By Nivritti Khatri | 1 August 2025
Often called a “living fossil,” the coelacanth was believed extinct for 65 million years until its rediscovery in 1938. Found near the Comoros Islands, this deep-sea fish has limb-like fins and can live up to 100 years.
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These gentle, herbivorous marine mammals are found in shallow coastal areas, especially around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Once abundant, their numbers are now declining due to habitat destruction and human interference.
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The world’s largest fish species can be found in warm Indian Ocean waters near India’s western coast and the Maldives. Despite their size, they are filter feeders and pose no threat to humans.
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This critically endangered seabird is endemic to Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean. With a wingspan of over 2 meters, it rarely lands on water and relies on aerial agility to steal food from other birds.
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Known for their unique hump and coastal habits, these dolphins are found near India, Sri Lanka, and East Africa. They face serious threats from pollution, fishing nets, and habitat encroachment.
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Among the rarest bats in the world, this insect-eating mammal is endemic to the Seychelles and is critically endangered due to deforestation and loss of roosting sites.
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Only identified in 2003, Omura’s whale is among the rarest and least studied whales. It has been sighted off the coasts of Sri Lanka and Madagascar and is known for its slender body and unique vocal patterns.
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Native to the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles, this massive tortoise species was once nearly extinct. Conservation efforts have helped, but it remains a rare emblem of the Indian Ocean’s unique biodiversity.
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Though found throughout the Indo-Pacific, sightings of the Goliath Grouper in the Indian Ocean are rare due to overfishing. This massive reef predator can weigh up to 360 kg and live for over 40 years.
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Discovered only in 2003 in the Western Ghats (which drain into the Indian Ocean), this bloated, subterranean frog spends most of its life underground and emerges only for a few days each year to breed.
Image Credit: Wikipedia