tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80101800311246072872024-02-19T22:46:40.233+08:00Where Discovery BeginsDreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8010180031124607287.post-12496853213634160372010-11-26T22:05:00.012+08:002010-11-26T23:45:39.879+08:00Water is Blue?!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">121st Discovery Posting:</span><br /></div><br />It has been about six long months since my last posting on this blog. The reason behind this hiatus is not because I have stopped going for nature related trips but of my slackness and laziness in updating the blog.<br /><br />Anyway, have you ever looked into your cup or bottle of plain water to see the colour of the water you have been drinking? Have you ever wondered what colour is the water you are drinking or seeing around you?<br /><br />Like me, most of us would probably conclude that water is colourless just by looking into the cup or bottle of water.<br /><br />However, a sudden curiosity about the colour of water hit me and off I was doing some research on the internet. And the results I got back raised my eyebrows a bit.<br /><br />Yes. As the title of this blog posting suggests, water is blue! I will try to provide a simple explanation of this using the readings I've found.<br /><br />To put it simple, water is blue because of its molecular structure and its behaviour from the molecular structure.<br /><br />First, let us look into water, or more specifically pure water's molecular structure (H2O). This structure involves hydrogen bonding and this structure of it (I'm not really sure about others as I do not an expert on chemistry) causes vibrational transitions.<br /><br />In my opinion, just imagine the hydrogen and oxygen atoms are small metal balls attached to one another by strong springs and the idea of vibration would come easier.<br /><br />The behaviour it exhibits because of the vibrational transitions would be easier to understand.<br /><br />The resulting behaviour is that water absorbs red light well but not blue light. That's why large volumes of water like a swimming pool, the seas/ocean would appear blue in colour. Now you may be wondering, "Hey, my cup of water looks colourless. So isn't water colourless?"<br /><br />You might not be wrong as studies point out that only pure water is blue in colour. Don't be alarmed because not drinking pure water doesn't mean it is not fit for drinking. This is because the water agencies might have added other stuff into your drinking water. That, however, is another story.<br /><br />A simple experiment, as from what I read, to test that pure water is blue is to by looking at a white light source through a long pipe, filled with purified water, that is closed at both ends with a transparent window.<br /><br />That's about it before I bored you to death. If you are interested, I have included the website I've read from.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reference links:</span><br />Main site I read from: <a href="http://www.webexhibits.org/causesofcolor/5B.html">http://www.webexhibits.org/causesofcolor/5B.html</a> (in-depth reading)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1)</span> <a href="http://www.webexhibits.org/causesofcolor/5.html">http://www.webexhibits.org/causesofcolor/5.html</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2)</span> <a href="http://www.discovery.com/area/skinnyon/skinnyon971003/skinnyon.html#blue">http://www.discovery.com/area/skinnyon/skinnyon971003/skinnyon.html#blue</a> (simple and interesting reading)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3)</span> <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/%7Eetrnsfer/water.htm">http://www.dartmouth.edu/~etrnsfer/water.htm</a> (in-depth reading)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br />In my search of information, I also chanced upon this video from youtube.<br /><center><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FhD1rZ2Y7D4?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FhD1rZ2Y7D4?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object> </center><br /><br />Of course, there are authoritative websites which state water is colourless.<br />The reason they believe water is colourless is mainly based on the concept that water is a strong absorber of red light and a weak absorber of blue light. Well, the theory is right though.<br />Here are some of the websites I have found:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1)</span> <a href="http://science.nasa.gov/earth-science/oceanography/living-ocean/ocean-color/">http://science.nasa.gov/earth-science/oceanography/living-ocean/ocean-color/</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2)</span> <a href="http://www.hko.gov.hk/education/edu06nature/ele_water_e.htm">http://www.hko.gov.hk/education/edu06nature/ele_water_e.htm</a>DreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8010180031124607287.post-1888852095852713202010-06-14T20:52:00.005+08:002010-06-14T21:54:10.120+08:00What is Coral Bleaching and What it means for the Corals<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">120th Discovery Posting</span><br /></div><br />Recently, an probably alarming amount of coral bleaching has been sighted and reported in Singapore and around the region. I will give a short list of blog posts with reference to some of these sightings at the end of this posting.<br /><br />Coral Bleaching might not ring a bell for some discoverers/readers (my own friends included), so I have decided to dedicate a post on this issue.<br /><br />First off, if you have ever been to the shores or watched shows that features corals, you might have noticed that corals are brownish/greenish in colour (picture below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEEuRx7-aSP_S28UfBHbrS7cxj_dYh64brhvPw_9H7pDv84P42UayREGUMLvPD1Iy0lFuPd_k6GZvsG2GiPw3n9Dou6xfItpDiMF7gJGgoUG-NRUmnl5u3RSIQU0IIKDS_0Y1zChEv9Sl/s1600/IMG_0011.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEEuRx7-aSP_S28UfBHbrS7cxj_dYh64brhvPw_9H7pDv84P42UayREGUMLvPD1Iy0lFuPd_k6GZvsG2GiPw3n9Dou6xfItpDiMF7gJGgoUG-NRUmnl5u3RSIQU0IIKDS_0Y1zChEv9Sl/s400/IMG_0011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482613087389947762" border="0" /></a>However, it is important to note that the original colours of corals are not like that. Their original colour is more whitish or I could say white. Two main reasons for the colours would be <span style="font-weight: bold;">coral fluoresence</span> (a link will be provided at the end of this posting which will explain more about this) and the presence of <span style="font-weight: bold;">zooxanthellae</span> (a kind of algae) in the polyps of the corals.<br /><br />Now it is important to note that the <span style="font-weight: bold;">zooxanthellae and corals share an important relationship</span>. The corals provide a place or home for the zooxanthellae to stay in while the zooxanthellae will give the extra food it makes during photosynthesis to the coral. So basically, it's a "you scratch my back, I scratch your back" or "I help you, you help me" relationship.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">So what is coral bleaching?</span><br />Well, first, it has nothing to do with bleach or dyeing... =P<br />Let me try to make it simple for everyone.<br /><br />Imagine you are the zooxanthellae living in a polyp of a coral colony and these past few days, the water has been really hot and you cannot stand it (and there is NO fan or air-conditioning in the polyp). So what would you do?<br /><br />Would you leave the polyp and get out in the open water to 'cool' down?<br /><br />Yes, that's what happens, NOT the 'cool' down part though, I think...hahaha<br /><br />So when you and many of your neighbours, the zooxanthellae leaves the coral, the coral will lose the brownish colours and show their original colour, white.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhY-ondh1rMqQsogmUpJAmh4IeEWkBZd5V2RJ83ic6-2qrIQ22XkbsW_QJBPOuYooxmtogCTu8Qyxc-n_Y6sHb5UcsPadUvetpZoWasvm6hqzALIh_xVFmz33ldk-kjbKh71XcLeHaqW49/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhY-ondh1rMqQsogmUpJAmh4IeEWkBZd5V2RJ83ic6-2qrIQ22XkbsW_QJBPOuYooxmtogCTu8Qyxc-n_Y6sHb5UcsPadUvetpZoWasvm6hqzALIh_xVFmz33ldk-kjbKh71XcLeHaqW49/s400/IMG_0007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482613075351949090" border="0" /></a>Now here's another important point, you, the zooxanthellae, can provide up to 90% of the food that the coral needs. So what might happen if you and your neighbours leave the coral?<br /><br />Yes, the corals might die!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDa-iyGMg4FJWi1UELt5bBeehxHyHe5M33c0Y0xko4E9ajRMLOpQ1oWN1LjWQ-gQF4oxHxF8wAUTW5TmjB4fg8hJmVeSVWTFJkYpIZl04GJpi1GdQkWOhUWfCgYTz3aukg_lEBMjLwPkcF/s1600/IMG_0010.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDa-iyGMg4FJWi1UELt5bBeehxHyHe5M33c0Y0xko4E9ajRMLOpQ1oWN1LjWQ-gQF4oxHxF8wAUTW5TmjB4fg8hJmVeSVWTFJkYpIZl04GJpi1GdQkWOhUWfCgYTz3aukg_lEBMjLwPkcF/s400/IMG_0010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482613086400428194" border="0" /></a>Another thing to note is that sometimes, after you and your neighbours (you are still a zooxanthellae) leave the coral. Other people, I mean zooxanthellae which can tolerate heat better might move into the coral.<br /><br />Okay, even if you are not interested in corals and coral bleaching, here's something to make you sit up. One main reason that corals bleach is due to the increase of water temperature. The impact of this is not only the death of corals and the other organisms it supports. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The increase of water temperature in our seas/oceans also means the ice caps will melt faster which leads to the increase of sea levels</span>. Sitting up now? =D<br /><br />Before I end, I would like to highlight that the <span style="font-weight: bold;">increase of water temperature is NOT the only reason for coral bleaching to occur</span>. There are other factors as well, I will leave some links for your own reading if you are interested to find out more and read more in depth about coral bleaching.<br /><br />Here's a video from youtube that explains coral bleaching.<br /><center><object height="405" width="500"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/miLyqOrnwZc&hl=en_US&fs=1&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/miLyqOrnwZc&hl=en_US&fs=1&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="405" width="500"></embed></object></center><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Here are the links that explain coral bleaching:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1)</span> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_bleaching">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_bleaching</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2)</span> <a href="http://www.marinebiology.org/coralbleaching.htm">http://www.marinebiology.org/coralbleaching.htm</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3)</span> <a href="http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/aboutcoraldiseases/a/aacoralbleach.htm">http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/aboutcoraldiseases/a/aacoralbleach.htm</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Here's the link that explains coral fluoresence</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1)</span> <a href="http://mountain-n-sea.blogspot.com/2007/12/coral-flourescence-and-other-attributes.html">http://mountain-n-sea.blogspot.com/2007/12/coral-flourescence-and-other-attributes.html</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Blog Links that report Coral Bleaching</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1)</span> <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2010/06/signs-of-coral-bleaching-at-beting.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WildShoresOfSingapore+%28wild+shores+of+singapore%29">Wildshores</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2)</span> <a href="http://tidechaser.blogspot.com/2010/05/extensive-coral-bleaching-at-semakau.html">http://tidechaser.blogspot.com/2010/05/extensive-coral-bleaching-at-semakau.html<br /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">3)</span> <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2010/06/snorkeling-at-tioman.html">http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2010/06/snorkeling-at-tioman.html</a>DreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8010180031124607287.post-62530033282357206252010-06-09T21:56:00.013+08:002010-06-10T21:16:41.878+08:00Inter Tidal Walk @ Semakau on 2 Jun 2010<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">119th Discovery Posting</span><br /></div><br />Another late and over due posting about the inter tidal walk last week. On 2 Jun 2010, I was free to help do guiding for the Project Semakau. This time round, I was assigned to guide a group of students from Boon Lay Secondary School.<br /><br />Our morning that day didn't start off well. This was not because of the students nor teachers in my group but the weather. It was drizzling quite heavily when we reached the island. Luckily, there was no lighting alert, therefore, the walk would continue. However, all the groups would have to walk under the drizzle to the inter-tidal area as the drivers had not arrived on the island yet.<br /><div><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJspZDBGeRu_6X8ElLXJQI4wRDdY1urNtKJjJHj5Rlr78-FUNLw0izcX0l23W-_qDHi0SXyNlRZCt46cZ09YR6zgKI-S58aPP0qjZJvdi6XBETFs1i1UeGQAyisfkNQ5rzbDWwYfP104lx/s400/IMG_0002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481128089882219058" border="0" />Despite the rainy weather, spirits were still quite high. I reckon this had to do with the amount of high energy the participants had. Hahaha... Anyway, the day got better as it went on. The first of it was a rainbow that appeared as we approached the forest trail.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuThip3zDRVmqmtuzlsSEi3cr6lwjoMs5XkI8rMORpaDYa6tIlLpHO7V1QTrLKzysQnoPWjyP9CnrlJd-VAzYfBM_-1SkS60jpwca2tzwFlA4ajSGRmvEgYfl9SAuipFjsi9czGYNohbDA/s1600/IMG_0003.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuThip3zDRVmqmtuzlsSEi3cr6lwjoMs5XkI8rMORpaDYa6tIlLpHO7V1QTrLKzysQnoPWjyP9CnrlJd-VAzYfBM_-1SkS60jpwca2tzwFlA4ajSGRmvEgYfl9SAuipFjsi9czGYNohbDA/s400/IMG_0003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481128866963914594" border="0" /></a>The second great thing that happened was that the rain cleared as we started to walk onto the inter-tidal area. Here's the group photo at the seagrass meadows (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOiESDQ2s3ZPSiioRsgH2dj_SXMmzG0W57coX_Mnw5yxrxyvdLf0O0nkEgKXrI9p_bGzbszCqfc1fGxLw71a5vNxQaD7xs9nTa5AmELMGxW_4CwVovN6hRi2ze5xbfQLkLjIq6HgCD538/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOiESDQ2s3ZPSiioRsgH2dj_SXMmzG0W57coX_Mnw5yxrxyvdLf0O0nkEgKXrI9p_bGzbszCqfc1fGxLw71a5vNxQaD7xs9nTa5AmELMGxW_4CwVovN6hRi2ze5xbfQLkLjIq6HgCD538/s400/IMG_0005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481128124974846322" border="0" /></a>I did not really take a lot of photos during this trip and some of them did not turn out well, so I'm only posting the ones which you could get a good look at.<br /><br />First off is this juvenile cushion star, <span style="font-weight: bold;">first 'discovery'</span> (picture below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTG6ouaHvKOiUhUjwF_YZ4Ks6_QD-DWOBfjxXvlSuEYfUZkNKowcKKyjIZNloOzb5Nb1uoO7WkEHkSZv5P0FJz8zDcvAXYSBu9EHuKo202NAAVXG8OvnCB34gDvqkMwK-Qd7WmPe4gPjo/s1600/IMG_0004.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTG6ouaHvKOiUhUjwF_YZ4Ks6_QD-DWOBfjxXvlSuEYfUZkNKowcKKyjIZNloOzb5Nb1uoO7WkEHkSZv5P0FJz8zDcvAXYSBu9EHuKo202NAAVXG8OvnCB34gDvqkMwK-Qd7WmPe4gPjo/s400/IMG_0004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481129755780010642" border="0" /></a>I guess the most interesting thing to my group about sea stars would be that they have no brains... that's why Patrick in the Spongebox show is so err.. silly...hahaha.<br /><br />The other organism I would like to feature in this short post would be the knobbly sea star (picture below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwteRVikm2U8GulyZsF5ZVi92FHFIBxdtkFuCAc-eL2MxXEH872k27HD6RaqwJOzsyuEdhzQIhLNfBfvMqkrgeMA1m_ZojkYVJn6Q4-LJre_kcT1yrSIXWHLUDOXwpI8ynulfjcQ4gS82/s1600/IMG_0011.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwteRVikm2U8GulyZsF5ZVi92FHFIBxdtkFuCAc-eL2MxXEH872k27HD6RaqwJOzsyuEdhzQIhLNfBfvMqkrgeMA1m_ZojkYVJn6Q4-LJre_kcT1yrSIXWHLUDOXwpI8ynulfjcQ4gS82/s400/IMG_0011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481128139117402370" border="0" /></a>And here's the group photo with the 'star' of the walk (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2l1Z8uD2mk57ztOuEr62VigbDnz8eHmfb60-xyvwiVxfni0Iuj8vi_Qa7lHnjUuB0inlygD8pvU8f2FNcduhLbkfAFCLlCP43O2Mhf7A4BVy8i5rT0TQt0Roji4t88hQQqX3KMrf40DaE/s1600/IMG_0012.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2l1Z8uD2mk57ztOuEr62VigbDnz8eHmfb60-xyvwiVxfni0Iuj8vi_Qa7lHnjUuB0inlygD8pvU8f2FNcduhLbkfAFCLlCP43O2Mhf7A4BVy8i5rT0TQt0Roji4t88hQQqX3KMrf40DaE/s400/IMG_0012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481128250046241442" border="0" /></a>I have to apologize for the late and short post as I was slacking for the past few days and right now I have to rush out some work matters with regards to a project I'm doing at my workplace. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9KcemQfbub7_NEi863bWcGLiSD904f7ehdZSLx6hgB62ELmMDB_t06cFBWnbiNudislcNZ3CXsWulSnAXg1OijQeR9ZBYVylxbxlAY_7cX-2K-zjONWAx2hFR5P7qEhUiycW9RtsDaRq/s1600/IMG_0015.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9KcemQfbub7_NEi863bWcGLiSD904f7ehdZSLx6hgB62ELmMDB_t06cFBWnbiNudislcNZ3CXsWulSnAXg1OijQeR9ZBYVylxbxlAY_7cX-2K-zjONWAx2hFR5P7qEhUiycW9RtsDaRq/s400/IMG_0015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481128340918947138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">PS:</span> I hope all my group participants, Coral Reefs, enjoyed themselves last week cause I did. Thanks for another great experience =D<br /></div>DreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8010180031124607287.post-3982745288195510852010-06-07T18:43:00.005+08:002010-06-07T20:45:25.010+08:00Why are rainbows in an arc-shaped?<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">118th Discovery Posting</span><br /></div><br />I am sure that many of you have seen a rainbow in the skies above you before. But have you ever wondered why are rainbows shaped in an arc? Personally, I am not sure of it myself and I was made curious about the answer by one of my participants in a recently guided inter tidal walk who asked his son this question when they saw a rainbow over at Big Sisters' island not long ago. As a result of this curiosity, I decided to do some simple research on the internet and do up this blog post.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rP4TMQpmo4ao0tLu9MKBCdsTLH4sBYWN7jLN2lAEtHVYxnbBLZ1R5XTrjMOFlo_XsEMNY7kBm7RskppAiwRQU6572J9l-SKv8GmP3lNLzkStsfZQIofSNouiXOZHf3y2Ik39ZrKQf-Mh/s1600/IMG_0025.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rP4TMQpmo4ao0tLu9MKBCdsTLH4sBYWN7jLN2lAEtHVYxnbBLZ1R5XTrjMOFlo_XsEMNY7kBm7RskppAiwRQU6572J9l-SKv8GmP3lNLzkStsfZQIofSNouiXOZHf3y2Ik39ZrKQf-Mh/s400/IMG_0025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479980768263544450" border="0" /></a>The first thing to note is that rainbows are caused sunlight passing through raindrops and by refraction, which is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another. I would not go through the exact science of how to explain this as I have found websites that does this explanation better than I can. You can find the websites below.<br /><br />It is interesting to note that a rainbow is really circle in shape than the arc shaped or semi circle shape we usually see. The reason why we don't see the whole circle is because the earth blocks our view. And the closer the sun is to the horizon, the more of the circle we see. So this means that the best time to see a longest rainbow would be either during early morning after sunrise and evening time before sunset. =D<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgD_IGp3i9MrvmmgGcbRa76s4Ewbzq06LF9244Tz96YtHWbhe89lnqNpKbacK6RetR1wg23upcRVnuraTr-eUYkzRxth8ykcTiMVZyCanbIpcPriJqW9d3Yn3LyfDHFM4rkiGQf8NYc5OL/s1600/IMG_0022.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgD_IGp3i9MrvmmgGcbRa76s4Ewbzq06LF9244Tz96YtHWbhe89lnqNpKbacK6RetR1wg23upcRVnuraTr-eUYkzRxth8ykcTiMVZyCanbIpcPriJqW9d3Yn3LyfDHFM4rkiGQf8NYc5OL/s400/IMG_0022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479980762817753218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Great websites that explains how a rainbow is formed and why is it in a arc.</span><br />a) <a href="http://science.howstuffworks.com/rainbow.htm">http://science.howstuffworks.com/rainbow.htm</a><br />b) <a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=why-do-rainbows-form-inst">http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=why-do-rainbows-form-inst</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Side note:</span><br />Rainbow Connection by Kermit the Frog. Enjoy! =D<br /><center><object width="500" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jSFLZ-MzIhM&hl=en_US&fs=1&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jSFLZ-MzIhM&hl=en_US&fs=1&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object></center>DreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8010180031124607287.post-2995429880914567342010-06-03T21:07:00.005+08:002010-06-04T09:05:26.148+08:00Inter Tidal walk @ Big Sister's Island on 30 May 2010<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">117th Discovery Posting</span><br /></div><br />Personally, I have been to Big Sister's Island for less than the fingers on one hand. So it was a great chance to both visit and introduce other people to this small little island to the south of Singapore through a guided inter tidal trip.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sidenote:</span><br />If you would like to read more about Big Sister's Island, you may visit <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/places/sisters.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/places/sisters.htm</a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnldFJoM4pGOOKJU4Os2eX5CP4IyNtlyG6diBtLsg0XT-96rWqptZwrjee8aCH0HYOJN6fSrRfWBSWL1n6SwjQXmB9Wh6OOygYf4pgoeInGtZ1_zJbKaspUqOOwSNERial8Zt_18bbhGK/s1600/IMG_0002.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnldFJoM4pGOOKJU4Os2eX5CP4IyNtlyG6diBtLsg0XT-96rWqptZwrjee8aCH0HYOJN6fSrRfWBSWL1n6SwjQXmB9Wh6OOygYf4pgoeInGtZ1_zJbKaspUqOOwSNERial8Zt_18bbhGK/s400/IMG_0002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478533804628537122" border="0" /></a>I need to mention that this was also the first public guided trip on Big Sisters organised by RMBR and I was guiding a group of rather experienced participants as most of them have to been other shores with us.<br />To start off, the <span style="font-weight: bold;">first 'discovery'</span> is something which I really like, feather stars (picture below)!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyBYrOdEtJbTnrwGgiR8I3siESgH58cuhMw80pZvCY95cxFtrgp1ZDhgBqvhp0Ma56xi_2MZyk5E27UgBwR9tGKDutVJEf4c_rjf-SBgTyTN2ohX1lzMKLcAWIyZM9kgCT3Rm9q4gxbwC/s1600/IMG_0003.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyBYrOdEtJbTnrwGgiR8I3siESgH58cuhMw80pZvCY95cxFtrgp1ZDhgBqvhp0Ma56xi_2MZyk5E27UgBwR9tGKDutVJEf4c_rjf-SBgTyTN2ohX1lzMKLcAWIyZM9kgCT3Rm9q4gxbwC/s400/IMG_0003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478533810486388850" border="0" /></a>As their name suggests, their arms are a little like feathers, handle with care as they may break easily. I have seen them in many different colours besides red. They include black, yellow, white, etc. They are also related to the sea stars being in the same echinoderm phylum.<br /><br />As we moved towards the coral reefs, a participant spot this school of juvenile catfish, <span style="font-weight: bold;">second 'discovery'</span> (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNu95HBLUG6XPzyZo8J7U75K6hfPpJW7U-FBgxZ0rGHIeR4CrKdC8JY1jy3ikOnQyzszyAn8PMhtgvZYWYWUtW-CQ-xwhsBvkyQKV8O3178E1_bxYPZS_MkQXaHuTQOjYWMWfLQotCCq7/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNu95HBLUG6XPzyZo8J7U75K6hfPpJW7U-FBgxZ0rGHIeR4CrKdC8JY1jy3ikOnQyzszyAn8PMhtgvZYWYWUtW-CQ-xwhsBvkyQKV8O3178E1_bxYPZS_MkQXaHuTQOjYWMWfLQotCCq7/s400/IMG_0007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478533815087562402" border="0" /></a>Like other fishes you may find in the sea, juvenile catfishes are often seen in a group or what we call as a school of fish. They do this as a predator will find it harder to pounce on a group for food than compared to an individual, this is otherwise known as safety in numbers. Interestingly, as the cattail grows bigger, their group gets smaller and they are usually found alone when they are adults. As they have poisonous spines, it is not advised to touch them. One reason, I guess, why they are called catfish is because of their whiskers, these are usually to help them find food in murky waters.<br /><br />If in case you are wondering, <a href="http://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/question592.htm">a cat's whiskers help it to find its way and move around</a>. A little similar to the function of the catfish's whiskers.<br /><br />Now, it is to be noted that Big Sister's Island has one of the nicest looking coral reefs where one can come really close up into (picture below). And my group, coral reefs, did spent a certain amount of time admiring at it. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjyjniOu9Uhn7rp6Q8iHOIXxsDobM5ByFq3A4e3UzhyphenhyphenglrBemcTaXf3gg-INJ2HYvLDqvcfK93Ig45yzTPYeJUy_zanWX8pelExnKxSMpDmrHXYKhNqPWuFkFKBbhYSd45lwfAgymL0YG/s1600/IMG_0010.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjyjniOu9Uhn7rp6Q8iHOIXxsDobM5ByFq3A4e3UzhyphenhyphenglrBemcTaXf3gg-INJ2HYvLDqvcfK93Ig45yzTPYeJUy_zanWX8pelExnKxSMpDmrHXYKhNqPWuFkFKBbhYSd45lwfAgymL0YG/s400/IMG_0010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478534128114751810" border="0" /></a>As we moved on, we came across this leaf slug which our hunter seeker has found for us, <span style="font-weight: bold;">third 'discovery'</span> (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2KkbThgrgD2M5Ek3qUdjrVM-8hdbLnY5FvV7BaDk5h6vpgYKMHNDERHLpo5tw5RC1UAq-l1YpaF7gR4dd5UbprbCWopveZy_hmrICgOxYMDF_SoTfnUiBzOMUX4-LTg6C64CPQ6wJ5dW/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2KkbThgrgD2M5Ek3qUdjrVM-8hdbLnY5FvV7BaDk5h6vpgYKMHNDERHLpo5tw5RC1UAq-l1YpaF7gR4dd5UbprbCWopveZy_hmrICgOxYMDF_SoTfnUiBzOMUX4-LTg6C64CPQ6wJ5dW/s400/IMG_0006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478533824799300018" border="0" /></a>The leaf slug is named so mainly because of its colour which resembles a leaf. I reckon another reason which it is named as such is because that it is able to retain the chloroplasts of the seaweed it eats. These chloroplasts which it manages to retain will continue to carry out photosynthesis inside the slug and provide it with extra nutrients. Cool, isn't it?<br /><br />Just to sidetrack a bit, we had this little joke about if we could do the same, would we be green in colour as well...hahaha<br /><br />Moving on, our hunter seekers also found us a flatworm, fourth 'discovery' (picture below). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0mp-34T2uIK1ktanq0pYT3MsbjR-FnNXE2amf3BWcCwVmGR6Hvqo7RMR9pPYl1IEiyyQsy8Z5ZwZ4tBChsQqluvPDQDRjb7lXJYF-PlOvW5vLftDi7rsBxizT_NcrbgVBJ_Aq_j7fmxU/s1600/IMG_0011.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0mp-34T2uIK1ktanq0pYT3MsbjR-FnNXE2amf3BWcCwVmGR6Hvqo7RMR9pPYl1IEiyyQsy8Z5ZwZ4tBChsQqluvPDQDRjb7lXJYF-PlOvW5vLftDi7rsBxizT_NcrbgVBJ_Aq_j7fmxU/s400/IMG_0011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478534137235659842" border="0" /></a>As their name suggest, <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/worm/polycladida/polycladida.htm">flatworms</a> are really flat. This can help them to squeeze or move into narrow and small spaces to find food and at the same time to hide from their predators. At the same time, being really flat means that their bodies are easily tore when handled, so please handle them with them or don't handle them at all. One really interesting thing about them is that flatworms are hermaphrodites. In really simple terms, this means that a flat worm is both a guy and gal. In specific terms, flatworms have both the male and female reproductive organs.<br /><br />And the last organism I am going to feature is this bohol nudibranch, <span style="font-weight: bold;">fifth 'discovery'</span> (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2BjYanCG7YS0PBfGK_m5y8mVBcadRwU1XAT_-ggozER4b134Q5ZE6xrpEZxtamt95eozoI2_hyphenhyphengfa2YodHQsUwSoGdwGT8QylmXckyldUSYiZEEJC3kcdl3_QoK47b9S99JT2C4B2NC0/s1600/IMG_0012.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2BjYanCG7YS0PBfGK_m5y8mVBcadRwU1XAT_-ggozER4b134Q5ZE6xrpEZxtamt95eozoI2_hyphenhyphengfa2YodHQsUwSoGdwGT8QylmXckyldUSYiZEEJC3kcdl3_QoK47b9S99JT2C4B2NC0/s400/IMG_0012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478534142685352354" border="0" /></a>First off, they are sea slugs. They are called nudibranchs because they have naked gills. Notice the flowery like thing near the center of the picture? That's the gills for this nudibranch. They may look like easy prey, they are however not. They protect themselves in different ways like producing distasteful substances, toxins and even acids. It is important to take note that these protective methods vary from species to species. Some of them will advertise themselves to be 'not nice to eat' with their really colourful bodies while some, like this bohol nudibranch will try to camouflage themselves.<br /><br />As we were still wondering around the shore to look for more things, dark clouds and strong winds came in quickly and threaten to drench us, so we had no choice but to end the walk prematurely and leave the shore quickly.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8Y4izaRMbwCbse3YWcQsMkzcUTUrmWJkFQ-h220eER0yH8fseJJI-oyp84O0GHy5S2SmzT_kmejmd5yp69uO-7nrguHm7bPgzs-DHpjcp6x-ZtoHloLmq1zOr5NLz9wMPiiMm7zXvFs_/s1600/IMG_0017.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8Y4izaRMbwCbse3YWcQsMkzcUTUrmWJkFQ-h220eER0yH8fseJJI-oyp84O0GHy5S2SmzT_kmejmd5yp69uO-7nrguHm7bPgzs-DHpjcp6x-ZtoHloLmq1zOr5NLz9wMPiiMm7zXvFs_/s400/IMG_0017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478534147214186066" border="0" /></a>Luckily, it did not rain eventually and the visitors has some time to take a short picnic and relax on the island.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6wpod6xzjLESA2hzhqDQRww_8F-vFgyodq8sErql74d_zO40EEOAYCc0O57GLFB9rmcRMlLrLRpM3FqKutLkiJJTqFxjUqdQ_YhGh-KcPjff6HANxWDsfbaVDDL2G10lmdUGNa7dnJib/s1600/IMG_0018.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6wpod6xzjLESA2hzhqDQRww_8F-vFgyodq8sErql74d_zO40EEOAYCc0O57GLFB9rmcRMlLrLRpM3FqKutLkiJJTqFxjUqdQ_YhGh-KcPjff6HANxWDsfbaVDDL2G10lmdUGNa7dnJib/s400/IMG_0018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478534152233577250" border="0" /></a>Before I sign off, I would like to say thanks to all Coral Reefs, my group for the day. I hope the 3 first timers enjoyed themselves as I did not really give much details about the things we've seen that day and of course not forgetting the rest of my group.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Last note:</span><br />As a result of the passing rain clouds, we caught sight of a really beautiful rainbow which I would blog about in the next post, so do come back soon to check that posting out. =DDreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8010180031124607287.post-78188983594033421602010-06-01T18:43:00.003+08:002010-06-01T20:40:36.547+08:00Survey on another part of Semakau<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">116th Discovery Posting</span><br /></div><br />Last Saturday, a small group of Project Semakau volunteers, including myself, went off in the early morning to do a survey on a different part of Semakau where we don't usually do our surveys.<br /><br />In this blog posting, I will give a peek into the various organisms which we saw.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">First 'discovery'</span> would be a cryptic sea star (picture below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMW8LiF7n_xEsj1XrZWDrr44pIE0mBsmELJSDdddltwvfRBQyH9TN3g5AZA-sn1y2iFLKrwDN2RT0wsK_5RrgSuZm6RkbqqrIwv6azwI_SIBlD1xFtojAAYSW1HwsOBDx6kS8GI6FWEZz/s1600/IMG_0003.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 398px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMW8LiF7n_xEsj1XrZWDrr44pIE0mBsmELJSDdddltwvfRBQyH9TN3g5AZA-sn1y2iFLKrwDN2RT0wsK_5RrgSuZm6RkbqqrIwv6azwI_SIBlD1xFtojAAYSW1HwsOBDx6kS8GI6FWEZz/s400/IMG_0003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477754251498659810" border="0" /></a>Interestingly, this kind of sea star has not been seen on other places in Singapore other than Semakau. They are usually found under or on stones near the mid-water mark so sometimes we might have to turn stones over to find them. They are known to feed on algae and small animals found on the surfaces of stones.<br /><br />Still in the area of the mid-water mark, the second 'discovery' would be this onch slug (picture below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQKmIk6j1lIUJzEzIbJCxWUvusWM9fHuRamuVAhksrfw1rVfplXJMwfmoZrK0OiHXd_Vpy_mjrPx68lgFk5ol926vFrTmklGmCILgk-nCE3YuhkM_WjlPwZ0l1gbbFANsZLlKJJ546gWq/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 398px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQKmIk6j1lIUJzEzIbJCxWUvusWM9fHuRamuVAhksrfw1rVfplXJMwfmoZrK0OiHXd_Vpy_mjrPx68lgFk5ol926vFrTmklGmCILgk-nCE3YuhkM_WjlPwZ0l1gbbFANsZLlKJJ546gWq/s400/IMG_0005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477754259620015778" border="0" /></a>Compared to the cryptic sea star, the onch slug is much more common. The only reason why you might not see them as often is that they are pretty well camouflaged. They also feed on algae found on stones and unlike other sea slugs, the onch slug does not live underwater. Instead they are able to breathe air through their simple lungs and when the tide is high, they would burrow into mud or sand, trapping an air bubble to breathe in.<br /><br />After suffering numerous sand fly bites near the rocks, we finally moved into the sandy parts of the area and we encounter this cute little spotted moon crab, <span style="font-weight: bold;">third 'discovery'</span> (picture below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvAoPDOmGei3AmAU_cybGrl_Bu00PPO-o3A57MyS3SvPEb8CTQz2TuCI4gtFGSbYkvBpwv37fB2djc85mXxs3jAw2ZnMlw7wDO4x9mJrwp0k1cnjNO6tCZNbUFxsysQ_OUz7taJlUsofq/s1600/IMG_0028.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvAoPDOmGei3AmAU_cybGrl_Bu00PPO-o3A57MyS3SvPEb8CTQz2TuCI4gtFGSbYkvBpwv37fB2djc85mXxs3jAw2ZnMlw7wDO4x9mJrwp0k1cnjNO6tCZNbUFxsysQ_OUz7taJlUsofq/s400/IMG_0028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477754267826741954" border="0" /></a>The moon crab is actually quite common on our shores. They however do hide buried in the sediments and are more active during the night thus you might not have seen them before. To help to bury themselves quickly into the sand, all ends of their legs (excluding the claws) are shaped like a paddle.<br /><br />As you might have already read/know, we found a long drift net in the area and a number of things including three black tip reef sharks became victims of the net. Here's another victim, a big fish, I'm not good with the identification of fishes. And at the side was a red swimming crab trying to scavenge the dead fish (picture below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmxyeCUPkG_4extgzRy5NiQWrwcupRQ2BQi-h8wa-63FjTtogoVswzcm4TQVLMeLVfwxo1zfiUUZIoEAi2i946ZetOWhVLNfMPCiw2QhVo6ORtusmSqqB8YAlFXYnLyxVkpKWb2TPrHww/s1600/IMG_0042.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmxyeCUPkG_4extgzRy5NiQWrwcupRQ2BQi-h8wa-63FjTtogoVswzcm4TQVLMeLVfwxo1zfiUUZIoEAi2i946ZetOWhVLNfMPCiw2QhVo6ORtusmSqqB8YAlFXYnLyxVkpKWb2TPrHww/s400/IMG_0042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477754271775880258" border="0" /></a>As most of us had very little sleep the night before as we spent our night over on the island, the rising of the sun did provide us with some injection of energy into our lethargic bodies (picture below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcBFc1_5piH_GGzZMf-xdFvpKfjrBvN7SwV3Rq8ch6-CeI7UcEQtCioqUqtrxpN4RkidAAdaId-3nGrOAwARBCaAj9cSU0vM-3Rn7jJb0nHl1ParbpptmuO-fxCrKLUx1CJhQZBw1h_mm/s1600/IMG_0051.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcBFc1_5piH_GGzZMf-xdFvpKfjrBvN7SwV3Rq8ch6-CeI7UcEQtCioqUqtrxpN4RkidAAdaId-3nGrOAwARBCaAj9cSU0vM-3Rn7jJb0nHl1ParbpptmuO-fxCrKLUx1CJhQZBw1h_mm/s400/IMG_0051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477754278063109762" border="0" /></a>The last animal we encounter before we went to document the three dead black tip reef sharks was this dog faced water snake, fourth 'discovery' (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYoJS3r_YhYKXFkEsc8EjHwl_ScSy2_b1Ou6BdpnmLFMaXHnnwTcmni7v4CAMbmOUmXtMk7Ii5MpamNFFgbRTwBQLEMQEeiV9yLqOvHxAnZHRVkx5AM10w7gbIxvX6nIayIDsOvdKywvA/s1600/IMG_0063.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 346px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYoJS3r_YhYKXFkEsc8EjHwl_ScSy2_b1Ou6BdpnmLFMaXHnnwTcmni7v4CAMbmOUmXtMk7Ii5MpamNFFgbRTwBQLEMQEeiV9yLqOvHxAnZHRVkx5AM10w7gbIxvX6nIayIDsOvdKywvA/s400/IMG_0063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477754426225315458" border="0" /></a>The dog face water snake is another animal which is quite common to Singapore. They are usually seen in mangroves and sometimes the inter tidal area. They are much more active at night and spent the day mostly in hiding. Please do not try to handle this snake if you came into close contact with it as they are mildly venomous. You just need to move away and not disturb it and it would not attack you as it is mostly docile.<br /><br />That about ends this blog posting and do come back in a few days as I still have back logged blog postings to make. =DDreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8010180031124607287.post-26273432824213766172010-05-30T21:55:00.005+08:002010-05-30T23:08:38.231+08:00Sad Scene of Sharks @ Semakau<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">115th Discovery Posting</span><br /></div><br />Saturday morning was a morning with mixed emotions. On one hand, I have finally gotten to see a really close up view of the black tip reef shark on our reefs, which was a highlight of this trip down on the inter-tidal area of Semakau. On the other, it was with a sad note that I saw them, three of them to be exact, dead.<br /><br />The cause of the sharks death was most likely (in fact, we are 99.99999% sure) due to a net that some irresponsible and heartless fisherman had spread and left behind in the inter-tidal area.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOOQ6xXrnfdCK142foFkjoOSx8KNhvZkA3OrgxxX8q9sdZPE2s9zsFzdQtPsb2mrS7Uujt4iyMGqaRq8IH13r4-dwWB3mN4xzFr-DOnsioOPE7njozuJUoukiXCPKlq4Pux6Tfr64IWtG/s1600/IMG_0009.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOOQ6xXrnfdCK142foFkjoOSx8KNhvZkA3OrgxxX8q9sdZPE2s9zsFzdQtPsb2mrS7Uujt4iyMGqaRq8IH13r4-dwWB3mN4xzFr-DOnsioOPE7njozuJUoukiXCPKlq4Pux6Tfr64IWtG/s400/IMG_0009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477061665991170786" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3q5PxK0GBTQnWDxzLf1V5SGVUHz5fn52HrXJy2vWQ4Nm9Rvg4zdgcjy5mdpJ7yHDJGm_h5VF1IRBN0jjSwjxZ9F-totfigTRax5gMyt8ZTzNSSXFXcJvwxIslHnubYdqwL0RWPIh7RtT/s1600/IMG_0014.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3q5PxK0GBTQnWDxzLf1V5SGVUHz5fn52HrXJy2vWQ4Nm9Rvg4zdgcjy5mdpJ7yHDJGm_h5VF1IRBN0jjSwjxZ9F-totfigTRax5gMyt8ZTzNSSXFXcJvwxIslHnubYdqwL0RWPIh7RtT/s400/IMG_0014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477061664478375378" border="0" /></a>Others have written more in detail about our feelings and the story of how we encountered the sharks and the aftermath. You can read them on:<br />a) <a href="http://tidechaser.blogspot.com/2010/05/blacktip-reef-sharks-trapped-in-drift.html">http://tidechaser.blogspot.com/2010/05/blacktip-reef-sharks-trapped-in-drift.html<br /></a>b) <a href="http://ppt-backtobasics.blogspot.com/2010/05/murder-at-pulau-semakau.html">http://ppt-backtobasics.blogspot.com/2010/05/murder-at-pulau-semakau.html</a><br />c) <a href="http://starting-from-zeroo.blogspot.com/2010/05/blacktip-reef-sharks-trapped-dead-in.html">http://starting-from-zeroo.blogspot.com/2010/05/blacktip-reef-sharks-trapped-dead-in.html</a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7BxFNlfRqY-qikZjgJkMlIIigkvgfwNv-nbhFOsilZfT5uZeo64c6lHpAeGxioxEXBFeHAB8lQuU1jaDtDciWZ_K699tKcS5Y4IJWgMgV-QAqcbbMvPN-oqT8KfqTj3mZXekiIy9IL8t/s1600/IMG_0013.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7BxFNlfRqY-qikZjgJkMlIIigkvgfwNv-nbhFOsilZfT5uZeo64c6lHpAeGxioxEXBFeHAB8lQuU1jaDtDciWZ_K699tKcS5Y4IJWgMgV-QAqcbbMvPN-oqT8KfqTj3mZXekiIy9IL8t/s400/IMG_0013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477061676947407826" border="0" /></a>With already so many posts on this sad event, I thought that in this post, I should focus more about the known facts of the black tip reef shark.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7BxFNlfRqY-qikZjgJkMlIIigkvgfwNv-nbhFOsilZfT5uZeo64c6lHpAeGxioxEXBFeHAB8lQuU1jaDtDciWZ_K699tKcS5Y4IJWgMgV-QAqcbbMvPN-oqT8KfqTj3mZXekiIy9IL8t/s1600/IMG_0013.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-alxe1gC8Wdf7PRZW8saGxgw42HfQSndEKxITU_uqcOTQTu-pNLnmz9JOnFQC9mnMQJjjvNq3rWGMueFPWrv5-GeNUgtalis68sNjngtNlomLK3lXuYrn6V4B2tVZWZggHhpPk5pW3Hf/s1600/IMG_0066.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-alxe1gC8Wdf7PRZW8saGxgw42HfQSndEKxITU_uqcOTQTu-pNLnmz9JOnFQC9mnMQJjjvNq3rWGMueFPWrv5-GeNUgtalis68sNjngtNlomLK3lXuYrn6V4B2tVZWZggHhpPk5pW3Hf/s400/IMG_0066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477061677389881154" border="0" /></a>First off, I believe many of you (I refer to people who reside in Singapore) would not have believed that we can find sharks in our waters. So after this unfortunate incident and reading this and other blog posts, I believe we have contradicted this belief if you had it.<br /><br />So what do we know about black tip reef sharks? First, they are known to be found in the tropical coral reefs of Indian and Pacific Region and of course, the indo-pacific seas. So it is not a odd sight to spot them in Singapore as we still possesses a number of reefs in our waters.<br /><br />They prefer to stay around shallow and inshore waters. And we can usually spot them on land by their exposed first dorsal fin when they swim around in shallow waters. If you are not sure what I mean by that, think of JAWS and how the characters in these shark movies know that a shark is approaching.<br /><br />At this point, it is important to point out that Black tip reef sharks seldom pose as a threat to humans unless you rouse them. They are also known to be quite timid, so it may swim away if you approach it. But please do not disturb them, because as mentioned, they might attack if being disturbed.<br /><br />They are also known to stay within close areas to where they are found (most of the time), it is estimated that this distance is about 2.5km. So the ones which died and were found by us are most probably residents of the area. =(<br /><br />Black tip reef sharks are also known to either live individually or in small groups. So that explains why did we came in sight of three of them.<br /><br />Sharks are important to the ecosystem as they pose as one of the top predators. Top predators are important are they help to keep the ecosystem in balance.<br /><br />Let me post a simple example to explain this better, let's say the black tip reef shark feeds on a fish which feeds on sea grass and only the black tip reef shark eats this kind of fish. Take note that sea grass meadows offers shelter and food for many other organisms of our seas. So if the black tip reef shark is removed from the food chain, the population of this kind of fish will be left unchecked and they will eat all the sea grass and therefore lead to a collapse of the ecosystem.<br /><br />To read more about the importance of top predators, you can visit:<br />a) <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13939039">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13939039</a><br /><br />I will stop here as this post is getting a little wordy. So if you are interested to read more about Black tip reef sharks, you can visit:<br />a)<a href="http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=90"> http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=90</a><br />b) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blacktip_reef_shark">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blacktip_reef_shark</a><br /><br />As a final thought before I sign off, this is why Project Semakau is important to us, including you.<br />The aim of Project Semakau is to propose to our government to gazette Semakau as a marine park. This is to protect a part of our natural heritage for our future generations and as well as making sure marine animals such as the black tip reef shark has a place where it can safely reside it.DreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8010180031124607287.post-5877858982638611032010-04-12T20:36:00.005+08:002010-04-12T20:54:25.354+08:00Project Semakau Outreach Walk on 4 April<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">114th Discovery Posting:</span><br /></div><br />This is quite a belated posting on an inter-tidal walk on Semkau for the outreach program for Project Semakau. I will make this a short posting as there are other things that are waiting for me to complete.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">First and Second 'discovery'</span> would be a cowrie (above) and heart cockle (below) found in the picture below.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQveppEPcZql6LyXO9XDJ_ovLI0fh2t9p4XuEXR_jQhpHHMRistwzAUe25TXn9CDiYrs4N6qeQaEikVEn8M6O6Pnr1rkgCtvdyDvnhGld0qNsvcvh_h220uvMbCFosD9H2dkelVW50zBB/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQveppEPcZql6LyXO9XDJ_ovLI0fh2t9p4XuEXR_jQhpHHMRistwzAUe25TXn9CDiYrs4N6qeQaEikVEn8M6O6Pnr1rkgCtvdyDvnhGld0qNsvcvh_h220uvMbCFosD9H2dkelVW50zBB/s400/IMG_0005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459229101772707954" border="0" /></a>Cowries have a really beautiful shell and in the past, Polynesians have used them as some cowries as a form of currency. Till today, some people still collect them, not to use as money, but to sell them for money.<br /><br />For the heart cockle, it would be easy to guess how they got their common name, their shape. Interestingly, their valve openings are located down the center of the 'heart', so when they open up, it looks a little like a heart break. =D<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Third 'discovery'</span> is the green ceratosoma nudibranch which seems to be in season in Singapore in the first few months of the year (picture below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WGQ2YVUXZzucw8TsXcPfhyphenhyphenV7vhPiFbNulZ12SXho0GVhwRK7HmlSqmUCcbBM3z3nQSN05DEFVr47FEVH5s2D8yNcnczZocwLWH-acaVXu0HFkpnbb1vnsZgxAM4ZmWhqTQdZrDPeFvpT/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WGQ2YVUXZzucw8TsXcPfhyphenhyphenV7vhPiFbNulZ12SXho0GVhwRK7HmlSqmUCcbBM3z3nQSN05DEFVr47FEVH5s2D8yNcnczZocwLWH-acaVXu0HFkpnbb1vnsZgxAM4ZmWhqTQdZrDPeFvpT/s400/IMG_0008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459229109065892450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fourth and Fifth 'discoveries'</span> would be the cushion and knobbly sea star which my group, herons (if I remembered correctly) took a picture with (pictures below)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMa6Kepk1MvOcXbZ_lJ6Ei5PDIEGFm9NBP-rxK5O1N8aIwEWGj-NuLwFOecpg3RFxcRhnvC3r5Is10dhQc7Q64nerqinCixuBdw2iQJjME3eXSPVX9oUgKB4CKCM92_cv5lYzxKy0ciyQ/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMa6Kepk1MvOcXbZ_lJ6Ei5PDIEGFm9NBP-rxK5O1N8aIwEWGj-NuLwFOecpg3RFxcRhnvC3r5Is10dhQc7Q64nerqinCixuBdw2iQJjME3eXSPVX9oUgKB4CKCM92_cv5lYzxKy0ciyQ/s400/IMG_0006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459229105985931890" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnueGdjetbUZxxDmtlIH0abdt4drE1UWK7ac_tArjQU2uUHPY1ojJvWBwjnytqLa0CmWmPh_3n_4Y3tPT5ADHGxGSM2-kfJXL7fDOnBrIM1PeZ2iLdG14NPkhQqpehIsvT6tMULBwHLAt/s1600/IMG_0011.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 384px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnueGdjetbUZxxDmtlIH0abdt4drE1UWK7ac_tArjQU2uUHPY1ojJvWBwjnytqLa0CmWmPh_3n_4Y3tPT5ADHGxGSM2-kfJXL7fDOnBrIM1PeZ2iLdG14NPkhQqpehIsvT6tMULBwHLAt/s400/IMG_0011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459229122013318962" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MDT-Zau1m-qr0tE4hDioCF_nAiyxfAG9X68UA22EprmmU43bxBLFM56OobXWI2a-SAAAJhaii_zcjA0WJEBGU0m2MDydj1HiygQKubkEcy0or4zBWvh2CjSiDrzjJHTPWvkzWydavURd/s1600/IMG_0010.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MDT-Zau1m-qr0tE4hDioCF_nAiyxfAG9X68UA22EprmmU43bxBLFM56OobXWI2a-SAAAJhaii_zcjA0WJEBGU0m2MDydj1HiygQKubkEcy0or4zBWvh2CjSiDrzjJHTPWvkzWydavURd/s400/IMG_0010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459229116550316754" border="0" /></a>Do apologize to all Herons, students from Jurongville Secondary, for such a late posting. Nevertheless, I had a great time with you all despite it being a rainy morning. =D<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Extra:</span><br />For more details on this trip, read RY's blog entry: <a href="http://tidechaser.blogspot.com/2010/04/rainy-semakau-walk-on-4-april-2010.html">http://tidechaser.blogspot.com/2010/04/rainy-semakau-walk-on-4-april-2010.html</a>DreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8010180031124607287.post-79687954570976589122010-04-05T21:48:00.010+08:002010-04-06T21:37:48.952+08:00Hantu on 2nd April 2010<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">113th Discovery Posting:</span><br /></div><br />The evening low tides for us to visit the shores have come and past. From now till September, it is time for us inter tidal goers to wake up at sometimes insanely early hours just to catch the tide. And over the last long weekend, I woke up from 4am to 5am for three straight days of inter tidal walk. Here's the first of them,<br /><br />On Good Friday (2nd April 2010), RMBR conducted its first guided inter tidal walk on Pulau Hantu for public participants and I was the guide for the group, nudibranch.<br /><br />One of the few animals that captivated my group was the fiddler crabs. Here's one of them, <span style="font-weight: bold;">first 'discovery'</span> (picture below).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn94Ziw3j_iMPrvuaSZnIM2ePqpE-MZbfNuxhm4ARrxxa5cGneYXNF08fArlpxhx93_12BirV1GqjulYf_GBVsB3By0j-gZqx6XrRDjy8LnJKJvqR9ndq4XXbjMmbsMHSj0DVE5jFWboL3/s1600/IMG_0023.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456650606480387922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn94Ziw3j_iMPrvuaSZnIM2ePqpE-MZbfNuxhm4ARrxxa5cGneYXNF08fArlpxhx93_12BirV1GqjulYf_GBVsB3By0j-gZqx6XrRDjy8LnJKJvqR9ndq4XXbjMmbsMHSj0DVE5jFWboL3/s400/IMG_0023.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 274px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" border="0" /></a>The fiddler crab you see above is a male fiddler crab. We tell the males apart for their one large pincer that is almost to the same size as their bodies. Females, on the other hand, have two small pincers and they are used for feeding. For the males, because they cannot use their large pincer to feed themselves, they depend on their one and only small pincer for them to feed themselves. However, this is not to say that their big pincer is entirely useless. Their big pincer, in fact is used to attract female fiddler crabs and to intimidate other males.<br /><br />Moving on, our <span style="font-weight: bold;">second 'discovery'</span> was this jellyfish found by our hunter seekers (picture below).<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnT-8y_EoetWaevYrfT-ljyrxgD492Ik23-GdG0nG1D_Wy2qcbSatNEH7cOC_3THvHiBDmccIAMPHFbGp-SlDI4zXIlozWTN-AkywKGQoqIxByRpiWqnBHpHpsV9qJHHLsjDwU4xpmLAL/s1600/IMG_0028.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456650634700910946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnT-8y_EoetWaevYrfT-ljyrxgD492Ik23-GdG0nG1D_Wy2qcbSatNEH7cOC_3THvHiBDmccIAMPHFbGp-SlDI4zXIlozWTN-AkywKGQoqIxByRpiWqnBHpHpsV9qJHHLsjDwU4xpmLAL/s400/IMG_0028.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 393px;" border="0" /></a>Some jelly fishes or jellies (since they are not related to fishes =P) are seasonally abundant. According to our observation, this (above) is one of them which you can find in numbers especially in the first few months of the year. By the way, jellies have stings, and some can cause bad reactions (if you are unlucky, maybe death), so never handle a jelly with your bare hands.<br /><br />Our <span style="font-weight: bold;">third 'discovery'</span> '<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span> was this really little brittle star which I held in my hand for a little while (picture below).<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYknOwTg0UXZOqUpZ2xxhdGzGfFg0zkrqEYOvVTaFG7tJr8tFlXCO5Fbon6wDdeLZIDJWtnKW0ATjn4-fwfj9PDXboe8KmTXhQk_Y8FhCzJGuH8Y9hSuYgJ2faiiMMs5s4jrWp7F6gl27/s1600/IMG_0027.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456650622371455810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYknOwTg0UXZOqUpZ2xxhdGzGfFg0zkrqEYOvVTaFG7tJr8tFlXCO5Fbon6wDdeLZIDJWtnKW0ATjn4-fwfj9PDXboe8KmTXhQk_Y8FhCzJGuH8Y9hSuYgJ2faiiMMs5s4jrWp7F6gl27/s400/IMG_0027.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 294px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" border="0" /></a>As their name suggests, they are really brittle, they can break their arms if they feel danger. They are also not often seen as they hide either under rocks, within sponges or on other animals. Oh, they are also related to sea stars. To be more specific, they belong to the echinoderm phylum like the sea stars and they are the largest group of creatures within this phylum.<br /><br />Belonging to the group of nudibranch would mean that seeing one of them would make the trip even more interesting for the group. And boy were we lucky, we saw a total of 4 different species of nudis (pictures below). <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fourth 'discovery'</span>.<br /><br />Here's the lined chromodoris nudibranch (picture below) <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybmFshY_Bz_8hCY6f57wM2t5Dg2IJes01SNbv_WomJ9ssoyJSH8LN3a5VvgE6i2Y7DmP9EURNC5JsK1CYWLMCSMKvgLfGEy81xvTBld4k_IGEadpKwPiPNWwvDblkrKbZhFAIM8nKiD1b/s1600/IMG_0025.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456650612363421826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybmFshY_Bz_8hCY6f57wM2t5Dg2IJes01SNbv_WomJ9ssoyJSH8LN3a5VvgE6i2Y7DmP9EURNC5JsK1CYWLMCSMKvgLfGEy81xvTBld4k_IGEadpKwPiPNWwvDblkrKbZhFAIM8nKiD1b/s400/IMG_0025.JPG" style="display: block; height: 291px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" border="0" /></a>phylid nudibranch (picture below)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnetVOOz40xzh_zjxszbCUZWdvl4IO-lXwW5uj-Vzfp3_AlOFeZLjZXKat4fn2_R3R2H7Ilaaq9bYnR-fPrGJNJJbdYCwo4ntD_pgjItkjQm1Ei4Lk11KqbkV9cT_RNUok4ZUcPSV7QrXp/s1600/IMG_0029.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456650644865667138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnetVOOz40xzh_zjxszbCUZWdvl4IO-lXwW5uj-Vzfp3_AlOFeZLjZXKat4fn2_R3R2H7Ilaaq9bYnR-fPrGJNJJbdYCwo4ntD_pgjItkjQm1Ei4Lk11KqbkV9cT_RNUok4ZUcPSV7QrXp/s400/IMG_0029.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 202px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" border="0" /></a>Polka-dot nudibranch (picture below)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dnWdgKoTyoZVhpGEY1SwjmAweTio_9OKxs0HuC6aikCZ4Ptu6wuCYXEwAmt-2AOMuwBdjaRx1rWt0FEiNYXiHPYt_WNktItM94A1ZOx9VvqqAxwQDVZGmq-8mUOjSCUUY3DWVk3Nl-_k/s1600/IMG_0030.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 147px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dnWdgKoTyoZVhpGEY1SwjmAweTio_9OKxs0HuC6aikCZ4Ptu6wuCYXEwAmt-2AOMuwBdjaRx1rWt0FEiNYXiHPYt_WNktItM94A1ZOx9VvqqAxwQDVZGmq-8mUOjSCUUY3DWVk3Nl-_k/s400/IMG_0030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456654339211876354" border="0" /></a>Black-margined glossodoris nudibranch (picture below)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTt0AOzeg3hFutb_8XM7btmbvGDm0yaWV6tN1ixUFo2J0fCq8CpJ02xHvOj8GIOdu2jqeTQnQEwc0s-q6qHPIt9xdGlS1BLnH8KggpPq5XammPUs8NCussPh4r9oxbtIOKIxBF2V1vp7_/s1600/IMG_0031.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 384px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTt0AOzeg3hFutb_8XM7btmbvGDm0yaWV6tN1ixUFo2J0fCq8CpJ02xHvOj8GIOdu2jqeTQnQEwc0s-q6qHPIt9xdGlS1BLnH8KggpPq5XammPUs8NCussPh4r9oxbtIOKIxBF2V1vp7_/s400/IMG_0031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456654339450334578" border="0" /></a>If you are wondering, nudibranchs are sea slugs and they belong to the phylum of molluscs (a familiar animal found in this group would be snails). Now you might be asking, where's the shell for a nudibranch if they are related to snails? Actually, they do have shells. But it is only when they are young. When they are older, they lose their shells, one kind of defence, to get another form of defence, venom or stings depending on the species of nudibranch. So never handle a nudibranch for your own safety. =D<br /><br />The last, <span style="font-weight: bold;">fifth 'discovery'</span> is the feather star (picture below). It looks much better than this if it's submerged in deeper water.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7zHvDHmhWfP3AOR9QHzkRKMWy5D403VtgSRHxfLQdP1sNJaqtf3I7GwPsWoxX9_P-vFbPFKHXI1zr6bJEAozpjPb2HNxGKd5CeHSDeGPGALG2ZnQW9ZjnIj-GOGbw3X7rm_w1_o9iJic/s1600/IMG_0033.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 351px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7zHvDHmhWfP3AOR9QHzkRKMWy5D403VtgSRHxfLQdP1sNJaqtf3I7GwPsWoxX9_P-vFbPFKHXI1zr6bJEAozpjPb2HNxGKd5CeHSDeGPGALG2ZnQW9ZjnIj-GOGbw3X7rm_w1_o9iJic/s400/IMG_0033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456654344958709906" border="0" /></a>As their name suggests, their arms are a little like feathers, handle with care as they may break easily. I have seen them in many different colours besides red. They include black, yellow, white, etc. They are also related to the sea stars being in the same echinoderm phylum.<br /><br />Finally, here's a group photo of all the nudibranch (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwqpUqNjSkh5COhdaqifkkxwziiSQlSqp2dwBJhVtldU1OyMu4BSTCRD6MwZ0WGb8yRCb6LHuKcUcswU6Cxntu_EoV9vzIXDUUjXC_Km0lHbdj9OWPFE8c0Xq_Ls-JcALbbGUuhGb0DDh/s1600/IMG_0034.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwqpUqNjSkh5COhdaqifkkxwziiSQlSqp2dwBJhVtldU1OyMu4BSTCRD6MwZ0WGb8yRCb6LHuKcUcswU6Cxntu_EoV9vzIXDUUjXC_Km0lHbdj9OWPFE8c0Xq_Ls-JcALbbGUuhGb0DDh/s400/IMG_0034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456654349379586274" border="0" /></a>Before I end, it's thanks to all who came and Kimberly who was my OJT and helped a lot during this trip =D<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Extra:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">a)</span> Read RY's entry for this trip: <a href="http://tidechaser.blogspot.com/2010/04/first-intertidal-walk-at-pulau-hantu-on.html">http://tidechaser.blogspot.com/2010/04/first-intertidal-walk-at-pulau-hantu-on.html</a>DreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8010180031124607287.post-27010674281777066952010-03-07T21:12:00.005+08:002010-03-07T22:56:43.056+08:00A Walk into the Mangroves<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">112th Discovery Posting:</span><br /></div><br />About 2 years ago, I attended a sharing session on a study done on face-banded sesarmine from a professor. I cannot remember the name of the professor but I do remember that he mentioned that he studied these crabs in Mandai Mangroves. And from then onwards, I held this hope that I would get to see these crabs up close and also visit Mandai Mangroves. I never managed to catch a sight of these crabs in my mud 'dips' in mangroves and never could find out the exact location of Mandai Mangroves until today...<br /><br />Today (7th Mar), with the guide of some friends, I had the chance to explore the Mandai Mangroves and find the face-banded sesarmine crabs.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sidenote: </span><br />Will focus more on animals this posting since I did not really take photos of plants. =D<br /><br />As we walked into the mangroves, one of the first few organisms we spotted, <span style="font-weight: bold;">First 'discovery'</span> will be mangrove horseshoe crabs (picture below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3Y9ha10UveeN3IyKjcw3TXllfDqlVIRBBaEIVJba8rwktWzeH7wy34xyXVRQKKsr5KOPnnItqr5mW_Ef66WWukTPUej_KTROKqF1xtfJZhYYGSpn-MKtk4xe2s2R_ec_bBjfTX0vprRJ/s1600-h/IMG_0056.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3Y9ha10UveeN3IyKjcw3TXllfDqlVIRBBaEIVJba8rwktWzeH7wy34xyXVRQKKsr5KOPnnItqr5mW_Ef66WWukTPUej_KTROKqF1xtfJZhYYGSpn-MKtk4xe2s2R_ec_bBjfTX0vprRJ/s400/IMG_0056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445889560569174418" border="0" /></a>One of the misconceptions we might have about the horseshoe crab is that it's a kind of crab due to its name. Actually, the horseshoe crab is more related to spiders and scorpions. An interesting fact about the horseshoe crab is that it has existed on Earth even before the dinosaurs! And if you are wondering if that pointy tail of it is as dangerous like the tails of stingrays, you need not worry. Their tails are not for stinging but for helping themselves to flip over if they end up underside down.<br /><br />If you are interested to read more about them, click <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/arthropoda/limulidae/limulidae.htm">here</a>.<br /><br />The second organism, a small one was first spotted by RY. It is a mangrove big-jawed spider if I am correct (picture below). <span style="font-weight: bold;">Second 'discovery'</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-TQIgCU5-wqy7D3ue48hzhIiOrCH_bVAKYmbMk0fgmRdLCK1eJAkdILg2z3X1ZDHG7KGT94td7p0uaCHSLJWQ5urDwnT7pzwG88NvspjyJPf5toMGeryTXDhqLQ97CgrQQ49Z8L6MPxy/s1600-h/IMG_0055.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 349px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-TQIgCU5-wqy7D3ue48hzhIiOrCH_bVAKYmbMk0fgmRdLCK1eJAkdILg2z3X1ZDHG7KGT94td7p0uaCHSLJWQ5urDwnT7pzwG88NvspjyJPf5toMGeryTXDhqLQ97CgrQQ49Z8L6MPxy/s400/IMG_0055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445889556942269554" border="0" /></a>They are spiders commonly found in our mangroves. You might not spot them as they stay motionless on a leaf or branch and their stick/branch-like appearance. Although both genders of this kind of spider has big jaws, the males jaws are particularly elongated and are equipped with a spur each. They help them in locking the jaws of the female during mating.<br /><br />After about a slow walk into the mangroves, I finally come across the face-banded sesarmine crabs (pictures below)! <span style="font-weight: bold;">Third 'discovery'</span>!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHB4fGXweQIMtrwt3YeznsPzqSUqNmFXnR1iaTnVKfi8E3ykSxdRtIzly-H7rBT4w_rdcqgdrt9n1UcmFftzeF3vZUQ9cwAsT0EcVXNxrfNBAy-wyXNz2nbWd5zWqzis5hxWNd0KdnS5HZ/s1600-h/IMG_0069.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHB4fGXweQIMtrwt3YeznsPzqSUqNmFXnR1iaTnVKfi8E3ykSxdRtIzly-H7rBT4w_rdcqgdrt9n1UcmFftzeF3vZUQ9cwAsT0EcVXNxrfNBAy-wyXNz2nbWd5zWqzis5hxWNd0KdnS5HZ/s400/IMG_0069.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445889562749796386" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTn1cmjL_uZByWj9FHumWOry2a-oopbbhUTfuh1JKYDN33dDzg_ujBPuM7J_378z2cUsY6OgYDaIpk7-nbwdmhMTDEEZ5H9xwS-iZEKcuHnm4LU88vbjrwKgAFp-zWWYCNOo89IGQN5jq/s1600-h/IMG_0083.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTn1cmjL_uZByWj9FHumWOry2a-oopbbhUTfuh1JKYDN33dDzg_ujBPuM7J_378z2cUsY6OgYDaIpk7-nbwdmhMTDEEZ5H9xwS-iZEKcuHnm4LU88vbjrwKgAFp-zWWYCNOo89IGQN5jq/s400/IMG_0083.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445889573695850786" border="0" /></a>Their name is as such due to the bright green or blue (I think I saw yellowish ones as well) band on their faces. Very interestingly, the bands on their faces can reflect light! And a study suggests that the different colours of their bands plays a role in sexual recognition. It is reported that the males of these crabs (to be more specific: 2 species) have more intense blue facial bands while the females have more green facial bands.<br /><br />To read more about them, click <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/sesarmidae/perisesarma.htm">here</a>.<br /><br />In conclusion, Mandai Mangrove is a really nice mangrove where you can find a great number of crabs and a number of mangrove plants (including rare ones). However, it is not for the average urban dweller, as you will get really muddy and even sink then stuck in the mud at times. And of course, the stink of mud after the trip and mosquito bites. All other things aside, it is a great mangrove. =D<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheuOAtGemU7shb3rjzxKxvcGIjYGgCrgBlbmSrSQBAoVbH-ycqKXX728X6OTljXzhy1hqc7PLszMU2ss247aWf1S6wU9q9OEUpnI8OyVjycunLg4-33q-hMl3wm4vOkpKp-0r2vNezG13m/s1600-h/IMG_0102.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheuOAtGemU7shb3rjzxKxvcGIjYGgCrgBlbmSrSQBAoVbH-ycqKXX728X6OTljXzhy1hqc7PLszMU2ss247aWf1S6wU9q9OEUpnI8OyVjycunLg4-33q-hMl3wm4vOkpKp-0r2vNezG13m/s400/IMG_0102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445902621453767970" border="0" /></a>Thanks to everyone who made it for the trip. I bet all of us had a nice and muddy time! =PDreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8010180031124607287.post-79012035569137096632010-03-02T20:33:00.006+08:002010-03-02T21:29:58.586+08:00Semakau over the last weekend of Feb<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">111th Discovery Posting</span><br /></div><br />It has been a mini hiatus from blogging recently and now I'm back!<br /><br />On this recently passed weekend, I visited Semakau twice for two different reasons. Both were for Project Semakau, however the Saturday trip was for a transect monitoring session while the Sunday trip was for a guided trip for schools where I was to be a hunter seeker.<br /><br />This entry is a summary of some of the things which I found or saw.<br /><br />First up is something which I managed to spot for 2 days in a row, the spider conch (pictures below). <span style="font-weight: bold;">First 'discovery'</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmtk7HwNCn_R7g8SbWyQVwJijkbB2NIE39N7lYWa-3At6Us6l7arEiO9qfYkyzSHt7aIv8t9_DwOgyHAON5kEqIfA7EsoSCg3WwjFGs5trL0mdzMr1ilTCzAXOjUQJckVvv1kKe1MSBtg/s1600-h/IMG_0001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmtk7HwNCn_R7g8SbWyQVwJijkbB2NIE39N7lYWa-3At6Us6l7arEiO9qfYkyzSHt7aIv8t9_DwOgyHAON5kEqIfA7EsoSCg3WwjFGs5trL0mdzMr1ilTCzAXOjUQJckVvv1kKe1MSBtg/s400/IMG_0001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444014368268397362" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifZ1EtudBSM7_1CeyYiklgpWuTiV3KRAHrQ1yWQwPbhxaHupxKy_m6MbdRqAU2NRvnUHyw6-QDhSntQJRSU70KThtViT9BrOM0BfmMIUz2E373cPSdiqdCSdPtS4o7JhSQplOWZjphXS6/s1600-h/IMG_0002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifZ1EtudBSM7_1CeyYiklgpWuTiV3KRAHrQ1yWQwPbhxaHupxKy_m6MbdRqAU2NRvnUHyw6-QDhSntQJRSU70KThtViT9BrOM0BfmMIUz2E373cPSdiqdCSdPtS4o7JhSQplOWZjphXS6/s400/IMG_0002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444014373062737906" border="0" /></a>Normally, it is quite hard to spot the spider conch as they are well camouflaged amongst the reefs or rubble area. Their camouflage can come from the algae growing on their shell and even sand which covers it. Once flipped over, you can see that its shell is actually really pretty. That is why people collect their shells and at the same time, people collect them for food. Additionally, places for them to live in are hard to come by in Singapore now due to development. So due to these reasons, they are now considered uncommon in our waters.<br /><br />Another uncommon marine organism in Singapore is the knobbly sea star. Semakau is one of the few places where one can find a significant number of them. Here are some of the knobbly sea stars I saw on Saturday (picture below). <span style="font-weight: bold;">Second 'discovery'</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxB4cjlcK7XhGLxVgnj9ZvGoUmeueWqxV7H5uxURAoKvZTNJYB__dZ1BfdsvFz8V4KxV_zTs6jIbV9Mz7AqArMhh5rxY4Xqj8Qjtc2Z60HzApH3m0UMOhgZJQ0C3aLUl3u6m-KuUKn74bP/s1600-h/IMG_0054.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxB4cjlcK7XhGLxVgnj9ZvGoUmeueWqxV7H5uxURAoKvZTNJYB__dZ1BfdsvFz8V4KxV_zTs6jIbV9Mz7AqArMhh5rxY4Xqj8Qjtc2Z60HzApH3m0UMOhgZJQ0C3aLUl3u6m-KuUKn74bP/s400/IMG_0054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444014379401749890" border="0" /></a>The knobbly sea star's name is as such because of the knobs present on its body. It is believed that these knobs deter predators from eating them. However, fishes like the puffer fish are known to eat them.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /><br />The knobbly sea star is also somehow one of the highlights of Semakau or any other inter-tidal walks. This is because they can grow up to about a width of 40cm wide, so they can be a 'BIG' star.<br /><br />Beside the knobbly sea stars, you can also find cushion sea stars on Semakau. Here are some juveniles (picture below). <span style="font-weight: bold;">Third 'discovery'</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-Y29voERNVNKQK5BsvgxN0dkiLr_ObnUJcRibdEIpsGzkl2JK2UKDovT2itaKd19Es80-sZmf0Otut4p6Q9Eez9gff6xdIfJmUIlCSBmY_fFo-DWrlenABCjvmwa7bF_dyjkvyb-bY5-/s1600-h/IMG_0002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 390px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-Y29voERNVNKQK5BsvgxN0dkiLr_ObnUJcRibdEIpsGzkl2JK2UKDovT2itaKd19Es80-sZmf0Otut4p6Q9Eez9gff6xdIfJmUIlCSBmY_fFo-DWrlenABCjvmwa7bF_dyjkvyb-bY5-/s400/IMG_0002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444014386194280114" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Bko3p6OVJ002iKeygVNiufw4ky30hjuwaysgekEmxheSRRD0tAjNZahdsbTwGqpmHLGxXDeDcajSdFdFP2HDnrCf0UkBYFnTxWhP5Ps_erO2VEsy4M7aZq-4UNI11hJl4xN4Y_sCLlAR/s1600-h/IMG_0004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Bko3p6OVJ002iKeygVNiufw4ky30hjuwaysgekEmxheSRRD0tAjNZahdsbTwGqpmHLGxXDeDcajSdFdFP2HDnrCf0UkBYFnTxWhP5Ps_erO2VEsy4M7aZq-4UNI11hJl4xN4Y_sCLlAR/s400/IMG_0004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444014390320562578" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmVdd5jlRuOGwMfH1dxoKI2aLttNjCpJh8KMpsLXw9xeUYi07GTxhJgM-FUPPrnnmOvF9wLhRPOqp5FJmGeGJ4ABzpCAeiQ1qW60t9rfS5B80_7yjpFOUjGdwNLVUH6TNjUQUwNgItyFW/s1600-h/IMG_0006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 364px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmVdd5jlRuOGwMfH1dxoKI2aLttNjCpJh8KMpsLXw9xeUYi07GTxhJgM-FUPPrnnmOvF9wLhRPOqp5FJmGeGJ4ABzpCAeiQ1qW60t9rfS5B80_7yjpFOUjGdwNLVUH6TNjUQUwNgItyFW/s400/IMG_0006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444015072417188434" border="0" /></a>Here's a 'adult' sized cushion star (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeRJXKjlEKfwmT4vQucVJsKVGz7oaHwrbB5pkrSq6hpJr1HB1iN7e4Onjarvr7Xz0ayU9YIKo2ARY1J_4_2jLoVmgSPLrIKoLHrxCkeqTWONyDM-qm4khdPBBlJRXzklhane6PFFp8ayc/s1600-h/IMG_0014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeRJXKjlEKfwmT4vQucVJsKVGz7oaHwrbB5pkrSq6hpJr1HB1iN7e4Onjarvr7Xz0ayU9YIKo2ARY1J_4_2jLoVmgSPLrIKoLHrxCkeqTWONyDM-qm4khdPBBlJRXzklhane6PFFp8ayc/s400/IMG_0014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444015424343866754" border="0" /></a>It's always a joy to see a big cushion star as they are more commonly seen by divers in deeper waters. For the juveniles, they probably like to hide in the seagrass area before moving deeper into the reefs once they are of the right size/'age'. They have been reported to feed on organic particles found in the sediments, immobile animals and even on corals.<br /><br />And of course, not to forget the common sea star (picture below). <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fourth 'discovery'</span>.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7m4pnID9YazFyQ80L3FFjlO_Gun0qdS9cc-fqBvPv04mkg3QwzxJ20Ud-hgOQRK5-PRl9oI_5w7VfASUTy57op6pHDF6zgRVt89xMaEBKc7WWlACUdcU3USOndAkGq69pxr7LC0V1OIF/s1600-h/IMG_0005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 348px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7m4pnID9YazFyQ80L3FFjlO_Gun0qdS9cc-fqBvPv04mkg3QwzxJ20Ud-hgOQRK5-PRl9oI_5w7VfASUTy57op6pHDF6zgRVt89xMaEBKc7WWlACUdcU3USOndAkGq69pxr7LC0V1OIF/s400/IMG_0005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444015068654066002" border="0" /></a>All sea stars (which I know) has a water vascular system. This is like our blood circulatory system where blood is pumped all around our body. But instead of blood, the sea stars pump sea water around their bodies. So it is best to handle the sea stars in sea water if you want to touch them.<br /><br />The last thing I wish to write about is this nudibranch which I have never seen in Singapore. It's a Varicose phylid nudibranch (<span style="font-style: italic;">Phyllidia varicosa</span>). <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fifth 'discovery'</span>.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMxI4wW4bHoDGQdlHi1Qrmh-QIb6kf7e4alUYjiPoP9ycOIjmm6yqA9HJ48OMOW6d9iHNWFmYDvf68XN_gaiNPqYpL3kpV5Z0noMNOaOoc4ooNz9v8tJMwyTb1GvOqG5lknxlXG1pEygM/s1600-h/IMG_0025.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMxI4wW4bHoDGQdlHi1Qrmh-QIb6kf7e4alUYjiPoP9ycOIjmm6yqA9HJ48OMOW6d9iHNWFmYDvf68XN_gaiNPqYpL3kpV5Z0noMNOaOoc4ooNz9v8tJMwyTb1GvOqG5lknxlXG1pEygM/s400/IMG_0025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444015429281997026" border="0" /></a>The phylid nudibranchs are said to be one of the most toxic nudibranchs. It is said that if they are stressed or feel endangered, they will release a toxic chemical into the waters near them. This toxic can kill a whole fish tank of fishes if ever released into one. So to be on the safe side, don't ever handle this nudi.<br /><br />That's about warps up this posting. Thanks for reading and everyone who were on the trips on both days for making it another great weekend out.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Extra:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1)</span> KS's entry for the Sunday trip: <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2010/02/two-new-nudi-sightings-for-me.html">http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2010/02/two-new-nudi-sightings-for-me.html</a>DreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8010180031124607287.post-77827075046342198402010-01-03T12:09:00.005+08:002010-01-03T12:50:11.877+08:00Starry Starry Semakau on 2nd Jan 2010<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">110th Discovery Posting:</span><br /></div><br />It was another day out at Semakau. Most of the group went to explore the normal route with their friends, LK was off to locate some rare plants, while a small group of us had one main objective in mind: that was to find the galloping sand star spotted last time.<br /><br />We were not disappointed as I managed to spot one not long after I started combing the area which I last saw one. Our <span style="font-weight: bold;">first 'discovery'</span> (picture below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLlZp3c9lp_Q6LpLGse1U4XO3aqEwtNeQuZYi5N15NE2IQ4AoEgGth4rWRpgU8KtvaS9KFKkbPguSTCMbkhHERAM7NgP0mlAvDPZw2l5ZN1sXyuzgsgIpca5QloYXdN0nzDFr7Nz6Y2Ry/s1600-h/IMG_0017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 356px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLlZp3c9lp_Q6LpLGse1U4XO3aqEwtNeQuZYi5N15NE2IQ4AoEgGth4rWRpgU8KtvaS9KFKkbPguSTCMbkhHERAM7NgP0mlAvDPZw2l5ZN1sXyuzgsgIpca5QloYXdN0nzDFr7Nz6Y2Ry/s400/IMG_0017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422361613701736930" border="0" /></a>As mentioned below, this galloping sand star is special not only because it can move by jerking or leaping (we didn't really saw this occurring because we did not had the luxury of time to observe it for long). It is also special because previous specimens has only been found through dredging. Thus plus this time, it is only the second time that anyone in Singapore has seen/recorded (according to what I know) it in an inter-tidal area.<br /><br />As we walked around, we came across numerous upside down jellies, here's one of them, our <span style="font-weight: bold;">second 'discovery'</span> (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShKD_aLQHy2YbkyxTeVT1wXlL4dtkC3IPKf04RuZuJFkFDFgxi7g0MLvCPCJixkhrCCJTZDQWQJRZQlUg8UJH35KWCKB-k_r5y_FUml11XWobJom6Ycq_E7v07ZDpjgb2vPehuoBxfLEy/s1600-h/IMG_0025.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 367px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShKD_aLQHy2YbkyxTeVT1wXlL4dtkC3IPKf04RuZuJFkFDFgxi7g0MLvCPCJixkhrCCJTZDQWQJRZQlUg8UJH35KWCKB-k_r5y_FUml11XWobJom6Ycq_E7v07ZDpjgb2vPehuoBxfLEy/s400/IMG_0025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422361622860597794" border="0" /></a>Upside down jellies are upside down because of the fact that it harbours algae in its body and by being upside down, the algae will be able to do photosynthesis. So what's the big deal? The deal here is that, the algae will share any extra food to the jelly while the jelly provides a home for the algae. Basically what I call a "you scratch my back, I scratch your back" relationship. =D<br /><br />Our great luck continued as Marcus soon spotted another galloping sand star (picture below). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpWTn-VVYUtt_ryqozoddikXHOFvaNSj5YXDdTKfsWqQm3jeppx36XupPuwWvINz1QWQNjoJti7wm8p9vWZxbL25ZpwO-0YyUOLVPIoGbv7lE-hZCTy9x2mtjvnkd_-VX3f0JOG9xDk-O/s1600-h/IMG_0033.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 336px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpWTn-VVYUtt_ryqozoddikXHOFvaNSj5YXDdTKfsWqQm3jeppx36XupPuwWvINz1QWQNjoJti7wm8p9vWZxbL25ZpwO-0YyUOLVPIoGbv7lE-hZCTy9x2mtjvnkd_-VX3f0JOG9xDk-O/s400/IMG_0033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422361988450292642" border="0" /></a>Both of the galloping sand stars we saw didn't look in great condition. Hopefully they will recover and be healthy again when we see them again.<br /><br />It was really a great day out as we also came across 3 sea cucumbers which were never-seen-before in Semakau, I decided against posting the photos of them on this posting as R had better photos of them. I'll provide the link to his posting at the end of this posting so all interested discoverers can take a look at them =D<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIw-jdCixAszaLRHNiEQzSHgS9CBRgPwwl7UoJ0zl2J9OGIgdAXKMEDC6pZAgvESQAL_6OSk7r_UkPyqFCG1jSScR40DFGwqax-BYLAlm6HujLTKJc61boOEx4dSSPBERhxSXWsVviN3E0/s1600-h/IMG_0039.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIw-jdCixAszaLRHNiEQzSHgS9CBRgPwwl7UoJ0zl2J9OGIgdAXKMEDC6pZAgvESQAL_6OSk7r_UkPyqFCG1jSScR40DFGwqax-BYLAlm6HujLTKJc61boOEx4dSSPBERhxSXWsVviN3E0/s400/IMG_0039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422361991702728018" border="0" /></a>Moving around the area, we also came across a few hell fire anemones, here's one of them, our <span style="font-weight: bold;">third 'discovery'</span> (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-2tr7Qrdbp7SgwPT6xWmj4yMLmaspwOJXVl6h6EWea5W6mJDv39LhzJIU9jazUeuHmgcT-Zn8L427GtW4k9FI1rA2XovPI6VoNHoS_2L2VAouSoOFachv0_dp21pg6IZhid2PgUQd8Ry/s1600-h/IMG_0040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-2tr7Qrdbp7SgwPT6xWmj4yMLmaspwOJXVl6h6EWea5W6mJDv39LhzJIU9jazUeuHmgcT-Zn8L427GtW4k9FI1rA2XovPI6VoNHoS_2L2VAouSoOFachv0_dp21pg6IZhid2PgUQd8Ry/s400/IMG_0040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422361997361182098" border="0" /></a>They are named hell fire anemones because of the fact that your hand will feel as if it's on fire if your hand comes into contact with it. I don't have any personal experience to back this up. But on a second thought, I don't think it's an experience I would want to have if possible...haha<br /><br />The last time when I was around the same area, I came across a number of bigfin reef squids around the area. So I decided to try my luck again and I was not disappointed. Here's two of them, <span style="font-weight: bold;">fourth 'discovery'</span> (picture below) <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYu5uqtLIkUWv7TUXr4KbAkl9bXwdKSB-XdBIihRegljrH6Rjg8UuQBJSfmbSXFLy-z1yGhDcxoiD4PF8U8IB_W2b63pR74WYdWf57xuLKbiDjIeji8KY76bOUsmjU5y1gdqesCCuARJk/s1600-h/IMG_0051.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYu5uqtLIkUWv7TUXr4KbAkl9bXwdKSB-XdBIihRegljrH6Rjg8UuQBJSfmbSXFLy-z1yGhDcxoiD4PF8U8IB_W2b63pR74WYdWf57xuLKbiDjIeji8KY76bOUsmjU5y1gdqesCCuARJk/s400/IMG_0051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422362008513276114" border="0" /></a>It has been said that squids are probably the fastest moving aquatic invertebrates with some reaching up to 40km/h but the ones we saw were quite still. Maybe it was their break time? haha<br /><br />Some people like me tend to mix up squids and cuttlefishes, so one good way to tell them apart is to look out for fin. An all round fin is a cuttlefish while the squid's fin is a triangular flap at the tip of the body which acts as stabilisers.<br /><br />To read more about them, you can go to <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/cephalopoda/squid.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/cephalopoda/squid.htm</a>.<br /><br />This trip just seems to get better as the night approached. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1VDYS1TpVVG0piPCpegc5pPDg-8oUuLQssaI51YLWmH_dGuFo2O4FBDDOXOHq9tEMZpIjats9osa4xYzs72C_ks9lvs7nSVjYuW1Eil9J0PEXENMb9yTznD8os1Wa6IW5PDzfVnq5gA7/s1600-h/IMG_0065.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1VDYS1TpVVG0piPCpegc5pPDg-8oUuLQssaI51YLWmH_dGuFo2O4FBDDOXOHq9tEMZpIjats9osa4xYzs72C_ks9lvs7nSVjYuW1Eil9J0PEXENMb9yTznD8os1Wa6IW5PDzfVnq5gA7/s400/IMG_0065.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422362266534356226" border="0" /></a>I say this because I spotted a total of 20 plus knobbly sea stars as I walked around (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rgxAhM6wXcnYFLWsPS2ug1treFErVDdKVjgH8rTKhzK9B8_ra1f-HiRnmNQ15ahPneiGhyxWVMx6_Vf2YWp78uffjHOFWMOhtFC-trjFo4SxbpjBTN0tEqXhcXyGhmDjyQuqB8QS9re3/s1600-h/IMG_0066.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rgxAhM6wXcnYFLWsPS2ug1treFErVDdKVjgH8rTKhzK9B8_ra1f-HiRnmNQ15ahPneiGhyxWVMx6_Vf2YWp78uffjHOFWMOhtFC-trjFo4SxbpjBTN0tEqXhcXyGhmDjyQuqB8QS9re3/s400/IMG_0066.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422362268257486354" border="0" /></a> Basically, I spotted one for average every five steps I took. Wow.<br /><br />To top it all up, the evil knobbly, <em>Pentaceraster mammilatus, </em>came into view as I changed direction to head back. Woohoo! <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fifth 'discovery'</span>!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDNM9RBfsZb_Z9S_qDpXpoPA6Ys-gsCymPXPUhKVCu_b6oZH8dY29Fxk4GwP4AaqrrxxB4bs4LCCQWVZwxcWVeOzBm2zbwCwpP8n-ouU7T13zWk8_1FpXh9VCArEp6zAkgSwqm6sf2DcT/s1600-h/IMG_0100.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 351px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDNM9RBfsZb_Z9S_qDpXpoPA6Ys-gsCymPXPUhKVCu_b6oZH8dY29Fxk4GwP4AaqrrxxB4bs4LCCQWVZwxcWVeOzBm2zbwCwpP8n-ouU7T13zWk8_1FpXh9VCArEp6zAkgSwqm6sf2DcT/s400/IMG_0100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422362274361534658" border="0" /></a> A Pentaceraster was last seen on Semakau about a year ago, so it's great to discover another one on Semakau. =D<br /><br />This trip surely lines up as one of the top trips I had on Semakau and it was all with great weather and company!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Extra:</span><br />Read <a href="http://tidechaser.blogspot.com/2010/01/3-new-sea-cucumbers-at-semakau.html">http://tidechaser.blogspot.com/2010/01/3-new-sea-cucumbers-at-semakau.html</a> for the 3 sea cucumbers which are new records for Semakau.DreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8010180031124607287.post-48364360105098237602010-01-01T23:50:00.006+08:002010-01-02T12:23:30.912+08:00Pulau Hantu on New Year's Day 2010<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">109th Discovery Posting:</span><br /></div><br />Today (now: yesterday) is (now: was) the first day of 2010 and I was out on an inter-tidal area with friends at Pulau Hantu.<br /><br />The inter-tidal area on the island itself isn't really huge but it does have a variety of 'attractions'. First, there are some mangrove trees which one can get really close up and observe their aerial roots (picture below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75Xl_bTsvSMivUURiAu5wobVinY9HobzdyqTvcZeEv3Zzvkc_TTfhlDN6qYYN6A0ceETdMKsCyr5OMLi0btOmh2U-i4prx7W2qm10M2SmI8uCigmqHHlRdiw85-3BbBjLbtR7O8_ORPkx/s1600-h/IMG_0002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75Xl_bTsvSMivUURiAu5wobVinY9HobzdyqTvcZeEv3Zzvkc_TTfhlDN6qYYN6A0ceETdMKsCyr5OMLi0btOmh2U-i4prx7W2qm10M2SmI8uCigmqHHlRdiw85-3BbBjLbtR7O8_ORPkx/s400/IMG_0002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421799607766343570" border="0" /></a>Second, you are able to find some marine organisms found in some other inter-tidal areas in Singapore. Take for example, our <span style="font-weight: bold;">first 'discovery'</span>, a common sea star (picture below). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGnjIZCrJ2MlrpdIDkjwbLkPsZm7b-3CFsSkkmTBdclo71gZWbnG5L4I9AbD7DA_h7hkqHyQbyfvmmAlQDvVlpFzPzPdGtHS2V4y2JRaZIisMD1oiAlCvqOiXMGQaO_0LUpRe7PjQOEyi/s1600-h/IMG_0004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGnjIZCrJ2MlrpdIDkjwbLkPsZm7b-3CFsSkkmTBdclo71gZWbnG5L4I9AbD7DA_h7hkqHyQbyfvmmAlQDvVlpFzPzPdGtHS2V4y2JRaZIisMD1oiAlCvqOiXMGQaO_0LUpRe7PjQOEyi/s400/IMG_0004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421799614233209970" border="0" /></a>If you follow my postings, you will find that I sometimes bemoan the fact that despite being named the common sea star, this species of sea star is actually not common in Singapore. This is probably mainly due to the loss of habitat. However, in the past few months, they have been spotted at Sentosa and more recently, many in numbers at Tanah Merah (a reclaimed shore). I hope this is a sign that they can really become common.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Second 'discovery'</span> would be something that you 'die-die also can see' unless something drastic happens (for example: water pollution), touch wood. Anyway, I am referring to corals. Here's a flowery soft coral (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImBlOgnlShFqe82Aie-gyoZPOPKekOP6_2NkNzEIb_1SSrxa4OQJaWpwMdI2s17jnpAQUuoY_BcABH6MKEQp2BjEnaQ1Wuwz5u8d7Ador74mH0IYfJRg3CzjSTOrMtcA8Nq1U27y4mmda/s1600-h/IMG_0009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 368px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImBlOgnlShFqe82Aie-gyoZPOPKekOP6_2NkNzEIb_1SSrxa4OQJaWpwMdI2s17jnpAQUuoY_BcABH6MKEQp2BjEnaQ1Wuwz5u8d7Ador74mH0IYfJRg3CzjSTOrMtcA8Nq1U27y4mmda/s400/IMG_0009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421799626287387650" border="0" /></a>They are nice to look at but bad to touch. They will not break of course, but they can sting you, so it would be a good idea not to touch them. Anyway, do take a closer look whenever you come across one of these as you might come across tiny animals that can live on this kind of soft coral. I didn't really take a close look this time, but you can see some examples from this <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralsoft/nepasparagus.htm">link</a>.<br /><br />Our <span style="font-weight: bold;">third 'discovery'</span> is also a coral. This is a mushroom coral (picture below)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfdrSg2KSDTOPk8Ctta_BMACZKZr83n2PS4VHKjqrZ3kqL422ZNqxqj3BY-5G9BfoCgpOmVAdgWUEGBAuD_OhMQlGWPfZtwgGH-mXHdwdN4FS03gI31-84WDx0DCWDLJf1naINn-PRbXf/s1600-h/IMG_0008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 378px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfdrSg2KSDTOPk8Ctta_BMACZKZr83n2PS4VHKjqrZ3kqL422ZNqxqj3BY-5G9BfoCgpOmVAdgWUEGBAuD_OhMQlGWPfZtwgGH-mXHdwdN4FS03gI31-84WDx0DCWDLJf1naINn-PRbXf/s400/IMG_0008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421799620444849186" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralhard/fungiidae/fungiidae.htm">Mushroom corals</a> are corals with a ... er ... two differences from other corals. One, unlike other corals which are attached on the ground/substrate/rock, the mushroom coral when as a adult lives unattached to those mentioned. Two, unlike corals which are mostly made up of many individual animals (named: polyps), mushroom corals are made up of either one polyp or sometimes a few.<br /><br />Next up, our <span style="font-weight: bold;">fourth 'discovery'</span>, a flat worm (picture below). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6aAXXf0uyc_Q9rOa46DIYDhQY3hUH2HuhAYWeHVnA-Rv5ou6-_xP9Ao7_CwAKN0PrTa2EyECLsmVSZWEqA2A3FKUf3flvhO7jK28YgIXc6Opt3__4zkoOCRIJQPByoqyhKeOd4Lc6ykJ/s1600-h/IMG_0010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6aAXXf0uyc_Q9rOa46DIYDhQY3hUH2HuhAYWeHVnA-Rv5ou6-_xP9Ao7_CwAKN0PrTa2EyECLsmVSZWEqA2A3FKUf3flvhO7jK28YgIXc6Opt3__4zkoOCRIJQPByoqyhKeOd4Lc6ykJ/s400/IMG_0010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421799629014146770" border="0" /></a>As their name suggest, <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/worm/polycladida/polycladida.htm">flatworms</a> are really flat. This can help them to squeeze or move into narrow and small spaces to find food and at the same time to hide from their predators. At the same time, being really flat means that their bodies are easily tore when handled, so please handle them with them or don't handle them at all. One really interesting thing about them is that flatworms are hermaphrodites. In really simple terms, this means that a flat worm is both a guy and gal. In specific terms, flatworms have both the male and female reproductive organs.<br /><br />Does this (picture below) look tasty to you? I bet crab lovers will drool over this...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlX13OWKEaetLPk8KtxdF_LB12jS1V3HskyZHI-rHWi_J9ZhPviZVnbZUQ9Y-QsrccCI6kDoTSSlz87q6jLxjzAKNwPdB1Fpvvm4VXmgyQyJJbtw_vmTpC3HLROhyphenhyphenTsfw4ziMb_l8OtKu1/s1600-h/IMG_0014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 277px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlX13OWKEaetLPk8KtxdF_LB12jS1V3HskyZHI-rHWi_J9ZhPviZVnbZUQ9Y-QsrccCI6kDoTSSlz87q6jLxjzAKNwPdB1Fpvvm4VXmgyQyJJbtw_vmTpC3HLROhyphenhyphenTsfw4ziMb_l8OtKu1/s400/IMG_0014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421800919415025826" border="0" /></a>However our <span style="font-weight: bold;">fifth 'discovery'</span>, the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/xanthidae/integerrimus.htm">red egg crab</a>, is a crab which crab lovers should avoid as they are poisonous and more importantly, their poison CANNOT be wiped out by cooking.<br /><br />Our <span style="font-weight: bold;">sixth 'discovery'</span> may look like a flatworm which you have seen earlier, however this is a nudibranch (picture below). To be more specific, this is a Bohol nudibranch, <span style="font-style: italic;">Discodoris boholiensus</span>.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0XjaDWgC-TjrchG1ziV1GdsEA9NYGf7NghUcMNW_sb6UHPbfZIUQv_wBY_j6Lcvdhfwq9w2R5R6OBa35dHmgz81tM53LAfI09YDd-CSHZqLppDGPbZeElQ1f7Bts8AV5WRiRUHD1Wk6p/s1600-h/IMG_0015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0XjaDWgC-TjrchG1ziV1GdsEA9NYGf7NghUcMNW_sb6UHPbfZIUQv_wBY_j6Lcvdhfwq9w2R5R6OBa35dHmgz81tM53LAfI09YDd-CSHZqLppDGPbZeElQ1f7Bts8AV5WRiRUHD1Wk6p/s400/IMG_0015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421800924998717010" border="0" /></a>As mentioned, you might have taken this as a flatworm. No worries, this happens to us sometimes as well. So how can we and you not make this mistake. Here's a site for help: <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/glossary/flatwormslug.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/glossary/flatwormslug.htm</a><br /><br />And lastly is the highlight of our trip, the <span style="font-weight: bold;">seventh 'discovery'</span>, a....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSabCStQqhuh1swNnsuMcMtb26GLllhm3gQvM6BlKxC51HyqSoTHwSc5eZGAkqu8kDXnxTkOlA_O-T9wE3BYCOr9S2tWMZYDP_JBZ6aZlthCJFiIi41pCc3RSRWH88M2Pcip0wnFmHHqfE/s1600-h/IMG_0025.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSabCStQqhuh1swNnsuMcMtb26GLllhm3gQvM6BlKxC51HyqSoTHwSc5eZGAkqu8kDXnxTkOlA_O-T9wE3BYCOr9S2tWMZYDP_JBZ6aZlthCJFiIi41pCc3RSRWH88M2Pcip0wnFmHHqfE/s400/IMG_0025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421800936832199730" border="0" /></a>SEAHORSE (picture above and below)!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ18oa63l21Biz060NFqr2Rz6ahOUi0Q2hFMvXLX_DqmOLI55PYA6BjiJxkNLttDUag79qfIpr0Ylcx-pJ5S5yQZhp1enH2XP67iwArp86GKkyo1xtEfA2xNLHaUVtY0HFEEUHoxB4rb_F/s1600-h/IMG_0028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ18oa63l21Biz060NFqr2Rz6ahOUi0Q2hFMvXLX_DqmOLI55PYA6BjiJxkNLttDUag79qfIpr0Ylcx-pJ5S5yQZhp1enH2XP67iwArp86GKkyo1xtEfA2xNLHaUVtY0HFEEUHoxB4rb_F/s400/IMG_0028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421800940585371874" border="0" /></a>I believe you might already know that an interesting fact about the sea horse is that the father carries the eggs of its young, in other words, get 'pregnant'. But do you know that seahorses are actually related to fishes but not horses. There are many more information about them, you can read them at <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/syngnathidae/hippocampus.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/syngnathidae/hippocampus.htm</a>. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span>That about concludes this posting. Would like to thank R for organising this trip and all who were also there. It was another nice although short trip. =DDreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8010180031124607287.post-26769154532872990232009-12-21T20:39:00.005+08:002009-12-21T21:43:33.601+08:00Day over at Ubin on 19 Dec 2009<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">108th Discovery Posting:</span><br /></div><br />On the recent Saturday (19 Dec), I together with a group of nature volunteer friends visited Ubin for a lesson on Birds (thanks to LK for inviting us along) and exploration around the island (thanks to the NParks staff, especially Adelle for hosting us).<br /><br />It was an early start to the day for all of us as we had planned a morning bird watching session (picture below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb79Ze13eg7HejmgKtsugARRB3SObr7gik17pKnBm4fOg_6unkdJf_vV2-v2gfw7CDK1NjcCQsbwkG-2Tr2kwTkWDieUtoFRy_ltKHMY3gHZE0Kp-H8SfHaYjGWolOyhQ_Ox3rpXMgmly0/s1600-h/IMG_0002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb79Ze13eg7HejmgKtsugARRB3SObr7gik17pKnBm4fOg_6unkdJf_vV2-v2gfw7CDK1NjcCQsbwkG-2Tr2kwTkWDieUtoFRy_ltKHMY3gHZE0Kp-H8SfHaYjGWolOyhQ_Ox3rpXMgmly0/s400/IMG_0002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417668679912868322" border="0" /></a>Upon arrival, M pointed out to me this signage found on the jetty on Ubin (picture below). We did had a small laugh over it as there was something wrong about the signage. Can you spot it? <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OLEfHray188s2bhUVV-D2Fey9s7w6pGg6En-ICn1V9axZKWfD9BqNajsKjE5kCwjn-59Xq5KMIiMA-lVPpkOt2dL5AWy9tyVNQ75mQQr13x-0SeecPPE0KHCWIBhI1X6niG4b77utPPq/s1600-h/IMG_0004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 322px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OLEfHray188s2bhUVV-D2Fey9s7w6pGg6En-ICn1V9axZKWfD9BqNajsKjE5kCwjn-59Xq5KMIiMA-lVPpkOt2dL5AWy9tyVNQ75mQQr13x-0SeecPPE0KHCWIBhI1X6niG4b77utPPq/s400/IMG_0004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417668680734025202" border="0" /></a>I guess there may be a letter printing mistake as it should read: "No Camping Allowed on Jetty".<br /><br />Anyway, back to the trip. After our bird watching session (no photos as my camera only has a limited optical zoom) in the morning, we set off for our afternoon walk around session. This was nearly canceled as a heavy storm was ongoing on Ubin in the afternoon. Luckily for us, it stopped around 3pm and we went on with our program.<br /><br />Not long after we set off, M pointed out this (picture below) to us. Can you spot it? Clue: It is green and quite long.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jZqvCz6O2fYq1rJ51Spni3j2ztcF1JLp7fIAm7WCY853SYzwMREq-K7T5N9VEeN1iDdtwmE0vDnzcteZlukj37fF7Ayo7Yu4ID_KiUp_fUvdD-fPPyDUrlvAZYuuKVLINh60O8HZPTr0/s1600-h/IMG_0019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jZqvCz6O2fYq1rJ51Spni3j2ztcF1JLp7fIAm7WCY853SYzwMREq-K7T5N9VEeN1iDdtwmE0vDnzcteZlukj37fF7Ayo7Yu4ID_KiUp_fUvdD-fPPyDUrlvAZYuuKVLINh60O8HZPTr0/s400/IMG_0019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417668689024569666" border="0" /></a> Here's a closer look at its head (picture below). <span style="font-weight: bold;">First 'discovery'</span> and it is a oriental whip snake.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVe2aqFVc12R5rtRd1v7AwaDHINcyH5uShR2-KXlDqzJBs9R1JJJtaofEePEJEMX1rK9Ytbq41twDt-32_8zEygPxX1nb9KOVObSuEbC0Bv0qWABM-jBSVkBYi9wFVil1V-kQPr4MdatZ/s1600-h/IMG_0020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVe2aqFVc12R5rtRd1v7AwaDHINcyH5uShR2-KXlDqzJBs9R1JJJtaofEePEJEMX1rK9Ytbq41twDt-32_8zEygPxX1nb9KOVObSuEbC0Bv0qWABM-jBSVkBYi9wFVil1V-kQPr4MdatZ/s400/IMG_0020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417668689190537810" border="0" /></a>First off, the oriental whip snake is a mildly poisonous snake, although it may not be kill us with its bite, it would still be best not to handle it or any snakes at all. It is commonly found in forested and rural areas and most encountered by us while it suns itself on plants along the forest edge.<br /><br />For more information and pictures, you may visit: <a href="http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/snakes/oriental_whip-snake.htm">http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/snakes/oriental_whip-snake.htm</a><br /><br />Later in the evening, we were also given a chance to explore the Chek Jawa inter tidal area. It was somehow a highlight for me for the day as I have not stepped on the inter tidal flats of this place for about a year plus ever since helping KS with his project. Here's some photos of the place itself (pictures below)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjqiS3Y954WJqJilH2AtxQhH7SwOuTaylT3Ddmi8_AQwk9FoiSgXP3ejjIpYUqWx0LMv9wfpYUeHqX2aEsVge_81aT7pZV0-IFIumPyb6MnrV04N4NeywTYwWfrF9pxd3igkAkXS0tsSw/s1600-h/IMG_0031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjqiS3Y954WJqJilH2AtxQhH7SwOuTaylT3Ddmi8_AQwk9FoiSgXP3ejjIpYUqWx0LMv9wfpYUeHqX2aEsVge_81aT7pZV0-IFIumPyb6MnrV04N4NeywTYwWfrF9pxd3igkAkXS0tsSw/s400/IMG_0031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417668698531458658" border="0" /></a>Notice the Chek Jawa boardwalk on the background. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyWCCvXgEWNlAaINbFpeRb7-NOhMxLNtHWtsyy6woztEbpYGmUg7nKkRQD-iXdqQYjJ0U2SE5MgmmLO502LioA-q7vLOiMaD67GLD2OErz2Wn6G7b9LH54pciR1rhqR-GrOnotCvn643w/s1600-h/IMG_0034.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyWCCvXgEWNlAaINbFpeRb7-NOhMxLNtHWtsyy6woztEbpYGmUg7nKkRQD-iXdqQYjJ0U2SE5MgmmLO502LioA-q7vLOiMaD67GLD2OErz2Wn6G7b9LH54pciR1rhqR-GrOnotCvn643w/s400/IMG_0034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417669000804126018" border="0" /></a>Some critters we saw include the<span style="font-weight: bold;"> second 'discovery'</span>, sand stars. Here's one of them (picture below)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2La_D1gz6EvlrirmbKifyeeLOI4PK_OQCbryIMvLEMMMxs_4kUKDz83_7-om0bdEKV6t54fWj9jw8dMNP_LVvVRjqWBTppMBVwpfv5198vQ2l9VP6qCuUROb0xlwRYF9N5keUXkHg86U/s1600-h/IMG_0040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 375px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2La_D1gz6EvlrirmbKifyeeLOI4PK_OQCbryIMvLEMMMxs_4kUKDz83_7-om0bdEKV6t54fWj9jw8dMNP_LVvVRjqWBTppMBVwpfv5198vQ2l9VP6qCuUROb0xlwRYF9N5keUXkHg86U/s400/IMG_0040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417669007722506690" border="0" /></a>Some call this (above) the plain sand star. Well, one reason is because there is another kind of sand star. The painted sand star (picture below), <span style="font-weight: bold;">third 'discovery'</span>! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3WoUjYobl66KVTC7TrSCLUkGJERMomyvkpiknGkMHgaec99fbaneFkwDmYYvZmcgBKUvrhlzok1h_jhFnnSu-RWBO3NBTGs5fwAZGlosSfAx6sp35lMzL7WCkC2eVRMAU5eHSkXoqDdw/s1600-h/IMG_0054.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3WoUjYobl66KVTC7TrSCLUkGJERMomyvkpiknGkMHgaec99fbaneFkwDmYYvZmcgBKUvrhlzok1h_jhFnnSu-RWBO3NBTGs5fwAZGlosSfAx6sp35lMzL7WCkC2eVRMAU5eHSkXoqDdw/s400/IMG_0054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417669335719606850" border="0" /></a>As you can see, their appearance differs a bit. But you can find long spines along both sides of its arms. Their similarities goes on, they are more commonly seen in our northern shores and are more active when it is dark or near dark. If I am not wrong, they feed differently from the common sea star, which you can find on Chek Jawa as well. For the common sea star, it would push its stomach out from its body to feed while the sand star would usually just ingest or swallow them whole.<br /><br />Next up, <span style="font-weight: bold;">third 'discovery'</span>, sand stars (picture below)!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4kkgKT5S9ht1Fcp8IXIO8H5S2Ixdkvh7_lXTe0fM1FYUdenIQGSdlpBbDeBgWcZLkc_W4bSKhC5NJQoHhGbGRGee1tP6YVfsG3IZPLh6Dkv9qCRZX7yWFv2Hp42E1XnJXLvSE8nXt-8L/s1600-h/IMG_0041.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4kkgKT5S9ht1Fcp8IXIO8H5S2Ixdkvh7_lXTe0fM1FYUdenIQGSdlpBbDeBgWcZLkc_W4bSKhC5NJQoHhGbGRGee1tP6YVfsG3IZPLh6Dkv9qCRZX7yWFv2Hp42E1XnJXLvSE8nXt-8L/s400/IMG_0041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417669017392804514" border="0" /></a>They may not look like sea stars, but do you know that they are actually related? Yes, sea stars, sand dollars, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, brittle stars and feather stars all belong to the group of animals which we call enchinoderms. A bit too scientific? Well, then just look closer at the picture above, do you see a star shape? This isn't a good guide to identify animals belonging to this group though.<br /><br />Anyway, the name <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/echinoidea/sandollar/sandollar.htm">sand dollars</a> came about mostly because they resemble dollar coins and at the same time are mostly found in sand bars. They might not alive to you, but if you ever have the chance to handle one, you will feel that they have tiny little spines that can tickle you when you touch them. But do remember not to remove them from sea water for long, as it would stress them.<br /><br />One more thing which we saw a number was this, a peacock anemone (picture below). <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fourth 'discovery'</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Z7GtBpqZ-rSP-xMEbk7nR2Ry27DXdRAmEz4QebCoPTTHvOAp3AUK9-O4_6u5LLaIfnvCVLq8WpdK_FnCK8H-7T0vJYz3JeYdCiSSDt3OEURZ2y8nqE0iZJUNWCtHsnCXrze2N6CxqcxR/s1600-h/IMG_0042.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 341px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Z7GtBpqZ-rSP-xMEbk7nR2Ry27DXdRAmEz4QebCoPTTHvOAp3AUK9-O4_6u5LLaIfnvCVLq8WpdK_FnCK8H-7T0vJYz3JeYdCiSSDt3OEURZ2y8nqE0iZJUNWCtHsnCXrze2N6CxqcxR/s400/IMG_0042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417669023943648114" border="0" /></a>They are good to look at and bad to touch. Why? This is because <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/others/ceriantharia/ceriantharia.htm">peacock anemones</a> can sting you with stings in their stinging cells. Besides that, do you notice that they have a layers or rings of tentacles? One is the outer, the other is the inner. The function of the outer layer is to gather food from the surroundins towards the inner layer and then the inner layer would transfer food to its mouth. Works like a bit like a conveyor belt, don't you think so?<br /><br />As we explored, we moved towards the coral rubble area. But alas, the tide wasn't low even for us to even step into the place. So for safety reasons, we decided to just look around the other places in the area. I did however get a nice sunset shot nearby the coral rubble area (picture below). =D <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEO2KAKm4yMTRCHUoWwevOMKdC7Cu4HDamcZtU-EVvKU_-jHYrwxDV_N1pgTnWUgUrno4h1o9H7YPcXeKesVPjJXoauirCSw8MsfizrqnTmkb56tI8fLwzp2BXwY2slAgUMIfZcD-pZIa/s1600-h/IMG_0045.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEO2KAKm4yMTRCHUoWwevOMKdC7Cu4HDamcZtU-EVvKU_-jHYrwxDV_N1pgTnWUgUrno4h1o9H7YPcXeKesVPjJXoauirCSw8MsfizrqnTmkb56tI8fLwzp2BXwY2slAgUMIfZcD-pZIa/s400/IMG_0045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417669325921089202" border="0" /></a>As we moved on, we came across this small little biscuit sea star (picture below). <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fifth 'discovery'</span>.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukk0v4SZPO4RwIHB1WSYgjZ8EKohwUTlkQosg50Xtg-1lAvLyItkRu1X3-glworpsTu8SMaROMaU0ajqmHKmI5JRXGlDoGOV5g-Ddkb25sFudf5RrgDxxut2qVI5UOMsKerHNWf_oKxzB/s1600-h/IMG_0047.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 376px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjukk0v4SZPO4RwIHB1WSYgjZ8EKohwUTlkQosg50Xtg-1lAvLyItkRu1X3-glworpsTu8SMaROMaU0ajqmHKmI5JRXGlDoGOV5g-Ddkb25sFudf5RrgDxxut2qVI5UOMsKerHNWf_oKxzB/s400/IMG_0047.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417669331448507042" border="0" /></a>Like other sea stars, it is best not to take <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/goniodiscaster.htm">biscuit sea stars</a> off from sea water. But if you do, do return them back after a quick look, as they need sea water as we need blood. This is basically because they circulate their bodies with sea water.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sixth 'discovery'</span> is one sea cucumber which I think that hasn't been properly IDed yet. But at the moment, I think we are calling it the smooth sea cucumber (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9aCXkZ73VQCyFFjiBuF_S8qKJBeFi-zk4Ek0gCMks54Ub0ffw97gtjfsm3VYMmcLX4_lTERb1xzkHc-E9uGb_0FMbv_cmIlOFKbp4o1QvGv5pUQreCY5twVqu4NTLKwAJyBztUK6BpAV/s1600-h/IMG_0056.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9aCXkZ73VQCyFFjiBuF_S8qKJBeFi-zk4Ek0gCMks54Ub0ffw97gtjfsm3VYMmcLX4_lTERb1xzkHc-E9uGb_0FMbv_cmIlOFKbp4o1QvGv5pUQreCY5twVqu4NTLKwAJyBztUK6BpAV/s400/IMG_0056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417669339588601458" border="0" /></a>The last featured animal and <span style="font-weight: bold;">seventh 'discovery'</span> is a noble volute (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jgWnNr2fOXChQ6H7zcVenj7HQJNBOHrF9jm1KKs3Xc7AeAWa8FDWQugTCACok5h2BU7JweKRgGG6bDLsM0GNZ06P83zO8WqWfAtwz3jkgwDXzLlK0Ps4wvmBhAs4okY9VZQDteuiEe_C/s1600-h/IMG_0058.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 326px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jgWnNr2fOXChQ6H7zcVenj7HQJNBOHrF9jm1KKs3Xc7AeAWa8FDWQugTCACok5h2BU7JweKRgGG6bDLsM0GNZ06P83zO8WqWfAtwz3jkgwDXzLlK0Ps4wvmBhAs4okY9VZQDteuiEe_C/s400/IMG_0058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417670061256592722" border="0" /></a>These creatures are probably one of the largest sea snails you can encounter on our shores. This is because <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/volutidae/volutidae.htm">noble volutes</a> can grow up to about 10 plus cm long. However, they are threaten as they are collected for their beautiful shells as well for food.<br /><br />Well, that about wraps up this post. Thanks again to LK for organising and Adelle for hosting us and of course all friends who make it another great day out. =DDreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8010180031124607287.post-69287272919536887022009-12-06T22:40:00.006+08:002009-12-06T23:18:42.268+08:001st time encounter with this Star on Semakau<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">107th Discovery Posting</span><br /></div><br />Probably one reason that I continue to enjoy going for inter-tidal walks is the joy of discovering something which I have never seen before. And this happened recently on Friday night when we (a few Project Semakau volunteers and myself) went for an exploration walk at Semakau after we did some bird and insect surveys.<br /><br />In the beginning, I thought that this was a biscuit or cake sea star (photos below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5NDwMp1_ypj7A3L8CI2B0TPHlWM7oebyXbCB-0SOBV3F5YiefxwVI2OrfXFbzhdLuKkv5Dbqco7Rs5e8gFRC094JJDS6qgEdLRhOPL3OTnIs2gBgh0G-01huO1DFHLhGJU4YO1SlzD6AM/s1600-h/IMG_0088.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 395px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5NDwMp1_ypj7A3L8CI2B0TPHlWM7oebyXbCB-0SOBV3F5YiefxwVI2OrfXFbzhdLuKkv5Dbqco7Rs5e8gFRC094JJDS6qgEdLRhOPL3OTnIs2gBgh0G-01huO1DFHLhGJU4YO1SlzD6AM/s400/IMG_0088.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412133956464420946" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvDH6IybBWPs_3seVBwJQ1faQCVTQFXQI0VaDTPiBoYFr0xMJvuuna3DPGfI9aS626gnMa-j-XiHC3vpMiaJjXdpQv49Kh7L3QRklLx1Hf6KiEJYB5YSH7n-2IrmV4r8a8WEg84ZfcQpT/s1600-h/IMG_0092.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvDH6IybBWPs_3seVBwJQ1faQCVTQFXQI0VaDTPiBoYFr0xMJvuuna3DPGfI9aS626gnMa-j-XiHC3vpMiaJjXdpQv49Kh7L3QRklLx1Hf6KiEJYB5YSH7n-2IrmV4r8a8WEg84ZfcQpT/s400/IMG_0092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412133961916669778" border="0" /></a>But after R pointed out that this could be a galloping sand star (<span style="font-style: italic;">Stellaster equestris</span>), I decided to give it a double check. To my joy, R was correct. According to David's Lane, A Guide to Sea Stars and Other Echinoderms to Singapore, the galloping sand star has "variable amounts of dark-pigmented patterning on the oral surface." This was observed on the oral side of the sea star we've seen (photo above). So this is a 'first' for me! Rightfully, the first 'discovery' of this posting.<br /><br />Not only did we manage to see one of them, but two! Here's the second one (photo below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQyAN5sJMcnN9aKnM_Ja6L2UFklEb5q-h0kVYW6MHlO9iHXcINt9At5c3K2Z7sCNBTIyNIYm0muesTyubzq5mCW76huHikus8QtHXiV4KZkvXtIve_m86vQdoEsfnWyIGym8E8JbAPBQP/s1600-h/IMG_0095.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQyAN5sJMcnN9aKnM_Ja6L2UFklEb5q-h0kVYW6MHlO9iHXcINt9At5c3K2Z7sCNBTIyNIYm0muesTyubzq5mCW76huHikus8QtHXiV4KZkvXtIve_m86vQdoEsfnWyIGym8E8JbAPBQP/s400/IMG_0095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412134243817607090" border="0" /></a>I almost forgot to mention that this could be the first time anyone in Singapore has seen it in the inter-tidal area as previous specimens has been only found through dredging. Thanks to R for pointing this out! Oh, by the way, unlike most other sea stars which move by gliding across the substrate, this sea star is able to move by jerking or leaping.<br /><br />During our walk, we also managed to spot the usual big sea star suspects, the knobbly sea stars. Here's two of them and the second 'discovery' (photos below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajlpjXfuAED3yIQZ3qzwOKN0MdShaeZWtORv5DwAvDr9nSDZ0j3xEnQjmBhx5Kxb5APy6kS__59aO_zNuqLP3MpVLfVi_8nUl84b6E5EDmfse8j7D8CrNdG_MN5RXDnCcPIEjHh4KcgYf/s1600-h/IMG_0034.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 336px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajlpjXfuAED3yIQZ3qzwOKN0MdShaeZWtORv5DwAvDr9nSDZ0j3xEnQjmBhx5Kxb5APy6kS__59aO_zNuqLP3MpVLfVi_8nUl84b6E5EDmfse8j7D8CrNdG_MN5RXDnCcPIEjHh4KcgYf/s400/IMG_0034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412133460644041986" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoEgJ8seR7ruap6bUB5yZFHt2uI_NLH_lOkr-nAZDp-UY3sC6kfkBia5N7QCAwrK6BxweUnznQfAAHObA37WH0x4RLuRdCtNU6sCLZEOoW2NcmyzE_Dkmp7zeQrez4Xf5YLsTYXIgX_Rw/s1600-h/IMG_0055.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 394px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoEgJ8seR7ruap6bUB5yZFHt2uI_NLH_lOkr-nAZDp-UY3sC6kfkBia5N7QCAwrK6BxweUnznQfAAHObA37WH0x4RLuRdCtNU6sCLZEOoW2NcmyzE_Dkmp7zeQrez4Xf5YLsTYXIgX_Rw/s400/IMG_0055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412133481362506610" border="0" /></a>Initially, I thought the third 'discovery' was a gong-gong. But R pointed out this was a <span style="font-style: italic;">Strombus marginatus</span>, thanks again! (photo below)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvPTkXUpywlkBmMFZav7GLTZcE1SYODuSDLtzgMNb5_9RMcmmR_c_cyVnCdQLvjhErSu5wabDdOiNTlrQLnETrw9PtnE2QQ9hFUhyphenhyphenfp0Dh9MhLJ4HYzQRGbqodf_OyBSHUPmrMbGFbKVU/s1600-h/IMG_0053.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvPTkXUpywlkBmMFZav7GLTZcE1SYODuSDLtzgMNb5_9RMcmmR_c_cyVnCdQLvjhErSu5wabDdOiNTlrQLnETrw9PtnE2QQ9hFUhyphenhyphenfp0Dh9MhLJ4HYzQRGbqodf_OyBSHUPmrMbGFbKVU/s400/IMG_0053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412133480710354066" border="0" /></a>I did a quick search and found a recent paper on this shell, here's the link (you can check out the pictures if you're not interested in reading it): <a href="http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/nis/bulletin2009/2009nis379-384.pdf">http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/nis/bulletin2009/2009nis379-384.pdf</a>.<br /><br />It was quite a fruitful night as we across came across a number of squids, here are some photos of them below.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6R7xW4oyP7_DSd3uRofS9jaRG6FYoSd-A8MNCd-LO-8QM86GY495rwHqYwDMFn4_Le57xSs3jmxHaBFal4cysjfH5ybOnujDAEggjy_TFBshLkCLynrzFM1t78veXPzEtP9NUd-e97Rqa/s1600-h/IMG_0058.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6R7xW4oyP7_DSd3uRofS9jaRG6FYoSd-A8MNCd-LO-8QM86GY495rwHqYwDMFn4_Le57xSs3jmxHaBFal4cysjfH5ybOnujDAEggjy_TFBshLkCLynrzFM1t78veXPzEtP9NUd-e97Rqa/s400/IMG_0058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412133944617018578" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafvc0MD3cA6hT1jbkSwlZ7yvzSJBopFLZTLeMgHExjeR1J5-x2ZpmymLbjMP7rujll3nuRfNfAeapsk-cnc9OvDjezGzaxXLoRDakUYjXHGdbe56o_m-NfZwB2k2OxTcvG-XNYIvc5JMu/s1600-h/IMG_0059.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafvc0MD3cA6hT1jbkSwlZ7yvzSJBopFLZTLeMgHExjeR1J5-x2ZpmymLbjMP7rujll3nuRfNfAeapsk-cnc9OvDjezGzaxXLoRDakUYjXHGdbe56o_m-NfZwB2k2OxTcvG-XNYIvc5JMu/s400/IMG_0059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412133946253722338" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6VXCYvU5eM86SleJf1yaOnNtf1I4uuwfFKbibiTjeVjD4Cdnf15InXN1qj6R4ABCf-rv5JvkLswnhwkqcuwEMQbaxiMJBr1avKP_yKmRDRrgmSurVaOb1NV0QHrcbvPX5jqX6cs0c1ok/s1600-h/IMG_0070.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6VXCYvU5eM86SleJf1yaOnNtf1I4uuwfFKbibiTjeVjD4Cdnf15InXN1qj6R4ABCf-rv5JvkLswnhwkqcuwEMQbaxiMJBr1avKP_yKmRDRrgmSurVaOb1NV0QHrcbvPX5jqX6cs0c1ok/s400/IMG_0070.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412133949777999458" border="0" /></a>It has been said that squids are probably the fastest moving aquatic invertebrates with some reaching up to 40km/h but the ones we saw were quite still. Maybe it was because it was night time or rest time?<br /><br />Some people like me tend to mix up squids and cuttlefishes, so one good way to tell them apart is to look out for fin. An all round fin is a cuttlefish while the squid's fin is a triangular flap at the tip of the body which acts as stabilisers.<br /><br />To read more about them, you can go to <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/cephalopoda/squid.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/cephalopoda/squid.htm</a>.<br /><br />Well, it was a great night out and we were out again on the shores on the night after (sat). You can read about them @<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">a)</span> <a href="http://tidechaser.blogspot.com/2009/12/last-project-semakau-survey-of-year.html">http://tidechaser.blogspot.com/2009/12/last-project-semakau-survey-of-year.html</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">b)</span> <a href="http://mantamola.blogspot.com/2009/12/night-trip-to-semakau.html">http://mantamola.blogspot.com/2009/12/night-trip-to-semakau.html</a>DreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8010180031124607287.post-73976507496512714272009-10-19T21:16:00.005+08:002009-10-19T21:57:01.359+08:00Semakau Inter Tidal walk on 18 Oct 2009<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">106th Discovery Posting:</span><br /></div><br />Finally, after almost a month of non inter tidal outings, I'm back out at the shores again. Yesterday, I was back out on one of my favourite shores and island in Singapore, Semakau, doing guiding. Have to give a special mention to my group, the fiddler crabs, because they are mostly compromised of people who I have seen during the nature explorers' trip to Tioman Island during the September school holidays. Seeing them does brings back memories of that trip...<br /><br />Anyway, past memories aside, here's one of the first few things we saw during the trip. The <span style="font-weight: bold;">first 'discovery'</span> of this posting an olive whelk (picture below). Something really common but I have not seen before or probably never taken note before.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_SpT0_71U18PreHfIjY2hReAPkMn-exQFcMXZ2uRgKbHGkFs02oJXVcuXC69dNKn2axcs3tysXbUktttjvL_q-OaK3frqI9hSDL8-aP7RspyBggASGeMWsJOcZsvUwohnHmLJw4su0VL/s1600-h/IMG_0002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_SpT0_71U18PreHfIjY2hReAPkMn-exQFcMXZ2uRgKbHGkFs02oJXVcuXC69dNKn2axcs3tysXbUktttjvL_q-OaK3frqI9hSDL8-aP7RspyBggASGeMWsJOcZsvUwohnHmLJw4su0VL/s400/IMG_0002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394299985032042322" border="0" /></a>Like all whelks, the olive whelk is a scavenger. Well, for example, if you died on the natural shore (touchwood) and no one removes your body. Scavengers such as whelks will come and 'clean' you up. Get what I mean? =D<br /><br />Dead bodies aside, let's take a look at some live ones captured on photographs...hahaha (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaIm-x3k3TD1hlgDOoYYkQP8T2UcRcXTq2BwfS7D0Ov9euSLrv9soIOVxP5-1TE8nFHgnbS934XPzkeI2aPod53qhBEyTcKQ-pcvjoKHuso1sOreVzor8zO0yWSxnpvnZL2k5wG3cF8w3/s1600-h/IMG_0003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaIm-x3k3TD1hlgDOoYYkQP8T2UcRcXTq2BwfS7D0Ov9euSLrv9soIOVxP5-1TE8nFHgnbS934XPzkeI2aPod53qhBEyTcKQ-pcvjoKHuso1sOreVzor8zO0yWSxnpvnZL2k5wG3cF8w3/s400/IMG_0003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394299993850036002" border="0" /></a>Our <span style="font-weight: bold;">second 'discovery'</span> for this posting would be common sea stars (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBW18BfaJ9yYyaWYcROF4Etnd37mguAyD0INOUlwZUt-NSQXqyZpm7FxxyFEMArRjE83uYcqcQesR-sj-iBuLAvO26MclLNYvzkdtvhosO4WTpwELU0JRbGQQcxPhmb9FAt1MO9ld-91Si/s1600-h/IMG_0006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBW18BfaJ9yYyaWYcROF4Etnd37mguAyD0INOUlwZUt-NSQXqyZpm7FxxyFEMArRjE83uYcqcQesR-sj-iBuLAvO26MclLNYvzkdtvhosO4WTpwELU0JRbGQQcxPhmb9FAt1MO9ld-91Si/s400/IMG_0006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394300006916790418" border="0" /></a>Although their common name is common sea stars, they are actually not really common on our shores due to over collection and especially habitat loss. Maybe we should call them "uncommon sea stars" instead...=P<br /><br />Okay, back to the trip. Next up, <span style="font-weight: bold;">third 'discovery</span>' is the really pretty juvenile cushion star which we have been spotting for the last few months (picture below). It looks healthy and has been slowly increasing in size over the past few months, which is great news. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-1KGniAHn_bvyZ_Kz2N5f9Xu4qu5VhQpoxAOopbMZIji1Ynk8Ns0YztU-Dbh6YA3ZrlRaQVzvJn8bbeZKakRNJWsZHrUMKhmRKnhX4hpnUePGfekGcwDeWXkn5pMVzoc-IBoZe-qKlPO/s1600-h/IMG_0008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 398px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-1KGniAHn_bvyZ_Kz2N5f9Xu4qu5VhQpoxAOopbMZIji1Ynk8Ns0YztU-Dbh6YA3ZrlRaQVzvJn8bbeZKakRNJWsZHrUMKhmRKnhX4hpnUePGfekGcwDeWXkn5pMVzoc-IBoZe-qKlPO/s400/IMG_0008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394300036676581762" border="0" /></a>It's pretty amazing to know that cushion stars can grow to about the size of our heads or even bigger if given a good environment with sufficient food. Just to let you know, cushion stars of these bigger sizes are usually seen during diving trips.<br /><br />However, you don't need to get wet to see all the beautiful marine organisms. An inter tidal walk along the shores can also bring you surprises comparable to diving trips. Take for example, this noble volute which spots a good looking shell, our <span style="font-weight: bold;">fourth 'discovery'</span> (picture below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSV5kKr-KIi5dIM0lgb47P4GOE5L3OkrwpsCDimxsrhKYlT7i5gI3aeBrIv2gDN1V7yShgOfaWoD2qLgiQ0fQkzjaDVATOQFtliK6BlfuhSvWQ0NDFMpxAsc9RTqSZQV7Pjb_iYcyj2POx/s1600-h/IMG_0011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSV5kKr-KIi5dIM0lgb47P4GOE5L3OkrwpsCDimxsrhKYlT7i5gI3aeBrIv2gDN1V7yShgOfaWoD2qLgiQ0fQkzjaDVATOQFtliK6BlfuhSvWQ0NDFMpxAsc9RTqSZQV7Pjb_iYcyj2POx/s400/IMG_0011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394300688087153618" border="0" /></a>Due to its attractive looking shell, the noble volute has been harvested and its numbers have plummeted as a result.<br /><br />Colourful creatures do stand out in the shores where it's usually brown and green around. For example, this nudibranch, the <span style="font-weight: bold;">fifth 'discovery'</span> (picture below). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyc3VZm6wi_sDGvtNPcLLda877FX7g7p3Yflup099y3n4k8Zb4H8JuXVve3Q4m2GfHkKoStRaJZVb2-kR0kR52jlJWeJlt9PJSfnddBoO-t_4RLfwl6L03p1qaeD4-ejZHWLO9BQQeV5Sx/s1600-h/IMG_0015.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyc3VZm6wi_sDGvtNPcLLda877FX7g7p3Yflup099y3n4k8Zb4H8JuXVve3Q4m2GfHkKoStRaJZVb2-kR0kR52jlJWeJlt9PJSfnddBoO-t_4RLfwl6L03p1qaeD4-ejZHWLO9BQQeV5Sx/s400/IMG_0015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394300043252729202" border="0" /></a>In the natural world. creatures with colourful colours are usually 'bad' to eat or what we say as warning colours. The result of eating them could lead to poisoning or even death in worst case scenarios. Probably that's why the nudibranchs grows up losing its shell. Cause it doesn't really need a shell to protect itself, its colours are already a protection or warning to others.<br /><br />We also had the great luck to see our one and only unknown sea star on Semakau and probably in Singapore as well. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sixth 'discovery'</span> (picture below)!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvv6J5ZbMqTyuArwkpLZWXKbbUEGnz1hpv_W4LXJXwJs91F_YcV627XCzVsyvQS5mX_stiPU1E69WONafag5ThGanaxK8faEmuhn4D1MRpXBfHC5_ZjWahJO0Z7YsHce5BeAMGnDUZRLJ3/s1600-h/IMG_0017.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvv6J5ZbMqTyuArwkpLZWXKbbUEGnz1hpv_W4LXJXwJs91F_YcV627XCzVsyvQS5mX_stiPU1E69WONafag5ThGanaxK8faEmuhn4D1MRpXBfHC5_ZjWahJO0Z7YsHce5BeAMGnDUZRLJ3/s400/IMG_0017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394300698413541666" border="0" /></a>Our hunter seekers also found us one of the resident knobbly sea stars on Semakau (picture below) for our last station.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8g5jq_gsvyga4uA7UpJLHWKsc5mpUN2hLB9VxfwnGJwk_X8qv0x0f_KRMlTXIliUZiflyjLL-Y79FIqCkD-z50shYRXddiHu8QeKEmQgHZYGdHDTRxTVdZEMDCyRFz4NTb5O_Iababjv/s1600-h/IMG_0019.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8g5jq_gsvyga4uA7UpJLHWKsc5mpUN2hLB9VxfwnGJwk_X8qv0x0f_KRMlTXIliUZiflyjLL-Y79FIqCkD-z50shYRXddiHu8QeKEmQgHZYGdHDTRxTVdZEMDCyRFz4NTb5O_Iababjv/s400/IMG_0019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394300704883836818" border="0" /></a>And after a little coaxing, I managed to get my group to pose for a group shot with the knobbly (picture below) =D.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8EpX-YDwLnNTEAGb8fikAzw74VKtKDRL0CtA6YF4WWrEh4uK1NnKltcQLRG8OA473VmXQxJuOXKHJwDACvN2VwGpjlg4LgKwl3ifNvEQqsOANCG33L40MviZqGzQBtK4bD5h8Day-QCg/s1600-h/IMG_0021.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8EpX-YDwLnNTEAGb8fikAzw74VKtKDRL0CtA6YF4WWrEh4uK1NnKltcQLRG8OA473VmXQxJuOXKHJwDACvN2VwGpjlg4LgKwl3ifNvEQqsOANCG33L40MviZqGzQBtK4bD5h8Day-QCg/s400/IMG_0021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394300715450488866" border="0" /></a>All in all, another great day despite being real hot in the beginning. And it's great to see the familiar faces from nature explorers, I hope it would not be too long before I see you all again! =D<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLMT-68CxmBA8aX6GQrWI4acxxXoKgA_WEJzNGV5sMXw_PQaQPTF2irwMT3mzCm90l7XmU8zaOpFftzPtaIgyhHhhV1LtRWplkCIsbEOcQg0hFhGYPqtDZRdqAnNTDab-R1flsh0uzBFD/s1600-h/IMG_0026.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLMT-68CxmBA8aX6GQrWI4acxxXoKgA_WEJzNGV5sMXw_PQaQPTF2irwMT3mzCm90l7XmU8zaOpFftzPtaIgyhHhhV1LtRWplkCIsbEOcQg0hFhGYPqtDZRdqAnNTDab-R1flsh0uzBFD/s400/IMG_0026.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394301141686710450" border="0" /></a>DreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8010180031124607287.post-8550478245960942742009-09-26T21:25:00.004+08:002009-09-26T21:52:34.570+08:00Colourful crabs plus an insect and a plant @ Chek Jawa<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">105th Discovery Posting:</span><br /></div><br />Today, together with volunteers guides from Naked Hermit Crabs (NHC), we visited Chek Jawa for 2 purposes. The first purpose was to guide people who have signed up to join the Naked Hermit Crab monthly guided walk on the Chek Jawa boardwalk. The second was explore Chek Jawa for a short while after our visitors left. Side tracking a bit, for those who are interested to find out more about the monthly guided walks on the Chek Jawa boardwalk, please visit for <a href="http://nakedhermitcrabs.blogspot.com/">http://nakedhermitcrabs.blogspot.com/</a>more information.<br /><br />Anyway, during the guided walk and also our own exploration, we saw the really pretty and colourful fiddler crabs found alongside the boardwalk in the mangroves of Chek Jawa. My photos of them are not really clear as my camera possesses only a 3x optical zoom. I should get one with more optical zoom soon... anyway, here are some photos of them (pictures below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrl3Eq50ppsnbhg7KV1MUQXx5TUflg01_TaQnDkgp9iQ2f2YjCkQQGfm8ZINaG5zcrV5530CE2e1zJ6lMKdoHflk-C4MtWINn5W8aJgP5ebS7r_xwK8wlNxF3ueZo6MmsepQc0oupGv3Z/s1600-h/IMG_0044.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrl3Eq50ppsnbhg7KV1MUQXx5TUflg01_TaQnDkgp9iQ2f2YjCkQQGfm8ZINaG5zcrV5530CE2e1zJ6lMKdoHflk-C4MtWINn5W8aJgP5ebS7r_xwK8wlNxF3ueZo6MmsepQc0oupGv3Z/s400/IMG_0044.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385767096125277186" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcI2srkIfhChTo1VpmkQlIW3x-0gXBMXaBy9Kdu_5QGHD2HKsCSKu7LHvkEeE1v9QhBJO9TGZRiyluns8L0wVMwvFSAWTb80TJYWBcISrJavM2qD3tqTyysqFC7e_D88dEr-9giqmEupj/s1600-h/IMG_0054.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 392px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcI2srkIfhChTo1VpmkQlIW3x-0gXBMXaBy9Kdu_5QGHD2HKsCSKu7LHvkEeE1v9QhBJO9TGZRiyluns8L0wVMwvFSAWTb80TJYWBcISrJavM2qD3tqTyysqFC7e_D88dEr-9giqmEupj/s400/IMG_0054.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385767105647752946" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7voG7Hf773z2894sx9fnPemXXqEDh2Rs_7XYZx5-8IfB-Oq4YRly43RpJLt1R8a-Vjh_scLSUw88ezKoh7IOzMyCU1hSuEGykw6xr047N-106RYSXgX7frsfvV43fEarDMwSq_HGJlXk_/s1600-h/IMG_0058.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 362px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7voG7Hf773z2894sx9fnPemXXqEDh2Rs_7XYZx5-8IfB-Oq4YRly43RpJLt1R8a-Vjh_scLSUw88ezKoh7IOzMyCU1hSuEGykw6xr047N-106RYSXgX7frsfvV43fEarDMwSq_HGJlXk_/s400/IMG_0058.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385767109136119426" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-VJumMzfY-RA-s4DDT1baHDNkI_K5SCrpN8IY4MRA7SsC4CBdtHr747D29Ed_apM-q2HZ-gIu5J9GY4EiRhxMKgWEPZW6Ywi2oBwEzmBhV7Etgt_XqnyaHoVI_fqhVzDlE4glqLVBide/s1600-h/IMG_0063.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 355px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-VJumMzfY-RA-s4DDT1baHDNkI_K5SCrpN8IY4MRA7SsC4CBdtHr747D29Ed_apM-q2HZ-gIu5J9GY4EiRhxMKgWEPZW6Ywi2oBwEzmBhV7Etgt_XqnyaHoVI_fqhVzDlE4glqLVBide/s400/IMG_0063.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385767546849780530" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjGQuJGyAjqrxzrG8nNiguaJcsEzlHPxxjZcCiOqGQXMz4PPDrSJQJA3Ub8LoA_XsJXmk9qkcc1z7RAkXQGnJKPd5GupC26gp8j99ao7L3KcaK0VghJUg6vHnJoDEFOsV_Tr8qDBD6JRe/s1600-h/IMG_0062.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 367px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjGQuJGyAjqrxzrG8nNiguaJcsEzlHPxxjZcCiOqGQXMz4PPDrSJQJA3Ub8LoA_XsJXmk9qkcc1z7RAkXQGnJKPd5GupC26gp8j99ao7L3KcaK0VghJUg6vHnJoDEFOsV_Tr8qDBD6JRe/s400/IMG_0062.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385767539897539554" border="0" /></a>During guiding, I came across this really well-camouflaged insect on a leaf. I have no idea what insect this is, probably someone can help me out? (picture below)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWr7Y9kBIpI8jJwsXA07ZMUd0p9J55uyRFgUw5BNbhYztOwdqE20NxYFzs3V2Icclw3W5k1H77VW2OUZzYup1nnjor1k-yRuxQA_sT4zenOOgv0r-an2QENq41nYrv74FOfnGVjdgUS9d2/s1600-h/IMG_0069.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWr7Y9kBIpI8jJwsXA07ZMUd0p9J55uyRFgUw5BNbhYztOwdqE20NxYFzs3V2Icclw3W5k1H77VW2OUZzYup1nnjor1k-yRuxQA_sT4zenOOgv0r-an2QENq41nYrv74FOfnGVjdgUS9d2/s400/IMG_0069.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385767561007184498" border="0" /></a>And before our guided walk started (you can see that my order of photos are in a reverse chronological order...hehehe), we were looking at this plant and wondering what this plant is. I do remember that I have the ID of this plant somehow in my computer. After searching, I believe this plant is called <span style="font-style: italic;">Chassalia curviflora</span> (picture below). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaH-Tv34WGHFXwyFzNGHDow7DR5JJYC8yu4BUhXd03d0qZCy99iwGiySZQXadvIYKuUDJxwSRZjEQpGQMmkUwYXNAb-4ZQKVbhWb9fbpfWNvQHqu-vXjT8V6XcetZ3ezcTbOdMpSvgbaFT/s1600-h/IMG_0043.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaH-Tv34WGHFXwyFzNGHDow7DR5JJYC8yu4BUhXd03d0qZCy99iwGiySZQXadvIYKuUDJxwSRZjEQpGQMmkUwYXNAb-4ZQKVbhWb9fbpfWNvQHqu-vXjT8V6XcetZ3ezcTbOdMpSvgbaFT/s400/IMG_0043.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385767088763534418" border="0" /></a>More pictures of this plant can be found @ <a href="http://www.natureloveyou.sg/Chassalia%20curviflora/Main.html">http://www.natureloveyou.sg/Chassalia%20curviflora/Main.html</a>.<br /><br />Well, that's about it for this post. I'm not going to feature all the things which I have seen during this trip as one, I did not take photos for everything and two, you can visit <a href="http://nakedhermitcrabs.blogspot.com/2009/09/another-fabulous-day-out-on-chek-jawa.html">http://nakedhermitcrabs.blogspot.com/2009/09/another-fabulous-day-out-on-chek-jawa.html</a> for a detailed blog entry for the walk.<br /><br />Lastly, thanks to all my participants in my group who came for the walk and I hope you had a great time as me. =DDreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8010180031124607287.post-84926571335267416242009-09-20T00:03:00.007+08:002009-09-20T12:48:29.332+08:00Semakau Inter-Tidal Walk on 19 Sep 2009<div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">104th Discovery Entry:<br /></div><br />It is the time of the year again when the lower low tide of the day changes from the morning to the afternoon/evening.<br /><br />This also means that we (inter-tidal nature guides and explorers in Singapore and probably also around the region) don't need to wake up at unearthly hours just to 'catch' the low tide. This luxury will last us for about 6 months before we return to the cycle of waking up SUPER early again. Anyway, it's great that the 'evening tides' are here.<br /><br />Now back to the main focus of this post. Just yesterday, together with other RMBR nature guides and 50+ participants, we went for an evening inter-tidal walk at Semakau.<br /><br />So our <span style="font-weight: bold;">first 'discovery'</span> of the day was this juvenile horseshoe crab (picture below). They are really interesting not only because that they have blue colored blood and it is also because they have existed on earth longer than us and the dinosaurs. Although we call them crabs, they are not actually crabs but more related to spiders.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmWbQb2AH5xd8U0hUNJwcDkHUpE9zQg7Dhb6Ke7F87tyrT80qnDLSjsNwKSiDbLVLSHAKzqefQDprU_Ydlu0LaDtOVvSEAP2MCcY4gDVErKysN8iabYPSuF7sMCYohDtyWZulUlup0UM6/s1600-h/IMG_0011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmWbQb2AH5xd8U0hUNJwcDkHUpE9zQg7Dhb6Ke7F87tyrT80qnDLSjsNwKSiDbLVLSHAKzqefQDprU_Ydlu0LaDtOVvSEAP2MCcY4gDVErKysN8iabYPSuF7sMCYohDtyWZulUlup0UM6/s400/IMG_0011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383210878680829554" border="0" /></a>Moving on closer to the seagrass meadows, we found three things which our hunter seekers have found for us. And two of them were flatworms, and that's the name for my group for the day! <span style="font-weight: bold;">Second 'discovery'</span> (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nHj91RpBFnDMaKiB2kTHg27vmXs5fu2jf2bc_Mxiv2swUpQso31K78cLjU0mrTHt4oam__FghjT-nW2ujzgUV8zznjFKCzruYHWpAaHkxN5epA6xC9vFxSAqJnEunCklbd4hEcCW0hJ4/s1600-h/IMG_0014.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 330px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nHj91RpBFnDMaKiB2kTHg27vmXs5fu2jf2bc_Mxiv2swUpQso31K78cLjU0mrTHt4oam__FghjT-nW2ujzgUV8zznjFKCzruYHWpAaHkxN5epA6xC9vFxSAqJnEunCklbd4hEcCW0hJ4/s400/IMG_0014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383210886001538770" border="0" /></a>As their name suggest, flatworms are really flat. This can help them to squeeze or move into narrow and small spaces to find food and at the same time to hide from their predators. At the same time, being really flat means that their bodies are easily tore when handled, so please handle them with them or don't handle them at all. One really interesting thing about them is that flatworms are hermaphrodites. In really simple terms, this means that a flat worm is both a guy and gal. In specific terms, flatworms have both the male and female reproductive organs.<br /><br />After glancing at 'ourselves', we waddled across the seagrass meadows and I stopped everyone for a stuck-in-the-seagrass-meadow group photo shot (picture below). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0uQqzvsZzQA6VHYcZ2Pw4T4LAaYuwblJ6xCtoZ8nH0Cujv6rWyHd_UWi7HpwriwqdpDosK10yiyDrAJtblW4AX1pn2dmaHbQO1V7Xr8yKzLZ9AyEgruNhMikDIHHlr0InckP7oMfEQlS/s1600-h/IMG_0015.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0uQqzvsZzQA6VHYcZ2Pw4T4LAaYuwblJ6xCtoZ8nH0Cujv6rWyHd_UWi7HpwriwqdpDosK10yiyDrAJtblW4AX1pn2dmaHbQO1V7Xr8yKzLZ9AyEgruNhMikDIHHlr0InckP7oMfEQlS/s400/IMG_0015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383210894248099506" border="0" /></a>Here's the wacky version (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXJBynj_qgHc5HWdXUxZ__4qKWnm2aTMnazAEVO5le6CBtrYGj8ytY554S21v1trOU5PD9t0biOdGhM-bE5hASKnAN9fL_RRZoGf-oiaLGiC7i_VvWcinLaTpMrVcliVDdaLHEBY9xixQ/s1600-h/IMG_0016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXJBynj_qgHc5HWdXUxZ__4qKWnm2aTMnazAEVO5le6CBtrYGj8ytY554S21v1trOU5PD9t0biOdGhM-bE5hASKnAN9fL_RRZoGf-oiaLGiC7i_VvWcinLaTpMrVcliVDdaLHEBY9xixQ/s400/IMG_0016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383210901886102338" border="0" /></a>After crossing the seagrass meadows, we immediately saw three garlic bread not ginger bread (I think I told my participants the wrong name for this yesterday, so sorry) or the sandfish sea cucumber. Our<span style="font-weight: bold;"> third 'discovery'</span> (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48UjQ4PIGbirmrqFGD-molcTtz-gfElw_T4-xCzNLw-l7h2nfUJwev3jpe70lhXBhGC0cvbffsLamjJzkccqk9WqsFiPyk8rS7lKZJBNomqYVAT4jSRBYNl69hRnDUrY79KuE9LpmBjn_/s1600-h/IMG_0018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48UjQ4PIGbirmrqFGD-molcTtz-gfElw_T4-xCzNLw-l7h2nfUJwev3jpe70lhXBhGC0cvbffsLamjJzkccqk9WqsFiPyk8rS7lKZJBNomqYVAT4jSRBYNl69hRnDUrY79KuE9LpmBjn_/s400/IMG_0018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383210907013742850" border="0" /></a>This kind of sea cucumber is one of the ones which are commonly collected as a Chinese delicacy. However, it would be good for you to know that it needs to be properly processed before it can be eaten as tests have conclude that sea cucumbers contain toxins.<br /><br />In every guided walk to Semakau, we have to highlight and remind our visitors to mind their step as they might step on the mine, ops, I mean star field (picture below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-XtyJOVhXk3-wJ1FK2K-I1G8cUBjtGIQ5fTkG4uPqr_BFPvfYghQLlP99lYXPiNpGCuYyGn9gynHWvR8991t-iKCU8ZMHaWFjITo4NgLLpzzHFUjXmV6bdMILCt_lhB60pZ9WdHnnymOH/s1600-h/IMG_0020.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-XtyJOVhXk3-wJ1FK2K-I1G8cUBjtGIQ5fTkG4uPqr_BFPvfYghQLlP99lYXPiNpGCuYyGn9gynHWvR8991t-iKCU8ZMHaWFjITo4NgLLpzzHFUjXmV6bdMILCt_lhB60pZ9WdHnnymOH/s400/IMG_0020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383211199605404898" border="0" /></a>Star field refers to the community of common sea stars which lives on substrate of the inter-tidal zone of Semakau. Here's one of them (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tXqTHK8bfWH1cMK77856x1LIFexTz8orgD_7vdknpkJowmXn4Q7136h3K6LdXS6GSHEBgi7akyD2ktGpoluDNEY_79ndsD7icFpwLrOVCiAnEm0TaW4wPCALyng5gDPDk29vuZvy1LeF/s1600-h/IMG_0023.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tXqTHK8bfWH1cMK77856x1LIFexTz8orgD_7vdknpkJowmXn4Q7136h3K6LdXS6GSHEBgi7akyD2ktGpoluDNEY_79ndsD7icFpwLrOVCiAnEm0TaW4wPCALyng5gDPDk29vuZvy1LeF/s400/IMG_0023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383211207791219362" border="0" /></a>It was a star-studded star, as we saw not only lots of common sea stars, we also came across...<br /><br />Not one but two juvenile cushion stars (pictures below)...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimV_Pidyk-ksHjRILxm3T8P8Xb-y63v7l8REeF4SSdqaZJ4HiDS1P8lmg_5dqhUsIMY4xZTuMCdeMRpoAIj2p-BjtmcKwKxHnKdLET3NK353v2o4xqpj35iY7yB_MEyzMZJQped9AnUBHL/s1600-h/IMG_0026.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimV_Pidyk-ksHjRILxm3T8P8Xb-y63v7l8REeF4SSdqaZJ4HiDS1P8lmg_5dqhUsIMY4xZTuMCdeMRpoAIj2p-BjtmcKwKxHnKdLET3NK353v2o4xqpj35iY7yB_MEyzMZJQped9AnUBHL/s400/IMG_0026.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383211213503019618" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuH0XcpCesezTXc5rM71XgJGN1Qsv_AjFqN2sw8UYJWvF5Oaaq9OVCldU2yvV4r6teM1SjIppgjW6tDlucTmMiij1sGZJJ9dO0wTgt6rNLq4EOnHPHoWWBsQvN51XNl8QKq9R-0tIVPql/s1600-h/IMG_0027.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 363px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuH0XcpCesezTXc5rM71XgJGN1Qsv_AjFqN2sw8UYJWvF5Oaaq9OVCldU2yvV4r6teM1SjIppgjW6tDlucTmMiij1sGZJJ9dO0wTgt6rNLq4EOnHPHoWWBsQvN51XNl8QKq9R-0tIVPql/s400/IMG_0027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383211219160445122" border="0" /></a>The yet-to-be-identifed sea star (picture below)...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_Rwbbt2bxv8n5heSxZNu2EpaAcBMLSQNS8sta97H4U_RFTQBRmFWeqpRYoz3lIvqPGRCVz60rqhyy7n_YhQTU77W9L-mMVSVK7mKArPG6noAg9odLZpnU4z_pNECcnfTLRpp1Bci4TF-/s1600-h/IMG_0031.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 364px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_Rwbbt2bxv8n5heSxZNu2EpaAcBMLSQNS8sta97H4U_RFTQBRmFWeqpRYoz3lIvqPGRCVz60rqhyy7n_YhQTU77W9L-mMVSVK7mKArPG6noAg9odLZpnU4z_pNECcnfTLRpp1Bci4TF-/s400/IMG_0031.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383211230576316546" border="0" /></a>At least 4 knobbly sea stars(picture below)...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTP03jTzjHx5j6If4xyo5RfzU3WM29iPLC8IbeUN4y-qLLhJgRsX86FfZVNVaPaFPRmc2o-bNr99IzktlvYMhZkzdPFIQpMmKptmVZesSmwOwsnsQJJ39KqsSRpvbtKPlQQQQf0tPjxx4/s1600-h/IMG_0032.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 330px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTP03jTzjHx5j6If4xyo5RfzU3WM29iPLC8IbeUN4y-qLLhJgRsX86FfZVNVaPaFPRmc2o-bNr99IzktlvYMhZkzdPFIQpMmKptmVZesSmwOwsnsQJJ39KqsSRpvbtKPlQQQQf0tPjxx4/s400/IMG_0032.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383211545313015810" border="0" /></a>And so how could we miss the chance to take a group shot with the sea stars themselves (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVFJ5OfS5WKs8eEefgZCL8HqHcL-90tMY624uAOVJJX_8XscKlL2iRbIq4W7GiQ3eGigmtAotIUcAZkrPQwM7WUquXnlBINw8Av-OGGXjxC5R7KqWbt7418IVxguqh3m2KeK4U-OcEuTp/s1600-h/IMG_0036.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVFJ5OfS5WKs8eEefgZCL8HqHcL-90tMY624uAOVJJX_8XscKlL2iRbIq4W7GiQ3eGigmtAotIUcAZkrPQwM7WUquXnlBINw8Av-OGGXjxC5R7KqWbt7418IVxguqh3m2KeK4U-OcEuTp/s400/IMG_0036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383211553362804722" border="0" /></a>And while exploring around by ourselves, one of the boys found a cuttlefish hiding amongst the sea weed, GREAT JOB! And I managed to spot this really beautiful greenish sunflower mushroom coral (picture below). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIZeZwzEPqhv7hrz8NqOlgK57ZQXxnqp_v9gJHsOZdB26w0nZyRfh5P21ox_HfX3kqGIqjcBJwBy-4v8MfBjDpbmrxGAJkeqhX4JhZGknhuZF9kbkg4VSDveR383bGzxD2rvEnMaD8OHj/s1600-h/IMG_0049.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 332px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIZeZwzEPqhv7hrz8NqOlgK57ZQXxnqp_v9gJHsOZdB26w0nZyRfh5P21ox_HfX3kqGIqjcBJwBy-4v8MfBjDpbmrxGAJkeqhX4JhZGknhuZF9kbkg4VSDveR383bGzxD2rvEnMaD8OHj/s400/IMG_0049.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383211559140218530" border="0" /></a>As I mentioned to the flatworms, mushroom corals are usually made up of one or a few polyps compared to a lot of polyps in a coral.<br /><br />To round up, yesterday was really a cool walk in terms of the weather and the participants (and of course if we minus the mosquito experience =P). Although the clouds blocked our view of a great sunset, it did provide us with photo opportunities of a different style (picture below). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipz5Hr6O1Pca9RjbskCqlKOK0a-n87dS7uJ_SanCcusnvVSjBfmiazbOPptAY2ERU8o4lQk-FDtppp2IDv9PTrfUhr0Ye2VXY4YdmLNsje3qoukkvMDCBruedBc2FLp6FHTaPUOazJpmG5/s1600-h/IMG_0051.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipz5Hr6O1Pca9RjbskCqlKOK0a-n87dS7uJ_SanCcusnvVSjBfmiazbOPptAY2ERU8o4lQk-FDtppp2IDv9PTrfUhr0Ye2VXY4YdmLNsje3qoukkvMDCBruedBc2FLp6FHTaPUOazJpmG5/s400/IMG_0051.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383211564034382546" border="0" /></a>Thank you all Flatworms again for providing me with another great guiding experience. See all of you around if possible. =D<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Extra:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1)</span> Read Tidechaser's entry for this trip for other interesting stuff: http://tidechaser.blogspot.com/2009/09/semakau-walk-on-19-sep-2009.htmlDreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8010180031124607287.post-30287193774482676322009-08-24T20:35:00.005+08:002009-08-24T22:51:34.036+08:00Semakau Inter-Tidal walk on 23 Aug 2009<div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">103th Discovery Post:<br /></div><br />As I left my house at about 4+am on Sunday morning, it was still drizzling and lighting flashed in the distance. The scene got me a little worried as we were heading out to Semakau yesterday morning (Sunday) and we would not be able to conduct an inter-tidal walk if a lighting alert has been given over the area.<br /><br />Luckily for all of us, the clouds held on to its water droplets and this resulted with a cool and over-cast sky for a walk at the inter-tidal zone of Semakau.<br /><br />Here's my group, puffer fish, standing on the trail which brings all visitors to the area through the sea grass meadows (picture below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyq234Tk60tUxMpRZd_96yQ-lK4cuFU0kms9QWStH-td6TGbV8JqQGYCw-PkQgrD2jN-sUrCgly0RNi0EWoCtlaVtciMDgI2u3siLQoVmdfnYeChTS79_YkCzYbQ64iYAn19BfqZ9YlIg7/s1600-h/P8230003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyq234Tk60tUxMpRZd_96yQ-lK4cuFU0kms9QWStH-td6TGbV8JqQGYCw-PkQgrD2jN-sUrCgly0RNi0EWoCtlaVtciMDgI2u3siLQoVmdfnYeChTS79_YkCzYbQ64iYAn19BfqZ9YlIg7/s400/P8230003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373508365582234722" border="0" /></a>After crossing the meadow, we came across this creature staring at us with its pair of eyes (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-d9hx30lNi33-K8x5pD2Zk2ivVr7Ro_coJMaRjW8QcbSqRtkWEqaeXhiMfUof7wilpppVXkkSzIH6ogO6MOPrUjzfDG_lE0A0L8kWWL94x_IdWIgG8qB7cMov-ZCrsbLXzkvumUPRC889/s1600-h/P8230004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-d9hx30lNi33-K8x5pD2Zk2ivVr7Ro_coJMaRjW8QcbSqRtkWEqaeXhiMfUof7wilpppVXkkSzIH6ogO6MOPrUjzfDG_lE0A0L8kWWL94x_IdWIgG8qB7cMov-ZCrsbLXzkvumUPRC889/s400/P8230004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373508368254964898" border="0" /></a>Our hunter seekers have managed to find us a spider conch, the <span style="font-weight: bold;">first 'discovery'</span> (picture below). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPacsgcAiSCkS1pxODw59-rjxs00xqsQRMVqoigwXwXSqooBq1Pobu27RkSb2_pz1lUazw9AmXfmggvRQUFHaVsA34JMt9bz3pknR6NGA8AwPx1llucl-9oRSZ7oSHOW499GGKu3zuRILD/s1600-h/P8230005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPacsgcAiSCkS1pxODw59-rjxs00xqsQRMVqoigwXwXSqooBq1Pobu27RkSb2_pz1lUazw9AmXfmggvRQUFHaVsA34JMt9bz3pknR6NGA8AwPx1llucl-9oRSZ7oSHOW499GGKu3zuRILD/s400/P8230005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373508378547845810" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Discovery Note:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1.</span> As a result of their really nice shells, spider conches are not only collected for food, they are also collected for their shells.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2.</span> Due to this collection, spider conches have been labelled as a 'vulnerable' on the Red list of threaten animals of Singapore.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3.</span> That aside, the movement of spider conches is quite interesting. They make use of a curved, knifed shaped operculum or in short, a 'leg' or 'pole' to pole vault around.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4.</span> The spikes that are found on the shell helps to prevent the spider conch are rolling around after making a 'hop'.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5.</span> Read more about the spider conch @ <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/strombidae/lambis.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/strombidae/lambis.htm</a>.<br /><br />The following 'discoveries' of this posting will be star-filled. What do I mean?<br /><br />First off, our <span style="font-weight: bold;">second 'discovery'</span>, a juvenile cushion star (picture below) which we have been spotting for the last 2 to 3 months. Hopefully, we will continue to see it in our future visits. =D<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFXkXmLPbMPQlU-A7C3Yzfm4V3G3MEbHsDK3TwsK9HEh3VgxAWVLbK0j6-LAQqAiS0h8danIABnzr8U5Hvb34K5w9GgCQJTHWsHJ0VPkkzjc4AKUL3CFpTZKVwbc561BesIWjKW5IcsvH/s1600-h/P8230006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 355px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFXkXmLPbMPQlU-A7C3Yzfm4V3G3MEbHsDK3TwsK9HEh3VgxAWVLbK0j6-LAQqAiS0h8danIABnzr8U5Hvb34K5w9GgCQJTHWsHJ0VPkkzjc4AKUL3CFpTZKVwbc561BesIWjKW5IcsvH/s400/P8230006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373508387408010306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Discovery Note:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1.</span> They are more often seen during diving, so it is always a treat to spot them in the inter-tidal areas.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2.</span> They have been found to feed on some species of hard corals. Their diet could also consist of immobile animals, organic particles found on sediments and sea weeds.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3.</span> Read more about them @ <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/culcita.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/culcita.htm</a>.<br /><br />Despite being assigned to guide the last minute, I managed to spot several things on my own. Here's one of them, the six armed knobbly sea star which is slowly becoming the new star of our walks (picture below). <span style="font-weight: bold;">Third 'discovery'</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCwSAAPKPRn3sJ3PWE-ubC0fdETsDPu8CCra2hLe8ohXXN942zTGXZMbJ0lKCvppbvTyFDBT7ys_HKYFQw1ho1xeCJ5JmJ5Lfi3f09kKbhPSGyXzj1kjAbHvnkGZJLzbksAQyJAI5Azku/s1600-h/P6120038.JPG"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xYDSxFXNXttKQ7_2YqRUH4-Gj2Q-epCVeGUw1Dof4fCxee95M4y_0eU6KFo0NWDRSjBkeejLAH-5lSTZW-pdQc0TKjdijeqpHX1fCPCYKpQ2GKSHD8waSaFeRHU3rDfL91GPs0A38dbH/s1600-h/P8230008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 357px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xYDSxFXNXttKQ7_2YqRUH4-Gj2Q-epCVeGUw1Dof4fCxee95M4y_0eU6KFo0NWDRSjBkeejLAH-5lSTZW-pdQc0TKjdijeqpHX1fCPCYKpQ2GKSHD8waSaFeRHU3rDfL91GPs0A38dbH/s400/P8230008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373508395612364354" border="0" /></a>Here are all the knobbly sea stars which we have seen for this trip (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KKsTO0cuj1s8j1AkV4A2B5RShgohWgjbbO7d2c4x8ku4FkgHgTS_cdswehyPFcdJ5_qRdVNMn9fTFdB8JUBs_aGVLvKlLiSLctSSwsjPwYX8VzQb2xeHbd4J-VZopLIMCQSDmnsjG4-G/s1600-h/P8230009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KKsTO0cuj1s8j1AkV4A2B5RShgohWgjbbO7d2c4x8ku4FkgHgTS_cdswehyPFcdJ5_qRdVNMn9fTFdB8JUBs_aGVLvKlLiSLctSSwsjPwYX8VzQb2xeHbd4J-VZopLIMCQSDmnsjG4-G/s400/P8230009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373510372491996834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Discovery Note:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1.</span> They can only be found on certain islands on the Northern and Southern side of Singapore, therefore, they can be considered as uncommon.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2.</span> Interestingly, their knob patterns can be used to tell one knobbly sea star from another.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3.</span> Like all sea stars, they require sea water for survival, so do not remove them from sea water if possible.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4.</span> Read more about them @ <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/protoreaster.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/protoreaster.htm</a>.<br /><br />Another interesting find would be this yet-to-be identified sea star on Semakau (picture below). As I turned this sea star to view its bottom side, another surprise sprung on me. A tidy brittle star was on the under side of this sea star. It was a pity that I totally forgot to take a photo in the mist of my excitement. By the way, this is the <span style="font-weight: bold;">fourth 'discovery'</span>.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pzbrHGEatE2DJ6ZecM7aO3kSIvw7qUFfPUXtFfWfm9upqRbWePoNXKR7z3LibC3-J2SFXJ1V4_gY-xQs5C6WiQQ0ICu4RaeNzOizYhU0xdQ9ZJnIlDjSyjOeq0lRCPNtlBYUCoL1I9Yx/s1600-h/P8230012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 372px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pzbrHGEatE2DJ6ZecM7aO3kSIvw7qUFfPUXtFfWfm9upqRbWePoNXKR7z3LibC3-J2SFXJ1V4_gY-xQs5C6WiQQ0ICu4RaeNzOizYhU0xdQ9ZJnIlDjSyjOeq0lRCPNtlBYUCoL1I9Yx/s400/P8230012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373510379684309810" border="0" /></a>It was one of the coolest morning walk compared to many other morning walks. What a great way to end the last morning walk @ Semakau. Next month, the tides will change and our trips out to the shores will start in the evenings... <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZVRThNBMigAP3Iu4q0g-a3VIEjZEi9q2TLQSVPmj0TIJ_qs0Jrc_REsuo0xu8rCDblh1MVZf1IwYiAOp6_zO8D_uT0mGMUrfjzXRWLwV7PqfiRHKjNSlPLbExL0ZgkOAt1Z_8i7Ct5GX/s1600-h/P8230015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZVRThNBMigAP3Iu4q0g-a3VIEjZEi9q2TLQSVPmj0TIJ_qs0Jrc_REsuo0xu8rCDblh1MVZf1IwYiAOp6_zO8D_uT0mGMUrfjzXRWLwV7PqfiRHKjNSlPLbExL0ZgkOAt1Z_8i7Ct5GX/s400/P8230015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373510390213530210" border="0" /></a>Finally, it's thanks to all puffer fishes for being such an attentive group. =D Here's a group photo of everyone (picture above) with the knobbly sea stars.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Extra:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">a)</span> Read Tidechaser's entry on this trip: <a href="http://tidechaser.blogspot.com/2009/08/semakau-walk-on-23-aug-2009.html">http://tidechaser.blogspot.com/2009/08/semakau-walk-on-23-aug-2009.html</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">b)</span> Read Manta's entry on this trip: <a href="http://mantamola.blogspot.com/2009/08/semakau-walk-on-23-august-09.html">http://mantamola.blogspot.com/2009/08/semakau-walk-on-23-august-09.html<br /></a>DreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8010180031124607287.post-27630530265398521802009-08-22T20:08:00.003+08:002009-08-22T20:52:37.109+08:00Nature's Tale: You scratch my back, I scratch your back<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">102th Discovery Posting:</span><br /></div><br />You would have probably heard of the saying, "You scratch my back, I scratch your back". This saying basically means: if you help me, I will help you; we work in a cooperative relationship, etc.<br /><br />This kind of relationship exist not only in our context but also in the natural world.<br /><br />Let's use one classic example from our seas to illustrate this: the relationship between the clownfishes and carpet anemones...<br /><br />Yes, you might be surprise to know that one can find and see clownfishes in Singapore's waters.<br />Below is a series of photos taken @ Semakau during today's morning there for Project Semakau (<a href="http://projectsemakau.rafflesmuseum.net/">http://projectsemakau.rafflesmuseum.net/</a>)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkXX-SQHNAOZJ2DJwnskXbzGkF-xyoVGtBtQhsPbJwGwkNLc6tySTfMvIeXcdDZgWJYkDBDlcOXSFGyPSdaiMR4Mc0bzkhJkBm-YEEVzS9ZRdU0GR_4Z1q95EwAoNzPKDkPW3NeIFuifh/s1600-h/P8220028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkXX-SQHNAOZJ2DJwnskXbzGkF-xyoVGtBtQhsPbJwGwkNLc6tySTfMvIeXcdDZgWJYkDBDlcOXSFGyPSdaiMR4Mc0bzkhJkBm-YEEVzS9ZRdU0GR_4Z1q95EwAoNzPKDkPW3NeIFuifh/s400/P8220028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372759365446317122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2J1gbpmDOmXGIDHZMRf4yQQbYMkdObFrG2hIfi2-u-0HnYRA-DvaVxyx0b6BmkA71We2HCZDZWHsJP9e80uOdO5CMB0l2sIq9lvuZIMAv47whDF4QHpABS6w1BE_qnh_lMQn4UZVOTylu/s1600-h/P8220038.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2J1gbpmDOmXGIDHZMRf4yQQbYMkdObFrG2hIfi2-u-0HnYRA-DvaVxyx0b6BmkA71We2HCZDZWHsJP9e80uOdO5CMB0l2sIq9lvuZIMAv47whDF4QHpABS6w1BE_qnh_lMQn4UZVOTylu/s400/P8220038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372759386493803330" border="0" /></a>Clown or Anemone Fishes made famous by the Pixar movie, "Finding Nemo", is one of the few organisms/fishes which can live amongst anemones or to be more exact, the tentacles of sea anemones. This is pretty interesting considering the fact that other organisms/fishes would be stung and most probably killed by the sea anemones.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQj4JV3YNT4aDN_LBeArmLrXgwjUc_b-02tCkDHl7m4700Ee5EbDr_sJwIFSXFZ7uDTyxjI6_f2cs4L5n0hD_VOHyhZ-IbSPQPjewXZjAHXsyNKn6Pghx-LgHXsn0lRDXtU_AaASoxMj-m/s1600-h/P8220037.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQj4JV3YNT4aDN_LBeArmLrXgwjUc_b-02tCkDHl7m4700Ee5EbDr_sJwIFSXFZ7uDTyxjI6_f2cs4L5n0hD_VOHyhZ-IbSPQPjewXZjAHXsyNKn6Pghx-LgHXsn0lRDXtU_AaASoxMj-m/s400/P8220037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372759383569378754" border="0" /></a>There are basically two theories to why the tentacles of the sea anemone would not sting the clown fish.<br /><br />From <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/pomacentridae/amphiprion.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/pomacentridae/amphiprion.htm</a>:<br />"One theory is that the fish smears mucus from the anemone all over itself thus preventing the sea anemone from stinging it. Another theory is that the mucus of the fish (All fishes are coverd in mucus) lacks substances that trigger a sea anemone to discharge its stingers."<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZ9XWoIQ6doDT0eEUE_q8XehNCkjy0eIxH_SR1OVx5Xv0WNcTWjvHPXiOMfvdFZasB1DNbF2psxZawp5gM8Splow5UEoFMm8DEfv1PDnAZOwTv1_A1RcJN4nh2H5iYJqcTcGLXXxpciTg/s1600-h/P8220036.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZ9XWoIQ6doDT0eEUE_q8XehNCkjy0eIxH_SR1OVx5Xv0WNcTWjvHPXiOMfvdFZasB1DNbF2psxZawp5gM8Splow5UEoFMm8DEfv1PDnAZOwTv1_A1RcJN4nh2H5iYJqcTcGLXXxpciTg/s400/P8220036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372759376846672578" border="0" /></a>Now let's dive deeper into the "you help me, I help you" or biologist use the term "mutualism" relationship between the two.<br /><br />Information from: <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/pomacentridae/amphiprion.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/pomacentridae/amphiprion.htm</a> & <a href="http://clownfishandseaanemones.blogspot.com/">http://clownfishandseaanemones.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />Experiments and observations suggest that clownfishes can help to defend their host anemone from specialized tentacle eating fishes like Butterfly fishes. The "anemones might directly ingest particles dropped by the fish or absorb their wastes, which could provide sources of regnerated nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorous in addition to small prey and plankton they capture."<br /><br />The host anemone in turn "help" the clown fish by:<br />1) providing an enemy free space for clown fishes from its predators.<br />2) <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style=""> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">acting as a nest site for an anemonefish: the anemonefish lay their eggs on the hard substrate beneath the oral disc of the anemone, where they are tended by the male fish</span></span></span></span>.<br /><br />A study on done on this very topic also concludes that the presences of clown fishes affects the anemone's growth, reproduction and survival. Here are some of the details (from <a href="http://clownfishandseaanemones.blogspot.com/">http://clownfishandseaanemones.blogspot.com/</a>)<br /><ul><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:7pt;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">nemones that harbored anemonefish grew nearly 3x faster than those that did not.</span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The average daily growth increment was similar for those anemones that hosted 1 or 2 adult anemonefish, and both these growth rates were significantly greater than for anemones that lacked fish.</span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Asexual reproduction was enhanced by the presence of anemonefish: anemones occupied by 2 fish underwent fission much more often (~2x expected rate) than those containing 1 (~expected rate) or 0 fish (~ ½</span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">expected rate)<span style="font-family:Symbol;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:7pt;" ></span></span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:7pt;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">nemones that harbored fish experienced a much lower-than-expected probability of dying than those lacking fish: of 14 deaths, 11 were anemones without fish, 2 were anemones with 1 fish, and just 1 was an anemone with 2 fish.</span></span></span></span></li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqscv8nh8TfX82m_1mZIm6QBxhXujxUrfdccep1yq114fdnuaYeF2Pz91VfHvwnR_AAP99lsIIAJ-wZ1fNOAOM8itSc9-yKm-GAIUG7hBhZJ7ctHE2LbHdoo82S_EIUTYxHKw7xN5YNwyo/s1600-h/P8220040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqscv8nh8TfX82m_1mZIm6QBxhXujxUrfdccep1yq114fdnuaYeF2Pz91VfHvwnR_AAP99lsIIAJ-wZ1fNOAOM8itSc9-yKm-GAIUG7hBhZJ7ctHE2LbHdoo82S_EIUTYxHKw7xN5YNwyo/s400/P8220040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372759393335764914" border="0" /></a>So these about concludes this posting. Thanks for reading. =D<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">For further reading:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1)</span> <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/pomacentridae/amphiprion.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/pomacentridae/amphiprion.htm</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2)</span> <a href="http://clownfishandseaanemones.blogspot.com/">http://clownfishandseaanemones.blogspot.com/</a>DreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8010180031124607287.post-14816082030365441972009-07-26T21:44:00.006+08:002009-08-11T21:42:49.361+08:00Semakau over the last weekend of July<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">101st Discovery Posting:</span><br /></div><br />Over this weekend (25th and 26th of July), together with volunteers from HSBC, schools and public, we conducted a survey for Project Semakau on Sat morning, had a BBQ and night exploration and an exploration inter-tidal walk on Sun morning.<br /><br />In this posting, I will feature some of critters we encounter.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">First 'discovery'</span> would a knobbly sea star (picture below). I only managed to spot one throughout the trip, maybe it's because we are not surveying the side which has more knobbly sea stars. But still I found it strange, as by observation, the habitat is quite similar so by logic there should be more of them. Hmm... well, either there must be a good explanation behind this or I was just unlucky or 'cock' eye...hahaha. Anyway,<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHfYRrW78FDMIDDqjrV0mCrd_w2V9lI7lDqGpmXuMa3ryGBoeSh4MwQ34O03VP9UPTtiIhtNACtbpVXM0IPvabad1L7C6EsN_TUIA-y6giqx7s7m2DtVCl5cICJbvFijgWd2pr0Rw-Nir/s1600-h/P7250014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHfYRrW78FDMIDDqjrV0mCrd_w2V9lI7lDqGpmXuMa3ryGBoeSh4MwQ34O03VP9UPTtiIhtNACtbpVXM0IPvabad1L7C6EsN_TUIA-y6giqx7s7m2DtVCl5cICJbvFijgWd2pr0Rw-Nir/s400/P7250014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362766313095833954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Discovery Note:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1.</span> They can only be found on certain islands on the Northern and Southern side of Singapore, therefore, they can be considered as uncommon.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2.</span> Interestingly, their knob patterns can be used to tell one knobbly sea star from another.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3.</span> Like all sea stars, they require sea water for survival, so do not remove them from sea water if possible.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4.</span> Read more about them @ <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/protoreaster.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/protoreaster.htm</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Second 'discovery'</span> is a curryfish sea cucumber (picture below). If you ask me, it really looks like the sandfish sea cucumber turned to the dark side...hahaha...<br /><br />*Update: this (picture below) may be instead a variation of the sandfish sea cucumber... maybe it's really one which turned to the dark side... too much star wars for me.... =P<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mY39E5jlWI6zJVU2Q-NiLdRdNorre8JQfHXotYgRjTw3PwTxBEbN7ZCPzZPN_JfhmnR4IyaZFGdkFeNv4tQ-dSNRWt9kEobzWbBQJkGSNJJHTTGxgpstkDlOIvm3td8gunboi4ffM6GB/s1600-h/P7250037.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mY39E5jlWI6zJVU2Q-NiLdRdNorre8JQfHXotYgRjTw3PwTxBEbN7ZCPzZPN_JfhmnR4IyaZFGdkFeNv4tQ-dSNRWt9kEobzWbBQJkGSNJJHTTGxgpstkDlOIvm3td8gunboi4ffM6GB/s400/P7250037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362766316460321522" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Discovery Note (this is only applicable for a curryfish sea cucumber):</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1.</span> Like the sandfish sea cucumber, the curryfish sea cucumber is also harvested for the restaurant trade.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2.</span> According to wildfacts, this is one of the sea cucumbers that is harvested in Malaysia for 'Air Gamat', a local health tonic which is said to aid healing and other ailments. As a result to this, Langkawi now has low numbers of the curryfish sea cucumber.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3.</span> Read more about this sea cucumber @ <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/herrmanni.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/herrmanni.htm</a>.<br /><br />The <span style="font-weight: bold;">third 'discovery'</span> is something that usually occurs in season and right now, it is in season, and that is the upside down jellyfish (pictures below).<br /><br />Here's the top side (picture below)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimn_6U_0X7T40bBv3OHf7wD-4lSqKKTvfeYOfkT01LY61cQ9AEVu7cxxOBXdmsUwkpG_j-Us-9Bzu_un4BouQJnw4PZQhIep-js2eZB_e-nOz5aYXHwRD6AovW5_c2e_Fq2QqfiDbwNNqm/s1600-h/P7250040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 336px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimn_6U_0X7T40bBv3OHf7wD-4lSqKKTvfeYOfkT01LY61cQ9AEVu7cxxOBXdmsUwkpG_j-Us-9Bzu_un4BouQJnw4PZQhIep-js2eZB_e-nOz5aYXHwRD6AovW5_c2e_Fq2QqfiDbwNNqm/s400/P7250040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362766324800018722" border="0" /></a>Here's the underside (picture below)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdJtJF3jSxV44nB4aasPG0T_Z3_B3yZY_j2bNreQG8bhEPASR-zdalt3l_ds8AxPmk_j1PGyhNQh44D6MyP6kLAM6CluMrhWDW68XDmgA7BbYRgkt_NM0UdI97jPnixb4hvUFgBVrQNH-/s1600-h/P7250042.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdJtJF3jSxV44nB4aasPG0T_Z3_B3yZY_j2bNreQG8bhEPASR-zdalt3l_ds8AxPmk_j1PGyhNQh44D6MyP6kLAM6CluMrhWDW68XDmgA7BbYRgkt_NM0UdI97jPnixb4hvUFgBVrQNH-/s400/P7250042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362766328507278578" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Discovery Note:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1.</span> The upside down jelly is usually found in its upside down position.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2.</span> This is because there are algae living in the tentacles of the jelly. And these algae shares its food with the jelly in exchange for shelter and probably minerals.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3.</span> Read more about this interesting jelly @ <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/others/jellyfish/upsidedown.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/others/jellyfish/upsidedown.htm</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fourth 'discovery'</span> is something related to the jelly, this is a leathery anemone (picture below)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacYU5INLnbk7BT2zDULf4fyOt7tMi744iv5VLUAykTOv1Ino4NDXj7SCLUPsxc2l4rPQBKumcRVfz4LDfTJbXq8rcpCWKYDR2ZyWwSmaK6rl1V_RlbdAypbz2rwnXaPMFV48BOQCP_v4f/s1600-h/P7250056.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacYU5INLnbk7BT2zDULf4fyOt7tMi744iv5VLUAykTOv1Ino4NDXj7SCLUPsxc2l4rPQBKumcRVfz4LDfTJbXq8rcpCWKYDR2ZyWwSmaK6rl1V_RlbdAypbz2rwnXaPMFV48BOQCP_v4f/s400/P7250056.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362766612589855682" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Discovery Note:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1.</span> This is related to the jelly as they share the common characteristic of having stings which can leave you with a nasty rash or something even worse if you come into contact with them.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2.</span> Like the upside down jelly, this anemone can harbor algae in its tentacles and the relationship they share is similar to the relationship shared between the upside down jelly and algae in them.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3.</span> Do take note that not all jellies and anemones have algae living in their tentacles.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4.</span> One of the way to ID this anemone is to look out for the pink tips it has on its tentacles.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5.</span> Read more about this anemone @ <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/actiniaria/crispa.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/actiniaria/crispa.htm</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fifth 'discovery'</span> is a colony of animals, a hard coral (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsePG4KlhY9cbKIxQD-4fQajlK62tIBFSZ32KwyFflqtTu_4w0PMuojqT96b6Hmk1a5pmRXGSx6uAULKDvV1AoqDUvtjW8tHgVHEYUHf_UH1Ar3GsMZux0AVvoq7KToV21EPZr068akrkE/s1600-h/P7250043.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsePG4KlhY9cbKIxQD-4fQajlK62tIBFSZ32KwyFflqtTu_4w0PMuojqT96b6Hmk1a5pmRXGSx6uAULKDvV1AoqDUvtjW8tHgVHEYUHf_UH1Ar3GsMZux0AVvoq7KToV21EPZr068akrkE/s400/P7250043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362766332790920434" border="0" /></a>A close up view of the same coral (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4ArloSJIpalcdCvRzAJmc8mcitu7pFQ_FNV5LPPEzxwj7QcIc1-cCRBmDJs9w___Tj0r7byluIAMkw7vtmoqrMSolax0FY9xHHXajzGTLiwqBqEt5jdVvqCjYHpEi0h8H3riZSlLsKjz/s1600-h/P7250044.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4ArloSJIpalcdCvRzAJmc8mcitu7pFQ_FNV5LPPEzxwj7QcIc1-cCRBmDJs9w___Tj0r7byluIAMkw7vtmoqrMSolax0FY9xHHXajzGTLiwqBqEt5jdVvqCjYHpEi0h8H3riZSlLsKjz/s400/P7250044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362766607096016882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Discovery Note:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1.</span> In simple words, corals are made up of a group of a particular animal called the polyp.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2.</span> Now if you look at the photo (close up view) above, in each 'ring' lives one of this animal.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3.</span> For your info, corals are related to jellies and anemones. Yes, they have stings too, so don't touch them.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4.</span> Corals, jellies and anemones belong to a group of animals called cnidarians. If you are interested to read more about them, you can go to <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/cnidaria.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/cnidaria.htm</a>.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5.</span> Now you may be wondering why some corals have bright colours. This is probably due to bioluminescence.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6.</span> Basically, the idea behind this is close why we apply sunblock when we visit the beaches, to prevent getting sun burnt. To be a little specific, this colouring they have prevents the corals from certain wavelengths of colours which could harm them.<br /><br />Besides hard corals, you can also see a number of soft corals over at Semakau, here's some of them (picture below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxXJGyMhD5ZpDt6sDns2qVXv55LaAKvpf8E7iKS55uNxsP9Wt5derqkV1RGJVKwp61H9yEB0WAX7KFdXQw3M3CX7x1Gn8hyphenhyphen8qaMfM_6K4hXR6KFnRpGCrmc2Xe5IM-NbzuBBtV_VflSEn/s1600-h/P7250054.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxXJGyMhD5ZpDt6sDns2qVXv55LaAKvpf8E7iKS55uNxsP9Wt5derqkV1RGJVKwp61H9yEB0WAX7KFdXQw3M3CX7x1Gn8hyphenhyphen8qaMfM_6K4hXR6KFnRpGCrmc2Xe5IM-NbzuBBtV_VflSEn/s400/P7250054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362766608782613714" border="0" /></a>Finally, the<span style="font-weight: bold;"> sixth 'discovery'</span> is a firefly (picture below)! I do apologize for the blur picture, I do admit I should have taken more photos of this really interesting insect.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-UYpiZuKBtRdrB05eWmlA75bD8P9d0NC16LmE8gj3Ot_2f1JNuBiaWe3U7YqCsl243HVniwdX_qdh-Fj_R2UHnjI17DgjBnj6E97VCIZxcqGiq7j18_ilmrbJ7D_NZsmG8dF2r597Y7y/s1600-h/P7250060.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 384px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-UYpiZuKBtRdrB05eWmlA75bD8P9d0NC16LmE8gj3Ot_2f1JNuBiaWe3U7YqCsl243HVniwdX_qdh-Fj_R2UHnjI17DgjBnj6E97VCIZxcqGiq7j18_ilmrbJ7D_NZsmG8dF2r597Y7y/s400/P7250060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362766617685620130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Discovery Note:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1.</span> Fire flies are able to chemically produce 'cold light' which contains no ultraviolet or infrared rays.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2.</span> These lights which they produce are used either for attract mates or prey.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3.</span> Although more commonly called fire flies, they are actually winged beetles and NOT flies.DreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8010180031124607287.post-7995842418271557982009-06-27T21:01:00.011+08:002009-06-28T21:52:27.915+08:00Living Shores of Semakau<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">100th Discovery Posting:</span><br /></div><br />Visitors or participants to Semakau with RMBR would always be assigned to a group name (participants to St John Island's inter tidal walk and students participating in other shore walks organised by RMBR would probably get these as well). And if you have ever wondered where these names come from, the names are actually from a series of 18 badges. And these 18 badges features the flora and fauna that can be found on Semakau and also on other shores of Singapore.<br /><br />In this posting, i will feature all the 18 badges and have tried to at the same time show you how the real animal or plant look like in real life. What do i mean by that? Just look at the picture below to get an idea.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITqysumy80Go0vqhC3dzIzhpvkPnsqfBA3xQNXrxigHCjA4kDRiTVNF_30SE4-KQ4zyJ3ir6VFg6-NCsLyPFCylp-Z_79qwHV_KetPvid6Gnd8BnzRzXD08xYLo-1qiKdGgazHCFvEqKW/s1600-h/land+hermit+crab.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITqysumy80Go0vqhC3dzIzhpvkPnsqfBA3xQNXrxigHCjA4kDRiTVNF_30SE4-KQ4zyJ3ir6VFg6-NCsLyPFCylp-Z_79qwHV_KetPvid6Gnd8BnzRzXD08xYLo-1qiKdGgazHCFvEqKW/s400/land+hermit+crab.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351992340255370066" border="0" /></a>This (picture above) is a land-hermit crab. I have never personally seen it at Semakau, that is probably because I never made any effort to look for one. This particiular individual is from Sister's island. Maybe I should spend some time to look for a land hermit crab over at Semakau when I have the time.<br /><br />Next up is the mangrove badge (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVmXH-iMUuz1-ZZP4GaGLX0TmXjetrqXwqy4FmGw2rlGuk21CfHx6IlSzFr2u_QFS8__F3M-C5c3t8GOGi_Ige09O4D5VjgZC86F05zWZ0a8dlSAzjY9RzNGmghJ0t5V0NzQB0WyOTeLn/s1600-h/mangrove.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVmXH-iMUuz1-ZZP4GaGLX0TmXjetrqXwqy4FmGw2rlGuk21CfHx6IlSzFr2u_QFS8__F3M-C5c3t8GOGi_Ige09O4D5VjgZC86F05zWZ0a8dlSAzjY9RzNGmghJ0t5V0NzQB0WyOTeLn/s400/mangrove.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351992345223371682" border="0" /></a>One can find a great number of mangrove trees on Semakau. The mangrove survey done during Project Semakau (still ongoing) has yield results informing us that Semakau is a home to some of the rarer species of mangrove trees found in Singapore, one example is the <span style="font-style: italic;">Avicennia marina</span>.<br /><br />And on Semakau and other places, you can usually spot a number of fiddler crabs near the roots of mangrove trees and around sandy areas (picture below). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJG7HeX07M45HbCea9U9un3nBn6Zp0LqxzochtxKASjpfIZM2Rga4eudDryIl28LK-fmnUqmeLQMqDYIYL7KBSo36wY268UnQFHWhvXU_GMpHiwtirJBebGtBpSTLntXwJ34WkXOP24ZL/s1600-h/fiddler+crab.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJG7HeX07M45HbCea9U9un3nBn6Zp0LqxzochtxKASjpfIZM2Rga4eudDryIl28LK-fmnUqmeLQMqDYIYL7KBSo36wY268UnQFHWhvXU_GMpHiwtirJBebGtBpSTLntXwJ34WkXOP24ZL/s400/fiddler+crab.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351992154427287474" border="0" /></a>Another animal you might spot near mangrove trees would be the mudskipper (picture below)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-AcOF08Tgr6h26KHQJbaivXv4y5l4-2eInoANjUOleNYwC5E3LSdaC7l9SgcDftfJ8LyCVY5-1oQa6Ln_5gY9CPralQr0opggEhrVBM_n8-gXCMPKb6TXqcNam8FpvfnL8c5TiSeAXvm/s1600-h/mudskipper.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-AcOF08Tgr6h26KHQJbaivXv4y5l4-2eInoANjUOleNYwC5E3LSdaC7l9SgcDftfJ8LyCVY5-1oQa6Ln_5gY9CPralQr0opggEhrVBM_n8-gXCMPKb6TXqcNam8FpvfnL8c5TiSeAXvm/s400/mudskipper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351992345891282402" border="0" /></a>And sometimes if you're lucky, you might even spot a horseshoe crab (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyS0_EM4gEnxLUVN5TB2kEmhZf1mNbjO1gsmkpLscfqwT4qbsFHm4nGInNCjGXsLRqI-imVMUU_Nz8Q1dLg5ps4djRt6qTXjzOn2627n8rFUuLQ56Mi4WNwpGgBtLguEgbVYPpi1JRIRet/s1600-h/horseshoe+crab.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyS0_EM4gEnxLUVN5TB2kEmhZf1mNbjO1gsmkpLscfqwT4qbsFHm4nGInNCjGXsLRqI-imVMUU_Nz8Q1dLg5ps4djRt6qTXjzOn2627n8rFUuLQ56Mi4WNwpGgBtLguEgbVYPpi1JRIRet/s400/horseshoe+crab.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351992159040595986" border="0" /></a>By the way, it would be good to note that there are 2 types of horseshoe crabs you can find in Singapore. One is the mangrove horseshoe crab, the other is the costal horseshoe crab. The most easy way to tell one apart from another is by feeling their tails. The mangrove horseshoe crab's tail is round in cross-section while the coastal one is triangular-like in cross-section.<br /><br />Next up is the upside down jellyfish (picture below). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HXsyCL2Dd_nP4MIJBmuARSngRKGxvJv8xLDkUWco2dzaK6hFN-NDFbXyzxfP2mdK1RC-XLeaWGr4IyhZE5acWuVQvtLWSOB-7Qyf57OcAiD11qW3IUDwDhn4ZFKdK3287zz8HXe8ILv4/s1600-h/upside+down+jellyfish.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HXsyCL2Dd_nP4MIJBmuARSngRKGxvJv8xLDkUWco2dzaK6hFN-NDFbXyzxfP2mdK1RC-XLeaWGr4IyhZE5acWuVQvtLWSOB-7Qyf57OcAiD11qW3IUDwDhn4ZFKdK3287zz8HXe8ILv4/s400/upside+down+jellyfish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351994167518735362" border="0" /></a>They are mostly found in an upside down position as there are algae living mostly in the upside down section of their bodies. The algae would share any extra food it makes and in return, the upside down jelly fish provides shelter and minerials for the algae. This kind of 'you help me, I help you' relationship is also seen in other marine creatures such as corals and ... giant clams (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUURUlu6PrFJk8cs-d9tCmLLuZ1tRAkq_gPg741DCF_35BUKDgC1anaL02g_DFK2n2TRO-gm7wcnVNCo9Rf1B1RRBjhXi4nSJjO1FOG5htn1tSmRJ_CriNdoJMciQI9MLTF29iGBHzYuCi/s1600-h/giant+clam.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUURUlu6PrFJk8cs-d9tCmLLuZ1tRAkq_gPg741DCF_35BUKDgC1anaL02g_DFK2n2TRO-gm7wcnVNCo9Rf1B1RRBjhXi4nSJjO1FOG5htn1tSmRJ_CriNdoJMciQI9MLTF29iGBHzYuCi/s400/giant+clam.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351992154890782610" border="0" /></a>In our safety briefings for any inter tidal walks, we would always ask our participants to let us (the guides) to walk first and want them to follow our trail. This is mostly because there are creatures out there which can cause one harm if stepped on. One example would be a blue-spotted fantail ray (picture below). It would give you a really bad sting using its one or two venomous sting on its tail.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmvZmF1N83AWC3J8H61H5m1_IRquE6ME0ntB_0vCck66Kyu3MadLEdYXhmIrzckX1FX57HToArvOmJVFAXkZN3dVRn478TIjcNXOupk9yuLRmkqdE1IsZx9Bbay2vWnWlgYBmGi8f37TU/s1600-h/blue+spotted+fantail+ray.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmvZmF1N83AWC3J8H61H5m1_IRquE6ME0ntB_0vCck66Kyu3MadLEdYXhmIrzckX1FX57HToArvOmJVFAXkZN3dVRn478TIjcNXOupk9yuLRmkqdE1IsZx9Bbay2vWnWlgYBmGi8f37TU/s400/blue+spotted+fantail+ray.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351992145894026898" border="0" /></a> There are also some interesting and nice looking shelled animals featured on the badges also. One of them would be the noble volute (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJSsrX650KdDzwcpiUP1w_iyIbwl75MzU-e-S3hJZ5OlMj_PjgZjjl3L043ILolBQSf6Ru9VmnJ8o0cH6CxY46nwsrFbrg9XnrRI1eff_dUjSDs3Wyq_dH8zFCOO5KmJgCu1fzrfK7Ep8/s1600-h/noble+volute.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJSsrX650KdDzwcpiUP1w_iyIbwl75MzU-e-S3hJZ5OlMj_PjgZjjl3L043ILolBQSf6Ru9VmnJ8o0cH6CxY46nwsrFbrg9XnrRI1eff_dUjSDs3Wyq_dH8zFCOO5KmJgCu1fzrfK7Ep8/s400/noble+volute.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351992350037821794" border="0" /></a>The other would be the spider conch (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPINE1qbXKBil8Fvb4_12po6KYCp_eIdbkG7rLk2ntFtDrFOrf0Jg5mEnz-07BM_FKVRuAVqTTP3FdadR8qbHe52G1PSXqiRe90DMtohbBuflgr2jveTL6vy3MtwlMOvOvkBVE7zTFMjD7/s1600-h/spider+conch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPINE1qbXKBil8Fvb4_12po6KYCp_eIdbkG7rLk2ntFtDrFOrf0Jg5mEnz-07BM_FKVRuAVqTTP3FdadR8qbHe52G1PSXqiRe90DMtohbBuflgr2jveTL6vy3MtwlMOvOvkBVE7zTFMjD7/s400/spider+conch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351994165124341058" border="0" /></a>And if you look closer at the badge and photo above, you would see that the spider conch actually has a pair of eyes!<br /><br />Besides the two shelled animals, there are also other creatures which we and our participants find them adorable. One example would be a nudibranch, which is a kind of sea slug (picture below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_kxuaI00mdpiuqxUGzBFc5sQaO-xapShgFCoi95r38_46kmMmM8irQjpZLH_6Zr7_qrADU_5GGWOob6R8w8nI3dxSizhIhlqhr7BvbxmD94At9S5t8D5HwTq1KKNWSCd6I5Cz2tSDV86/s1600-h/sea+slug.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_kxuaI00mdpiuqxUGzBFc5sQaO-xapShgFCoi95r38_46kmMmM8irQjpZLH_6Zr7_qrADU_5GGWOob6R8w8nI3dxSizhIhlqhr7BvbxmD94At9S5t8D5HwTq1KKNWSCd6I5Cz2tSDV86/s400/sea+slug.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351994161732326066" border="0" /></a>The seahorse (picture below)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVjw3RzahXWrRwgAI9yU2e642Gmm82MpJ6_blVyDrv6AEaDouPFDqOohzz23KlV6_7DXy4B2jRNc_ohg8I4pOdi-o3JvMPsM859QmcqozYmcbxEr1i51-hxHdTI1XPXiC8QQVUimIH4zp/s1600-h/seahorse.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVjw3RzahXWrRwgAI9yU2e642Gmm82MpJ6_blVyDrv6AEaDouPFDqOohzz23KlV6_7DXy4B2jRNc_ohg8I4pOdi-o3JvMPsM859QmcqozYmcbxEr1i51-hxHdTI1XPXiC8QQVUimIH4zp/s400/seahorse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351994160779191186" border="0" /></a>And the clownfish aka NEMO (picture below)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JzPjcFtyo8ULVFECdOUQ82sERVDshjMbELYHQ0KeBbqD33RNC_q7yxAyU5Z3mt1XDqzqfuGwm3tDv_i26V4fsuNZ_taxtdLyuVYmaYaWnmi1dZR9Deg1otOL0cpxF7CZWKUjJvrs7dJ7/s1600-h/clownfish.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JzPjcFtyo8ULVFECdOUQ82sERVDshjMbELYHQ0KeBbqD33RNC_q7yxAyU5Z3mt1XDqzqfuGwm3tDv_i26V4fsuNZ_taxtdLyuVYmaYaWnmi1dZR9Deg1otOL0cpxF7CZWKUjJvrs7dJ7/s400/clownfish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351992149564689186" border="0" /></a>Next up is the octopus (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Mjgc02QTb1xydaiyKe22Mf5t7CVcylJTsVUHB97h-42ttQoqRFeo6J8-FMrsLwsRb33Fzy4PwLJw6JqwoQrHRNhKu56tlC-o5eYOb5W0414lcoEyHmisEedCvKxiE4buo6VhjEH901QS/s1600-h/octopus.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Mjgc02QTb1xydaiyKe22Mf5t7CVcylJTsVUHB97h-42ttQoqRFeo6J8-FMrsLwsRb33Fzy4PwLJw6JqwoQrHRNhKu56tlC-o5eYOb5W0414lcoEyHmisEedCvKxiE4buo6VhjEH901QS/s400/octopus.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351994155447777410" border="0" /></a> You might not know this, but octopuses are actually quite common on our shores. They are just not seen so often as they are more active in the dark.<br /><br />And of course, how could the stars of any inter tidal walk, the Knobbly sea star, be missed out frmo the series of badges (picture below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxzS-yvRXbsRcdod9zDf52jT93abgHRygESduBYpDEY6Yq9Ry73_OgJC5rG_fyelM3sD5HG8vr84a-3wgntcqAUYS0MhZYepNrUTCuTNTZaK7WBU7cSsBCbZG4KP5jOiuAFY3o1JUGtvT/s1600-h/knobbly+sea+star.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxzS-yvRXbsRcdod9zDf52jT93abgHRygESduBYpDEY6Yq9Ry73_OgJC5rG_fyelM3sD5HG8vr84a-3wgntcqAUYS0MhZYepNrUTCuTNTZaK7WBU7cSsBCbZG4KP5jOiuAFY3o1JUGtvT/s400/knobbly+sea+star.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351992338572651778" border="0" /></a>Right now, although I have the whole collection of all 18 badges, I do not have the photos or nice photos of all the them. Some of them inculde the puffer fish (picture below)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO53vfS7tmcBPvWeAuRH7t39fqkIkPbBa1RNWtRrjGNvJwvMIxt2OVW5HdItotvH8Q_qQDZDFhtNGEkbkjxoTwNWcvVyF8TokohMaWILX1APwMZJsQN4tDcOvKXukZfXPagFJtt6mp62xL/s1600-h/pufferfish.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 394px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO53vfS7tmcBPvWeAuRH7t39fqkIkPbBa1RNWtRrjGNvJwvMIxt2OVW5HdItotvH8Q_qQDZDFhtNGEkbkjxoTwNWcvVyF8TokohMaWILX1APwMZJsQN4tDcOvKXukZfXPagFJtt6mp62xL/s400/pufferfish.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351994608505059570" border="0" /></a>The great-billed heron (picture below)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7MZJUgaieUBofj4_J-am7Pwp-xaMNw22ADHrzcqYQhzEGsru7SwI_3XlmWX81nW28s_Ms9gMeDyLvnqx7EcYiWsqtcuae7tvuzCnpENFYOIR5hpv9ZdtVtfH5WdFFeZPv9RubfLTQrIj/s1600-h/great+billed+heron.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 352px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7MZJUgaieUBofj4_J-am7Pwp-xaMNw22ADHrzcqYQhzEGsru7SwI_3XlmWX81nW28s_Ms9gMeDyLvnqx7EcYiWsqtcuae7tvuzCnpENFYOIR5hpv9ZdtVtfH5WdFFeZPv9RubfLTQrIj/s400/great+billed+heron.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351994605021273202" border="0" /></a>And the hawksbill turtle (picture below)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCmdwVGVU93IrjY6uxjPN2WsXmomKRTFFtQtZxvkNSFh-vd99j5J906T4_Uz-gMSrgwhiuJGejzk77jMx0CdIEpVjISxF4dF09kPN2XUXsP0M0mod1KojC2SZtTHrJUpFje2waDG9WUjW/s1600-h/sea+turtle.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 395px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCmdwVGVU93IrjY6uxjPN2WsXmomKRTFFtQtZxvkNSFh-vd99j5J906T4_Uz-gMSrgwhiuJGejzk77jMx0CdIEpVjISxF4dF09kPN2XUXsP0M0mod1KojC2SZtTHrJUpFje2waDG9WUjW/s400/sea+turtle.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351994606816534162" border="0" /></a>You might be wondering if there are any sea turtles in our waters. Let me answer give you the answer to the question. It is a big YES. Some of my friends have actually seen them with their own eyes on Semakau before.<br /><br />So that is all the 18 badges for you. But before I end this post, you would find a series of group photos from the participants I've lead for yesterday and today. I've uploaded them so they could download them for memories and also as a memory for me. =D<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIpW69QUyr__8HXt2YMTkouPBhyppifSYAjJ7J76RBKGe3Ej-0EY5rUTYqC4xGffIhAOTSkjsbvZAhWKDk8dxtmOqWO5AFSp_r-6GrrGjG0TMYThW5Pv0xiAVv1yMULuKcublFpf6QzXI/s1600-h/P6260013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIpW69QUyr__8HXt2YMTkouPBhyppifSYAjJ7J76RBKGe3Ej-0EY5rUTYqC4xGffIhAOTSkjsbvZAhWKDk8dxtmOqWO5AFSp_r-6GrrGjG0TMYThW5Pv0xiAVv1yMULuKcublFpf6QzXI/s400/P6260013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351995770825517698" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4eGtrriDKkGxx-9GTIVJjbRnqZUWHKtY4SPlcARgvxTi37H-hjSmBXjYV8xtr4uFQ-Wl536tlLC4VWldK0Ouk5t4dq9JACOjmBMvjogKa7Ow_x9wkH2QBcYoNkC2vW9xVppMb8R156cMo/s1600-h/P6260014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4eGtrriDKkGxx-9GTIVJjbRnqZUWHKtY4SPlcARgvxTi37H-hjSmBXjYV8xtr4uFQ-Wl536tlLC4VWldK0Ouk5t4dq9JACOjmBMvjogKa7Ow_x9wkH2QBcYoNkC2vW9xVppMb8R156cMo/s400/P6260014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351995775705590594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfub5a7q5rbMqBWWSBtwCycg_UreOBEhkJs3jMPg6fp67O5O5-EHNpm_JPYpBtusKyBKKbfj2FOeksfvrU1z2dZjse6VbAt4qvg_1vF_c6T8B2ko2WXks1NPaa_wB5YQMRpyACIO5Czz0A/s1600-h/P6260015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfub5a7q5rbMqBWWSBtwCycg_UreOBEhkJs3jMPg6fp67O5O5-EHNpm_JPYpBtusKyBKKbfj2FOeksfvrU1z2dZjse6VbAt4qvg_1vF_c6T8B2ko2WXks1NPaa_wB5YQMRpyACIO5Czz0A/s400/P6260015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351995777308140898" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCx0xaESrBeoAGyCdsEG-4267w_J0qG_E4X_aUfLUF7LD2qVekUSD92Fke0wt-WIKb6n05Riqqp5z3QNaso7vTDqOShT160uUPydNgQ-glSsjr6XWQdzha3L7mC4KKEW2FOjjm77oSz_rv/s1600-h/P6270026.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCx0xaESrBeoAGyCdsEG-4267w_J0qG_E4X_aUfLUF7LD2qVekUSD92Fke0wt-WIKb6n05Riqqp5z3QNaso7vTDqOShT160uUPydNgQ-glSsjr6XWQdzha3L7mC4KKEW2FOjjm77oSz_rv/s400/P6270026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351994931199172146" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXh3CseGjZFzpjJB8MgDNivKYify4S7BhD6o85e52qFXZQiVIw9n9Q2pDBGBJxf3_FfT7PSdHNWPJQL5yZ2qIGai2hv3pW0Q73niXON0yuVh0wpQ1OdXH5P1jel5oq7E4_dpL86YN-YGS/s1600-h/P6270027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXh3CseGjZFzpjJB8MgDNivKYify4S7BhD6o85e52qFXZQiVIw9n9Q2pDBGBJxf3_FfT7PSdHNWPJQL5yZ2qIGai2hv3pW0Q73niXON0yuVh0wpQ1OdXH5P1jel5oq7E4_dpL86YN-YGS/s400/P6270027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351994934778177714" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjSyN7rG0tskk9YR9LRDDh4nsxCGpT86e3LBOurmMoV3tkVjWbrXyILerEQnqdTxgzq-JA7mrZEFnti8e6l9TSL8U0FU_BYknVjI5z1izmehhtW6CCcS_TO6QobXqNJmCR-dIWpN7iDWl/s1600-h/P6270048.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjSyN7rG0tskk9YR9LRDDh4nsxCGpT86e3LBOurmMoV3tkVjWbrXyILerEQnqdTxgzq-JA7mrZEFnti8e6l9TSL8U0FU_BYknVjI5z1izmehhtW6CCcS_TO6QobXqNJmCR-dIWpN7iDWl/s400/P6270048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351994937366584930" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiastSMiDRV_C6RYqVqk8uRgh_OMtpE2OMdULjL5lnWorQ8lv7wLykuPcJnwGrUZBH_StO0gR9lS4yTZXIEWwZ36RyhHgEJPAkk01Fc5IY5zmbcz9o87yTnXlCqFXFq1PH3USvTX3sZKu1G/s1600-h/P6270047.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 259px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiastSMiDRV_C6RYqVqk8uRgh_OMtpE2OMdULjL5lnWorQ8lv7wLykuPcJnwGrUZBH_StO0gR9lS4yTZXIEWwZ36RyhHgEJPAkk01Fc5IY5zmbcz9o87yTnXlCqFXFq1PH3USvTX3sZKu1G/s400/P6270047.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351994938078970466" border="0" /></a>DreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8010180031124607287.post-31957511583872707402009-06-12T21:52:00.005+08:002009-06-12T22:30:37.349+08:00Semakau Inter-Tidal walk on 12 June 2009<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ninety Ninth Discovery Posting:</span><br /></div><br />This morning, I visited Semakau land fill island again with RMBR volunteer guides and participants from various walks of life for another guided walk at the inter tidal area of Semakau.<br /><br />And like yesterday, the sun greeted us as we walked leisurely towards the forest trail which would bring us to our destination (picture below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0yN5XDXa6v2kv_GtHowgLHjTB1ZRPMYrZZ1NJNVlEab5nbfxOxioOA0PjadkMGr4GLkuZypB-zUyPWb_SnQ7gVAIYFgb7zFxPsS6ZAVuoPlHAjRBUmBfTn0Ay3Ty1YTNmTKHu7cYiCEr/s1600-h/P6120005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0yN5XDXa6v2kv_GtHowgLHjTB1ZRPMYrZZ1NJNVlEab5nbfxOxioOA0PjadkMGr4GLkuZypB-zUyPWb_SnQ7gVAIYFgb7zFxPsS6ZAVuoPlHAjRBUmBfTn0Ay3Ty1YTNmTKHu7cYiCEr/s400/P6120005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346439233667084098" border="0" /></a>Besides chasing our sleepy moods away, the sunrise also provided us a great photo opportunity (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmAO3FYSUVpq_BCw0JNjAgj5gdRGme_ayvYYZ-qdHF_6z45IYqeloy91FwqYfGtSoOGdr0uD7HsAhNVSQEsv9cpEKTfNqDeTkZXYfd9f9lYAH-KXmzvZqugKRdVA7397hfl-irgaw7CVw/s1600-h/P6120006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmAO3FYSUVpq_BCw0JNjAgj5gdRGme_ayvYYZ-qdHF_6z45IYqeloy91FwqYfGtSoOGdr0uD7HsAhNVSQEsv9cpEKTfNqDeTkZXYfd9f9lYAH-KXmzvZqugKRdVA7397hfl-irgaw7CVw/s400/P6120006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346439241902579826" border="0" /></a>This scene (picture below) will be the sight and also our destination once one gets through the forest trail. The inter tidal area of Semakau.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnxRFhtQ8wTE33ITeNNJK42JoK0wcs3sQtFCOkWht-hrD7m41HtCLVbUi6bfxqYUxZ8EVAlMFn50Z7jxd8fUDfaXE2zns1WO42DwYSIolrOr1c_ish6EOU9gBsSryHdD4cbXmfDH5-uaRI/s1600-h/P6120008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnxRFhtQ8wTE33ITeNNJK42JoK0wcs3sQtFCOkWht-hrD7m41HtCLVbUi6bfxqYUxZ8EVAlMFn50Z7jxd8fUDfaXE2zns1WO42DwYSIolrOr1c_ish6EOU9gBsSryHdD4cbXmfDH5-uaRI/s400/P6120008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346439248201298658" border="0" /></a>Today, the group I lead was called Upside down Jellyfish. And here's everyone standing in the seagrass meadow (picture below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ67elBuCqRU6Zt_ky3Na6FaxITaN07hr8VRRvdDbTpzBwyO6v04J7a1HY9LunwJ2j-sd5uaV4VgQX1pP5JvKZt1Q2k2XBZsRiSuSs3doWWcjq2uuCHn6C8q1OsLomQWchfVFTRIt-DVLJ/s1600-h/P6120011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ67elBuCqRU6Zt_ky3Na6FaxITaN07hr8VRRvdDbTpzBwyO6v04J7a1HY9LunwJ2j-sd5uaV4VgQX1pP5JvKZt1Q2k2XBZsRiSuSs3doWWcjq2uuCHn6C8q1OsLomQWchfVFTRIt-DVLJ/s400/P6120011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346439253558849666" border="0" /></a>And after crossing the seagrass meadow, our <span style="font-weight: bold;">first 'discovery'</span> was marked out by our hardworking hunter seekers, two common sea stars, one on top of another (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyfvj9FnfE7zYuuvYW-bl8PGd7j0baKUL5Y_6_-QR9cOqZRPppymWzo7rDOk7teUba3vu2xVCtkwc0mEIjcPuB7UO5_ay7a-5d3VYaQyj4RiOSz_V2Lixa86kzoGsnRODB4XYbGDYlBP9/s1600-h/P6120014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 368px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyfvj9FnfE7zYuuvYW-bl8PGd7j0baKUL5Y_6_-QR9cOqZRPppymWzo7rDOk7teUba3vu2xVCtkwc0mEIjcPuB7UO5_ay7a-5d3VYaQyj4RiOSz_V2Lixa86kzoGsnRODB4XYbGDYlBP9/s400/P6120014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346439876798869458" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Discovery Note:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1.</span> This unique positioning pattern is actually a part of the common sea stars' mating ritual.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2.</span> The male, which is usually smaller in size, will be found on top of the female with its arms alternating with hers.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3.</span> The common sea stars do not external reproduction organs. Therefore this behaviour is to increase the chance of exterior fertilisation.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4.</span> Read more about this and the common sea star @ <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/archaster.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/archaster.htm</a>.<br /><br />As the tide today wasn't low enough for us to look at the resident giant clam, we did see the juvenille giant clam around the coral rubble area (picture below). <span style="font-weight: bold;">Second 'discovery'</span>.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO44C2rVqha1SP0ZyB1av9Kd9g_g93aoJyed_XYolz6V-yqPjGrncgJSR-Fv5jF858zmedISfJ8LwqvokhZUCz5E9YQZlFVUVyVofml81Z7VHfTIGIGLnQ_m-jF_Ew4yeQZmsoVOaR6sEa/s1600-h/P6120016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO44C2rVqha1SP0ZyB1av9Kd9g_g93aoJyed_XYolz6V-yqPjGrncgJSR-Fv5jF858zmedISfJ8LwqvokhZUCz5E9YQZlFVUVyVofml81Z7VHfTIGIGLnQ_m-jF_Ew4yeQZmsoVOaR6sEa/s400/P6120016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346439876151901458" border="0" /></a><b>Discovery Note</b>:<b><br />1. </b>They are the largest living bivalve mollusc and also known as the bear's paw clam<b><br />2.</b> They can weigh more than 227 kilograms and measure as much as 1.2 metres across, and have an average lifespan in the wild of 100 years or more.<b><br />3.</b> An interesting symbiosis occurs between a unicellular green alga (<i>Zooanthella</i> ) and the clam. The algae live in the tissues of the clam's siphon and mantle; they are able to obtain the sunlight needed for photosynthesis because the clam lies with its valves opening upward and part of the thick, purple mantle extruding over the shell.<span style="" lang="EN-GB"><b><br />4.</b> In addition, there are crystalloid vesicles on the mantle surface that let in sunlight, thus allowing the algae to live deep within the tissues. The clam uses the algae as a supplementary or perhaps even a major source of food.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5.</span> Read more about them @ <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/bivalvia/tridacnidae/tridacnidae.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/bivalvia/tridacnidae/tridacnidae.htm</a>.<br /><br />Our hunter seekers also managed to find 2 knobbly sea stars today. And this was after some hard work and much walking around (picture below). Kudos to our hunter seekers. =D</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6zb4QxIBKM7zWs3D_CzY8m4jzgfvC04rQ-9r4Qf0mobGIrqpSp_BXUyh4weB4oDo_MAPqPnrU6dZh0EqT1m0Vws6b-ErI3OAqp-ReMR9zeedoURsw5wiwOA4PrfSNj1QLdRdisUS6rNo/s1600-h/P6120018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6zb4QxIBKM7zWs3D_CzY8m4jzgfvC04rQ-9r4Qf0mobGIrqpSp_BXUyh4weB4oDo_MAPqPnrU6dZh0EqT1m0Vws6b-ErI3OAqp-ReMR9zeedoURsw5wiwOA4PrfSNj1QLdRdisUS6rNo/s400/P6120018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346439880854609058" border="0" /></a>Well, we never forget to take a traditional group photo with the knobbly (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04o248Eow1scLhV8etBg17Zfiwq9MB5QrhougLau7zBOlZ2QLEeNIyCfn_W5McS1WA49SbQ4EZmZHUzYs3Lspv2xTrbqzZwyVRqeuxmr4FJv7NSX5_2mY0C9gSRC-fg3HOHHHpdE06_kW/s1600-h/P6120019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04o248Eow1scLhV8etBg17Zfiwq9MB5QrhougLau7zBOlZ2QLEeNIyCfn_W5McS1WA49SbQ4EZmZHUzYs3Lspv2xTrbqzZwyVRqeuxmr4FJv7NSX5_2mY0C9gSRC-fg3HOHHHpdE06_kW/s400/P6120019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346439882036599250" border="0" /></a>Next up, <span style="font-weight: bold;">third 'discovery'</span> is the sea slug which most of our visitors use the word 'cute' to describe it. A polka-dot nudibranch (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbQzDxKwlq9I0ElQ5bEyb-dKAs3vI8AIpXz6KDh9yobhEPa2wIbqbSCU_aeWY9mn8TZLtmagOJ-LQDpbug_a0IANR7ufX4OQ3fC9IKJ-wdOAdu-srOe32Uy7uz1rC5waIgmLgCS8tukUr/s1600-h/P6120021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbQzDxKwlq9I0ElQ5bEyb-dKAs3vI8AIpXz6KDh9yobhEPa2wIbqbSCU_aeWY9mn8TZLtmagOJ-LQDpbug_a0IANR7ufX4OQ3fC9IKJ-wdOAdu-srOe32Uy7uz1rC5waIgmLgCS8tukUr/s400/P6120021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346439885044867634" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Discovery Note: </span><b><br />1. </b>'Nudibranch' means 'naked gills'. The name comes from the flower-like gills found on the back of many nudibranchs. These nudibranchs use the gills to breathe. <b><br />2.</b> Nudibranchs are related to snails. Little baby nudibranchs are born with shells, but they lose them when they become adults. <b><span lang="EN-GB"><br />3. </span></b><span lang="EN-GB">Most nudibranchs are carnivores, they eat immobile or small, slow-moving prey. Examples are sponges, ascidians, hard corals, soft corals, sea anemones etc.</span><b><o:p></o:p></b> <b style="font-family: georgia;"><br />4.</b><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> To protect themselves, some produce distasteful substances, toxins and even acids. They advertise this with bright warning colours. Others are camouflaged to match their surroundings. Those that eat colourful creatures such as sponges or corals, may themselves be colourful to match their prey. Being small and flat, they can also easily hide in narrow places.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">5. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Read more about them @ </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/nudibranchia.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/nudibranchia.htm</a><span style="font-family: georgia;">.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fourth 'discovery'</span> is another piece of finding from our wonderful hun</span>ter seekers, a sea horse (picture below). </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFPbgoX3YgDIDSLSpQeoQDaacKeGZkzSLYaVjhecJlRNhk1wm9xov78uHu6Tim6xexXXgyDTnmK95OPBDQMZt__4po1vPshY3x9-aIIRe4MpWGRcFf4kY92cHv7DNnd_TOO0QrVxDsTHU/s1600-h/P6120025.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFPbgoX3YgDIDSLSpQeoQDaacKeGZkzSLYaVjhecJlRNhk1wm9xov78uHu6Tim6xexXXgyDTnmK95OPBDQMZt__4po1vPshY3x9-aIIRe4MpWGRcFf4kY92cHv7DNnd_TOO0QrVxDsTHU/s400/P6120025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346440170130454418" border="0" /><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b style="font-family: georgia;"><span style=""></span></b></span></a><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="">Discovery Note:</span></b></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;"><br /><b>1.</b> They are hard to find as they are well-camouflaged.<br /><b>2.</b> Do you know that a seahorse is actually a fish? Yes, it is, but instead of having scales, they have an inflexible armour of overlapping bony plates.<br /><b>3.</b> A seahorse cannot swim faster because it doesn't have tail fin and pelvic fins like other fishes, thus it is well-camouflaged. But they can make a short burst of speed if in danger.<br /><b>4.</b> They may look harmless, but they are actually quite voracious predators. It sits in wait and ambushes on any tiny animals that drifts or wander by.<br /><b>5.</b> They have a very simple digestive system (no stomach) thus they need to eat almost constantly. Baby sea horses are known to eat thousands of tiny shrimps in a day!<br /><b>6.</b> And of course, the most well-known fact of the sea horse is that the male can get 'pregnant', this is because the female seahorses lay eggs in the pouch of a male seahorse and it is in their where the eggs will be fertilized and then the male seahorse will carry them till the eggs hatch.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;"><br />7.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Read more about it @ </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/syngnathidae/comes.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/syngnathidae/comes.htm</a><span style="font-family: georgia;">.<br /><br /></span>As we headed back, we encoutered this long queue over at the sea grass lagoon. I wonder what was making everyone stop there? </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4iscOmM8DKQHq-xOxELCqys9xhox7MH5323JirB-uJSrW1ordNS04HSkhEO8w2WUKJWSszqeU11UhIDNw49cEJDYjWFEsJ5gHW5CYhKoRz_4RTYvGpYVUME1GXnQBQV-im1mrI5XbSCPY/s1600-h/P6120034.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4iscOmM8DKQHq-xOxELCqys9xhox7MH5323JirB-uJSrW1ordNS04HSkhEO8w2WUKJWSszqeU11UhIDNw49cEJDYjWFEsJ5gHW5CYhKoRz_4RTYvGpYVUME1GXnQBQV-im1mrI5XbSCPY/s400/P6120034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346440181154736194" border="0" /></a>After some simple investiagation, i discovered that they were actually stopping to take a closer look at a spider conch. The <span style="font-weight: bold;">fifth 'discovery'</span> of this posting (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCwSAAPKPRn3sJ3PWE-ubC0fdETsDPu8CCra2hLe8ohXXN942zTGXZMbJ0lKCvppbvTyFDBT7ys_HKYFQw1ho1xeCJ5JmJ5Lfi3f09kKbhPSGyXzj1kjAbHvnkGZJLzbksAQyJAI5Azku/s1600-h/P6120038.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCwSAAPKPRn3sJ3PWE-ubC0fdETsDPu8CCra2hLe8ohXXN942zTGXZMbJ0lKCvppbvTyFDBT7ys_HKYFQw1ho1xeCJ5JmJ5Lfi3f09kKbhPSGyXzj1kjAbHvnkGZJLzbksAQyJAI5Azku/s400/P6120038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346440185307906466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Discovery Note:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1.</span> As a result of their really nice shells, spider conches are not only collected for food, they are also collected for their shells.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2.</span> Due to this collection, spider conches have been labelled as a 'vulnerable' on the Red list of threaten animals of Singapore.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3.</span> That aside, the movement of spider conches is quite interesting. They make use of a curved, knifed shaped operculum or in short, a 'leg' or 'pole' to pole vault around.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4.</span> The spikes that are found on the shell helps to prevent the spider conch are rolling around after making a 'hop'.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5.</span> Read more about the spider conch @ <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/strombidae/lambis.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/strombidae/lambis.htm</a>.<br /><br />Lastly, the<span style="font-weight: bold;"> sixth 'discovery'</span> is a juvenile cushion star spotted by the participants from KS's group (picture below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUDxrh-SLTrkF0bPgHb6m62qunpFtFzUxGgny3i2LPWRpsqjzZqRXtXdQUMc-oiPJIj_WHrFCDxcSlLttGnE1k3aSmVEYY8Qr1nXCxUFb0AG9roF3aVifw7URLmBqmZVLfKWJMBkp-q7o/s1600-h/P6120028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUDxrh-SLTrkF0bPgHb6m62qunpFtFzUxGgny3i2LPWRpsqjzZqRXtXdQUMc-oiPJIj_WHrFCDxcSlLttGnE1k3aSmVEYY8Qr1nXCxUFb0AG9roF3aVifw7URLmBqmZVLfKWJMBkp-q7o/s400/P6120028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346440178324495698" border="0" /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Discovery Note:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1.</span> They are more oftenly seen during diving, so it is always a treat to spot them in the inter-tidal areas.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2.</span> They have been found to feed on some species of hard corals. Their diet could also consist of immobile animals, organic particles found on sediments and sea weeds.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3.</span> Read more about them @ <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/culcita.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/culcita.htm</a>.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCwSAAPKPRn3sJ3PWE-ubC0fdETsDPu8CCra2hLe8ohXXN942zTGXZMbJ0lKCvppbvTyFDBT7ys_HKYFQw1ho1xeCJ5JmJ5Lfi3f09kKbhPSGyXzj1kjAbHvnkGZJLzbksAQyJAI5Azku/s1600-h/P6120038.JPG"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><br />In conclusion, today was another great day out, as the jellyfishes were an attentive and interested group. Thank you, everyone! =D<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Extra:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">a)</span> Read KS's posting for this trip: <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2009/06/semakau-public-walk-on-12-june.html">http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2009/06/semakau-public-walk-on-12-june.html</a>DreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8010180031124607287.post-44793766230335522582009-06-11T21:13:00.005+08:002009-06-11T23:37:30.631+08:00Semakau Inter-Tidal walk on 11 June 2009<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Discovery Posting Ninety Eight:</span><br /></div><br />Together with a group of fiddler crabs (the group name for my group of participants), we stepped onto the Semakau land fill island to visit the beautiful inter tidal area. And as we made our way towards our destination on the island, the rising sun decided to give us a morning greeting by rising slowly behind us (picture below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1lRCpvP9xEoP8gGonnCY_ylxc1_UWp3b-n4KBxQBBZxcumAiA2233Vd2nGuVePWg7UmNyibpA0cnwB_iTzCfRVDYHbXl2wEZJdrVqil-SEfySCcxHXm_6uwd2zUkecY7F76CYokjXrsj/s1600-h/P6110013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1lRCpvP9xEoP8gGonnCY_ylxc1_UWp3b-n4KBxQBBZxcumAiA2233Vd2nGuVePWg7UmNyibpA0cnwB_iTzCfRVDYHbXl2wEZJdrVqil-SEfySCcxHXm_6uwd2zUkecY7F76CYokjXrsj/s400/P6110013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346058145641148226" border="0" /></a> After a short trek through a forest trail, we reached the inter-tidal area and proceeded to make our way towards the reefs. And of course, I stopped the fiddler crabs in the seagrass meadows for a quick and wacky group photo (photo below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84nSBnDfIJHXR-qSbiDV6LnlyeUOgYoQRQVkm0W_9AkFwCWYi20HE3WquETzykOuqB6qo-AOhUXxAVON8lUWl3XfyH0-OpRgl6OpW-6ZnoWZYa91isWAwMM08DFoDrZPlh_VlMZQAIRCe/s1600-h/P6110018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84nSBnDfIJHXR-qSbiDV6LnlyeUOgYoQRQVkm0W_9AkFwCWYi20HE3WquETzykOuqB6qo-AOhUXxAVON8lUWl3XfyH0-OpRgl6OpW-6ZnoWZYa91isWAwMM08DFoDrZPlh_VlMZQAIRCe/s400/P6110018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346058157928920306" border="0" /></a> So our <span style="font-weight: bold;">first 'discovery'</span> of this posting is flatworms (pictures below)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_T7KTQhJxN4W_OvVZ5rlQVqS5DbqXrJTSz95f2tqv-tvqoP7y4oCQ7cAN3VTg8TigxTm5OI3_2HkR2qHffhOmoJnOGYIlIuISaJCXB9aWcFEFsvqcNwA4aqw24ndswZa7o8HOTL9HcUaF/s1600-h/P6110019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_T7KTQhJxN4W_OvVZ5rlQVqS5DbqXrJTSz95f2tqv-tvqoP7y4oCQ7cAN3VTg8TigxTm5OI3_2HkR2qHffhOmoJnOGYIlIuISaJCXB9aWcFEFsvqcNwA4aqw24ndswZa7o8HOTL9HcUaF/s400/P6110019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346058157710615730" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfUDCLhNPl0slHHb_BlsUiLpNVXIbSAc3KWTJPMdIgCkeCx9HBGD6aSCkCcteOjGQ_wFzJhrfCy3LlAIAdAEoqvFqrEuLa6GdPGPtEaSEfJKoMh6UJVSBvyI9mPWRHxNVD2x7ZNJm38_m/s1600-h/P6110021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 369px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfUDCLhNPl0slHHb_BlsUiLpNVXIbSAc3KWTJPMdIgCkeCx9HBGD6aSCkCcteOjGQ_wFzJhrfCy3LlAIAdAEoqvFqrEuLa6GdPGPtEaSEfJKoMh6UJVSBvyI9mPWRHxNVD2x7ZNJm38_m/s400/P6110021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346058642076154482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Discovery Note:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1.</span> If you have a chance to look at them in real life, you will notice that their name is as such because they have a really flat body (probably some of you can spot this by looking at the photos).<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2.</span> Being flat has its advantages, being flat means that flatworms can easily move into any space. This allows them to hide or find food easily.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3.</span> Do you know that flatworms actually have a central nervous system and a simple brain to help them co-ordinate their muscular system.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4.</span> Flatworms also do not have a blood circulatory or respiratory system as oxygen can diffuse rather quicky across their skin and to the other parts of their body.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5.</span> Read more about flatworms @ <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/worm/polycladida/polycladida.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/worm/polycladida/polycladida.htm</a>.<br /><br />Today, our hunter seekers (guides who move off eariler than any group to locate interesting organisms for participants to see and also an important batch of people who help to make the guided walks an easier job) also managed to find us the star of the walk, the knobbly sea star (picture below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWs2ty0oU55Iu6N3sip79fw6dHIGz-RuLqmOxSiKKyNY8LsGpnatFae6TymQx5rbtNRk8Nj-kteF19tO1xWY0VuXSE7LheYL3np1n-AlsHC-8MvvIbJcrRpYZcz8Z86ygJZwmsTlX2Xyf/s1600-h/P6110023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 372px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWs2ty0oU55Iu6N3sip79fw6dHIGz-RuLqmOxSiKKyNY8LsGpnatFae6TymQx5rbtNRk8Nj-kteF19tO1xWY0VuXSE7LheYL3np1n-AlsHC-8MvvIbJcrRpYZcz8Z86ygJZwmsTlX2Xyf/s400/P6110023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346058642989364578" border="0" /></a>With the star on-show, we just have to take a photo for memories with it (pictures below)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdfkQdNLnNAU5377UN1Cw3QIgZNfnp7IbnHzwj91h2tpNl-MOwelhThhmjSQ9yYuk1g-soK3BBr1MXND75If4Ncw2V-W0cAzaHvTqS7ZGShDqiOWDrDUS79zfa4UrXBJNnRtxzDewBDOF/s1600-h/P6110024.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdfkQdNLnNAU5377UN1Cw3QIgZNfnp7IbnHzwj91h2tpNl-MOwelhThhmjSQ9yYuk1g-soK3BBr1MXND75If4Ncw2V-W0cAzaHvTqS7ZGShDqiOWDrDUS79zfa4UrXBJNnRtxzDewBDOF/s400/P6110024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346058644226727986" border="0" /></a>The fiddler crabs pose... hehe (picture below)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5vs5VoTia79PngvSvBjkmMtqhWRFhmIFGrO0yfoEawCQWnXL5ixzUvMm7q524Tf-m65TkAOjLeZlHA79L5U-QV_iyNgr4eYvVK9N6OUmeDt79cvvO4iKs7XI_uigBrJsZPSOhROr08iT/s1600-h/P6110025.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5vs5VoTia79PngvSvBjkmMtqhWRFhmIFGrO0yfoEawCQWnXL5ixzUvMm7q524Tf-m65TkAOjLeZlHA79L5U-QV_iyNgr4eYvVK9N6OUmeDt79cvvO4iKs7XI_uigBrJsZPSOhROr08iT/s400/P6110025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346058644871492978" border="0" /></a>As we moved closer to the reefs, our hunter seekers found another two organisms nearby to one another. Here's one of them, the<span style="font-weight: bold;"> second 'discovery'</span>, a sunflower mushroom coral (picture below). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijp4Dz_qDlYlK1h3NrMAMbOjhbKc_b1UFNDTLjCG5HH_EJuqMg3MjsnMXNK4_BNlUN1ddWOi_l8D0PkeO5MaLpl95MzzWm4PJ5xYqtMFw6gFMYWt2yuS80iUmBeSR60zHCF41W0ujENZPc/s1600-h/P6110026.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 358px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijp4Dz_qDlYlK1h3NrMAMbOjhbKc_b1UFNDTLjCG5HH_EJuqMg3MjsnMXNK4_BNlUN1ddWOi_l8D0PkeO5MaLpl95MzzWm4PJ5xYqtMFw6gFMYWt2yuS80iUmBeSR60zHCF41W0ujENZPc/s400/P6110026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346058647983560994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Discovery Note:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1.</span> Corals mostly live attached to something, a rock, the seafloor, etc. But mushroom corals, when large, live disattached.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. </span>However when they are young, they attach themselves onto things like rocks.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3.</span> Another difference is that while corals are a group of animals living together (this animal is called a polyp), the mushroom coral is either made up of a single polyp or just a few polyps.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4.</span> As their skeleton is really hard and sometimes spikey, and of course not forgetting that polyps have stings, it is best not to handle them with your bare hands.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5.</span> Read more about sunflower mushroom corals @ <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralhard/fungiidae/heliofungia.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralhard/fungiidae/heliofungia.htm</a>.<br /><br />And just nearby laid a sand fish sea cucumber, our <span style="font-weight: bold;">third 'discovery'</span> (picture below). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yF4s649F9TpzL7ZYjpH9JlMxBTtbF5vXbfMwJXtiyj8QdhSXeGhboIna87BYFNjk7mDkR3k8BJVxgVNagZAbmhg7T3LbYtAQhPSVKq1LFcNpl05TBmPgiZR2PuY2aybZ4Y_lsVPMlEGH/s1600-h/P6110026-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yF4s649F9TpzL7ZYjpH9JlMxBTtbF5vXbfMwJXtiyj8QdhSXeGhboIna87BYFNjk7mDkR3k8BJVxgVNagZAbmhg7T3LbYtAQhPSVKq1LFcNpl05TBmPgiZR2PuY2aybZ4Y_lsVPMlEGH/s400/P6110026-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346058864415558722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Discovery note:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1.</span> This is one of the species of the sea cucumber which humans commonly consume for food.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2.</span> It is important to note that they need to be properly processed before eatting as tests indicate that they contain toxins.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. </span>We also call them the garlic bread sea cucumber due to its appearance.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. </span>Read more about them @ <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/scabra.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/scabra.htm</a>.<br /><br />Well, that about warps up this posting for today. And oh ya, these were not all the organisms we saw during today's trip, it's just that I did not take photos for every organism. If you are interested to find out what other organisms we saw today, you can refer to the extras section.<br /><br />Before I end, thanks again to the fiddler crabs for coming and I hope you had an enjoyable morning. =D<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Extra:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">a)</span> Read KS's blog posting for this trip: <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2009/06/semakau-public-walk-on-11-june.html">http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2009/06/semakau-public-walk-on-11-june.html</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">b)</span> Read MY's blog posting: <a href="http://appreciateandlove.blogspot.com/2009/06/went-to-semakau-at-4-am-to-guide-group.html">http://appreciateandlove.blogspot.com/2009/06/went-to-semakau-at-4-am-to-guide-group.html</a>DreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8010180031124607287.post-5211837713354219172009-06-08T20:35:00.003+08:002009-06-08T21:47:59.714+08:00Discovery @ Hantu on 7 June 2009<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ninety Seventh Discovery Posting:</span><br /></div><br />The time was near to 4am and a boat ferrying a batch of RMBR guides, including myself, docked at the jetty of Hantu. It has been almost a year plus since I last visited Hantu and therefore looking forward to this trip despite having to wake up at 1am plus.<br /><br />So the <span style="font-weight: bold;">first 'discovery'</span> of the night, ops, i mean morning, are fiddler crabs. Here's a male fiddler crab (picture below).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQeYCAyxfETv4PaONuOXpbTgHKU-Ga4KCrUwAyMGa4ZyWPp9-sQ8q5CDUn4pPklrhzhn9xAhGL9f_Hr46qnij3KMQzJU-wBdzT2HmIL4dsljCl2Xv-K6OnZTIxJc5ZczIL15_6Igzo4BXb/s1600-h/P6070021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQeYCAyxfETv4PaONuOXpbTgHKU-Ga4KCrUwAyMGa4ZyWPp9-sQ8q5CDUn4pPklrhzhn9xAhGL9f_Hr46qnij3KMQzJU-wBdzT2HmIL4dsljCl2Xv-K6OnZTIxJc5ZczIL15_6Igzo4BXb/s400/P6070021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344935458156769602" border="0" /></a>And here's a female fiddler crab (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6UUgkiEmbRxOawWM04vgH2YlHuM6oZNg6Jk5CykOQg9r2INMk5X7VIRVdZo0Q8or_vhMlWXsoowFTkZU6Gjra3535Ac3W3xPJ52seTZvHzCBUjSMt1V57nSaiE8NKTd_ouF2ZJViI79V/s1600-h/P6070022.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6UUgkiEmbRxOawWM04vgH2YlHuM6oZNg6Jk5CykOQg9r2INMk5X7VIRVdZo0Q8or_vhMlWXsoowFTkZU6Gjra3535Ac3W3xPJ52seTZvHzCBUjSMt1V57nSaiE8NKTd_ouF2ZJViI79V/s400/P6070022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344935459381525618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Discovery Note:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1.</span> Only male fiddler crabs have an enlarged claw. Female fiddler crabs, on the other hand, have two smaller claws.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2.</span> The enlarged claw can be either on the left or right side.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3.</span> The enlarged claw may be as large or even as heavy as their body and also it cannot be used to hunt, feed or effectively scare off predators. So what is it for?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4.</span> It is used attract female fiddler crabs and intimdate rival mates.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5.</span> The small claw is used for eating, so if you think about it, the females can eat twice as fast as the males as they have two small claws. This is logical as they need the energy for reproduction purposes.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6.</span> Interestingly, fiddler crabs can change colours. They can appear different in the day and night and in some species, the male fiddler crabs have brighter when it's the mating season.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">7.</span> To read more about fiddler crabs, visit <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/ocypodoidea/uca.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/ocypodoidea/uca.htm</a>.<br /><br />One thing which I really wanted to see on this visit was feather stars. The reason being that I haven't seen one for quite a while and according to KS, one can find them more easily compared to other inter-tidal areas we visit in Singapore.<br /><br />And I wasn't disappointed, I saw almost 10 red feather stars in that morning. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Second 'discovery'</span>.<br />Here's how one look like when it's 'closed' up (picture below). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ZIY_rvIP8QNcOFFQO6irhYvnYdV6_121I1OQtl428jXCUcJyn87TExVaD7ZwCHmXHct8G2uG_TBgzTQHuW34-oPaTphFUhV7ZU4rGPf9SKw8wCg3OA3u57UqBmOobYJwwFJ_pIDyiGGq/s1600-h/P6070026.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ZIY_rvIP8QNcOFFQO6irhYvnYdV6_121I1OQtl428jXCUcJyn87TExVaD7ZwCHmXHct8G2uG_TBgzTQHuW34-oPaTphFUhV7ZU4rGPf9SKw8wCg3OA3u57UqBmOobYJwwFJ_pIDyiGGq/s400/P6070026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344935466019442674" border="0" /></a>And when it's 'opened' (pictures below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxmnvdJveXv5WrvgAWiLgdVDk0rJ3eGgbNBnPVzxB2d0gjj276K0Iv7fjL-Xi6PEX8gWM0Zkys7WgqU97tYcLiKFsrPIqiotbkPHE22XBqiiJnYaRlEy5QRoP1MvtfZfXqZA9l74-UA9N/s1600-h/P6070035.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 395px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxmnvdJveXv5WrvgAWiLgdVDk0rJ3eGgbNBnPVzxB2d0gjj276K0Iv7fjL-Xi6PEX8gWM0Zkys7WgqU97tYcLiKFsrPIqiotbkPHE22XBqiiJnYaRlEy5QRoP1MvtfZfXqZA9l74-UA9N/s400/P6070035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344935464068748770" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwWoUZCyJ4VBrtkKdXGaQG-Vi25oo8WtLl2fJtrM0a5exFBb3R7NnRzAODc738QwsZhR8hyRM2gNbMYauR0Ufeg_UCTKsMlKYyk_hbKhWtpp6bUbpijz6miZKrvydE_kUlkCh2l9L6NAa/s1600-h/P6070038.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 395px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwWoUZCyJ4VBrtkKdXGaQG-Vi25oo8WtLl2fJtrM0a5exFBb3R7NnRzAODc738QwsZhR8hyRM2gNbMYauR0Ufeg_UCTKsMlKYyk_hbKhWtpp6bUbpijz6miZKrvydE_kUlkCh2l9L6NAa/s400/P6070038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344935466880734866" border="0" /></a>And as I walked back into the lagoon on Hantu, I come across a black feather star (picture below)!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYPo4VqBIrsMxef8tmETTbDCY5ob5BSE6bAer4I8Kvf8lK6YrWV3ZC0S_ZiSbAP1dI5lkOOzTjQVI5Kv_4CLlGlyRHK1xM5z038Kw1c9JWHno60cRDdmxGD-FqnBhUPu0fqen5Iu2aR8E/s1600-h/P6070095.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYPo4VqBIrsMxef8tmETTbDCY5ob5BSE6bAer4I8Kvf8lK6YrWV3ZC0S_ZiSbAP1dI5lkOOzTjQVI5Kv_4CLlGlyRHK1xM5z038Kw1c9JWHno60cRDdmxGD-FqnBhUPu0fqen5Iu2aR8E/s400/P6070095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344936166711443554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Discovery Note:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1.</span> This is not really easy to find feather stars near shore areas. They are however more commonly sighted during diving trips.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2.</span> Their long and spiny arms are quite fragile, so don't handle them if you see them.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3.</span> They belong to the Phylum of enchinodermata, like the sea stars and sea cucumbers. Like the other enchinodermata, feather stars are symmetrical along the five axis, have spiny skin and tube feet.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4.</span> Read more about them @ <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/crinoidea/crinoidea.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/crinoidea/crinoidea.htm</a>.<br /><br />The <span style="font-weight: bold;">third 'discovery'</span> is a fringe-eyed flathead (picture below). I'm not really good with fishes, so only after a check with KS, who was nearby, then did i know what this fish is. This also translates to more things to learn and read up on...hahaha <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMk8z2cYWzsBHekF2e6Z4F4gwEeHpmT7WIAco0aByQixn0jLk_Kk-iFY7c9KMoUHSiEcQukAUk9XxyeqW4U1ZmJh-E5UjoFn0FRJaicHlYA0ae6rxRtIlqfMyIf6Sp4C86dIGmPOXGzSZt/s1600-h/P6070103.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMk8z2cYWzsBHekF2e6Z4F4gwEeHpmT7WIAco0aByQixn0jLk_Kk-iFY7c9KMoUHSiEcQukAUk9XxyeqW4U1ZmJh-E5UjoFn0FRJaicHlYA0ae6rxRtIlqfMyIf6Sp4C86dIGmPOXGzSZt/s400/P6070103.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344936169163620946" border="0" /></a>Close up view of its head (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUw5tA-syfpljpO5i9HZLT1K9zfX5jYi4yiQ-8rBs7GoGOGVAk-eEe_9RWRfJQxlDJYQyhiYmVC_5ip1HpP-Y_Y7-PUnjnryo840gOOzp6kxcp37RSEYto91YOKoyOqzVZYJO13JKt3c5a/s1600-h/P6070100.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 345px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUw5tA-syfpljpO5i9HZLT1K9zfX5jYi4yiQ-8rBs7GoGOGVAk-eEe_9RWRfJQxlDJYQyhiYmVC_5ip1HpP-Y_Y7-PUnjnryo840gOOzp6kxcp37RSEYto91YOKoyOqzVZYJO13JKt3c5a/s400/P6070100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344936168308616818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Discovery Note:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1.</span> If you look closely at the close up photo of its head, you will find that this fish has eyelashes!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2.</span> The two times I've seen it on this same trip, both individuals were lying on the seabed. This might be a way for camouflage itself looking at its appearance.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3.</span> Another reason for this appearance might be because it feeds on creatures that lives in the sea bottom.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4.</span> Read more about them @ <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/platycephalidae/nematophthalmus.htm">http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/platycephalidae/nematophthalmus.htm</a>.<br /><br />After spending almost 3 hours plus, our trip ended as the sun rised above the horizon (picture below).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9GRrQcg3SDBlDYQYjKmsSk1TRe29Irs30B417tOEo9O1sM7EDgFFp_HGQ_MfWAyiOmCwbLj2kTJ7hZoluQCpJVFSNJdKlxdVDpeJFEfZDKcXL-yX3qmK2zTuL5GSSyHHVPx4wB4NZx4R/s1600-h/P6070110.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9GRrQcg3SDBlDYQYjKmsSk1TRe29Irs30B417tOEo9O1sM7EDgFFp_HGQ_MfWAyiOmCwbLj2kTJ7hZoluQCpJVFSNJdKlxdVDpeJFEfZDKcXL-yX3qmK2zTuL5GSSyHHVPx4wB4NZx4R/s400/P6070110.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344936171586752770" border="0" /></a>Thanks to R and LK for organising this trip and everyone else who helped to keep one another awake throughout the trip...hahaha<br /><br />The above were not all the things we saw during this trip, I just highlight those which I wanted to, if you are interested...<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Extra:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">a)</span> Read KS postings on this trip:<br /><a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2009/06/hantu-underwater-world.html">http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2009/06/hantu-underwater-world.html</a><br /><a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2009/06/burrowing-giant-clam-at-hantu.html">http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2009/06/burrowing-giant-clam-at-hantu.html</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">b) </span>ST's post: <a href="http://mantamola.blogspot.com/2009/06/hantu-exploration.html">http://mantamola.blogspot.com/2009/06/hantu-exploration.html</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">c)</span> Last but not least, E's post:<a href="http://naturallyours.blogspot.com/2009/06/53-pulau-hantu.html"> http://naturallyours.blogspot.com/2009/06/53-pulau-hantu.html</a>DreamerJulyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16642898526363159952noreply@blogger.com0