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)
Tag: Fishhoek
Cape urchin (Parechinus angulosus)
Purple urchin shading himself with the egg of a ray or a shark. Fishhoek, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Also called 'pumpkin shell'. Test round, densely covered in shortish, pointed spines which vary in length but never exceed about one-fifth test diameter.Colour variable, most often purple, but also green, red or pale. About 60 mm.… Continue reading Cape urchin (Parechinus angulosus)
African spiny starfish (Marthasterias africana)
Hunting bluish and orange spiny starfish. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2022) - iNaturalist Body salmon-pink, orange, deep blue or blue-grey. Aboral (dorsal) surface irregular, covered in conspicuous spines, each surrounded by a halo of minute pincer-like organs (called pedicellaria) that are used to keep the body surface clean. Tube-feet in 4 series. Small red eyespot… Continue reading African spiny starfish (Marthasterias africana)
Knobbly anemone (Bunodosoma capense)
Details of the tentacles and the papillae. Mouille Point, Cape Town, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Previously known as Bunodosoma capensis. Column streaked with small non-adhesive knobs, called papillae. Up to 96 spherules present in fosse.Papillae are usually darker and brighter in contrast with the background colour, which can be cream-white, pink, orange, red, blue… Continue reading Knobbly anemone (Bunodosoma capense)
Granular limpet (Scutellastra granularis)
An eroded limpet next to a younger limpet with its 'tentacles' out. Jacobsbaai, Western Cape (2020). Previously known as Patella granularis. Roughly oval, with approximately 50 fine ribs textured with white granules. Often eroded, smoothing the ribs and revealing a brown cap. Interior blue-white with a central brown patch and a dark border that is… Continue reading Granular limpet (Scutellastra granularis)
Dwarf cushion star (Parvulastra exigua)
Yellow starfish wrapped around algae. Doringbaai, Northern Cape (2020). Previously known as Patiriella exigua and Asterina exigua. Tiny, flattened, pentagonal starfish, with poorly developed arms. Dorsal surface made up of tile-like plates, each with a cluster of tiny knob-like spines. Gonophores on lower (oral) surface.Uniformly khaki-green of the West Coast, but variegated patterns of orange,… Continue reading Dwarf cushion star (Parvulastra exigua)
F*CK FISH 