Unfouled chiton on a rock, spines out. Fishhoek, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Shell valves dull brown with oblique pale stripes, largely buried by the wide girdle. Girdle dotted with small spicules and with a series of nine pairs of characteristic tufts of long glassy spines. 30 - 45 mm. Unusual in that it is… Continue reading Spiny chiton (Acanthochitona garnoti)
Tag: Western Cape
Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)
Two kelp gulls - only one visible - on a rock along the coast. Stormsrivier Mouth, Western Cape (2018) - iNaturalist The largest gull in the region, also called the Dominican gull. Heavily built, with relatively short wings (folded wings do not project well beyond the tail tip), a robust bill, a steep forehead, and… Continue reading Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)
Pear limpet (Scutellastra cochlear)
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)
Girdled dogwhelk (Trochia cingulata)
Whelk with spiral tube worms (Spirorbinae) and chiton on the shell. Jacobsbaai, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Previously know as Nucella cingulata. White or blue-grey, usually girdled with 1 to 4 strong spiral ridges. About 30 mm. Common among mussels, drilling neat cylindrical holes through their shells. The mussels can, however, retaliate by binding the… Continue reading Girdled dogwhelk (Trochia cingulata)
Granite limpet (Cymbula granatina)
Eroded limpet carrying smaller limpets on its shell. Hondeklipbaai, Northern Cape (2020). Previously known as Patella granatina. Similar in shape to the goat's eye limpet (Cymbula oculus), but taller, with about 15 major ribs. Distinctive granite-like chevron pattern on the upper surface, although this is often eroded away. Interior pale, with a narrow edging that… Continue reading Granite limpet (Cymbula granatina)
Sandy anemone (Bunodactis reynaudi)
Close-up of sandy anemones in a rock pool. Yzerfontein, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Column covered in flattened sticky knobs, to which sand and gravel particles adhere. Over 300 short tentacles, no spherules. Colours include brown, green, pink and blue. Up to 80 mm in diameter. Often crowded into sandy gullies, around the bases of… Continue reading Sandy anemone (Bunodactis reynaudi)
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)
False plum anemone (Pseudactinia flagellifera)
Details of the mauve-tipped tentacles. Cape Agulhas, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Column smooth, orange to red, tentacles red or yellow, often mauve-tipped. Cannot readily retract tentacles or close up. 3-5 rows of bubble-like, orange vesicles and one row of spherules just outside tentacles. 50 - 100 mm in diameter. Found singly, because aggressively territorial,… Continue reading False plum anemone (Pseudactinia flagellifera)
Hartlaub’s Gull (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii)
Non-breeding adult cruising the rocky shores, in search of sustenance. Yzerfontein, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Also known as the king gull. Short, thin and dark bill, with deep red legs. Eyes usually dark at all ages, but some birds have whitish eyes. Told from vagrant gulls in flight by grey underwing and mostly black… Continue reading Hartlaub’s Gull (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii)
F*CK FISH 