For First time visitors...

WELCOME!!

This blog serves to document my sightings of fauna/flora in Singapore!! And by doing so, I hope that the reader would realise that there are still pockets of natures even though most of Singapore is urbanised. Also, more importantly, knowing what we have could be the first step to protecting them. :)

CONSERVATION starts right here at home!!!

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Writer is out of town till end of Dec.
Please do return to visit this blog in Jan 2010. :)

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Cyrene...

As expected, the number of knobbly seastar (Protoreaster nodosus) around is A LOT, compared to the other reefs I've been too!!! These poor creatures are harvested and sold in aquariums. Cyrene is the only place where their population is rather stable. Every animal deserve their right to live!!! I've decided to photo of every knobbly seastar I've seen on cyrene.

Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket

There is just one Knobbly seastar which was in a really really weird position... ANyone knows why it is the way it is???
Photobucket

Worm eel
(Family Ophichthidae). Though these are common animals, this is actually my first sighting for them. They are very active burrowers. It looks like a worm but it is actually a fish!!
Photobucket

Sea cucumber.
Photobucket

Big Synaptid Sea cucumber.
Photobucket
Photobucket

Common Seastar. There are tons of these around... Can you see the seastar?
Photobucket
Photobucket

Hairy crab.
Photobucket

Huge anemone. But i'm not sure of its ID...
Photobucket

Tubeworms
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket

Gum drop ascidians. Lots of these on the thick patches of seagrasses.
Photobucket

Turban snail. Though these snails are common even at other sites, I learn something new about these snails during this trip. They have an additional shell-like operculum. :)
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket

Denison's nudibranch!!! :)
Photobucket

The best find for today are the fresh eggs in the branching coral. Although I've seen in during diving, I've never seen them during low tide before. :)
Photobucket
Photobucket

Friday, June 26, 2009

Of seahorse, octopus, rare crabs and so much more AT Beting Bemban Besar!!!

Hi all!!! For those who are wondering where this place is, Beting Bemban Besar is a submerged reef near to Pulau Semaukau and is seen during low tide. This is our first trip there and I found the reef rather healthy and fauna diversity is rich!!! However, one thing I realise is the lack of seastar. Several members of teams also had the same comment though Ria saw one knobbly sea star...

Pipefish
Photobucket

Tiger-tailed Seahorse (Hippocampus comes). SUPER HUGE ONE!!! at least 10cm. The patterns are very interesting... Seahorses are listed as CITES II (which means their international trade is monitored) and are considered globally vulnerable.
Photobucket

Upside down jellyfish (Cassiopea sp.) The animal prefers to be 'upside down', with its bell facing the sea floor and tentacles facing upwards toward the light. When one it turned the 'right' way up, it will slowly turn itself upside down again. Interesting aint?
Photobucket

Heart Urchin???
Photobucket

Noble Volute (Cymbiola nobilis). Was so lucky to see it laying eggs!!!! :)
Photobucket

Horseshoe crab (Family Limulidae). Though they are called "crabs", like hermit crabs, they are true crabs... The long spine is not a weapon, it's used to turn the animal upright again. Below is a pair that is mating... :P
Photobucket

Close up on one of them.
Photobucket

Mosaic Reef Crab (Lophozozymus pictor) At first when I saw it, I was very excited as it's been a while since i see them!! :) Rarely seeing them explains the fact this crab is an endangered species. However I realised that the eyes are missing. It is a moult???
Photobucket

Floral egg crab (Atergatis floridus). This is the first time seeing this rare crab. This crab is listed as a vulnerable species under the Red list of Singapore.
Photobucket

Marine Spider??? These creatures are rather abundant. They move very fast and sensitive to movement in their environment. I've not sure what these are but it does look like spider. Since the reef would be submerged when the tides return, so the "spider" can breathe underwater??
Photobucket

Sleeping Octopus.
Photobucket

Wriggly Star Anemone.
Photobucket

Flatworm.
Photobucket

Polka-dot Nudibranch (Jorunna funebris)
Photobucket

From here onwards, corals overload!!!! :) But please pardon me for not giving the ID, I'm really bad at ID-ing the corals...
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket