Eroding adult chiton with the scale details on the girdle. Jacobsbaai, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Previously Chiton nigrovirescens. Shell valves brownish-black with vague radiating ridges, girdle dark with large smooth scales, sometimes with a coppery sheen. 10 - 25 mm A small species found in groups under stones from the mid-intertidal downwards. Unusual in… Continue reading Brooding chiton (Radsia nigrovirescens)
Category: Marine Life
Spiny chiton (Acanthochitona garnoti)
Unfouled chiton on a rock, spines out. Fishhoek, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Shell valves dull brown with oblique pale stripes, largely buried by the wide girdle. Girdle dotted with small spicules and with a series of nine pairs of characteristic tufts of long glassy spines. 30 - 45 mm. Unusual in that it is… Continue reading Spiny chiton (Acanthochitona garnoti)
Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)
Two kelp gulls - only one visible - on a rock along the coast. Stormsrivier Mouth, Western Cape (2018) - iNaturalist The largest gull in the region, also called the Dominican gull. Heavily built, with relatively short wings (folded wings do not project well beyond the tail tip), a robust bill, a steep forehead, and… Continue reading Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)
Giant chiton (Dinoplax gigas)
Adult chiton, with badly eroded valves, found in a rock crevice. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2021) - iNaturalist Also called 'armadillo'. Shell large with steeply arched grey or brown valves, usually badly eroded. Girdle brown and dotted with distinct tufts of small brown hairs. 70 to 100 mm in length. Usually found partially or totally… Continue reading Giant chiton (Dinoplax gigas)
Black chiton (Onithochiton literatus)
Adult chiton leaving a crevice. Port Edward, Kawzulu-Natal (2021) - iNaturalist Shell valves usually brownish-black, sculptured with wavy radiating lines, often badly eroded in larger specimens. Girdle broad, brown to black, velvety with minute embedded spicules. 25 - 50 mm in length. One of the few common chitons in Natal. Found in the open on… Continue reading Black chiton (Onithochiton literatus)
Pear limpet (Scutellastra cochlear)
Eroded adult limpet surrounded by its garden. Fishhoek, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Previously known as Patella cochlear, or cochlear limpet. Distinctively pear-shaped, often encrusted by coralline algae. Inner surface white, tinged blue and often mottled with black. Muscle scar is U-shaped and black. Around 50 mm. Large specimens may exceed 70 mm. Lives in… Continue reading Pear limpet (Scutellastra cochlear)
Girdled dogwhelk (Trochia cingulata)
Whelk with spiral tube worms (Spirorbinae) and chiton on the shell. Jacobsbaai, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Previously know as Nucella cingulata. White or blue-grey, usually girdled with 1 to 4 strong spiral ridges. About 30 mm. Common among mussels, drilling neat cylindrical holes through their shells. The mussels can, however, retaliate by binding the… Continue reading Girdled dogwhelk (Trochia cingulata)
Granite limpet (Cymbula granatina)
Eroded limpet carrying smaller limpets on its shell. Hondeklipbaai, Northern Cape (2020). Previously known as Patella granatina. Similar in shape to the goat's eye limpet (Cymbula oculus), but taller, with about 15 major ribs. Distinctive granite-like chevron pattern on the upper surface, although this is often eroded away. Interior pale, with a narrow edging that… Continue reading Granite limpet (Cymbula granatina)
Sandy anemone (Bunodactis reynaudi)
Close-up of sandy anemones in a rock pool. Yzerfontein, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Column covered in flattened sticky knobs, to which sand and gravel particles adhere. Over 300 short tentacles, no spherules. Colours include brown, green, pink and blue. Up to 80 mm in diameter. Often crowded into sandy gullies, around the bases of… Continue reading Sandy anemone (Bunodactis reynaudi)
Tentacled flatworm (Planocera gilchristi)
Two tentacled flatworms on the underside of a rock. Old Woman's River, Eastern Cape (2021) - iNaturalist Also referred to as Gilchrist's flatworm or the spotted flatworm. Body broadly oval, both ends being similarly rounded. Margin of the body 'frilly' (strongly folded) but dorsal surface smooth. Fairly firm consistency and very little transparent. Mottled brown… Continue reading Tentacled flatworm (Planocera gilchristi)
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