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)
Tag: rocky shore
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)
Vertical zonation on the rocky shores around the coast of South Africa
Coastal Research Group (Rhodes University) - SciFest 2022, Makhanda (Eastern Cape, South Africa) High quality PDF available on demand.
Food webs of the South African rocky shores
Coastal Research Group (Rhodes University) - SciFest 2022, Makhanda (Eastern Cape, South Africa) High quality PDF available on demand.
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)
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)
Starred cushion (Iyengaria stellata)
Star cushion alga in a rock pool. Cape Agulhas, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Plants yellow-brown, forming thin, globose cushions of compacted branching tubes, irregularly furrowed and convoluted. Surface covered with knobbly protuberances. Thalli at first solid but older plants becoming hollow in the center. Up to 10 cm in diameter and 3 to 4… Continue reading Starred cushion (Iyengaria stellata)
F*CK FISH 