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.

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


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!!

Sea cucumber.

Big Synaptid Sea cucumber.



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

Hairy crab.


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


Tubeworms




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


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. :)




Denison's nudibranch!!! :)


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. :)