Bluebottle washed on the rocks. Cape Agulhas, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Unmistakable with its inflated blue-green float and long trailing tentacles. Float 50 mm long, tentacles up to 10 m long, but contracting to about 30 cm. Floats on the surface of the sea and is vulnerable to being cast ashore by onshore winds.… Continue reading Indo-Pacific man-of-war (Physalia utriculus)
Tag: rocky shores
Mauve sea cucumber (Pentacta doliolum)
Contracted mauve sea cucumber found under a boulder. Old Woman's River, Eastern Cape (2021) - iNaturalist Body tough. Upper surface mauve-black, becoming pale grey on the flattened underside. Tubefeet strongly suctorial and restricted to five regular bands, each consisting of a double row. Ten irregularly-branched tentacles. A filter-feeder which forms dense beds on shallow reefs… Continue reading Mauve sea cucumber (Pentacta doliolum)
Oval urchin (Echinometra mathaei)
Oval urchin found between stones at the bottom of a rock pool. Port St Johns, Wild Coast, Eastern Cape (2021). Also referred to as the burrowing urchin or the rock-boring urchin. Test oval when viewed from above, purple to black. Spines fairly long and stout, tapering evenly to a sharp tip. Spine color purple, brown… Continue reading Oval urchin (Echinometra mathaei)
Slipper limpet (Crepidula porcellana)
Slipper limpet found attached on the shell of a Burnupena whelk. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2022). Shell in the shape of a tear, with concave internal shelf. Surface smooth, usually brown. About 15 mm. Lives attached on other shells, frequently forming stacks, one on top of another. Changes sex as it matures : the larger… Continue reading Slipper limpet (Crepidula porcellana)
Carpet flatworm (Thysanozoon brocchii)
Carpet flatworm cruising at the bottom of a rock pool. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2023) - iNaturalist Body pink with a frilly margin. Dorsal surface covered with pink to purple finger-like projections, which both camouflage the animal and increase the surface area available for oxygen exchange. Between 20 and 30 mm in length. Common under… Continue reading Carpet flatworm (Thysanozoon brocchii)
Red starfish (Callopatiria granifera)
Large red starfish found under a low-hanging rock at low tide. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2023) - iNaturalist Previously known as Patiria granifera. Arms clearly tapering and flattened on their lower surface, giving them a semi-circular cross section. Colour deep orange to red, with a surface texture resembling small overlapping tiles. Up to 80 mm… Continue reading Red starfish (Callopatiria granifera)
Tuberculate crab (Plagusia squamosa)
Composite image of the dorsal and underside view of a juvenile tuberculate crab recorded from the samples I processed during my PhD. Port Edward, KwaZulu-Natal (2022) - iNaturalist Also referred to as the scaly rock crab. Formerly considered a subspecies of Plagusia depressa (as Plagusia depress subsp. tuberculata). Similar to the Cape rock crab, except… Continue reading Tuberculate crab (Plagusia squamosa)
Pebble crab (Leucisca squalina)
Above and underside view of Leucisca squalina taken using a Leica microscope. Port Edward, KwaZulu-Natal (2022) - iNaturalist Carapace is light brown, sub-circular, broader than long, with a smooth dorsal surface and a moderately bi-lobed narrow front. Eyes hidden beneath the front. Chelipeds about half as long as carapace. Legs not granulated. Male abdomen with… Continue reading Pebble crab (Leucisca squalina)
Knobbly dogwhelk (Mancinella capensis)
Details of the rows of tubercles on the knobbly dogwhelk. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024) - iNaturalist Formerly named Thais capensis or Thylothais capensis. Spire almost as long as the aperture. Grey, with 3 - 4 spiral rows of obvious, paler tubercles. About 40 mm. Hides under rocks in low-shore pools or shallow waters. Eats… Continue reading Knobbly dogwhelk (Mancinella capensis)
Yellow-banded hermit crab (Clibanarius virescens)
Specimen of yellow-banded hermit crab peaking out of a scaly dogwhelk (Nucella squamosa) shell and trying to flip himself. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). Body olive-green. Nippers about equal in size, spotted with yellow. Fingers yellow with black tips. Walking legs banded with yellow. Between 10 and 20 mm. Abundant hermit crab in mid-to-high shore… Continue reading Yellow-banded hermit crab (Clibanarius virescens)
F*CK FISH 