Semakau Inter-Tidal Walk on 25 May 2008

Sixty first discovery Posting:

Was up again in the wee hours of the morning to go for another walk at Semakau =P.

Today, I had a group of 'Giant Clams' from Tampines Secondary School with me. Oh, this posting will be short as I need to go pack my bags for a trip to Tioman tomorrow.

So here's a little of the things we saw on today's walk. First 'discovery' is a upside down jelly fish. The top side(picture below).
The underside side(picture below).
Discovery Note:
1. Its name is thus because you will usually find this jellyfish upside down.
2. The upside down position allows zooxanthellae which lives on the underside of the jellyfish to get sunlight so they can photosynthesize.
3. And the zooxanthellae when photosynthesizing shares its food with the jellyfish, while the jellyfish gives the zooxanthellae a place to call home.
4. So they have a symbiotic relationship.

Second 'discovery' is a type of jellyfish which we have spotting in numbers recently (picture below) . This kinda of suggests that this species of jellyfishes are probably seasonal in our waters.
Discovery Note:
1. All jellyfishes have stinging cells. So it is advised not to touch them at all.
2. Most of my friends who have been stung by them before reported a very painful experience.
3. Jellyfishes belong to the phylum of Cnidarians, other Cnidarians include Corals and Anemones.

'Giant Clams' also got the chance to meet themselves, the giant clam! But as the tide was a bit too high today, thus I didn't get a picture of it.

We also had the chance to take the traditional group shot with the knobbly sea star (picture below).
And here's a whole group shot of all the students from Tampines Secondary School who came for the walk today. =)
Thanks to all Giant Clams for being such a wonderful and attentive audience. It was a great day out with you guys! =)