Brittlestars Heaven

The inter-tidal area at Bali is known to be very rich in biodiversity. Last year, I spent 3 days there and only managed to explore a fraction of the entire inter-tidal area. The same thing happened this year, I couldn't cover the entire area and never will I expects that I will be trapped by thousand of brittlestars!!

They are every where and I have to basically watch every of my step so that I don't step on them!

I took a short clip with my mobile.

Ghost Shrimps Vs Brittle Star

Thalasssinidean (Ghost) shrimps are burrowers, they construct branching burrows in muddy and sandy sediments or living in crevices under rocks and corals. This burrowing behavior makes them an important part of the marine environment.

During feeding and burrow construction, their constant movement helps mixing and transportation of particles and gases. The presence of burrows ultimately increases the oxygen content of the sediment leading to a healthier system.

Ghost shrimp maintain their burrow all the times.
They sometimes just wait in their burrow for the unlucky prey that make a wrong step. This Brittle star step on the wrong place and was immediately grab by the ghost shrimp.
The Ghost shrimp trying to pull the whole Brittle star into his burrow.

Just before the whole Brittle star got dragged into the burrow, the Brittle Star detach the arm that was grabbed by the ghost shrimp and escape The Ghost shrimp is back at the burrow entrance waiting for another unlucky prey after.

Brittle star that lost their arm can generate new arms and this have help them to escape from predators.

Changi Beach Surprise

I'm back at Changi beach after my last visit few month months ago. This time round, I have a few friends with me to explore this wonderful beach over the eastern part of Singapore. Peiya also join us here with her friend.


We saw lots of tiny crabs include several type of swimming crab and moon crabs.
A leaf porter crab taking cover under a piece of floating dry leaf.


Another leaf porter crab taking a ride under a piece of wood

This tiny crab that smaller than my finger is a baby moon crabs.

Not forgetting beautiful hermit crab
Brittle stars
Sand stars
Horse shoe crab

Bristle worms

There are lots of sea squirt
This large animal is Kalinga ornata as suggested by CH.
Close up of the naked gills

Not much info are available for this alien-look nudibranch. The red dot as seen in the photo will be fully extended whle in the water. Fact sheet on this species can be found on the Sea Slug Forum.