Last update: 22/10/15
Eric H. Biass
Monday, 13 April 2015 19:34
Sponge Anemone
| Aspect: | Pale green or brown translucent tentacles with transverse white bands. |
| Population: | Common, but not abundant. |
| Notable feature: | Samples herewith clearly display their oral area. |
| Environment: | As implied by its name, this species of anemone settles on encrusting sponges, but is much smaller in overall size than the Giant Anemone (q.v.) |
| Behaviour: | - |
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Anemones
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Thursday, 02 April 2015 12:23
Flagfin Mojarra
| Aspect: | Silver oblong body wiith somewhat elongated snout. Simlar outline, but Smaller than Yellowfin Mojarra (q.v.) |
| Population: | Common. |
| Notable feature: | Black blotch on forward end of dorsal fin and white tipped lower tail fin and ventral fins. |
| Environment: | Usually found in quiet shallow water bays |
| Behaviour: | Shy, difficult to approach for proper observation (unlike Yellowfin Mojarra). |
Published in
Small Silvery
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Wednesday, 01 April 2015 19:11
Ballyhoo
| Aspect: | Silvery, spindle-shaped body wiith long needle lower jaw. Long, pointed, thin and backswept tail fins |
| Population: | Common. |
| Notable feature: | Tip of jaw needle and upper tail fin are orange. |
| Environment: | Usually found close to the surface in quiet shallow water bays |
| Behaviour: | Extremely shy, very difficult to approach for proper observation. |
Published in
Small Silvery
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Friday, 27 March 2015 19:26
Mustard Hill Coral
| Aspect: | An encrusting species, so largely follows the surface of its substrate. Generally yellow-brown. |
| Population: | Common in certain areas. This sample is about 10 cm in diameter. |
| Notable feature: | Bumpy surface. |
| Environment: | Prefers quiet and relatively shollow waters, down to about 30 feet. |
| Behaviour: | - |
Published in
Stony corals
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Saturday, 21 March 2015 20:13
Rose Lace Coral
| Aspect: | Small. White and light pink branches. Tends to branch out in a single plane |
| Population: | Discreet, hides in overhangs |
| Notable feature: | When observed closely, reveals its nettle-like hair-thin stinging polyps |
| Environment: | Generally hangs from recess ceilings |
| Behaviour: | - |
Published in
Hydrozoans
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Saturday, 21 March 2015 19:23
Netted Barrel Sponge
| Aspect: | Light brown, generally vase-shaped (narrow foot). Relatively smooth brim. |
| Population: | Not as abundant as Giant Barrel Sponge. |
| Notable feature: | Distinctive reticulated outer surface. Thinner wall than Giant Barrel Sponge. |
| Environment: | Open waters |
| Behaviour: | - |
Published in
Sponges
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Monday, 28 April 2014 18:55
White Speckled Hermit
| Aspect: | Bright red overall and, as its English name indicates, Paguristes puncticeps features white dots, but these rest on "pimples". Also features bright blue eyes. Carries relatively large pincers. |
| Population: | Not common. |
| Notable feature: | Tip of legs are tipped with black needle-like "nails" |
| Environment: | Usually found close to coral-covered bottom. |
| Behaviour: | Must be approached slowly or will retract. |
Published in
Hermits
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Friday, 04 April 2014 18:50
White Grunt
| Aspect: | Blue-silvery body with yellow-gold touches (why is it called White Grunt remains a mystery): the latter in the form of yellow borders on the larger scales above the lateral line to create a pattern of diamonds, and longitudinal lines all over the head back to the gills and to an invisible border line above the head from one gill to the other. |
| Population: | Common. |
| Notable feature: | Lines only on the head. |
| Environment: | Usually found close to coral-covered bottom. |
| Behaviour: | Must be approached slowly. |
Published in
Grunts
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