, they are considered an expensive gourmet treat
Species
Beauty or Beast? The Lionfish Conundrum
Lionfish leave some spellbound while others loathe them. A brief story of these expert ambush predators that have spread from their native homes in the Indo-Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, creating a lionfish invasion crisis
Species
Sharks: Facts, Jaws, Threats
All you need to know about the apex predators of the ocean
Infographic
Decoding Dugong Days in Indian Waters
Though the dugong has become locally extinct in many areas, there is hope. It is considered a priority species for conservation, and efforts to save it are on across international borders.
Conservation
Acroporid Affiliations in the Lagoons of Lakshadweep
Acroporid reefs are a threatened ecosystem that host a multitude of species, each part of a complex web of interactions
Photo Story
Nine Facts That Make Nudibranchs Even Cooler
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment and conservation
Green Humour
Small Fish: Thumbelinas of the Sea
Peek into the world of tiny fish and their short, challenging lives packed with colour, diversity, and extraordinary behaviour
Photo Story
Whale Shark Strandings Increase Along Andhra Pradesh Coast
Pressure from infrastructure development, transport and fishing are pushing the sharks to venture into territories where they have not been documented before
Conservation
Through the Magic Portal, to a World of Marine Superheroes
This book about a parallel universe that hides in plain sight, right at the shore, has a secret message: Everybody can be a scientist or an explorer
Book
Bright and Bristly: Christmas Tree Worms and Their Festive Whorls
These fascinating marine creatures with spiralling plumes gently waving with the ocean’s currents live exclusively within the protection of calcareous tubes they build in corals
Species
The Blue-Striped Fangblenny Works Smart, Not Hard
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment and conservation
Green Humour
Super Plankton: The Invisible Marvels that Sustain Our Oceans
Plankton maybe tiny, microscopic creatures invisible to the naked eye, but they sustain our oceans. Without them life as we know it would cease to exist.
Video
Evading Predators: Lessons from Under the Sea
Disguises, poison strikes, impersonation, or just lying low — marine creatures adopt a great variety of tactics to stave off attacks and survive dangers in the deep blue seas
Photo Story
Swaying in Silence: The Hypnotic Beauty of Sea Anemones
Can you believe that these gorgeous tentacles in gentle, soothing motion are actually lined with venom? Or that anemones are predators with a healthy appetite for plankton, other invertebrates, and even fish?
Photo Story
Shrimp Showcase: Much More Than Small Fry
Tiny creatures they may be, but shrimps play a prominent role in the marine community — as cleaners, partners, and companions
Photo Story
Hawkfish Hues: Of Underwater Hunts and Hairy Spines
Hawkfishes are ambush reef predators and, like their bird counterparts, perch on an elevated surface like coral or rock to observe prey before diving in for the kill
Species
Seahorses: Facts, Diet, Threats
All you need to know about these well-camouflaged marine fish
Infographic
Pincers and Claws: Crabs of the Konkan Coast
An incredible variety of crabs, ranging from tiny pea crabs to massive mud crabs, inhabit the diverse habitats of India’s Konkan coast
Photo Story
Ghost Crab: Facts, Diet, Habitat
All you need to know about this swift-footed nocturnal crab
Infographic
The Fish That Quit Horsing Around
Having evolved 25 million years ago, seahorses are unparalleled in their body structure, behaviour and ecology
Photo Story
New Conservation Reserve Offers Glimmer of Hope for Dugongs
The biodiversity-rich waters of the reserve in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay is the most significant surviving natural habitat for dugongs globally
Conservation
Frightened by A Fish
A marine biologist and diver recounts the times she’s been scared out of the ocean by unnerving encounters with different fish
Wild Vault
So Long, and Thanks for All the Plastic
Why are sea creatures from tiny zooplankton to the great whales devouring plastics at such alarmingly high rates?
Conservation
Great Barracuda: Shiny and Scary but Surprisingly Shy
The great barracuda evokes both fear and fascination. It is lightning fast when catching prey but otherwise lives a life of quiet composure within the deep blue
Species
Worlds Apart: The Dual Life of Marine Animals
In every drop of ocean water, there is an unseen, vibrant, and dynamic world. It’s a universe of minuscule creatures ranging in size from a few centimetres to near-invisible microns
Wild Vault
Midnight Miracle: Waiting for Mother Turtles by the Beach
Samrat and his mother, a sea turtle researcher, are headed to Tarmugli Island to spot nesting turtles. Will the turtles come? Read an excerpt from the book 'Waiting for Turtles’
Book
Veganism Defined by Whale Sharks
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment, and conservation
Green Humour
Friends in Low Places: Connecting with the Ocean
If we can build a healthy curiosity and sense of wonder about the ocean, we’ve taken the critical first step to further its conservation
Conservation
Squids: Facts, Diet, Threats
All you need to know about these fast marine invertebrates
Infographic
Sea Cucumbers: Facts, Diet, Threats
All you need to know about these marine invertebrates
Infographic
Galathea Bay: Will the World's Largest Sea Turtle Return to Nest in India?
Isolated from the mainland, the world’s largest turtles, the leatherbacks have nested along Galathea bay's pristine coast for millions of years. However, in January 2021 the protected status of the sanctuary was canceled for the construction of a transshipment port. If the development of the port goes through, will the turtles return?
Video
Tiny But Tenacious: Micro Life on the Andaman Reef
Capturing coral reefs and their inhabitants with a macro lens reveals their diversity and the complexity of intertwined reef relationships
Photo Story
Twilight Zone: A Tale Between Two Tides
When the tide heads out, the shallow watery plains come alive with many surprises from fuzzy little hairy crabs to the nervous blennies, and algal patches host various creatures from gastropods to a league of hunters like octopuses and eels
Wild Vault
Sand Scavengers: Ghost Crabs in the Intertidal Zone of Chennai’s Elliot’s Beach
Living on the foggy cusp of land, sea, sand, and sky, ghost crabs are the beach clean-up crew, the vultures of sandy coastal ecosystems.
Species
Development Plans Threaten Ecology of Lakshadweep
Proposed large-scale beachside tourism and infrastructure development may aggravate climate change-related disasters
News
Life After Dark: The Night Shift on a Coral Reef
Diving once the sun has set reveals a star-studded canvas of nocturnal life that rivals what you might imagine lives in outer space
Wild Vault
Gutsy Gulls: Trick or Treating on the Water
Seagulls employ various strategies to secure a meal. From intelligent fishing to scavenging and outright theft, their schemes succeed at times and fail comically at other points
Photo Story
Mudskippers: Facts, Appearance, Amphibious Fish
All you need to know about these amphibious fish
Infographic
Decorator Crabs: Facts, Size, Shells
All you need to know about one of nature's trendy dressers, the spider crab
Infographic
Coral Reefs of India: What Makes them Important Ecosystems
Coral reefs are biodiverse habitats built by live coral, usually occurring in shallow tropical seas
Explainer
Leatherback Sea Turtles: Giants of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Recent monitoring and scientific data from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on these remarkable reptiles give us hope and must deepen our resolve to continue to protect this very critical habitat
Conservation
The Conservation Paradox: Missing the Meadows for the Green Turtles
Seagrass ecosystems support marine organisms which use the meadows as foraging and breeding habitats. Green sea turtles have depleted some of these habitats, creating a conservation dilemma
Conservation
Leatherback Turtle: Facts, Habitat, Migration
All you need to know about the largest turtle in the world
Infographic
Common Venomous Reef Creatures of the Shallow Seas
Among the multitude of fish on reefs are a vast array of venomous stingers. Though most use their poison in self-defence and to hunt, they will also strike at perceived threats
Photo Story
The Secret Life of Squids
As exclusive inhabitants of the marine realm, squids have evolved incredible diversity dating back to the Jurassic period. Their unique lifestyles and reproductive strategies make them a success in deep and shallow waters
Photo Story
Written in the Stars: A Night with the Leatherback Turtle
When the sun sets along Great Nicobar’s Galathea coast, the world’s largest turtle emerges from the waters to build a nest on its silver shore
Photo Story
Cleaning Symbiosis: Underwater Hygiene with the Ocean’s Favourite Cleaning Experts
Cleaner wrasses and cleaner shrimps feed on parasites for a living. This, in turn, helps animals that want parasites removed from their bodies, and results in a healthier ecosystem
Photo Story
Secrets of Survival: Struggle and Strife Between the Tides
When the tide recedes along the coast of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, an array of marine creatures step out of their hideouts for some time in the sun
Photo Story
Lakshadweep Islands: Radiant Speckles in the Sea
Limited in land area, but loaded with vibrant reefs and clear blue lagoons, these atolls are home to abundant marine life and about 65,000 people
Photo Story
Captain Marvel: The Inscrutable Mind of the Genius Octopus
An octopus is a crafty shape shifter. In the blink of an eye, it can change colour, texture, pattern, and shape to blend in with its surroundings
Video
Octopus: Facts, Diet, Anatomy, Habitat
A fact file on the highly intelligent eight-legged mollusc
Infographic
Mate and Die: Mysteries of Octopus Sex
Not only do these cephalopods breed only once in their lifetime, they die soon after. With an optic gland activating the breeding mode in females, and the male placing a rock between the pair while mating, this sea creature displays some unusual behaviours while procreating
Photo Story
Sea Cucumbers: Silent Superheroes of the Seas
These sea creatures are mini ecosystems unto themselves and play a crucial role in keeping oceans alive and healthy
Species
Gulf of Mannar’s Corals Endangered by Marine Debris
Abandoned nets, plastic fish traps, ropes and lines make corals susceptible to injury, fragmentation, and disease, say researchers
Conservation
The Genius Octopus: Programmed to Deceive
These evolutionarily advanced marine invertebrates can solve puzzles, memorise tricks, use tools, and even recognise and fool humans
Species
Smart and Saucy: The Story of Wild Squids
Squids have evolved complex sensory systems. They are fast, stealthy predators of the seas, but also prey for marine mammals, seabirds, turtles, and a host of fish
Species
Parenting Lessons From the Sea
Marine creatures make exemplary parents. A look at the top childrearing strategies that set some critters apart from the rest
Wild Vault
Puja Mitra: Changing the Tide for Goa’s Marine Life
From highlighting biodiversity and redefining dolphin tourism in Goa, to marine rescue and community-based collaborations, this conservationist wears many hats to protect Goa’s marine life
Hero
The Zen of Diving
Age is no bar for falling in love with the meditative, magical underwater landscapes of India’s Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands
Column
Eel Hunter: The Amphibious Life of Sea Kraits
With a specialised taste for eels, these venomous sea snakes hold their breath underwater for up to thirty minutes when on their perpetual hunting excursions
Species
Olive Ridley Turtle: Facts, Diet, and Nesting
All you need to know about the most abundant sea turtles in the world
Infographic
Sea Turtles: Ancient Mariners of the Indian Ocean
These magnificent air-breathing reptiles have lived on earth for millions of years. Four of the seven known species of sea turtles nest in significant numbers on the Indian coastline and its outlying islands
Photo Story
How the Coastal Road Threatens Mumbai’s Secret Marine World
Over the last four years, Sarang Naik has documented the marine diversity along Mumbai's coast. However, it is now being threatened by the construction of the Coastal Road
Multimedia
Hiding in Plain Sight: Mumbai’s Tide Pools and the City Beyond the Shore
This urban seashore throws up a world of surreal organisms and is sure to change the way you look at India’s commercial capital
Photo Story
Whale Fall: Food Bonanza on the Ocean Floor
When a whale dies, its carcass sinks to the bottom and generates an energy-rich underwater ecosystem supporting a multitude of marine creatures and communities
Wild Vault
Cracking the Schooling Fish Code: The Andaman story
Fishes swimming in schools strategise, make decisions and use navigation and communication systems
Photo Story
Crawl, Burrow, Swim: Little Champions of the Sundarbans Ecosystem
The largest mangrove delta in the world may be more famous for its apex predators but its small creatures are also important for the ecosystem
Photo Story
Coral Reefs: True Treasures of the Andaman Islands
This emerald archipelago is an underwater paradise teeming with marine life, from schools of fish to magnificent coralline formations
Photo Story
Blennies: Facts, Lifespan, and Life on the Coral Reefs
Meet one of the cutest fish on the coral reef
Infographic
Sea Cucumbers: Countering the Illegal Trade
Lakshadweep unveils the world’s first sea cucumber reserve, drawing attention to this overexploited marine invertebrate
Conservation
Bewitching Blennies: Pixies of the Seas
Blennies are small, cute fish that are essential to the functioning of coral reef ecosystems. Being abundant and quick to reproduce, they are an important food source for predators.
Species
Kartik Shanker: Researcher, Ecologist, Storyteller
Kartik Shanker juggles many roles — ecologist, children’s writer, founder of Dakshin Foundation, editor of a conservation magazine — all rooted firmly in decades of field research
Hero
The Ray Needs a Ray of Hope
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment, and conservation
Green Humour
Island Fever: A Lifelong Obsession with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Something romantic and primeval about islands makes us innately drawn to them. And though we may check out any time we like, we never really leave.
Column
Project Camouflage: Styles and Survival Strategies of Decorator Crabs
Decorator crabs assemble elaborate adornments to masquerade as different life forms and escape being attacked by predators
Species
Fishy Phenomena: Sex on the Reef
Sex changes and massive mating gatherings have never been taboo for coral reef creatures. And fish couples, although common, are rarely monogamous
Wild Vault
Would You Rather Be Trolled or Trawled?
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment, and conservation
Green Humour
The Fabulous, Functional World of Sea Slugs
Flamboyant in appearance and stealthy in their ways, sea slugs protect themselves in unique ways, including repurposing the defence weapons of their prey for their own protection
Species
A Date with Mumbai’s Marine Wildlife
Mumbai’s Juhu Beach suddenly comes alive with crabs, anemones, shrimp, snails and other marine biodiversity that lives on city’s coastline
Urban Jungle
Life of Corals: Witnessing an Ecosystem in Collapse
As oceans warm up the symbiotic relationship between corals and microscopic algae breaks down. Corals get bleached, making them susceptible to disease and eventually leading to the death of reef ecosystems
Conservation
Life of Corals: The Reef Assembly
Within the magical world of coral reefs is an unimaginable marine diversity dense with life forms, and interwoven with unique symbiotic relationships and partnerships between critters
Habitat
Treasure or Trash? When Unwanted Fish Sustain Livelihoods
The tussle, between the conservation of natural resources and ecosystems and people’s incomes, extends well beyond overfishing the most coveted varieties of fish from the sea
Conservation
A Half Century of Sea Turtle Conservation
Contrary to popular belief, sea turtles are doing better than they have in decades, and we may need to rethink how to conserve them
Column
When Danger Lurks: Toxic Beauties in Action
Butterflies have adopted numerous defence mechanisms to fool their predators, but how well do these tricks work?
Column
Did You Know? Starfish and How They Regenerate
The star of the ocean — which can regrow lost body parts, including organs — is best observed from a distance
Wild Vault
Tamil Nadu’s Seaweed Harvesters in Rough Seas
An unusual activity of the fisherwomen of Bharathinagar in Tamil Nadu keeps them more in the water than on boats. But climate change and overexploitation of marine resources are eroding their livelihoods
News
Life of Corals: The Origin Story
The brilliant corals we see at the bottom of the ocean are animals, the most extraordinarily wild architects on earth, and they use stinging cells to capture their prey
Habitat
Arribada: The Mystery of the Olive Ridley Turtle Migration
How do these gentle sea creatures navigate thousands of kilometres to find the beach where they were born?
Wild Vault
Seagrass Meadows on the Ocean Floor
Primary food of the dugong, sea grasses cover thousands of kilometres of ocean floor, and are massive oxygen generators too
Habitat
Do Not Touch: Toxin Generating Sea Creatures from India’s Coasts
Some sea creatures have evolved effective ways of thwarting predators. They spew venom or emit deadly toxins to fend off the unwanted
Wild Vault
Under Cover: Ecosystems in the Sand
An astonishing array of plants and animals build their castles in the sand. Take a slow dive into this fascinating world of predators, prey, and unique partnerships.
Habitat
Mumbai’s Mangroves: Forests of Breathing Roots
Not all shores are the same; Mumbai’s mangroves are the city’s green guards and they host an entire civilisation in their midst
Urban Jungle
Wild Shores: Life in a Tide Pool
When the tide goes out, take a walk along the shore and discover a fascinating range of marine animals and plants
Habitat
Long Live the Greenland Sharks
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment, and conservation
Green Humour
Not Just Jaws: Shark Facts Fresh from Indian Seas
Docile zebra sharks are as conspicuous as aggressive tiger sharks, and other interesting tidbits on five (of numerous) species of shark that live in Indian waters
Wild Vault
The Power of Poop: Making a Case for Whale Waste
Turns out, whale poop is crucial to our planet’s marine ecosystem. Here’s why
Wild Vault
Moray Eels: Delightful or Deadly?
Lightning fast moray eels with their razor sharp teeth look scarier than they are
Wild Vault
Coral Gardens: Artworks Under Indian Seas
Reefs with their multihued coral and vibrant fish can be as dazzling and magical
as a throbbing rainforest
Photo Story