Changi Beach on 29 Oct 2011

I was back on Changi Beach with a few friends today. Was rather worried that we may not see much stuff due to the rainy weather, but fortunately, there were still plenty to see! Here's a quick listing of some of the highlights:


A Sea Moth (Pegasus volitans) was found in a little tidal pool.


Several Transparent Sea Cucumbers (Paracaudina australis) were seen, and this one was in the process of burrowing into the sand.


There were many little Black Sea Urchins (Temnopleurus sp.), though instead of clustering around the same area like what I saw last time, they were rather spread out.


I only saw one Salmacis Sea Urchin (Salmacis sp.).


The Swimming Anemones (Boloceroides mcmurrichii) were definitely in season, as they were every where!


Again, I saw a pair of Tiger Moon Snails (Natica tigrina). Not sure if they were mating or trying to eat each other.


This tiny little Snapping Shrimp (Alpheus sp.) had very pretty blue claws.


Some Snapping Shrimps live commensally in other animals, such as the one above which lives in a soft coral colony.


There were quite a few small Haddon's Carpet Anemones (Stichodactyla haddoni), but I did not see any big ones.


Flower Crabs (Portunus pelagicus) were still common among the seagrass.


There were much fewer sea stars though. I saw a few small- and medium-sized Biscuit Sea Stars (Goniodiscaster scaber), but no huge ones.


There were a few small Cake Sea Stars (Anthenea aspera) too.


The Sand Stars (Astropecten sp.) starting appearing only after it turned dark.


There were still lots of Asian Date Mussels (Musculista senhousia) and their nests.


I found a sea pen, and saw many little brittle stars on it.


The sea pen also had a few commensal Porcelain Crabs (Porcellanella picta).


The resident Sea Apple (Pseudocolochirus axiologus) was still around! Can you see a little butterflyfish just above it in the photo to the left?


On the Sea Apple. I also saw this little crustacean - not too sure what it was though. Some isopod?


I spotted this Diamond Tuskfish (Halichoeres dussumieri) as it turned dark.


This Mantis shrimp (Harpiosquilla sp.). kept stirring up the sediment as I was trying to get a photo of it.


Under a rock, I found an Ovum Cowrie (Cypraea ovum), a Rock Star (Asterina coronata) and a little porcelain crab, among the other sessile organisms.


There's also a peanut worm. Previously from the phylum Sipuncula, recent studies shown that it's actually an annelid (phylum Annelida) which has lost its segments through evolution.


Tube Anemones were surprisingly abundant today.


And lastly, a pretty colony of sea pen.

As usual, Changi had lots to offer :)