Marine Life · Whelks

Variable burnupena (Burnupena lagenaria)

Variable burnupena outgrown by a slipper limpet. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2022). Shell is shorter (spire less than half the aperture length) and often has wavy dark flames.The commonest species on the South-East coast, where it has obvious coarse spiral ridges and its aperture is violet-brown, or yellow. On the West coast, it has an… Continue reading Variable burnupena (Burnupena lagenaria)

Science Communication · YouTube video

Need A Beak To Get There ? 🦜🌳 [9 min]

Let's Start A Conversation ! 💬 #7 - Biological & Ecological News Video published on my YouTube channel as part of the 'Let's Start A Conversation' playlist, that shares biological and ecological news in a fun and concise manner. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-kIKyRVS6k Sometimes, you live in a place where you find it hard to move around. Maybe… Continue reading Need A Beak To Get There ? 🦜🌳 [9 min]

Crabs & Others · Hermit Crabs · Marine Life

Blue-eyed hermit crab (Calcinus laevimanus)

Both hermit crabs live in the shells of Lunella coronata (formerly Turbo coronatus). Port St Johns, Wild Coast, Eastern Cape (2021) - iNaturalist Also called left-handed hermit crab. Nippers dark brown with white fingers, that of the left side greatly enlarged to block the shell opening when the crab withdraws. Eyes blue, eyestalks and first… Continue reading Blue-eyed hermit crab (Calcinus laevimanus)

Brittlestars · Echinoderms · Marine Life

Banded brittlestar (Ophiarachnella capensis)

Banded brittlestar under a boulder. Fishhoek, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Disc granular, arms strikingly patterned with alternating dark grey and pink (or red) bands. Very short spines flank the arms. The lower surface of the disc has a single long genital slit on either side of each arm. About 45 mm. Lives under boulders… Continue reading Banded brittlestar (Ophiarachnella capensis)

Crabs & Others · Marine Life · True crabs

Green rock crab (Grapsus fourmanoiri)

Green rock crab cruising in a rock pool. Port St Johns, Wild Coast, Eastern Cape (2021) - iNaturalist Very similar to the Natal rock crab in structure, but dull khaki-green tinged with yellow and with pale nippers. The sides of its carapace are almost straight, not obviously convex as in the Natal rock crab. About… Continue reading Green rock crab (Grapsus fourmanoiri)

Science Communication · YouTube video

Do You Speak Mermaid ? 🧜‍♀️ 🇺🇸 [9 min]

Let's Start A Conversation ! 💬 #6 - Biological & Ecological News Video published on my YouTube channel as part of the 'Let's Start A Conversation' playlist, that shares biological and ecological news in a fun and concise manner. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpeKrSgGniY Sounds and songs are a universal language. It spans through humankind and extends to the… Continue reading Do You Speak Mermaid ? 🧜‍♀️ 🇺🇸 [9 min]

Science Communication · YouTube video

No Money, No Data, No Biodiversity 💸 🇿🇦 [15 min]

Let's Start A Conversation ! 💬 #5 - Biological & Ecological News Video published on my YouTube channel as part of the 'Let's Start A Conversation' playlist, that shares biological and ecological news in a fun and concise manner. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufkR9h0EzVI&t=16s CONSERVATION, or the protection of wildlife and natural habitats is all the rave. New protected… Continue reading No Money, No Data, No Biodiversity 💸 🇿🇦 [15 min]

Gastropods · Marine Life · Turban shells & Nerites

Alikreukel (Turbo sarmaticus)

Large alikreukel covered in spiral fanworms (Spirorbis spp.) and pinkish barnacles. Old Woman's River, Eastern Cape (2021) - iNaturalist Also called the giant periwinkle, or the South African turban shell. Large and round, height less than width. About three rows of low nodules spiral around each whorl - though they may erode and disappear in… Continue reading Alikreukel (Turbo sarmaticus)

Marine Life · Whelks

Ridged burnupena (Burnupena cincta)

Ridged burnupena cruising at the bottom of a rock pool and covered with patches of encrusting coralline algae. Fishhoek, Western Cape (2020). Shell robust. Outer surface with coarse spiral ridges, although West Coast specimens may lack these. Aperture about 1.5 times longer than the spire. Posterior end of outer lip strongly kinked inwards. Dull brown,… Continue reading Ridged burnupena (Burnupena cincta)

Limpets · Marine Life

Pink-rayed limpet (Cymbula miniata)

Pink-rayed limpet overgrown by algae. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2021) - iNaturalist Shell thin, flat and nearly oval, with about 80 fine riblets that alternate in size and are slightly prickly. Pale, shot with numerous beautiful pink rays. Interior pale in the center and with a bluish sheen over the pink rays. About 80 mm.… Continue reading Pink-rayed limpet (Cymbula miniata)