Mediterranean mussel bed surrounded by algae of all sorts. Yzerfontein, Western Cape (2020). Shell smooth, typically black or blue, shading to brown on the lower surface, but rarely light brown. Broad in cross-section and usually widest at base. Distinguished from Choromytilus meridionalis by pits in the resilial ridge. Up to 140 mm. Thought to be… Continue reading Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis)
Tag: Western Cape
Horseshoe sea cucumber (Roweia frauenfeldii)
Dug out horseshoe sea cucumber, with its U-shape, dark body, covered with shell bits and sediments. Doringbaai, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Two subspecies are present in South Africa : Roweia frauenfeldii subsp. frauenfeldii on the West and South coasts, and R. frauenfeldii subsp. webbi on the East Coast. Body arched into a typical U-shape,… Continue reading Horseshoe sea cucumber (Roweia frauenfeldii)
Longhorn sea-slater (Ligia glabrata)
Sea-slaters on the underside of a boulder. Jacobsbaai, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist An air-breathing species with a broad, flattened, smooth body. Antennae are longer than in Ligia dilatata, reaching the end of the thorax. Pleon segments not fused, and end of the telson rounded. Uropods rod-like and projecting well beyond the body. Up to… Continue reading Longhorn sea-slater (Ligia glabrata)
Shore crab (Cyclograpsus punctatus)
Small crab in a rock crevice. Jacobsbaai, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Carapace very smooth, except for a granular 'chest'. Sides of carapace convex, lacking marginal teeth, although a single low tooth lies just outside each eye. Nippers smooth. Body black or dark brown near the front, blending into a grey-green network towards the back.… Continue reading Shore crab (Cyclograpsus punctatus)
Variegated topshell (Oxystele antoni)
Two snails cruising on a rock surface in a shallow pool. Doringbaai, Northern Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Previously know as Oxystele variegata. Shell rounded, about as tall as wide, smooth or with very gentile spiral ridges. Colour extremely variable, but typically tabby-patterned with irregular dark bands that run obliquely across a pale-yellow or greenish background.… Continue reading Variegated topshell (Oxystele antoni)
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)
Tulip chiton (Rhyssoplax polita)
Close-up of a tulip chiton on a bed of coralline algae. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2023) - iNaturalist Previously Chiton tulipa. An attractive chiton with smooth pink valves streaked and flecked with a wide range of brown patches and zigzags. Girdle striped, covered with large, smooth overlapping scales. Typically 30 - 40 mm. A well-known… Continue reading Tulip chiton (Rhyssoplax polita)
Common sand hermit crab (Diogenes brevirostris)
Adult hermit crab walking around. Cape Agulhas, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Body dirty-white with darker speckles and spines. Brown stripes on last segments of walking legs. Left nipper thorny and much larger than the right. About 30 mm. Endemic to South Africa. Extremely common on sheltered sandbanks and in sandy pools. Buries in sand… Continue reading Common sand hermit crab (Diogenes brevirostris)
Red-chested sea cucumber (Hemiocnus insolens)
Subtidal sea cucumber deploying its tentacles, with details of the tube feet. Fishhoek, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Previously known as Cucumaria insolens, Trachythyone insolens or Pseudocnella insolens. Colour diagnostic. Intertidal specimens may be dark above with a red 'chest', but subtidal ones are uniformly bright red. Tube feet scattered dorsally, but in three bands… Continue reading Red-chested sea cucumber (Hemiocnus insolens)
Brooding chiton (Radsia nigrovirescens)
Eroding adult chiton with the scale details on the girdle. Jacobsbaai, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Previously Chiton nigrovirescens. Shell valves brownish-black with vague radiating ridges, girdle dark with large smooth scales, sometimes with a coppery sheen. 10 - 25 mm A small species found in groups under stones from the mid-intertidal downwards. Unusual in… Continue reading Brooding chiton (Radsia nigrovirescens)
F*CK FISH 