Natal rock crab waiting for the waves on rock boulders. Port St Johns, Wild Coast, Eastern Cape (2021) - iNaturalist Carapace black, usually speckled with green. Sides obviously convex. The posterior part of the carapace has about eight fine grooves that run outwards to the edge. Legs red-brown and yellow. Nippers dark red. 'Hand' weakly… Continue reading Natal rock crab (Grapsus tenuicrustatus)
Category: South Africa
Dwarf chiton (Ischnochiton oniscus)
Gang of dwarf chitons under a boulder. Old Woman's River, Eastern Cape (2021) - iNaturalist Colour often white but can occur in a wide variety of patterns and colours. Valves textured with fine pits, which are often arranged in rows, but lacking radiating ridges. Girdle narrow, covered in tiny scales that appear smooth to the… Continue reading Dwarf chiton (Ischnochiton oniscus)
Colonial worm-shell (Dendropoma corallinaceum)
A colony of colonial worm-shell on a rock boulder. Jacobsbaai, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist A small gregarious species forming an intertwining mass of long, white, worm-like tubes, often sunken into encrusting coralline algae. Operculum present. About 10 mm long. A filter-feeder which spins a mucus net to trap floating particles. Two Oceans: A Guide… Continue reading Colonial worm-shell (Dendropoma corallinaceum)
Crowned turban shell (Lunella coronata)
Eroded crowned turban shell in a shallow rock pool. Port St Johns, Wild Coast, Eastern Cape (2021) - iNaturalist Distinguished by its operculum, which has a greenish tinge and is smooth or has only a faint granulation. Shell with strong, spirally-arranged nodules, the uppermost row on the body whorl being particularly well developed and forming… Continue reading Crowned turban shell (Lunella coronata)
Different-leafed sargassum (Sargassum incisifolium)
Specimen of sargassum found in a rock crevice. Cape Agulhas, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Bushy yellow-brown plants with a triangular stem, small air-floats and two types of blades, attached to the substrate by a large conical holdfast that bears one or several strong perennial stems. The lower 'leaves' are oval and marginally toothed, while… Continue reading Different-leafed sargassum (Sargassum incisifolium)
Kelp limpet (Cymbula compressa)
Kelp limpet on a drifting kelp stem. Mouille Point, Cape Town, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Shell elongated, the sides compressed so that the opening is concave, designed to fit a cylindrical kelp stem. Shell 'rocks' on a flat surface. Outer surface brown, finely ribbed. Interior blue-white to brown. About 90 mm. Found almost exclusively… Continue reading Kelp limpet (Cymbula compressa)
African black oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini)
A couple of African black oystercatcher on mussel beds and worm reefs. Old Woman's River, Eastern Cape (2018) - iNaturalist A large dumpy, unmistakable wader with its jet-black body, short pink legs and bright orange-red bill and eyes.Birds occasionally have white patches on the belly or entire plumage dove-grey. Male's bill averages shorter and less… Continue reading African black oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini)
Pink-lipped topshell (Oxystele sinensis)
Large pink-lipped topshell on a bed of coralline algae. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2021) - iNaturalist Larger than the other Oxystele species. Round, blunt-spired shell with fine spiral sculpturing. Dark purple-black above. Aperture with a distinctive pink inner lip. About 45 mm. Lives moderately low on the shore, extending down to about 5 meters. Grazes… Continue reading Pink-lipped topshell (Oxystele sinensis)
Rayed limpet (Helcion pruinosus)
Rayed limpet with iridescent green spots and rays in a shallow rock pool. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2021) - iNaturalist Shell low, fragile and oval. Apex about one-third from the front margin. Surface smooth, pale brown, shot with beautiful iridescent green spots and rays. About 25 mm. Hides beneath low-shore boulders during the day, and… Continue reading Rayed limpet (Helcion pruinosus)
Sun oyster (Saccostrea cuccullata)
Sun oyster bed on a Natal rocky shore. Port St Johns, Wild Coast, Eastern Cape (2021) - iNaturalist Previously known as Crassostrea cuccullata. Also referred to as the Natal rock oyster. Lower valve deeply hollowed below the hinge and cemented to the rock. Upper valve relatively flat. Margins of both valves form a series of neatly… Continue reading Sun oyster (Saccostrea cuccullata)
F*CK FISH 