Lone eroded mussel in a rock crevice. Hondeklipbaai, Northern Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Easily recognised by the strong wavy ridges running the length of the shell. Shell brown in juvenile, but becomes blue-black in larger individuals. Eroded areas are white. Up to 90 mm. Forms extensive beds low in the intertidal and on rocky reefs… Continue reading Ribbed mussel (Aulacomya atra)
Category: Marine Life
Cape rock crab (Guinusia chabrus)
Crab hiding under a boulder. Hondeklipbaai, Northern Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Formerly known as Plagusia chabrus. Carapace smooth and velvety in texture, with two notches between the eyes that house the first antennae, and three marginal teeth. Colour red-brown, with orange-yellow ridges on the legs, and rows of yellow tubercles on the nippers. About 50… Continue reading Cape rock crab (Guinusia chabrus)
Prickly limpet (Helcion pectunculus)
Two limpets with eroded tips in a rock crevice. Doringbaai, Northern Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Shell tall, oval in outline, apex positioned very close to the anterior end, dark brown in colour with about 26 black ribs that are distinctively prickled. About 30 mm. Lives very high on the shore, concealed in crevices or beneath… Continue reading Prickly limpet (Helcion pectunculus)
Variegated topshell (Oxystele antoni)
Two snails cruising on a rock surface in a shallow pool. Doringbaai, Northern Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Previously know as Oxystele variegata. Shell rounded, about as tall as wide, smooth or with very gentile spiral ridges. Colour extremely variable, but typically tabby-patterned with irregular dark bands that run obliquely across a pale-yellow or greenish background.… Continue reading Variegated topshell (Oxystele antoni)
Duck’s foot limpet (Scutellastra longicosta)
Two adult limpets surrounded by their algal garden. Fishhoek, Western Cape (2020). Also called 'long-spined limpet'. Shell star-shaped, with about 11 very long projecting ribs. Interior white or blue-white with a black edging. About 70 mm. Juveniles live on other shells, feeding on the encrusting alga Ralfsia. Sub-adults then move to the rock face and… Continue reading Duck’s foot limpet (Scutellastra longicosta)
Lemon pleurobranch (Berthellina granulata)
Details of the tubes housing the rhinophores. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2023) - iNaturalist Also called lemon gumdrop. Body smooth, yellow to orange, often with white spots. Shell fragile and internal. Single gill under the mantle edge on the right side. About 30 mm in length. Commonly found in pairs under boulders intertidally and on… Continue reading Lemon pleurobranch (Berthellina granulata)
Tulip chiton (Rhyssoplax polita)
Close-up of a tulip chiton on a bed of coralline algae. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2023) - iNaturalist Previously Chiton tulipa. An attractive chiton with smooth pink valves streaked and flecked with a wide range of brown patches and zigzags. Girdle striped, covered with large, smooth overlapping scales. Typically 30 - 40 mm. A well-known… Continue reading Tulip chiton (Rhyssoplax polita)
Striped anemone (Anthothoe stimpsonii)
Two striped anemones partially open in the crack of a rock pool. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024) - iNaturalist Also called humbug anemone. Live anemones exist in many different colours, ranging from green to orange. Column light green, brown, orange, yellow, white, transparent, grey or flesh. Column and tentacles without bright spots. Column smooth, not… Continue reading Striped anemone (Anthothoe stimpsonii)
Common sand hermit crab (Diogenes brevirostris)
Adult hermit crab walking around. Cape Agulhas, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Body dirty-white with darker speckles and spines. Brown stripes on last segments of walking legs. Left nipper thorny and much larger than the right. About 30 mm. Endemic to South Africa. Extremely common on sheltered sandbanks and in sandy pools. Buries in sand… Continue reading Common sand hermit crab (Diogenes brevirostris)
Red-chested sea cucumber (Hemiocnus insolens)
Subtidal sea cucumber deploying its tentacles, with details of the tube feet. Fishhoek, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Previously known as Cucumaria insolens, Trachythyone insolens or Pseudocnella insolens. Colour diagnostic. Intertidal specimens may be dark above with a red 'chest', but subtidal ones are uniformly bright red. Tube feet scattered dorsally, but in three bands… Continue reading Red-chested sea cucumber (Hemiocnus insolens)
F*CK FISH 