After searching for so long, Ron finally found one today! Although is slightly smaller than the one we usually found sometimes ago at Semakau, this is really a good sign. Hope to see more of them in the coming tidal walks.
Cushion Star (Culcita novaeguineae)
This is another sea cucumber that I don't remember seen it at Semakau before. This probably a Holothuria impatiens sea cucumber. It release thick nylon string like things when we stand near. This is the defense mechanism of sea cucumber. The white nylon string like thing is very sticky and strong. Once sticked, it is very difficult to remove. This will confuse their predator and give them some time to burrow or hide from their predator.We however didn't manage to find any of its relative - Sandfish (Holothuria scabra) sea cucumber.
Instead we saw this Stonefish (Actinopyga lecanora) at the sea grass bed.
We also saw quite a few jelly fish. However, what caught my attention is not the jelly fish. But the small fish that with the same colour swimming under the umbrella and within the tentacles. I have no idea what kind of relationship between the jelly fish and the small fish.
Can you see the fish swim between the tentacles of the jelly fish?
After taking a close look, I still don't know the id of this small fish.
Other interesting find such as this Giant clam (Tridacna squamosa)
Chromodoris lineolata nudibranch
Knobbly Sea Star (Protoreaster nodosus)
Big colourful gobies
Several flatworm
Mushroom corals (Heliofungia actiniformis) with very bright green colour
Not forgetting lots of lovy Common Sea Star (Archaster typicus)
I also saw this small insect that sing very loud - cicada while on the way back. They are the one that make forest sound so uniquely.I'll be back here again tomorrow to share this wonderful creatures with more people.
I think the juveniles of some fish species are known to hang around among the tentacles of jellyfish for protection.
ReplyDelete