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....