UNDERWATER WORLD & COLOURS OF WILDLIFE (2018-2023) by MDM Wholesale

The Great White Shark is an apex predator found in the coastal surface waters of all the major oceans and has no natural predators other than the Orca. Mainly known for its size, mature individuals have been recorded growing up to 6.4 m (21 ft) in length, although reports have been published of great white sharks measuring over 8 m (26 ft), and 3,324 kg (7,328 lb) in weight.

The shark reaches maturity around 15 years of age and was previously believed to have a life span of over 30 years. The true lifespan of great white sharks is far longer; now estimated to be 70 years or more, making it one of the longest lived cartilaginous fish currently known. Great white sharks can accelerate to speeds that exceed 56 km/h (35 mph).

Sea turtles are among the oldest living reptiles on the planet. They play a vital role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems, primarily by controlling jellyfish populations, and aiding in nutrient cycling as their eggs and hatchlings provide sustenance for various predators.

There are seven recognized species of sea turtles, each with its own unique characteristics and habitats. These species include the loggerhead, leatherback, green, hawksbill, olive ridley, Kemp’s ridley, and flatback. Sea turtles are known for their remarkable migratory abilities, with some individuals travelling thousands of miles between their nesting and foraging grounds.

The common Bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) is the largest species of beaked dolphins. They inhabit temperate and tropical oceans throughout the world, and are absent only from polar waters.

The dolphin is grey, between 2-4 m long, and weighs between 150-650 kg, with males generally larger and heavier. They can live 40–50 years. These dolphins have a short snout that resembles an old-fashioned gin bottle, the source of their name.

They live in groups called pods that typically number about 15 individuals, but can vary up to over 1000 animals for short periods. Their diet consists mainly of eels, squid, shrimp and wide variety of fishes, which they do not chew, instead swallowing whole. Dolphins search for prey primarily using echolocation, which is a form of sonar.

The Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), also known as Saltie, is the largest of all living reptiles, as well as the largest terrestrial and riparian predator in the world. The male can reach sizes up to 6.7 m and weigh as much as 2,000 kg.

They can live in salt water, but usually reside in mangrove swamps, estuaries, deltas, and lagoons. They have the broadest distribution of any modern crocodile, ranging from the eastern coast of India, throughout most of Southeast Asia, stretching south to northern Australia, and historically ranging as far west as just beyond the eastern coast of Africa and as far east as waters off the coast of Japan.

It’s a formidable and opportunistic hypercarnivorous “apex” ambush predator capable of taking almost any animal that enters its territory, including humans.

The Spotted Seal (Phoca largha) inhabits ice floes and waters in the North Pacific Ocean and adjacent seas. It is sometimes mistaken for the Harbour seal, to which it is closely related as they often mingle together in areas where their habitats overlap.

They can dive to depths up to 300 m while feeding on a variety of ocean prey. Juveniles eat primarily krill and small crustaceans while adults eat a variety of fish including herring, arctic cod, Pollock, and Capelin. They do not seem to vocalize a lot, although they appear to vocalize more while in moulting groups. When approached in these groups, they make various sounds such as growls, barks, moans, and roars.

Based on satellite tracking conducted on Yellow Sea population, seals can migrate more than 3,300 km.

The Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is a marine mammal reaching a maximum confirmed length of 29.9 meters, a weight of 173 tonnes and is the largest animal known to have ever existed. Its body is greyish-blue, and lighter underneath. The five subspecies live in all major ocean basins, except the Bering Sea and the Arctic Ocean.

Blue whales feed on krill at the surface and at depths greater than 100 m, following their prey’s vertical migration through the water column. They capture krill through lunge feeding, that involves accelerating toward a prey patch, opening the mouth 80–90°, and inverting the tongue, creating a large sac. They then engulf a large volume of krill-laden water, up to 220 tons of water at one time, which is then squeezed out through their baleen plates under pressure from the ventral pouch and tongue.

The octopus is a soft-bodied, eight-limbed mollusc with two eyes and a beak, and a mouth at the centre point of the eight limbs. The soft body can rapidly alter its shape, enabling them to squeeze through small gaps. They trail their appendages behind them as they swim. The siphon is used both for respiration and for locomotion, by expelling a jet of water. Octopuses have a complex nervous system and excellent sight, and are among the most intelligent and behaviourally diverse of all invertebrates.

Octopuses inhabit various regions of the ocean, including coral reefs, pelagic waters, and the seabed; some live in the intertidal zone and others at abyssal depths. Strategies to defend themselves against predators include the expulsion of ink, the use of camouflage and threat displays, the ability to jet quickly through the water and hide, and even deceit.

The centre of the obverse is occupied by the modern coat of arms of Barbados, as adopted by royal warrant of Queen Elizabeth II on 14 February 1966. The coat of arms has a helmet with a national symbol on top, and a shield beneath that is supported by two animals – something common to former British possessions in the Caribbean. The arms were designed by Neville Connell, for many years curator of the Barbados Museum, with artistic assistance by Hilda Ince.

The national symbol found on top of the helmet for Barbados is the first of a Barbadian holding two stalks of sugar cane, that are crossed to resemble St. Andrew’s Cross. This is representative of the importance of the sugar industry as well as Barbados celebrating its national Independence Day on St. Andrew’s Day. The shield is gold. Upon it are a pair of the national flower, known as the Pride of Barbados, and a single bearded fig tree (Ficus citrifolia). The shield is supported by a dolphin fish and a pelican. They stand for the fishing industry and Pelican Island, respectively. At the bottom is Barbados’ national motto (“Pride and Industry”) on a scroll.

Surrounding the coat of arms is a wide ring filled with marine wildlife, for the Underwater World series, and jungle life on the Colours of Wildlife series