Mollusca Day @ Terumbu Raya.....
We visited Terumbu Raya this morning. Think this my 3rd trip to this submerged patch reef just off west of Pulau Semakau. And what a Mollusca Day we had! From sightings of Sea Slugs to Clams etc.....
First up, Cephalopods.
A Octopus! Saw 2 of them today when it was already mid morning. Usually we get to see them more often at night and they tend to hide during daytime.
Two Pgymy Squids! They were feeding on a shrimp!
Came across two bundles of some Squid eggs.
Up next, the Bivalves/Clams.
A Burrowing Giant Clam (Tridacna crocea). I like the blue tints on its mantle!
A Fluted Giant Clam (Tridacna squamosa). Nice lined patterns it has!
James found an intact Bear Paw Giant Clam shell (Hippopus hippopus). The shell is more than 30cm across! This is probably the biggest and complete one that he had found so far.
And finally, the Gastropods.
Here are the naked ones, Nudibranch!
From top-dowm: the Pimply Phyllid nudibranch (Phyllidiella pustulosa), the Blue Dragon nudibranch (Pteraeolidia ianthina), Lined Chromodoris nudibranch (Chromodoris lineolata) and Polka-dot nudibranch (Jorunna funebris)
and the shelled ones.
Looks like a Ovum Cowrie.
A Tiger Cowrie! My first time seeing it at the intertidal! The other sightings for me are during divings at Pulau Hantu. How delightful to see such rare cowrie again!
Of course besides Mollusca, we came across other creatures too!
Flatworms!
A purplish Wiggly Star Anemone!
A Stonefish Sea Cucumber!
Mei Lin found this Purple Sea Cucumber which we commonly see them at our northern shores.
A tiny tiny False Clown Anemonefish at a Giant Carpet Anemone.
There were lots of the Blue-spotted Fantail Stingray.
Managed a shot of this Smasher Mantis Shrimp before it gone hiding into a hole.
It was a good day but unfortunately we also noticed a part of the reef that looks like it has been damaged by some boats running aground. There were "clean" coral rubbles and overturned coral heads.....Sigh.
First up, Cephalopods.
A Octopus! Saw 2 of them today when it was already mid morning. Usually we get to see them more often at night and they tend to hide during daytime.
Two Pgymy Squids! They were feeding on a shrimp!
Came across two bundles of some Squid eggs.
Up next, the Bivalves/Clams.
A Burrowing Giant Clam (Tridacna crocea). I like the blue tints on its mantle!
A Fluted Giant Clam (Tridacna squamosa). Nice lined patterns it has!
James found an intact Bear Paw Giant Clam shell (Hippopus hippopus). The shell is more than 30cm across! This is probably the biggest and complete one that he had found so far.
And finally, the Gastropods.
Here are the naked ones, Nudibranch!
From top-dowm: the Pimply Phyllid nudibranch (Phyllidiella pustulosa), the Blue Dragon nudibranch (Pteraeolidia ianthina), Lined Chromodoris nudibranch (Chromodoris lineolata) and Polka-dot nudibranch (Jorunna funebris)
and the shelled ones.
Looks like a Ovum Cowrie.
A Tiger Cowrie! My first time seeing it at the intertidal! The other sightings for me are during divings at Pulau Hantu. How delightful to see such rare cowrie again!
Of course besides Mollusca, we came across other creatures too!
Flatworms!
A purplish Wiggly Star Anemone!
A Stonefish Sea Cucumber!
Mei Lin found this Purple Sea Cucumber which we commonly see them at our northern shores.
A tiny tiny False Clown Anemonefish at a Giant Carpet Anemone.
There were lots of the Blue-spotted Fantail Stingray.
Managed a shot of this Smasher Mantis Shrimp before it gone hiding into a hole.
It was a good day but unfortunately we also noticed a part of the reef that looks like it has been damaged by some boats running aground. There were "clean" coral rubbles and overturned coral heads.....Sigh.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home