Discovery @ Labrador Mangroves on 25 Nov 2007

Thirty third Discovery posting:

(Entry @ 28 Nov 2007: Got the ID for first 'discovery')

Yesterday, i had initially planned to explore the Sentosa shores after a short trip to Changi Beach on Sunday. But decided to join the others in exploring the Labrador mangroves since i haven't really been in many mangroves compared to Inter-tidal areas.

Anyway, after reaching Labrador Park, we approached the mangrove area through a new extension in the park, and along the pavement, several different flowering species of plants were seen, and here's one of the flowers we saw along the way (picture below). I'm not good with plants, anyone has any idea which plant this is?
Although Han Chong really wanted me to walk in front, as i attract mosquitoes (especially females), i was at the back, hehehe. Here's a photo of almost everyone walking into the mangrove area (picture below)Along the way, we spotted some interestingly looking snails, they were very small, red in colour and there were loads of them... anyone has any idea what is their ID? Oh, by the way, first 'discovery'.

Entry @ 28 Nov 2007: ID of snail: Red berry snail, sphaerassiminea miniata. Thanks to Ron for the ID! Discovery Note (Entry @ 28 Nov 2007):
1. They have a bright, brick-read shell, short stumpy pair of red eye-stalks and they move in a jerky way.
2. They are well adapted to live out of water, they have a lung instead of gills for respiration.
3. They presumably graze on detritus and surface algae on the mud.

The challenge we faced when we were walking in the mangroves was that the ground was very soft and thus our feet sink whenever we make a step, here's a picture to show you what i mean(picture below). And at times, one would be unlucky to step on very soft ground and experience the natural mangrove mud leg treatment. (picture below) Oh, by the way, that's Juan Hui in the picture. =P Too bad, i forgot to ask her to smile for the camera as i asked Angie back in Semakau recently.

Moving deeper into the mangroves, we spotted this boat, what was this doing there?Anyway, very soon, we decided to call it a day in the mangroves as we seem to be sinking down instead of walking forward most of time.

Here are the foots of the five who went for the exploration (picture below). From 12 o'clock (Juan Hui, Han Chong, Andy, Myself and Tiong Chin) As the tide was still low when we ended our mangrove exploration, we decided to take a look at the inter-tidal area just next door to the mangroves.

Although the water was murky, i did managed to spot this carpet anemone, second 'discovery' (picture below).
Discovery Note:
1. They have stinging cells in their tentacles, usually these tentacles are only exposed under water, but there have been cases where people have been stung when these are touched when these anemones are above water, so for your own safety, don't touch them with your naked hands.
2. They lack an anus, so they split out any indigestible food through its mouth.

As i walked around, i soon spotted a shell with some trail marks around it. I wonder if it was a hermit crab and decided to check it out. Oh, a stripped hermit crab (picture below), third 'discovery'.Discovery Note:
1. For a long time, i thought the stripped hermit crab can only be found on our northern shores. Well, this is a new discovery for me. =)

There were also a number of abandoned nets around the inter-tidal area and in the mangroves. And in one of the nets found in the inter-tidal, we found two horseshoe crabs trapped inside. They must have died after being trapped in the net. =( Side Note:
Besides not picking sea shells from the shores, we shouldn't throw nets into the waters near our shores so there will not be any abandoned nets and to prevent something like this (picture above) to happen again.

No matter what, i have to thank Andy for organising this trip and everyone else for turning up!

Extra:
Juan Hui's entry on this trip here.

Recent concerns on the shores of Labrador:
1. Wildfilm's entry
2. Justin's entry