Aloha all. This is another one of these photo diary things. This week we go back under the waves off the island of Oahu to look at some sea creatures. I hope you enjoy your visit.
Green Turtle gets a little shell cleaning from a goldring surgeonfish
CNIDARIANS
Honeycomb Coral Gardineroseris planulata
I could be wrong on this identification. The photos in my Corals of Hawai'i book are not great. Cnidarians are simple animals that are basically a stomach and a mouth and include hydroids, jellyfish, anenomes and corals.
FLATWORMS (Phylum Platyhelminthes)
Divided Flatworm Pseudoceros c.f. dimidiatus
Flatworms are the simplest of worms and were the first creatures to develop bilateral symmetry.
Fuchsia Flatworm Psuedoceros ferrugineus
Named after the explorer Francis Fuchsia. The bright color probably means it is highly toxic. One of those two factoids is not a joke.
You can tell flatworms from nudibranchs by the lack of rhynophores and gills and they are flatter.
MOLLUSCS
Order Nudibranchia
Gold Lace Nudibranch Halgerda terramtuentis
Known only in Hawai'i. This specimen is facing away so you cannot see the two rhynophores or sensory organs common to nudibranchs.
Snow Goddess Nudibranch Glossodoris poliahu
Named after the Hawaiian snow goddess Poli'ahu, sister of Pele.
Imperial Nudibranch Risbecia imperialis
Often seen in pairs one trailing the other, like this:
Pustulose Phyllidia Phyllidiella pustulosa
This creature feeds on poisonous sponges that it incorporates and concentrates in its own tissue. Rule of thumb: if it is small and brightly colored it is probably toxic.
Desirable Nudibranch Flabellina exopata
This creature eats stinging hydroids and incorporates the stinging cells. The rhynophores are two orange features on the end.
MOLLUSCS (cont.)
Order Octopoda
Day Octopus Octopus cyanea
Always amazing creatures, probably the most intelligent invertebrate.
Retreating into a hole in the reef.
CRUSTACEANS
Order Decapoda
Red Reef Lobster Enoplometopus occidentalis
Scaly Slipper Lobster Scyllarides squammosus
Closeup view of antennae and eye.
Bloody Hermit Crab Dardanus sanguinocarpus
Cute huh?
Now we change Phyla to Cordata, which includes the vertebrates.
FISHES - Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Commerson's Frogfish (juvenile) Antennarius commerson
Frontal view.
Stout Moray Gymnothorax eurostus
Yellow Margin Moray Gymnothorax flavimarginatus
I am going to end this diary here. Please feel free to use this as a community photo diary and as always, be good humans.
If you have a problem I refer you to the Complaint Department...