Pulau Hantu on New Year's Day 2010

109th Discovery Posting:

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.

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).
Second, you are able to find some marine organisms found in some other inter-tidal areas in Singapore. Take for example, our first 'discovery', a common sea star (picture below). 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.

Second 'discovery' 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).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 link.

Our third 'discovery' is also a coral. This is a mushroom coral (picture below)Mushroom corals 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.

Next up, our fourth 'discovery', a flat worm (picture below). 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.

Does this (picture below) look tasty to you? I bet crab lovers will drool over this...
However our fifth 'discovery', the red egg crab, is a crab which crab lovers should avoid as they are poisonous and more importantly, their poison CANNOT be wiped out by cooking.

Our sixth 'discovery' 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, Discodoris boholiensus.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: http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/glossary/flatwormslug.htm

And lastly is the highlight of our trip, the seventh 'discovery', a....SEAHORSE (picture above and below)!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 http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/syngnathidae/hippocampus.htm.

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. =D

Discovery @ Hantu on 7 June 2009

Ninety Seventh Discovery Posting:

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.

So the first 'discovery' of the night, ops, i mean morning, are fiddler crabs. Here's a male fiddler crab (picture below).
And here's a female fiddler crab (picture below).Discovery Note:
1. Only male fiddler crabs have an enlarged claw. Female fiddler crabs, on the other hand, have two smaller claws.
2. The enlarged claw can be either on the left or right side.
3. 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?
4. It is used attract female fiddler crabs and intimdate rival mates.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. To read more about fiddler crabs, visit http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/ocypodoidea/uca.htm.

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.

And I wasn't disappointed, I saw almost 10 red feather stars in that morning. Second 'discovery'.
Here's how one look like when it's 'closed' up (picture below). And when it's 'opened' (pictures below). And as I walked back into the lagoon on Hantu, I come across a black feather star (picture below)!Discovery Note:
1. This is not really easy to find feather stars near shore areas. They are however more commonly sighted during diving trips.
2. Their long and spiny arms are quite fragile, so don't handle them if you see them.
3. 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.
4. Read more about them @ http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/crinoidea/crinoidea.htm.

The third 'discovery' 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 Close up view of its head (picture below).Discovery Note:
1. If you look closely at the close up photo of its head, you will find that this fish has eyelashes!
2. 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.
3. Another reason for this appearance might be because it feeds on creatures that lives in the sea bottom.
4. Read more about them @ http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/platycephalidae/nematophthalmus.htm.

After spending almost 3 hours plus, our trip ended as the sun rised above the horizon (picture below).Thanks to R and LK for organising this trip and everyone else who helped to keep one another awake throughout the trip...hahaha

The above were not all the things we saw during this trip, I just highlight those which I wanted to, if you are interested...
Extra:
a) Read KS postings on this trip:
http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2009/06/hantu-underwater-world.html
http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2009/06/burrowing-giant-clam-at-hantu.html
b) ST's post: http://mantamola.blogspot.com/2009/06/hantu-exploration.html
c) Last but not least, E's post: http://naturallyours.blogspot.com/2009/06/53-pulau-hantu.html

Discovery @ Hantu on 08 Feb 2008

Forty Sixth Discovery Posting

The Legend of Pulau Hantu

Many years ago, there lived two great warriors who were bitter enemies. One day, they challenged each other to a duel in the sea near Singapore to determine the mightier of the two. Being equally matched, they fought for a long time, staining the sea with their blood.

Meanwhile, the fighting disturbed Jinn, the spirit of the sea. In a rage, Jinn created a whirpool which sucked the warriors’ men to the bottom of the sea. The undeterred warriors continued with their battle. Greatly annoyed, Jinn blinded one of the warriors with sea water. The other warrior quickly took advantage of the situation and fatally injured the blinded warrior. With his last breath, the blinded warrior thrusted his sword into his enemy. Both warriors thus perished in the battle.

The gods of the heavens were angry with Jinn for his interference in mortal affairs and decreed that the spirits of the two warriors should dwell on the surface of the sea. With great remorse, Jinn converted two perahus (boats) belonging to the warriors into two small islands where their spirits could reside. As one of the perahus was small smaller than the other, it became known as “Pulau Hantu Kechil” (meaning ‘Small Ghost Island’) while the bigger island was known as ‘Pulau Hantu Besar’ (meaning ‘Big Ghost Island’)

Adapted from “Myths and Legends of Singapore” by Mr. Pugalenti

The above story is an almost exact copy of the storyboard found on Hantu, an almost exact copy because the original one standing on Hantu now has a minor mistake. Notice the strikethrough i done on the word "small", that's the minor error. =P

Anyway, on the second day of the Chinese New Year, a batch of us visited Pulau Hantu. And this was my first time visiting this little island on the southern part of Singapore (picture below).
And on this island is one of the few places in Singapore where you can find the common sea star, archaster typicus (picture below). First 'discovery'!
Discovery Note:
1. I'm always fascinated by their tube feet as they are used for walking, handle food as well as breathing, talk about multi purpose!
2. Sea stars get stressed when out of water, as water to them is like blood to us, so please don’t take them out of the water for too long.
3. They are not as common as their name suggests. This is due to over-collection and habitat lost. So don't take them away from their homes when you see them. =)

Second 'discovery' looks like a Spiral Melongena. And it was laying eggs! A first sighting of this animal laying eggs for me (picture below).
Discovery Note:
1. They seem to like to lay eggs on hard surfaces.
2. Each "petal" is one egg capsule.

The largest nudibranch in the world? Third 'discovery' is probably it, Dendrodoris tuberculosa (picture below).The underside of the Dendrodoris tuberculosa (picture below). Discovery Note:
1. It is said that this nudibranch can grow to a length of about 25cm long!
2. According to the sea slug forum, this is easily identified by the colour of the underside of the mantle, which has a background colour ranging from pale greenish or yellowish brown to dark brown with large round white spots. Check out the underside of the nudibranch (picture above)!

Fourth, fifth and sixth 'discoveries' are feather stars (pictures below). Another first time of seeing an alive feature star for me!

A red coloured feather star (picture below).
A pale yellowed coloured feather star (picture below).A black and white coloured feather star (picture below)!Discovery Note:
1. These are Echinoderms, Phylum Enchinodermata, like the sea stars, sea cucumbers and sea urchins to name a few.
2. They belong to the class of Crinoidea and one of the most ancient and 'primitive' of ocean invertebrates, with a family tree rooted in almost 500 million years of history!

Of course, these were not all the things we saw on the island of Pulau Hantu.

Read and See more:
a) On KS's entry on his Wonderful Creation blog on a Nemo and other sightings!
b) On Wildfilm's blog on the many corals that is found on Hantu.
c) On ST's Manta's blog on a orange banded butterfly fish and other stuffs.
d) On SY's Urban Forest on a soldier crab and his compilation of photos.
e) On SJ's Nature Scouter on more corals and a number of crabs.
f) On RY's Tide Chaser for a description on the nudibranch, Gymnodoris rubropapulosa.

Finally, would like to thank Ria for this "hong bao" of organising this trip and all others for making this trip another enjoyable one!

And a Happy Chinese New Year to all discoverers!