ReefFriends Reef Survey Training @ Pulau Hantu.....

This morning, BWV ReefFriends conducted a reef survey training for some volunteers. The training focused on recording coral life-forms using the Line Intercept Transact (LIT) method.

The volunteers need to learn to record the life-form of the corals such as whether they are massive, sub-massive, foliage etc...














Sigh, we came across some corals that are not doing very well.



Some other stuffs besides corals we saw;


Featherstars or Crinoids can be seen out the the open on top of corals gathering food particles in the currents.


Tubeworm!



Pretty Flatworms!


A Mosaic crab hiding in the crevices. This is the most poisonous crab of Singapore and cooking does not destroy the toxins.




Nudibranch! Top-down: Pimply Phyllid nudibranc (Phyllidiella pustulosa), The "Godzilla" Ceratosoma nudibranch (Ceratosoma gracillimum) and the ever oh-so-CUTEEEE Polka-dot nudibranch (Jorunna funebris)


The False-clown Anemonefishes were pretty hostile as they were guarding their eggs. See the orange stuffs on the rock?

To Big Sisters With The Dukes.....

We were out at Big Sisters island with Dr Dan and his students from Duke University yesterday. Though the tide was not very low, the students still managed to see quite a couple of creatures like the Long-spined Black Sea Urchin, Giant Reef Worm, Octopus, lots of Spider Conch and some of these;


Rob found a File Clam (Lima lima) under a rock. It is a filter feeder and moves by fast clapping its two shell as well as forcing water out. When disturbed, the long sticky but harmless tentacles will break off and stick onto the predators.


Tiny Brittle stars can be seen under the rock too.


So is this Scaleworm.


And of course, lots of Bristleworms!


Another worm that we came across is this beautiful Flatworm.


Inside the lagoon, came across what looks like a Giant Carpet Anemone (Stichodactyla gigantea) with some white tentacles. This is the first time that I have seen such colour pattern in a Giant Carpet Anemone.


Here's a close-up of the tentacles. Hmmm.....wonder what causes the Anemone to have white tentacles?


The only Nudibranch we saw in abundance is the Polka-dot Nudibranch (Jorunna funebris).

Meanwhile, Ria found a little Seahare which I have never seen before.




After checking through the reference books and The Sea Slug Forum, this could be Aplysia parvula. And this could probably be the smallest species of Aplysia. And it is so CUTEEEE with little eyes looking at you! Awww....

Happy Year Of The Tiger!!!.....