Angelfish is a freshwater ornamental fish with laterally compressed round body and elongated triangular shaped dorsal and anal fins. The genus name of the angelfish, ‘Pterophyllum’, roughly translated from the Greek language, means ‘winged leaf’, relating to its tall, laterally compressed shape, and gliding motion. It is a piscivorous species that prey on small fish [...]

Rice Eel or Monopterus albus is a freshwater eel-like fish belonging to the Synbranchidae family. It is popularly known as “igat” or “palos” here in the Philippines. This family is native to the fresh, brackish, tropical, and subtropical waters of Asia, but is now present in West Africa and North, Central and South America. Monopterus [...]

Milkfish or popularly known as “bangus” is the Philippines national fish. The demand for milkfish is increasing yearly as the consumer population increases. The popularity of milkfish as a food fish may be traced to its abundance in the local market as well as to its good and tasty white meat. However, with the growing [...]

Rice-fish culture involves farmers introducing another ‘crop’ into their rice fields – small, indigenous fish.  This technique is good for both the fish and the rice.  Safely hidden from birds, the fish thrive in the dense rice plants, while they in turn provide a source of fertilizer with their droppings, eat insect pests and help [...]

The Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens), also known as pla-kad or trey krem (“Fighting Fish”) in Thailand,  is a popular species of freshwater aquarium fish.  The fish is a member of the gourami family (family Osphronemidae) of order Perciformes, but was formerly classified among the Anabantidae. Although there are nearly 50 other members of the [...]

The golden apple snail (Pomacea Tcanalicuta), locally known as golden kuhol, was first introduced into Philippine farms in 1983.  It is now cultured all over the country because it is easy to raise and is good for food.  An average-sized golden kuhol contains protein, carbohydrates, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, riboflavin, and niacin. In addition to its [...]

Pigeons are passerine birds in the Columbidae family, which is widely spread across the world. Like other passerines, pigeons have uniquely designed feet which allow them to perch, along with characteristically plump bodies, stubby beaks and legs, and small heads. Pigeons come in a wide variety of sizes and colors.  Some pigeons have drab brownish [...]

Koi  or more specifically nishikigoi , literally “brocaded carp”, are ornamental domesticated varieties of the common carp that are kept for decorative purposes in outdoor ponds and water gardens.  They are also called Japanese carp.  In Japanese symbolism the koi represents perserverance in adversity and strength of purpose. Koi were developed from common carp in [...]

Turkey or Domesticated turkey is a large poultry bird.  The modern domesticated turkey descends from the wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), one of the two species of turkey (genus Meleagris); in the past the ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata) was also domesticated.  The turkey is raised throughout temperate parts of the world and is a popular form [...]

Quail is a collective name for several genera of mid-sized birds in the pheasant  family Phasianidae.  New World quails (family Odontophoridae) and buttonquails  (family Turnicidae) are not closely related but named for their similar appearance and behaviour. Quails are small, plump terrestrial birds and generally weighing less than two pounds. They are seed eaters but [...]