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The Living Encyclopedia
Explore our comprehensive database of reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. Discover detailed care guides, morph varieties, and community setups.
invertebrate
Jumping Spider
Phidippus audax
Phidippus audax, the bold jumper or daring jumping spider, is a common species of spider belonging to the genus Phidippus, a group of jumping spiders easily identified by their large eyes and iridescent chelicerae. The bold jumper itself bears white abdominal dorsal spots, one of them prominent. Like all jumping spiders, they have excellent stereoscopic vision that aids them in stalking prey and facilitates visual communication with potential mates during courting. Bold jumping spiders are native to North America and have been introduced to Hawaii, Nicobar Islands, Azores, and the Netherlands.
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invertebrate
Orb Weaver
Argiope aurantia
Argiope aurantia is a species of spider, commonly known as the yellow garden spider, black and yellow garden spider, golden garden spider, writing spider, zigzag spider, zipper spider, black and yellow argiope, corn spider, Steeler spider, or McKinley spider. The species was first described by Hippolyte Lucas in 1833. It is common in the contiguous United States, Hawaii, southern Canada, Mexico, and Central America. It has distinctive yellow and black markings on the abdomen and a mostly white cephalothorax. Its scientific Latin name translates to "gilded silver-face". The body length of males ranges from 5–9 mm (0.20–0.35 in); females range from 19–28 mm (0.75–1.10 in). The average female body mass is about 752.0 mg. These spiders may bite if disturbed or harassed, but the venom is harmless to non-allergic humans, roughly equivalent to a bumblebee sting in intensity.
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invertebrate
Wolf Spider
Hogna carolinensis
Hogna carolinensis, commonly-known as the Carolina wolf spider and giant wolf spider, is found across North America. It is the largest of the wolf spiders in North America, typically measuring at 18–20 mm (0.7–0.8 in) for males and 22–35 mm (0.9–1.4 in) for females.
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invertebrate
Scorpion
Pandinus imperator
The emperor scorpion (Pandinus imperator) is a species of scorpion native to rainforests and savannas in West Africa. It is one of the largest scorpions in the world and lives for six to eight years. Its body is black, but like other scorpions it glows pastel green or blue under ultraviolet light. It is a popular species in the pet trade and is protected by CITES to prevent over-collecting that might affect the species' survival.
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invertebrate
Hermit Crab
Coenobita clypeatus
The Caribbean hermit crab, also known as the soldier crab, West Atlantic crab, tree crab, or purple pincher, is a species of land hermit crab native to the west Atlantic, Belize, southern Florida, Venezuela, and the West Indies.
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F
invertebrate
Fiddler Crab
Uca pugilator
Fiddler Crab (Uca pugilator)
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B
invertebrate
Blue Crab
Callinectes sapidus
Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus)
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L
invertebrate
Lobster
Homarus americanus
Lobster (Homarus americanus)
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C
invertebrate
Crayfish
Procambarus clarkii
Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)
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S
invertebrate
Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi)
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invertebrate
Snail
Helix pomatia
Helix pomatia, known as the Roman snail, Burgundy snail, or escargot, is a species of large, air-breathing stylommatophoran land snail belonging to the family Helicidae and native to Europe. It is characterized by a globular brown shell.
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invertebrate
Slug
Arion ater
Arion ater, the black slug, is a large terrestrial gastropod mollusk in the family Arionidae, the round back slugs.
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O
invertebrate
Octopus
Octopus vulgaris
Octopus (Octopus vulgaris)
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invertebrate
Squid
Loligo vulgaris
The European squid or common squid is a large squid belonging to the family Loliginidae. It occurs abundantly in coastal waters from the North Sea to at least the west coast of Africa. This species lives from sea level to depths of 500 m (1,600 ft). Its mantle is up to 40 cm (16 in) long. The species is extensively exploited by commercial fisheries.
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invertebrate
Cuttlefish
Sepia officinalis
The common cuttlefish or European common cuttlefish is one of the largest and best-known cuttlefish species. They are a migratory species that spend the summer and spring inshore for spawning and then move to depths of 100–200 metres (330–660 ft) during autumn and winter. They grow to 49 centimetres (19 in) in mantle length and 4 kilograms (8.8 lb) in weight. Animals from subtropical seas are smaller and rarely exceed 30 centimetres (12 in) in mantle length.
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invertebrate
Nautilus
Nautilus pompilius
The chambered nautilus, also called the pearly nautilus, is the best-known species of nautilus. The shell, when cut away, reveals a lining of lustrous nacre and displays a nearly perfect equiangular spiral, although it is not a golden spiral. The shell exhibits countershading, being light on the bottom and dark on top. This is to help avoid predators, because when seen from above, it blends in with the darkness of the sea, and when seen from below, it blends in with the light coming from above.
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J
invertebrate
Jellyfish
Aurelia aurita
Jellyfish (Aurelia aurita)
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S
invertebrate
Sea Anemone
Anthopleura elegantissima
Sea Anemone (Anthopleura elegantissima)
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C
invertebrate
Coral
Acropora cervicornis
Coral (Acropora cervicornis)
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S
invertebrate
Starfish
Asterias rubens
Starfish (Asterias rubens)
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