Dhandifulhu Dhooni – White-tailed Tropicbird
The White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus), locally known in the Maldives as Dhandifulhu Dhooni, is a distinctive tropical seabird and an important native…
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Kirudhooni – Black-naped Tern
The Black-naped Tern (Sterna sumatrana), locally known as Kirudhooni (Kiru dhooni), is one of the most familiar breeding seabirds of the Maldives.…
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Rathafai Ilolhi – Common Redshank
The Common Redshank (Tringa totanus), locally known in the Maldives as Rathafai Ilolhi (ރަތަފައި އިލޮޅި), is a medium-sized migratory wading bird belonging…
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Bondana – Tibetan Sand-Plover
The Tibetan Sand-Plover (Anarhynchus atrifrons), locally known as Bodana or Bondana, is a small migratory shorebird of the plover family, Charadriidae. In…
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Yellow Mangrove (Ceriops tagal) – Karamana
Karamana (ކަރަމަނަ), scientifically known as Ceriops tagal, is a true mangrove species belonging to the family Rhizophoraceae. It is commonly known in…
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Glossy Ibis – Kalhu Bulhithunbi
Plegadis falcinellus The Glossy Ibis, locally known as Kalhu Bulhithunbi, is an uncommon migratory waterbird recorded in the Maldives. It belongs to…
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Blue Pansy Butterfly (Junonia orithya)
The Blue Pansy (Junonia orithya) is a medium-sized butterfly belonging to the brush-footed butterfly family, Nymphalidae. It is recognised by the brilliant…
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Dhon Dheeni – Blue-billed White-Tern (Gygis candida)
The Dhon Dheeni (ދޮންދީނި), known in English as the Blue-billed White-Tern, is a small, entirely white seabird belonging to the gull and…
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Horn-eyed Ghost Crab – Kirukakuni
The crab shown in these photographs appears to be the horn-eyed ghost crab or horned ghost crab (Ocypode ceratophthalmus). It can be…
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Dark-branded Bushbrown (Mycalesis mineus)
The Dark-branded Bushbrown (Mycalesis mineus), also called the Dark-brand Bushbrown, is a brown butterfly belonging to the family Nymphalidae and the subfamily…
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White-breasted Waterhen – Kanbili
The White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus), locally known as ކަނބިލި — Kanbili, is a medium-sized wetland bird found on many islands of the…
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Village Weaver (Ploceus cucullatus) – an Introduced Bird in the Maldives
The Village Weaver (Ploceus cucullatus) is a small, brightly coloured bird belonging to the weaver family, Ploceidae. It is native to much…
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Beach Launaea (Kulhafi la)
Launaea sarmentosa (Willd.) Sch.Bip. ex Kuntze is a low-growing coastal herb belonging to the family Asteraceae. It is commonly found on sandy…
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Plain Tiger Butterfly (Danaus chrysippus) in the Maldives
Introduction The Plain Tiger butterfly (Danaus chrysippus) is one of the most common and easily recognizable butterflies in the Maldives. Its local…
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Papilio polytes (Common Mormon)
A complete life cycle observation of Papilio polytes The Common Mormon, Papilio polytes, is one of the swallowtail butterflies that can be…
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Acropora gemmifera
Acropora gemmifera is a species of reef-building stony coral belonging to the family Acroporidae. It is widely distributed across the Indian Ocean…
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Pocillopora meandrina
Pocillopora meandrina, commonly known as the cauliflower coral, is a species of reef-building stony coral found throughout the Indo-Pacific and Pacific Oceans,…
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Maakashikeyo – Pandanus odoratissimus
The maakashikeyo (Pandanus odoratissimus) is one of the most significant tree species in the Maldives. Known in English as pandanus, screw pine,…
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Maldivian Pond Heron – Huvadhoo Raabondhi
The Maldivian Pond Heron, known locally as Huvadhoo Raabondhi, is a captivating symbol of the Maldives’ avian diversity. This subspecies of the…
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Bruguiera gymnorrhiza – Boda Vaki
Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, known locally in Dhivehi as Bodu Kandoo or Boda Vaki, is one of the most significant mangrove species in the…
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Sonneratia caseolaris – Kuhlhavah
Sonneratia caseolaris, commonly known as the mangrove apple, belongs to the genus Sonneratia, which consists of nine distinct species, including seven primary…
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Euphorbia hirta – Kiruthona
Euphorbia hirta, known locally in the Maldives as Kiruthona, is a small annual herb valued for its medicinal properties. Commonly referred to…
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Hunigondi Filaa – Phyla nodiflora
Hunigondi Filaa is a very common medicinal plant in the Maldives. From my childhood, I remember hearing my mom and others in…
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Wandering Midget – Agriocnemis pygmaea
The Agriocnemis pygmaea, also known as the wandering midget or pygmy wisp, is a fascinating species of damselfly belonging to the family…
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Ischnura senegalensis – Common Bluetail Damselfly
Ischnura senegalensis, also known as the common bluetail, marsh bluetail, ubiquitous bluetail, African bluetail, or Senegal golden dartlet, is a widespread damselfly…
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