Limpets · Marine Life

Bearded limpet (Scutellastra barbara)

A bearded limpet on a rock surface. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). Highly variable, but typically tall, with strong, spiky ribs. Sides of the foot white, speckled grey. About 80 mm. Maximum size : 100 mm (Kensley, 1973; Kilburn & Rippey, 1982). Occurs on the low-shore and subtidally. On the East Coast, it defends 'gardens'… Continue reading Bearded limpet (Scutellastra barbara)

Limpets · Marine Life

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)

Echinoderms · Marine Life · South Africa · Starfish

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)