tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46871817272242309992024-03-14T13:23:59.181+08:00Peiyan.Photographypei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.comBlogger486125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687181727224230999.post-33591591633057846572015-07-17T20:54:00.001+08:002015-07-17T20:59:13.513+08:00Quiet Pulau Semakau South<div style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px; margin-bottom: 0.825em;">
This is Pulau Semakau, the southern island where our incinerated waste is shipped to. The aerial image shows the actual intertidal area of Pulau Semakau.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761783.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761783.jpg" height="286" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Aerial shot of Pulau Semakau</dd></dl>
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We had a great sunrise over Pulau Semakau this morning.<br />
Behind the mangroves of Pulau Semakau, where the birds began to wake up to a new day and the herons are flying in to feed, the Sun peeks up gently with its golden glow.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761499.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761499.jpg" height="339" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Peeking sun behind the mangroves of Pulau Semakau</dd></dl>
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The magnificent sunrise this morning send the large golden yoke up to the sky.</div>
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The break of dawn sends many animals in the intertidal back into hiding. They are becoming more visible to aerial predators such as the terns, who were actively out hunting in a shallow lagoon in rather close proximity to me. I just stood on the spot and enjoy the "painful" moments of the birds head diving into the lagoon to make their catch. </div>
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Apart from the aerial predators, the larger water predators are also out feeding, as I caught a glimpse of the <a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/selachii/selachii.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/selachii/selachii.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">black-tipped reef shark</a> (<i style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Carcharhinus melanopterus)</i> swimming by at the edge of the shore.</div>
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Before that, we had a good working hour in the dark, where animals were less skittish.</div>
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Andy came across a <a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/actiniaria/actinodendron.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/actiniaria/actinodendron.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">fire anemone</a> (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Actinodendron </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><i>arboreum</i></span>), which has a nasty sting. I took some photos of it and left it alone.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761481.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761481.jpg" height="338" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Fire anemone</dd></dl>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img class="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761482.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761482.jpg" height="335" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Closer look at those stinging tentacles of the fire anemone</dd></dl>
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A suspicious clam-like opening beneath the sand reveals a beautiful <a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/bivalvia/cardiidae/fragum.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/bivalvia/cardiidae/fragum.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">strawberry cockle</a> (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Fragum unedo</em>), which I had initially mistaken it as a heart cockle. On one side of the cockle, it looked like a heart shape, or some may see it as wings of an angel.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761483.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761483.jpg" height="338" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Strawberry cockle, placed back where it was found</dd></dl>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761484.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761484.jpg" height="338" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Side view</dd></dl>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761486.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761486.jpg" height="750" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">The other side</dd></dl>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761485.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761485.jpg" height="338" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">"Angel's wings", "The heart"</dd></dl>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761488.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761488.jpg" height="338" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">"The butt"</dd></dl>
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Nearby, Marcus spotted a <a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/bohadschia.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/bohadschia.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">brown sea cucumber </a>(<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Bohadschia vitiensis</em>) with is sticky white cylindrical tubes (Cuvierian tubules) being released, clearly showing its objection with us disturbing it.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761489.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761489.jpg" height="338" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Brown sea cucumber</dd></dl>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img class="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761491.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761491.jpg" height="336" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Releasing its sticky white cylindrical tubes</dd></dl>
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Let's play spot the animal game: Can you find the animal in this picture?</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761494.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761494.jpg" height="750" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Who am I?</dd></dl>
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Can't find it? Let me zoom in slightly.</div>
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<img class="aligncenter" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761492.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761492.jpg" height="338" style="border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); clear: both; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" width="500" /></div>
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No? Let's go closer.</div>
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<img class="aligncenter" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761493.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761493.jpg" height="338" style="border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); clear: both; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" width="500" /></div>
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It is actually a decorator crab and this master of disguise crab had decorated itself with sand, seaweeds and seagrass. Here is a better look at the crab when it is on the sand.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761496.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761496.jpg" height="750" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Decorator crab</dd></dl>
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Since it is the durian season, a small <a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/horrens.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/horrens.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">durian sea cucumber</a> (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Stichopus horrens</em>) was spotted on the shore.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761497.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761497.jpg" height="750" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Durian sea cucumber</dd></dl>
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As the sun rose and the animals went to hide, I got a bit bored and tired and went back to the departure point and noticed the <a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/ocypodoidea/dotilla.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/ocypodoidea/dotilla.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">soldier crabs</a> (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Dotilla sp.</em>) are out busy making fine sand ball art on the sandbar. The crabs are in various sizes and I noticed that much bigger ones are more colourful. It is very difficult to spot these tiny crabs from afar but once you are near their holes, you will be able to see movements as the crabs retracts into their burrows upon sensing incoming movements.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img class="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761504.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761504.jpg" height="333" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Soldier crab almost about to drop the sand ball</dd></dl>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761512.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761512.jpg" height="336" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Side view</dd></dl>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761506.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160761506.jpg" height="336" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">This soldier crab is bigger than the rest and less sensitive to motion. It stood motionless for us on the sand.</dd></dl>
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This long weekend, we will be exploring various parts of the shore of Pulau Semakau. The shoreline is just too long for us to over in one trip, so we had to break it up into parts.<br />
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Come back tomorrow for another intertidal adventure from another part of Pulau Semakau.</div>
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<span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: underline;"><strong style="font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Posts by others:</strong></span><br />
Ria - <a data-mce-href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2015/07/checking-up-on-pulau-semakau-south.html#.Vaj6oyqqqko" href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2015/07/checking-up-on-pulau-semakau-south.html#.Vaj6oyqqqko" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Checking up on Pulau Semakau South</a></div>
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pei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687181727224230999.post-59877997540579489492015-07-05T17:49:00.001+08:002015-07-05T19:46:31.526+08:00Double S - Stonefish and Sekudu<div style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px; margin-bottom: 0.825em;">
Have you heard about the story of Pulau Sekudu? Or the legend of why the tiny island near Chek Jawa is named after a frog? Let me show you.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642115.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642115.jpg" height="304" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Happy frog rock on Pulau Sekudu</dd></dl>
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Though it is not very convincing, but I am sure with some creative thinking, you will be able to see a happy frog looking at you. The eye spots on this rock is not natural and it was painted on by fishermen who used to come here to fish in the past. Now, the island is under restricted access and you will need to obtain a permit.<img alt="" class="wp-more-tag mce-wp-more" data-mce-placeholder="1" data-mce-resize="false" data-mce-src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" data-wp-more="more" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-image: url(https://wordpress.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/skins/wordpress/images/more.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: repeat-y; background-size: initial; border-radius: 0px; border: 0px; box-shadow: none; cursor: default; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 16px; line-height: 1.7; margin: 15px auto 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 751.671875px;" title="Read more..." /></div>
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Here is the other side of the frog rock. It looks like the frog has a moustache and missing a top hat. </div>
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<img class="aligncenter" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642134.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642134.jpg" height="302" style="border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); clear: both; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" width="450" /></div>
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The highlight of the trip for me would definitely be the <a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/synanceiidae/horrida.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/synanceiidae/horrida.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">hollow-cheeked stonefish</a> (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Synanceia horrida</em>) spotted by Germaine from NParks. It was her first time visiting Pulau Sekudu, have been warned many times from many people about stonefish since her undergrad years studying horseshoe crabs and today, she found the stonefish. In fact, there were two stonefish today within stone throw from each other.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642096.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642096.jpg" height="450" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="304" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Stonefish 1</dd></dl>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642103.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642103.jpg" height="304" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Stonefish 2, slightly smaller</dd></dl>
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Obviously the stonefish weren't not happy to see us while we got excited over them. Their grumpy faces remain as grumpy as ever. The spotted of the stonefish actually reminded us to be careful when walking on the reefs. No where is safe and as you can see, the stonefish really looks like a piece of ordinary stone. Beware, they have 13 dorsal fin spines, acting like hypodermic needles that injects venom when you step on them. It is a very painful experience.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642100.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642100.jpg" height="304" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Raised dorsal fin spines</dd></dl>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642098.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642098.jpg" height="304" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Stonefish is one very grumpy fish, staying very still and looks exactly like a rock on the reef.</dd></dl>
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Arriving pre-dawn, I did my usual route of going south then east round the island. As usual, the <a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seaweed/chlorophyta/ulva.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seaweed/chlorophyta/ulva.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">sea lettuce seaweed</a> is every where on the island and it hides many tiny animals such as crabs, amphipods, isopods and many swimming anemones. The thick layer of seaweed definitely provided a good hiding place for these tiny animals.</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 460px;" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 460px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642055.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642055.jpg" height="302" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Juvenile crab?</dd></dl>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 460px;" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 460px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642053.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642053.jpg" height="302" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/parthenopidae/common.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/parthenopidae/common.htm" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #1b8be0; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Common elbow crab</a></dd></dl>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 460px;" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 460px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642056.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642056.jpg" height="302" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/amphipoda/amphipoda.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/amphipoda/amphipoda.htm" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #1b8be0; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Amphipod</a></dd></dl>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 460px;" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 460px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642060.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642060.jpg" height="302" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/isopoda/beachisopod.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/isopoda/beachisopod.htm" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #1b8be0; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Marine isopod</a></dd></dl>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 460px;" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 460px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642050.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642050.jpg" height="304" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/actiniaria/boloceroididae.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/actiniaria/boloceroididae.htm" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #1b8be0; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Swimming anemone</a> (<em style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Boloceroides mcmurrichi</em>)</dd></dl>
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In these seaweed pools, you can still find other animals such as sea cucumbers, bigger crabs, snapping shrimps.</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 460px;" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 460px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642046.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642046.jpg" height="302" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/purple.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/purple.htm" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #1b8be0; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Purple sea cucumber</a></dd></dl>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 460px;" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 460px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642124.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642124.jpg" height="304" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/scabra.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/scabra.htm" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #1b8be0; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Garlic bread sea cucumber</a> (<em style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Holothuria scabra</em>)</dd></dl>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 460px;" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 460px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642048.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642048.jpg" height="304" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/menippidae/hardwickii.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/menippidae/hardwickii.htm" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #1b8be0; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Stone crab</a> (<em style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Myomenippe hardwickii</em>)</dd></dl>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 460px;" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 460px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642049.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642049.jpg" height="304" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/portunidae/pelagicus.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/portunidae/pelagicus.htm" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #1b8be0; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Flower crab</a> (<em style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Portunus pelagicus)</em></dd></dl>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 460px;" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 460px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642047.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642047.jpg" height="302" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Snapping shrimp at burrow entrance</dd></dl>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 460px;" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 460px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642062.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642062.jpg" height="304" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Snapping shrimp</dd></dl>
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I did not get to see the Sekudu knobbly sea stars today, which a few of my friends did encounter, but I came across one orange crown sea star, one painted sand star and a few biscuit sea stars.</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 460px;" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 460px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642065.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642065.jpg" height="302" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/asterina.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/asterina.htm" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #1b8be0; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Crown sea star</a> (<em style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Aquilonastra coronata</em>)</dd></dl>
</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 460px;" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 460px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642066.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642066.jpg" height="302" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Crown sea star, underside</dd></dl>
</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 460px;" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 460px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642073.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642073.jpg" height="304" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Rather injured looking <a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/sandpainted.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/sandpainted.htm" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #1b8be0; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">painted sand star </a>(<em style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Astropecten sp.</em>)</dd></dl>
</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 460px;" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 460px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642083.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642083.jpg" height="304" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/goniodiscaster.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/goniodiscaster.htm" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #1b8be0; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Biscuit sea star </a>(<em style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Goniodiscaster scaber</em>)</dd></dl>
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There were a few <a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/anomura/hermit/stripeorange.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/anomura/hermit/stripeorange.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">orange-striped hermit crabs</a> around.</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 460px;" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 460px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642067.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642067.jpg" height="304" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Orange-striped hermit crab</dd></dl>
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Oh look, a <a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/bythitidae/iluocoeteoides.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/bythitidae/iluocoeteoides.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">yellow cuskeel</a> (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Dinematichthys iluocoteoides</em>). This fish is usually very skittish and swims into hiding very quickly but today, the fish was rather friendly and stay around for some time before it decided to hide. The cuskeel looks very graceful when it swims.</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 460px;" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 460px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642068.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642068.jpg" height="302" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Yellow cuskeel, when spotted</dd></dl>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 460px;" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 460px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642072.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642072.jpg" height="302" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Closer look at the fish</dd></dl>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 460px;" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 460px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642069.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642069.jpg" height="302" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Hiding cuskeel</dd></dl>
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This predawn trip works till after sunrise and all of us had enjoyed the golden hour moment on Pulau Sekudu with beautiful background of Chek Jawa, Pulau Tekong and Pengarang, Johor, with arriving planes.</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 313px;" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 313px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642087.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642087.jpg" height="450" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="303" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Sunrise on Pulau Sekudu</dd></dl>
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After capturing that beautiful moment, which we did not enjoy yesterday at Chek Jawa, we continued our survey.<br />
The <a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/volutidae/nobilis.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/volutidae/nobilis.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">noble volutes</a> (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Cymbiola nobilis</em>) seems to be in egg laying season as they were seen laying eggs yesterday at Chek Jawa and today at Pulau Sekudu.</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 460px;" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 460px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642114.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642114.jpg" height="304" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Noble volute laying eggs</dd></dl>
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Chay Hoon showed us this beautiful nudibranch, which we also saw it on our previous survey trip last year.</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 460px;" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 460px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642106.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642106.jpg" height="302" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/slugs/nudibranchia/tumulifera.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/slugs/nudibranchia/tumulifera.htm" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #1b8be0; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Cow nudibranch</a> (Goniobranchus tumulifera)</dd></dl>
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With <a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seaweed/chlorophyta/avrerecta.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seaweed/chlorophyta/avrerecta.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">solitary fan green seaweed around</a>, there will bound to be some super tiny <a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/slugs/sacoglossa/costasiella.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/slugs/sacoglossa/costasiella.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">strawberry slug</a> (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Coastasiella sp.</em>) and I found one. They are really difficult to photograph.</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 460px;" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 460px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642081.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642081.jpg" height="302" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="450" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Strawberry slug</dd></dl>
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On the high water mark, there are a few mangrove trees and some interesting snails can be found along the branches or leaves.</div>
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<img class="aligncenter" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642116.jpg" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642116.jpg" height="304" style="border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); clear: both; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" width="451" /></div>
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<img class="aligncenter" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642121.jpg" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160642121.jpg" height="450" style="border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); clear: both; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" width="305" /></div>
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It is really a wonderful day at Pulau Sekudu, with beautiful sunrise and the special find of two stonefish. This trip is made possible with permission from NParks and I am grateful for the opportunity. Also thanks to Chay Hoon for the transport arrangements.</div>
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Until we meet again, Pulau Sekudu!</div>
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<span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="background-color: white; line-height: 23.7999992370605px; text-decoration: underline;"><strong style="font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Posts by others:</strong></span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;">Ria - </span><a data-mce-href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2015/07/sunrise-suvey-of-pulau-sekudu.html" href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2015/07/sunrise-suvey-of-pulau-sekudu.html" style="background-color: white; color: #1b8be0; line-height: 23.7999992370605px; text-decoration: none;">Sunrise survey of Pulau Sekudu</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;">Kok Sheng on his </span><a data-mce-href="https://www.facebook.com/lohkoksheng/media_set?set=a.10153462521573158.1073741887.547198157&type=3&pnref=story" href="https://www.facebook.com/lohkoksheng/media_set?set=a.10153462521573158.1073741887.547198157&type=3&pnref=story" style="background-color: white; color: #1b8be0; line-height: 23.7999992370605px; text-decoration: none;">FB</a><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;">Marcus on his </span><a data-mce-href="https://www.facebook.com/marcus.ng.54738/media_set?set=a.10153024943103660.1073741869.624178659&type=3" href="https://www.facebook.com/marcus.ng.54738/media_set?set=a.10153024943103660.1073741869.624178659&type=3" style="background-color: white; color: #1b8be0; line-height: 23.7999992370605px; text-decoration: none;">FB</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;">R</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;">ussel on his </span><a data-mce-href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.960220700695989.1073741846.109257872458947&type=3" href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.960220700695989.1073741846.109257872458947&type=3" style="background-color: white; color: #1b8be0; line-height: 23.7999992370605px; text-decoration: none;">FB</a><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 23.7999992370605px;">Ivan on his </span><a data-mce-href="https://www.facebook.com/ivan.kwan/media_set?set=a.10152984564996179.1073741842.602806178&type=3" href="https://www.facebook.com/ivan.kwan/media_set?set=a.10152984564996179.1073741842.602806178&type=3" style="background-color: white; color: #1b8be0; line-height: 23.7999992370605px; text-decoration: none;">FB</a></div>
pei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687181727224230999.post-74641544179642946992015-07-05T16:00:00.001+08:002015-07-05T16:00:27.984+08:00Interesting sea slugs at Chek Jawa<div style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px; margin-bottom: 0.825em;">
Many people have visited Chek Jawa at Pulau Ubin. Be it taking a walk on the boardwalk or joining intertidal guided walks organised by NParks. As they walk through the coastal boardwalk route, they will meet the Chek Jawa white beacon standing out there in the sea. However, not many people actually know how the beacon looks like from the front. So here it is, the front image of the Chek Jawa front beacon.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632384.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="337" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632384.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Chek Jawa front beacon</dd></dl>
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I was able to take a photo from the front of the Chek Jawa beacon while conducting intertidal survey at Chek Jawa. The tide was very low today and the team was able to survey a distant in front of the Chek Jawa front beacon. This survey is made possible with permission from NParks.<img alt="" class="wp-more-tag mce-wp-more" data-mce-placeholder="1" data-mce-resize="false" data-mce-src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" data-wp-more-text="" data-wp-more="more" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-image: url(https://wordpress.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/skins/wordpress/images/more.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: repeat-y; background-size: initial; border-radius: 0px; border: 0px; box-shadow: none; cursor: default; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 16px; line-height: 1.7; margin: 15px auto 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 751.671875px;" title="Read more..." /></div>
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Here's how the whole beacon looks like at low tide.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632392.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="501" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632392.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="338" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Whole Chek Jawa front beacon</dd></dl>
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There were 2 special highlights for me on this trip to Chek Jawa.</div>
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The first highlight is this nudibranch, spotted by Ria when she was looking at the lumpy patches on the pore corals (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralhard/poritidae/porites.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralhard/poritidae/porites.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Porites sp.</a></em>), and an egg mass next to it. Surprising everyone who saw it, the fluffy blob near the egg mass is not a anemone but a nudibranch! That triggered us to look for closely when we come across such patches on pore corals. There was a pair of them next to the egg mass.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632399.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="338" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632399.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Left: Egg mass, Right: Nudibranch</dd></dl>
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Chay Hoon has updated that this could be <em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Phestilla lugubris</em> and it is actually her first time seeing it.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632403.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="338" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632403.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">This nudibranch is actually feeding on the pore coral.</dd></dl>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632405.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="338" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632405.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Frontal shot of the nudinrach</dd></dl>
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We noticed that the egg mass is shaped like a pencil shaving. It has interesting patterns.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632400.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="338" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632400.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Egg mass</dd></dl>
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The second highlight of this trip is this blue dragon nudibranch that Marcus found. The actual identity of this nudibranch is still in debate.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632393.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="336" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632393.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Blue dragon nudibranch</dd></dl>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632396.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="336" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632396.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Blue dragon showing a bit of its underside</dd></dl>
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I never knew how striking the colouration of the blue dragon is until I shot it today. Divers like myself encounter his very often when diving in Singapore waters but my underwater shots have never reflected such striking colour. This totally blew me off.</div>
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Starting from the eastern side of Chek Jawa brings us through a large seagrass lagoon before reaching the coral rubble area at the beacon. At the seagrass area, there were many interesting animals to be spotted if you look close enough, such as the plentiful garlic bread sea cucumber (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/scabra.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/scabra.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Holothuria scabra</a></em>). Looking at these sea cucumber sure makes me hungry on a pre-dawn trip.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632348.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="338" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632348.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Garlic bread sea cucumber</dd></dl>
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Sometimes, you may even find interesting looking tiny animals such as this crab.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632349.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="336" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632349.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Unknown tiny crab, about 2 cm carapace.</dd></dl>
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Among the seagrass, these are some of the animals I spotted.</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 510px;" id="" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 510px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632350.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="336" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632350.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Juvenile kite butterflyfish (<em style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/chaetodontidae/ocellatus.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/chaetodontidae/ocellatus.htm" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Parachaetodon ocellatus</a></em>)</dd></dl>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 510px;" id="" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 510px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632352.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="338" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632352.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/others/pennatulacea/veretillidae.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/others/pennatulacea/veretillidae.htm" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #1b8be0; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Flowery sea pen</a></dd></dl>
</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 510px;" id="" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 510px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632353.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="338" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632353.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Painted sand star (<em style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/sandpainted.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/sandpainted.htm" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Astropecten sp.</a></em>)</dd></dl>
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Other than the painted sand star, I came across many biscuit sea stars (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/goniodiscaster.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/goniodiscaster.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Goniodiscaster scaber</a></em>), in various sizes, and one large knobbly sea star (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/protoreaster.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/protoreaster.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Protoreaster nodosus</a></em>).</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 510px;" id="" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 510px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" class="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632357.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="333" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632357.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Biscuit sea star</dd></dl>
</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 510px;" id="" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 510px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" class="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632381.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="335" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632381.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Knobbly sea star, seen near the CJ beacon.</dd></dl>
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I came across a few different crabs with various behaviours.</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 510px;" id="" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 510px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632354.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="336" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632354.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Maroon stone crab (<em style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/menippidae/rumphii.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/menippidae/rumphii.htm" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Menippe rumphii</a></em>)</dd></dl>
</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 510px;" id="" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 510px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632351.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="338" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632351.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">This swimming crab was using is first set of legs to do something in its mouth. I dare not disturb it.</dd></dl>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 511px;" id="" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 511px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632379.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="337" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632379.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">A moulted flower crab. It's exoskeleton has already harden, so it has probably been staying with is old exoskeleton for quite some time.</dd></dl>
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We encountered a few octopuses during our survey.</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 510px;" id="" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 510px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632367.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="338" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632367.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Octopus</dd></dl>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 510px;" id="" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 510px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632368.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="338" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632368.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Then it decided to change colour to meet me.</dd></dl>
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I noticed that the snapping shrimp at Chek Jawa have an interesting behaviour. Some of the shrimps like to stay outside of their burrow for some time before returning into their burrow and they are usually seen at quite a distance from their burrows.</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 510px;" id="" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 510px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" class="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632362.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="333" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632362.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Snapping shrimp</dd></dl>
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The <a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/shrimp/lysmata.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/shrimp/lysmata.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">cleaner shrimp</a> looks like a cooked shrimp.</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 510px;" id="" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 510px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" class="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632371.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="335" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632371.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Cleaner shrimp</dd></dl>
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Along the water edge, as I was heading to the rubble area at the beacon, I came across a hunting estuarine moray eel (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/muraenidae/tile.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/muraenidae/tile.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Gymnothorax tile</a></em>) and a juvenile carpet eel-blenny (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/pseudochromidae/subducens.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/pseudochromidae/subducens.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Congrogadus subducens</a></em>).</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632360.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="338" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632360.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Estuarine moray eel</dd></dl>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632383.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="338" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632383.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Carpet eel-blenny</dd></dl>
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There are scattered circles of tape seagrass (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/enhalus.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/enhalus.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Enhalus acoroides</a></em>) and most of them had long grass blades.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632380.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="338" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632380.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Tape seagrass with long grass blades</dd></dl>
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Near the CJ beacon, I spotted this squirmy animal that looks like a worm, on a dry exposed sand patch.</div>
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<img alt="" class="aligncenter" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632385.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="336" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632385.jpg" style="border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); clear: both; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" width="500" /></div>
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Being very careful and knowing that marine worm can cause a great amount of pain, I took a piece of coral rubble and place the animal in a pool of water. Tada! It's actually a <a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/worm/polychaeta/reef.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/worm/polychaeta/reef.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">reef bristleworm</a>. It disappeared among the rubble shortly after I took this shot.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632387.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="338" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632387.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Reef bristleworm</dd></dl>
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As the sun rose and the marine animals starts to disappear, Kok Sheng came across this large spotted orange hermit crab (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/anomura/hermit/orangespot.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/anomura/hermit/orangespot.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Dardanus megistos</a></em>).</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632410.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="336" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632410.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Spotted orange hermit crab</dd></dl>
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Chay Hoon found the first crinoid for this trip and she got really excited on a possibly juvenile barramudi cod (aka polka dot grouper). The fish could be an escapee from a fish farm.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632413.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="338" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632413.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Feather star (crinoid)</dd></dl>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632415.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="338" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632415.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">The cirrus at the base of the crinoid</dd></dl>
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Unfortunately, the barramudi cod was very shy and I could only take a poor image of its head.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632416.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" height="500" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160632416.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="339" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Juvenile barramudi cod</dd></dl>
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Right after this shot, we made a quick walk out of the shore as the storm was approaching fast from Pasir Ris. Thank goodness that I looked up and saw the massive storm that has already hit mainland and alerted the whole team. We reached Chek Jawa's information kiosk before the strong wind and rain came. Fearing of fallen trees along the way out, we decided to stay and wait till the storm passed. Unfortunately, we did encounter a fallen tree on our way out of Chek Jawa and the fallen tree fell across the road, blocking our way to Ubin town. We had to make a detour to get back safely.</div>
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Once again, thanks to NPark for the permission to survey Chek Jawa. Tomorrow, we are off to Chek Jawa's neighbour, Pulau Sekudu (Frog Island).</div>
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<span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: underline;"><strong style="font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Posts by others:</strong></span><br style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;" />Chay Hoon, on her <a data-mce-href="https://www.facebook.com/ilmare77/media_set?set=a.10153437829118713.1073741963.619308712&type=3" href="https://www.facebook.com/ilmare77/media_set?set=a.10153437829118713.1073741963.619308712&type=3" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">FB</a>.<br style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;" />Ria - <a data-mce-href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2015/07/soft-coral-garden-at-chek-jawa.html#.VZfU3O2qqko" href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2015/07/soft-coral-garden-at-chek-jawa.html#.VZfU3O2qqko" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Soft coral garden at Chek Jawa</a><br style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;" />Jonathan, on his <a data-mce-href="https://www.facebook.com/Geppenguin/media_set?set=a.10153394688453119.1073741864.696593118&type=3&pnref=story" href="https://www.facebook.com/Geppenguin/media_set?set=a.10153394688453119.1073741864.696593118&type=3&pnref=story" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">FB</a>.</div>
pei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687181727224230999.post-27252056774689742892015-06-18T16:22:00.002+08:002015-06-18T16:25:40.710+08:00Seagrassy surprise at Tanah Merah<div style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px; margin-bottom: 0.825em;">
Between Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal (TMFT) and the National Service Resort & Country Club (NSRCC) Sea Sports Centre, there is a pretty much sheltered corner which is hardly explored. Many cyclists and joggers use the available park connector running along the East Coast Park and the Changi Coast Road canal to get from East Coast Park to Changi Village. However, none seemed to take notice of what this protected area has to offer in terms of marine biodiversity.</div>
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This morning, a small team, lead by Kok Sheng, explored this stretch of shore.<img alt="" class="wp-more-tag mce-wp-more" data-mce-placeholder="1" data-mce-resize="false" data-mce-src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" data-wp-more="more" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-image: url(https://wordpress.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/skins/wordpress/images/more.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: repeat-y; background-size: initial; border-radius: 0px; border: 0px; box-shadow: none; cursor: default; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 16px; line-height: 1.7; margin: 15px auto 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 718.078125px;" title="Read more..." />One of the scariest task is to cross the wide canal with fast flowing water at low tide. I made a partial attempt and turned back, noting with regret much later that the other side of the canal seems more fun.
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Upon reaching the sandy shore, we started exploring the the water edge while waiting for the tide to recede. We were quite excited to see seagrass patches but as the tide receded to its lowest for the morning, we realised how wide and diverse the seagrass area was. We recorded 5 different species of seagrasses: Spoon seagrass (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/ovalis.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/ovalis.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Halophila ovalis</a></em>), Needle seagrass (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/halodule.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/halodule.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Halodule univervis</a></em>), Noodle seagrass (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/syringodium.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/syringodium.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Syringodium isoetifolium</a></em>), Sickle seagrass (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/thalassia.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/thalassia.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Thalassia hemprichii</a></em>) and a small Tape seagrass (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/enhalus.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/enhalus.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Enhalus acoroides</a></em>).</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460176.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460176.jpg" height="338" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">A small clump of Tape seagrass. Hope more will grow from it.</dd></dl>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460175.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460175.jpg" height="338" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Thicker blade of the Needle seagrass</dd></dl>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460174.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460174.jpg" height="339" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Noodle seagrass</dd></dl>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460177.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460177.jpg" height="338" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Sickle seagrass</dd></dl>
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With a thick seagrass meadow, there are plenty of hidden gems hiding among the seagrass blades.<br />
One of the most intriguing observation was the presence of numerous tiny sea cucumbers.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460178.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460178.jpg" height="336" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Tiny sea cucumber 1</dd></dl>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460185.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460185.jpg" height="336" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Another tiny sea cucumber</dd></dl>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460193.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460193.jpg" height="338" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">More tiny sea cucumbers. Notice that they can be found inside such small marine trash bags found on the shore.</dd></dl>
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There were a few haddon's carpet anemone (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/actiniaria/haddoni.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/actiniaria/haddoni.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Stichodactyla haddoni</a></em>), which I came across, and one of them had a of five-spot anemone shrimp (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/shrimp/brevicarpalis.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/shrimp/brevicarpalis.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Periclimenes brevicarpalis</a></em>) couple.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460183.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460183.jpg" height="338" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Haddon's carpet anemone, with a female five-spot anemone shrimp at the top right.</dd></dl>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460184.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460184.jpg" height="336" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Female five-spot anemone shrimp</dd></dl>
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Similar to the seagrass patch next to Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, this seagrass patch is full of the tiny dubious nerite snails (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/neritidae/oualaniensis.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/neritidae/oualaniensis.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Clithon oualaniensis</a></em>). These pretty tiny snails comes in various shell design and it is impossible to find two with the exact same design. They are hanging out in any possible locations on the shore.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460165.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460165.jpg" height="336" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">On seaweed</dd></dl>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460191.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460191.jpg" height="338" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">On broken crab pincer</dd></dl>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460196.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460196.jpg" height="336" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Hitchhiking on a hermit crab</dd></dl>
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Hiding among the seagrass blades also was a crab eating another crab.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460186.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460186.jpg" height="338" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Crab eating another crab</dd></dl>
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The greatest find on this trip would have to be this suspicious looking shell as I wade deeper in the rather murky waters. it turned out to be a Baler volute (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/volutidae/melo.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/volutidae/melo.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Melo melo</a></em>)!</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460180.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460180.jpg" height="338" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Melo melo, sumberged</dd></dl>
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This is one of the rare times that I actually saw a live Baler volute. I'm really lucky today. Kok Sheng told me that this is possibly the first record of this snail along the East Coast, outside of Changi area. This snail is highly hunted for food by shore goers :(</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460181.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460181.jpg" height="338" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Underside of the snail</dd></dl>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 511px;" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 511px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460182.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460182.jpg" height="338" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Overview of the Baler volute</dd></dl>
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On a floating marker nearby, a crab without pincer clings onto the base tightly. It looks like a stone crab. The poor crab has some stalk barnacles attached to it's legs.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460189.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460189.jpg" height="338" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Crab without both pincers</dd></dl>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460190.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460190.jpg" height="338" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Goose barnacle?</dd></dl>
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On the sandier high shore, I came across a common sea star (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/archaster.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/archaster.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Archaster typicus</a></em>).</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460166.jpg" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460166.jpg" height="338" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Common sea star</dd></dl>
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Also critters like shrimp, small goby and a <a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/leucosiidae/leucosiidae.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/leucosiidae/leucosiidae.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">pebble crab</a>.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460168.jpg" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460168.jpg" height="336" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Shrimp</dd></dl>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 511px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460169.jpg" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460169.jpg" height="336" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Looks like a whip coral goby</dd></dl>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 511px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460172.jpg" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460172.jpg" height="336" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Pebble crab</dd></dl>
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Lastly, how can I forget the numerous hermit crabs on this shore, some with interesting shells.</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 511px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460194.jpg" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460194.jpg" height="336" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Hermit crab in a button snail shell</dd></dl>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img class="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460200.jpg" data-mce-style="border: 10px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460200.jpg" height="333" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Hermit crab in a conical shell</dd></dl>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 511px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460201.jpg" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460201.jpg" height="338" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Hermit crab in conical shell, underside</dd></dl>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 511px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460199.jpg" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160460199.jpg" height="338" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">This orange-striped hermit crab has chosen to go against the norm and used a land snail shell as its home.</dd></dl>
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Till the next time I am back!</div>
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<span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: underline;"><strong style="font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Posts by others:</strong></span><br />
Kok Sheng - <a data-mce-href="https://www.facebook.com/lohkoksheng/media_set?set=a.10153416967613158.1073741882.547198157&type=3" href="https://www.facebook.com/lohkoksheng/media_set?set=a.10153416967613158.1073741882.547198157&type=3" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">FB</a> and blog<br />
Ria Tan - <a data-mce-href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2015/06/seagrasses-taking-over-sandy-artificial.html#.VYJis1Wqqko" href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2015/06/seagrasses-taking-over-sandy-artificial.html#.VYJis1Wqqko" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Seagrasses taking over sandy artificial shores</a></div>
pei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687181727224230999.post-67603877894125867852015-06-17T17:53:00.000+08:002015-06-17T17:53:01.518+08:00The Coral Garden of East Coast<div style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.7999992370605px; margin-bottom: 0.825em;">
Tucked in the far end of the recreational beach at East Coast Park, is a hidden garden. At one of the lowest spring tide of the year the corals quietly peered through the crushing waves along the row of rock bunds, probably placed for a particular reason or use, as the Sun gets ready to rise.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449454.jpg" height="338" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449454.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none rgb(238, 238, 238); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">The slowly exposed plate coral against the choppy waves.</dd></dl>
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Next to a rock wall, boulders of favid corals began to expose themselves too.</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 510px;" id="" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 510px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449440.jpg" height="338" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449440.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none rgb(238, 238, 238); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Favid coral</dd></dl>
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However, the disk-shaped (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralhard/dendrophylliidae/turbinaria.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralhard/dendrophylliidae/turbinaria.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Turbinaria sp.</a></em>) and plate-like (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralhard/acroporidae/monplate.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralhard/acroporidae/monplate.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Montipora sp.</a></em>) corals appears to be more common along this area.</div>
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<img alt="" class="aligncenter" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449446.jpg" height="338" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449446.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); clear: both; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" width="500" /></div>
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<img alt="" class="aligncenter" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449442.jpg" height="339" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449442.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); clear: both; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" width="500" /></div>
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<img alt="" class="aligncenter" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449444.jpg" height="336" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449444.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); clear: both; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" width="500" /></div>
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<img alt="" class="aligncenter" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449445.jpg" height="338" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449445.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); clear: both; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 100%; padding: 6px;" width="500" /></div>
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Other than the corals, which surprised both Kok Sheng and Ria when they first did this shore very recently, there were also patches of seagrass such as the Spoon seagrass (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/ovalis.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/ovalis.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Halophila ovalis</a></em>) and the Tape seagrass (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/enhalus.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/enhalus.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Enhalus acoroides</a></em>).</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 510px;" id="" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 510px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449455.jpg" height="338" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449455.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none rgb(238, 238, 238); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Long blades of the Tape seagrass</dd></dl>
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Ria found small patches of the Noodle seagrass (<a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/syringodium.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/syringodium.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Syringodium isoetifolium</a>), which are also long, further west of the shore, where Kok Sheng went to explore and found many lovely critters playing among the seagrass.</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 510px;" id="" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 510px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" class="" data-mce-src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/11214161_10152955278388595_1331551171245164374_n.jpg?oh=f3119f3471b4464f3e4633aa37dd5f52&oe=55F7FCAB" height="361" src="https://scontent-sin1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/11214161_10152955278388595_1331551171245164374_n.jpg?oh=f3119f3471b4464f3e4633aa37dd5f52&oe=55F7FCAB" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none rgb(238, 238, 238); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Image from <a data-mce-href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2015/06/rare-plants-at-reefy-east-coast-park.html#.VYE0mFWqqko" href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2015/06/rare-plants-at-reefy-east-coast-park.html#.VYE0mFWqqko" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #1b8be0; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Ria Tan</a></dd></dl>
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I wasn't play much attention to critters as I too focused on walking along the slippery rocks and quite a number of animals took advantage of the murky water to avoid being seen or photographed. I did stop at some points along the way and saw a few critters, including my first sighting of the <a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/shrimp/saron.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/shrimp/saron.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">saron shrimp</a> and I saw at 4 them at one spot.</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 511px;" id="" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 511px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449450.jpg" height="337" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449450.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none rgb(238, 238, 238); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Saron shrimp</dd></dl>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 510px;" id="" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 510px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449448.jpg" height="335" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449448.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none rgb(238, 238, 238); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Another saron shrimp</dd></dl>
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I came across one red egg crab (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/xanthidae/integerrimus.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/xanthidae/integerrimus.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Atergatis intergerrimus</a></em>) and a few swimming crabs.</div>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 511px;" id="" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 511px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" class="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449443.jpg" height="336" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449443.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none rgb(238, 238, 238); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="501" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Red egg crab</dd></dl>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 510px;" id="" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 510px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449453.jpg" height="336" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449453.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none rgb(238, 238, 238); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Swimming crab, busy eating</dd></dl>
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There were quite a number of the large arabian cowrie (<em style="font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/cypraeidae/arabica.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/cypraeidae/arabica.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Mauritia arabica</a></em>) on the rocky areas.</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449449.jpg" height="336" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449449.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none rgb(238, 238, 238); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Arabian cowrie, overview</dd></dl>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 510px;" id="" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 510px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449452.jpg" height="336" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449452.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none rgb(238, 238, 238); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Arabian cowrie, underside</dd></dl>
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On the high shore, a horn-eyed ghost crab (<a data-mce-href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/ocypodoidea/ceratophthalmus.htm" href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/ocypodoidea/ceratophthalmus.htm" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Ocypode ceratophthalmus</a>) thinks that I didn't see it. The "horns" on its eyes have just started growing so the "horn-eyed" is not very obvious. When disturbed, the ghost crab speeds off on the sand and buries itself quickly. They are stealth moving animals hence the term "ghost".</div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449457.jpg" height="338" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449457.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none rgb(238, 238, 238); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Half buried horn-eyes ghost crab</dd></dl>
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 510px;" id="" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; background: rgb(238, 238, 238); border: none; clear: both; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0.4em auto 1.625em; max-width: 96%; padding: 9px; text-align: center; width: 510px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.7;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449456.jpg" height="336" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/160449456.jpg" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border: 0px none rgb(238, 238, 238); display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: 1.7; margin: 5px auto 0px !important; max-width: 98%; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif !important; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em !important; padding: 0px 0px 5px 40px; position: relative; text-align: left;">Horn-eyed ghost crab</dd></dl>
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It was a tiring first pre-dawn trip of the year for me with many rock balancing acts. More eastern coral explorations tomorrow morning. Kok Sheng has found more critters in his blog.</div>
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<span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: underline;"><strong style="font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7;">Posts by others:</strong></span><br style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;" />Kok Sheng - <a data-mce-href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.sg/2015/06/rich-reefs-and-seagrasses-of-east-coast.html" href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.sg/2015/06/rich-reefs-and-seagrasses-of-east-coast.html" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Rich reefs and seagrasses of East Coast shore</a><br style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7;" />Ria Tan - <a data-mce-href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2015/06/rare-plants-at-reefy-east-coast-park.html" href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2015/06/rare-plants-at-reefy-east-coast-park.html" style="color: #1b8be0; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7; text-decoration: none;">Rare plants at reefy East Coast Park</a></div>
pei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687181727224230999.post-65671944120508240432015-02-21T00:21:00.000+08:002015-02-22T14:47:43.994+08:00Shrimp day at Little Sisters' IslandThere are two Sister's Islands in Singapore - Big Sister's and Little Sister's. These two islands are now part of the National Parks Board's (Singapore) Marine Park plan, the Sister's Islands Marine Park. At the moment, visitors are allowed on these islands till further notice.<br />
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On the second day of the lunar new year, the intertidal team visited the Little Sister's Island. Our last visit was actually three years ago on June 2012. I remembered that was my second trip with the intertidal team and my first visit to Little Sister's Island. You can read about my adventure <a href="http://peiyansesarma.blogspot.sg/2012/05/great-morning-at-pulau-subar-darat.html">here</a>.</div>
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In today's trip, I saw many shrimp and shrimp-like animals. This shrimp-like animals was the most interesting find for this trip. I am not sure what it is.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210242.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shimp-like animal</td></tr>
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In fact, I found plenty of them in a shallow pool near the sea wall. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210236.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many of them.</td></tr>
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Initially, I thought they were juvenile snapping shrimps as I did hear some snapping going on when I was observing them. However, after reviewing my photos, the first image seems to reveal that this shrimp-like animal has some kind of pincer similar to mantis shrimp.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210239.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up on a group of them</td></tr>
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Apart from these unknown "shrimps", there were other shrimps hanging out in the shallow pool. Some of the are quite difficult to spot as they are clear and blend in very well with the sandy environment.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210237.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shrimp 1 [Update: <i>Lysmata</i> sp.]</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210238.jpgg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210238.jpgg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shrimp 2</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210241.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shrimp 3</td></tr>
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Another type of shrimp that I saw was the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/shrimp/brevicarpalis.htm">five-spot anemone shrimp</a> (<i>Periclimenes brevicarpalis</i>), commonly seen on the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/actiniaria/haddoni.htm">haddon's carpet anemone</a> (<i>Stichodactyla haddoni</i>). The ones I saw on this trip were females.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210229.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Five-spot anemone shrimp 1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210248.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Five-spot anemone shrimp 2</td></tr>
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Well, the Little Sister's Island is all about shrimps. There are other interesting marine animals to look at too, like this <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/portunidae/pelagicus.htm">flower crab </a>(<i>Portunus pelagicus</i>) who does look too happy when I got too near it.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210231.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flower crab raising its pincers at me</td></tr>
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I also came across two <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/haemulidae/gibbosus.htm">brown sweetlips</a> (<i>Plectorhinchus gibbosus</i>) of different sizes. These sweetlips are winners at staying still and they looked like a dead leave against the rocks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210232.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown sweetlip 1, small size</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210235.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown sweetlip 2, about 1.5 times bigger than the previous sweetlip</td></tr>
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As the tide goes out, many of the fish were frantically swimming about as I wade through the shin deep water. One silly <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/gobiidae/stethophthalmus.htm">head-stripe lagoon-goby</a> (<i>Amblygobius stethophthalmus</i>) leaped in the wrong direction and landed itself on a dry sand mount. Fortunately, it flicked itself into a shallow pool shortly after I took this photo.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210233.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Head-stripe lagoon-goby</td></tr>
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Nearby, a cool <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/worm/polycladida/uniarborensis.htm">dawn flatworm</a> (<i>Pseudobiceros uniarborensis</i>) was swimming near the water surface.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210246.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swimming dawn flatworm</td></tr>
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Sometimes it takes a break from swimming and you can see its underside.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210245.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Underside of the dawn flatworm</td></tr>
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Somewhere in the middle of the lagoon, Kok Sheng found a <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/notabilis.htm">remarkable sea cucumber </a>(<i>Holothuria notabilis</i>).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210247.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remarkable sea cucumber</td></tr>
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Even though Little Sister's Island is smaller as compared to Big Sister's Island, I did not have much time exploring different part of this island as I was doing some aerial footage of this island.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210269.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Sisters from above</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210264.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jetty of Little Sister's</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210262.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With jetties facing each other, this is Big Sister's on the opposite</td></tr>
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As the sun began to set, we had beautiful light in the sky.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210257.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As the sun goes down</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210259.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The golden hour</td></tr>
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Before I leave the lagoon, I spotted a <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/anomura/hermit/coenobita.htm">land hermit crab</a> (<i>Coenobita sp.</i>) on the high shore.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210250.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Land hermit carb</td></tr>
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And I finally got images of the <a href="https://taxo4254.wikispaces.com/Cicindela+aurulenta">golden-spotted tiger beetle</a> (<i>Cicindela aurulenta</i>). These beetles are super fast during the day and they will fly away when they sense your approach. At night, motions slows much greatly and you can take pictures of them with much ease.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210255.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golen-spotted tiger beetle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159210254.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view of the tiger beetle</td></tr>
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When will my next trip to Little Sister's Island be?</div>
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<b><u>Post by others:</u></b></div>
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Kok Sheng - <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.sg/2015/02/cny-day-2-little-sisters-island.html">CNY Day 2: Little Sister's Island</a></div>
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Ria - <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2015/02/the-big-picture-at-little-sisters.html#.VOiwcrCUekU">The big picture at Little Sister's Island</a></div>
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pei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687181727224230999.post-91474914596538145482015-02-20T15:23:00.004+08:002015-02-22T00:43:54.673+08:00Celebrating the year of the sheep at Cyrene ReefIt's the first day of the Lunar New Year and this year is the year of the sheep. It is also another round of intertidal exploring around Singapore.<br />
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Before I share about my evening journey on this first day, "Shaun the Sheep", a <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/slugs/sacoglossa/costasiella.htm"><i>Costasiella</i> sp. slug</a> from Cyrene Reef would like to wish all readers a Happy Lunar New Year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159202483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159202483.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Costasiella</i> sp. slug</td></tr>
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Cyrene Reef is a submerged reef locating in the middle of an industrial triangle in the south of Singapore. The industrial triangle consists of, in clockwise order, Pasir Panjang Port, Bukom Island and Jurong Island.<br />
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Despite being located in the industrial triangle, Cyrene Reef has plenty of interesting marine animals to see.</div>
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I have been to Cyrene many times but each time I visit Cyrene, I tend to go to the same spot to look around. This time, I decided to check out the southwestern part of Cyrene, where we often sight the black-tipped reef sharks, in hoping to see one. All the way to the southwestern most tip of Cyrene, I did not encounter any sharks but two <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/dasyatidae/lymma.htm">blue-spotted fantail rays</a> scurried away from me while I was walking. Many times, we get frightened by marine animals that sting or bite, but in today's trip I was frightened by a pair of <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/monacanthidae/tomentosus.htm">seagrass filefish</a>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201935.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the few filefish I encountered. This filefish is not afraid of me.</td></tr>
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The sandbar at Cyrene is rapidly changing. Once a little hill of Cyrene, it has now become rather flat. On the sandbar, there are many star imprints on the sand. These are not marks made by fallen cosmic stars but done by marine stars - the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/archaster.htm">common sea stars </a>(<i>Archaster typicus</i>). </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201898.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common sea star</td></tr>
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Nearby, in a shallow pool of water, I found a juvenile common sea star. It is so cute.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201899.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile common sea star</td></tr>
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Ria showed me the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/olividae/miniacea.htm">orange-mouth olive snail</a> (<i>Oliva miniacea</i>), which is only seen on Cyrene, and I witness how fast this burrowing snail is.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201900.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange-mouth olive snail, overview</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201901.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange-mouth olive snail, underside</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201902.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olive snail starting to burrow</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201903.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spire of olive snail</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201906.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Siphonal angle of olive snail, you can see its eyes and siphon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201911.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burrowing olive snail with it's siphon out</td></tr>
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Continuing my southwest walk, I came across different types of hard and soft coral colonies. I am not very good with corals identification so I will try my best.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201913.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Turbinaria</i> sp. 1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201914.jpgg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201914.jpgg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unknown 1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201928.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unknown 2</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201925.jpgg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201925.jpgg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Favid coral 1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201929.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Turbinaria</i><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> sp. 2</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201930.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brain coral?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201934.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralhard/pocilloporidae/pocillopora.htm">Cauliflower corals</a>, <i>Pocillopora</i> sp.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201931.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralsoft/letomelette.htm">Leathery soft coral</a>, <i>Sacrophyton</i> sp.</td></tr>
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There was also a colony of the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/others/gorgonacea/leathery.htm">leathery sea fan</a>. They look like some art sculpture in the sea, supporting by wires.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201919.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leathery sea fan</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201920.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long stem with visible polyps</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201924.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Central wire-like structure</td></tr>
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Along the way, I came across one <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/slugs/nudibranchia/funebris.htm">polka-dot nudibranch</a> (Jorunna funebris) and two <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/slugs/sacoglossa/ornata.htm">ornate leaf slug</a> (Elysia ornata).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201916.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Polka-dot nudibranch</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201937.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ornate leaf slug</td></tr>
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There were a few <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/xanthidae/integerrimus.htm">red egg crabs</a> (<i>Atergatis integerrimus</i>) but many of them are very shy.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201927.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faded red egg crab</td></tr>
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Looks like the usual hangout place is much more exciting than this coral area. This is where the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/protoreaster.htm">knobbly sea stars</a> (<i>Protoreaster nodosus</i>) like to hangout.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201939.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Knobbly sea star</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201940.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another knobbly. This looks like it is doing star jumps</td></tr>
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While walking, I saw a rubble flinched. It was a <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/strombidae/lambis.htm">spider conch</a> (<i>Lambis lambis</i>). This poor conch has its shell covered with <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seaweed/chlorophyta/bryopsis.htm">Hairy green seaweed</a> (Bryopsis sp.).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201941.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spider conch with bryopsis seaweed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201942.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spider conch, underside</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201943.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spider conch eyes</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
The most fun marine animal I saw today has to be the strawberry slug (<i>Costasiella</i> sp.).</div>
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For a scale, this is how small the slug is, it is on a broken sand dollar skeleton.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201944.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strawberry slug</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201946.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of the slug</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201952.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top view</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
To increase the challenge, I saw a skeleton shrimp among the bryopsis seaweed.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201918.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skeleton shrimp</td></tr>
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Ria alerted me to a large slug, the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/slugs/notaspidae/pleurobranchus.htm">Forskal's sidegill slug</a> (<i>Pleurobranchus forskalii</i>). The slug comes is a variety of dark colours and pretty patterns, but the one I saw was almost black that I could not find any pattern.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201959.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forskal's sidegill slug</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Another great find by the team was 4 juvenile <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/pentaceraster.htm">pentaceraster sea star</a> (<i>Pentaceraster mammillatus</i>), out of which, I saw two of them. One of them had a red madreporite. It reminds me of the SG50 logo. Alas, none of us saw the adult pentaceraster sea star. It is good to know that there will be future generations at Cyrene. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201954.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pentaceraster sea star 1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201955.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Underside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201956.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of the underside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201962.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pentaceraster sea star 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201963.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Underside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201964.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red madreporite</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Today was the first time I actually saw the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/slugs/nudibranchia/ianthina.htm">blue dragon nudibranch</a> (<i>Pteraeolidia ianthina</i>) in the intertidal region.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201957.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue dragon nudibranch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201958.jpgg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201958.jpgg" height="400" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue dragon nudibranch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Before we ended the trip, Chay Hoon showed me an interesting two tailed slug. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201968.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two tailed slug</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201965.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two tailed slug, it wants to burrow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Jianlin picked up a box crab.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201969.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Box crab, front view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201970.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Underside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201980.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pincers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/159201981.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carapace</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It was a great evening with my shore friends out at Cyrene Reef on the first day of Lunar New Year.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u>Post by others:</u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Kok Sheng - <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.sg/2015/02/cny-day-1-cyrene-reef.html">CNY Day 1: Cyrene Reef</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Ria Tan - <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2015/02/tiny-tails-at-cyrene.html#more">Tiny tails at Cyrene</a></div>
</div>
pei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687181727224230999.post-14004112910057199062015-02-19T23:30:00.000+08:002015-02-20T13:21:02.881+08:00Happy Lunar New Year 2015Happy Lunar New Year from "Shaun the Sheep", <i>Costasiella</i> sp. slug and Conus aspartinus, the insulin pump.
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://peiyansesarma.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/slug-cny.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="slug CNY" class="wp-image-132" height="400" src="https://peiyansesarma.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/slug-cny.jpg" style="border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255);" width="269" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Costasiella sp. slug</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://peiyansesarma.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/conus-cny-small.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Conus CNY small" class="wp-image-133" height="269" src="https://peiyansesarma.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/conus-cny-small.jpg?w=660" style="border: 10px solid rgb(255, 255, 255);" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Conus aspartinus, the insulin pump</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
pei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687181727224230999.post-25276585433630459852014-12-24T15:10:00.000+08:002014-12-25T16:46:55.718+08:00First visit to Tuas MerawangYesterday evening, a group of shore explorers went to check out the shore at Tuas.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqpnaTF5ak930K6448dOJICbbYBYeMEGbKW1zHamSJul1rfsSKvhYAdZrsx2qVa0dU4QvkSNM0rbNnNO7RQyzekUkT_ec-nyP9wG-oEn6xy30s9_rKoKm-m0iItV6MnE6B9KIEaYsZH4R/s1600/2014-12-23+17.10.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqpnaTF5ak930K6448dOJICbbYBYeMEGbKW1zHamSJul1rfsSKvhYAdZrsx2qVa0dU4QvkSNM0rbNnNO7RQyzekUkT_ec-nyP9wG-oEn6xy30s9_rKoKm-m0iItV6MnE6B9KIEaYsZH4R/s1600/2014-12-23+17.10.39.jpg" height="115" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panoramic view of the shore at Tuas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We are very grateful for the kind staff at MSD Pharma (Singapore) Pte Ltd, who helped to make this trip possible.<br />
<a name='more'></a>While this shore is unfamiliar to a few of us, it is my first time exploring this shore. From the shore, we could see Merawang beacon (green beacon) clearing and also the lighthouse at Pulau Merabong, an uninhabited island located in Johor just off the western side of the Malaysia-Singapore border. To the other direction, we could see Raffles Marina and the Tuas Second Link checkpoint.<br />
<br />
So what interesting critters did I manage to find on the shore?<br />
<br />
For a start, there is a large spread of <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/ovalis.htm">spoon seagrass</a> (<i>Halophila ovalis</i>) and the MSD staff have been constantly helping <a href="http://teamseagrass.blogspot.sg/">TeamSeagrass</a> with seagrass monitoring at this site. Unfortunately, I did not take any photos of the spoon seagrass patch on this shore. Sigh...<br />
<br />
There were different types of crabs that I saw on the shore and at the small mangrove patch.<br />
The first crab that I saw seems to be a <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/oziidae/guttatus.htm">spotted-belly forceps crab</a> (<i>Ozius guttatus</i>). According to the wild factsheets, this is a large shy crab and is sometimes seen on our Southern shores near rocky shores, sea walls and among coral rubble and near living reefs. Distinctive features of the crab includes dark eyes with white spots and pale orange underside with lots of tiny dark spots on its belly.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627695.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted-belly forceps crab, spotted sitting quietly among the spoon seagrass.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627696.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice the white spots on its eyes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627698.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Underside of the crab.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627700.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the crab from the back</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A similar looking crab is the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/menippidae/hardwickii.htm">stone crab</a> (<i>Myomenippe hardwickii</i>) but this crab has green eyes, often circled with red.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627701.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stone crab</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Near the mangrove patch, there are two different types of fiddler crabs and it takes a lot of patients to see them coming out of their burrows. Near the mangrove trees are the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/ocypodoidea/vocans.htm">orange fiddler crabs</a> (<i>Uca vocans</i>).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627713.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange fiddler crab, male.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627709.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny orange fiddler crab, female, front.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627714.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny orange fiddler crab, female, back.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Further up the mangrove trees, on the sandy area, are the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/ocypodoidea/annulipes.htm">porcelain fiddler crabs</a> (<i>Uca annulipes</i>). Compared to the orange fiddler crabs, the male porcelain fiddler crabs have a smoother enlarged pincer.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627730.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Porcelain fiddler crab, male.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There is also an interesting looking crab, which I am unsure of its identity.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627731.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interesting crab.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At the water's edge near the mangrove, a group of <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/gobiidae/chrysospilos.htm">gold-spotted mudskippers </a>(<i>Periophthalmus chrysospilos</i>) are on high alert of any danger the approaching human is to them. However, a patient wait allows you to slowly get closer to them.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627703.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gold-spotted mudskippers, falling in.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627705.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perching on a rock.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627707.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gold spots.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627708.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In a line.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The small pools too have interesting animals such as the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/pegasidae/volitans.htm">slender sea moth</a> (<i>Pegasus volitans</i>) and the scavenging whelks.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627717.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slender sea moth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627729.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whelk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The tide slowly went down but it was not low enough for us to get to the Merawang beacon, as tried by some brave souls and end up semi-snorkelling.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEO-dfBHTORFCRYhA7XpgQqqzHU0K4oT9FquC4oLUut-nzIVW9zNzIyOxpyQObI6TQHZuu2zLhhoBSKKo1GJ3micRTxFTYbqCBUZSu7JcACva05GZq6IpHYs_nSdJGu0q2TSEE74v65Hl8/s1600/2014-12-23+18.29.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEO-dfBHTORFCRYhA7XpgQqqzHU0K4oT9FquC4oLUut-nzIVW9zNzIyOxpyQObI6TQHZuu2zLhhoBSKKo1GJ3micRTxFTYbqCBUZSu7JcACva05GZq6IpHYs_nSdJGu0q2TSEE74v65Hl8/s1600/2014-12-23+18.29.31.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking out how deep they can go.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On the sandy area, Kok Sheng found a few <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/cryptasterina.htm">cryptic sea stars</a> (<i>Cryptasterina sp.</i>).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627732.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cryptic sea star, overview.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627735.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cryptic sea star, underside.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Along the sandbar towards the beacon, there were many <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/actiniaria/haddoni.htm">haddon's carpet anemone</a> (<i>Stichodactyla haddoni</i>), most of them were in shallow swishing waters, making it difficult to photograph.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627738.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haddon't carpet anemone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The sandbar also had some <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seaweed/chlorophyta/avrerecta.htm">solitary fan green seaweed</a> with the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/slugs/sacoglossa/costasiella.htm">strawberry slug</a> (<i>Costasiella sp.</i>) on them. This slug is super tiny and it takes great patients to get them in focus to photograph. From the front view, it looks like Shaun the Sheep is a well liked subject for underwater photography by many divers.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627739.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strawberry slug, look at how tiny it is.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/158627742.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front view, the head looks like Shaun the Sheep.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cartoonsimages.com/sites/default/files/field/image/shaun-the-sheep-20080716030121776-2478186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://cartoonsimages.com/sites/default/files/field/image/shaun-the-sheep-20080716030121776-2478186.jpg" height="257" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shaun the Sheep</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I had a great time checking out this shore and look forward to our next trip back. Hopefully next time, we will be able to get to the beacon.pei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687181727224230999.post-1517521696071971242014-06-15T21:32:00.000+08:002014-06-29T21:36:22.522+08:00The Amazing Frog Island, Round 2We are back at Sekudu again for the second survey trip with a difference of two days. This time, I get to see the whole island in daylight as we worked past sunrise. Even a second visit within such a short time span can bring interesting findings such as this <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/ostraciidae/nasus.htm">shortnose boxfish</a> (Rhynchostracion nasus), which is the time time I am seeing it.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120234.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shortnose boxfish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The boxfish has a very tough boxy body. It was so intriguing to feel its boxy body. Having said that, we should not be touching marine animals on the shore as some of them do sting or are poisonous to us.<br />
<a name='more'></a>Continuing from where I left off during my last survey trip here two days ago, I covered the western edge of the island and ending off at the large lagoon southeast of the island. Here is a <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/gismaps/text/sekudu2.htm">GIS map of Pulau Sekudu done by Dr Raju</a>.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAq8BvqIe8fqX04I5YrYKZJKXGQIUwKu8ch-du2tXP3nhCKOM592UzJn9PBmQzMlhqBwrgUiOrD8UZ62lvXWkqNbFTvw89t3WQLVorkHYd7id-TfntCRl16hiLcE1Uynu-0ZhuMC1u3lS/s400/sekudu4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAq8BvqIe8fqX04I5YrYKZJKXGQIUwKu8ch-du2tXP3nhCKOM592UzJn9PBmQzMlhqBwrgUiOrD8UZ62lvXWkqNbFTvw89t3WQLVorkHYd7id-TfntCRl16hiLcE1Uynu-0ZhuMC1u3lS/s400/sekudu4.jpg" height="278" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GIS map of Pulau Sekudu</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The first animal I encountered on today's trip was a few <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/slugs/sacoglossa/woolly.htm">woolly leaf slug</a> (possible) and they are really tiny. You can tell how tiny the slugs are by comparing its size to the ribbon <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seaweed/chlorophyta/ulva.htm">sea lettuce</a> seaweeds (<i>Ulva sp.</i>) in the images.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120185.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slug with cute eye spots</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120184.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Underside of the slug</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Previously missed, I saw a number of the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/scabra.htm">garlic bread sea cucumber</a> (<i>Holothuria scabra</i>)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120186.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garlic bread sea cucumber</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Talking about ribbon sea lettuce seaweeds, majority of the island was covered with the seaweed and it is rather interesting to observe the activities that go on in between seaweeds or on the surface. They are plenty of crabs, sea stars, shrimps to even clams.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120187.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/bivalvia/cardiidae/large.htm">Large cockle</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120190.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny crab</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120194.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shrimp</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120192.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/actiniaria/boloceroididae.htm">Swimming anemone</a> (<i>Boloceroides mcmurrichi</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120196.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/worm/polychaeta/sabwhite.htm">White spiral fanworm</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Covered by these seaweeds are the seagrasses growing on the substrate. I came across mainly <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/ovalis.htm">spoon seagrass</a> (<i>Halophila ovalis</i>) and a patch of <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/spinulosa.htm">fern seagrass</a> (<i>Halophila spinulosa</i>)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120203.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fern seagrass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Towards the southern part of the island, I came across one small <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/others/gorgonacea/skinny.htm">skinny sea fan</a>, a few <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/protoreaster.htm">knobbly sea stars</a> (<i>Protoreaster nodosus</i>), an <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/cypraeidae/onyx.htm">onyx cowrie</a> (<i>Erronea onyx</i>) and an octopus.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120208.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea fan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120204.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Onyx cowrie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120205.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cowrie, underside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120206.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Knobbly sea star</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120209.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Octopus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Nearing the lagoon, we needed to be careful where we are stepping as it is a good gathering location for various types of stingrays. I came across one <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/dasyatidae/lymma.htm">blue-spotted fantail ray</a> (<i>Taeniura lymma</i>) and plenty of <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/dasyatidae/walga.htm">mangrove whipray</a> (<i>Himantura walga</i>).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120225.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue-spotted fantail ray</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120226.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fantail ray next to a knobbly sea star</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There was a sudden appearance of mangrove whipray in the lagoon that I had to change my walking path to avoid walking into a secretly hiding-under-the-sand whipray.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120235.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mangrove whipray</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120236.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another mangrove whipray</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Marcus spots a <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/soleidae/pavoninus.htm">peacock sole fish</a> (<i>Pardachirus pavoninus</i>) and started creating jokes about "sole".<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120229.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peacock sole fish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/scorpaenidae/picta.htm">painted scorpionfish</a> (<i>Parascorpaena picta</i>) is rather well camouflaged.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120232.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painted scorpionfish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120233.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view of the scorpionfish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The two <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/echinoidea/urchin/diadema.htm">long-spined black sea urchins</a> (<i>Diadema sp.</i>) are still at their usual location and I had a closer look at them during this low tide.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120237.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-spined black sea urchin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120239.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bulbous anal sac (white round part) and shorter spines?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At the end of the trip, the team checked out what the rest have found. There were many sea slugs and a huge <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/echinoidea/hearturchin/oval.htm">oval heart urchin</a>, the size of my hand.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120244.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huge oval heart urchin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120241.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Possible <i>Facelina sp.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120242.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Underside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120246.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/slugs/nudibranchia/hypink.htm">Hypselodoris infucata</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156120263.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/slugs/nudibranchia/tumulifera.htm">Cow nudibranch</a> (<i>Goniobranchus tumuliferus)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Getting to see the whole island in day light means that I get a chance to document this interesting island through aerial footages. I doubt there has been any aerial records of Pulau Sekudu before this documentation. So it will be a great opportunity to show people how the whole island looks like from the sky.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This survey trip was made possible with permission from National Parks Board (NParks), Ubin, and Chay Hoon for the transport arrangements.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Posts by others on this trip:</u></b><br />
Chay Hoon, on her Facebook.<br />
Kok Sheng - <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.sg/2014/06/coral-rubble-survey-at-pulau-sekudu.html">Coral rubbe survey at Pulau Sekudu</a><br />
Ria - <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2014/06/spongeless-on-sekudu.html#.U7AVCY2Szio">Spongeless on Sekudu</a>pei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687181727224230999.post-50585267589883427742014-06-13T20:04:00.000+08:002014-06-15T15:40:53.165+08:00The Amazing Frog IslandDid you know that Singapore has an island called Frog Island? The Malay name for this island is known as "Pulau Sekudu". In Chinese, it is called 青蛙岛.<br />
<br />
Pulau Sekudu is an small island located just south of Chek Jawa, Pulau Ubin. It is a restricted area and permit from the National Parks Board (NParks) is required to gain access to this island.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m14!1m12!1m3!1d10537.738607310008!2d103.98190437330786!3d1.400391030396886!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!5e1!3m2!1sen!2ssg!4v1402747402006" style="border: 0;" width="600"></iframe>
</div>
<br />
The Google map above show you the location of Pulau Sekudu (south of Pulau Ubin, north of Changi Village).<br />
<a name='more'></a>My first trip to this island was in August 2013 to conduct a similar survey of the marine life on this island. You can read more about the animals I saw during that trip <a href="http://peiyansesarma.blogspot.sg/2013/08/first-step-on-land-of-frog.html">here</a>.<br />
<br />
As the tide recedes, Pulau Sekudu "grows" in size as the intertidal zone is being exposed. However, the tide was not the lowest today, so the island was not fully exposed.<br />
<br />
On a not very good start, my first animal encounter was a dead fish. Could this be a dying fish that floated over from a nearby fish farm?<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100721.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dead fish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As I approached the dead fish, a large fly kept circling near my head till I was a distant away from the fish. How annoying. There was no decomposing smell of the fish though.<br />
<br />
There were many <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/menippidae/hardwickii.htm">stone crabs</a> (<i>Myomenippe hardwickii</i>) out on the shore. Some of them was seen alone while some were in small number hiding in a large rubble.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100722.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stone crab</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If observed carefully, some of these stone crabs are actually female crabs with eggs!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100758.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female stone crab</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The sea lettuce seaweed seems to grow in abundance on Pulau Sekudu. In many areas, they formed a thick carpet over the shore and <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/ovalis.htm">spoon seagrass</a> (<i>Halophila ovalis</i>) meadow. On every spot of the sea lettuce and spoon seagrass mix, there are lots of activities going on. The full moon seemed to activate a bursting activity from the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/shrimp/alpheidae.htm">snapping shrimp</a> of various sizes, many of which are seen out of their burrows.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100723.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small snapping shrimp 1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100728.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small snapping shrimp 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100765.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Average sized snapping shrimp.<br />
Realised that the tail looked like it has a pair of eyes staring at you.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sometimes, you can even find an <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/parthenopidae/common.htm">elbow crab</a> staring at you.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100827.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elbow crab</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/gobiidae/triangularis.htm">brown shore goby</a> (<i>Drombus triangularis</i>) is found at the entrances of many snapping shrimp burrows or near by.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100724.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Borwn shore goby at the entrance of a snapping shrimp burrow, with its shrimp partner right behind it.<br />
[Can you see the snapping shrimp?]</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Also plentiful on the sea lettuce seaweed are small translucent shrimps. They are quite still staying on the seaweeds with little sudden movements so it is quite easy to spot them when you take a closer look at the seaweeds.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100727.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny shrimps</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100726.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another tiny shrimp</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
However, there is one animal that is rather transparent, difficult to spot and retracts quickly. It is the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/actiniaria/spoke.htm">transparent spoke anemone</a>. I was lucky to have spotted this anemone while wanting to check out other animals on the sand. From the photo, you can tell how hard it is to document and see this animal. If not for a pair of brown translucent tentacles, I would not have seen this anemone.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100732.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Transparent spoke anemone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100733.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another angle of the transparent spoke anemone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was actually looking at this <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/sandplain.htm">plain sand star</a> (<i>Astropecten sp.</i>) before noticing the transparent spoke anemone.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100731.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plain sand star</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Many times the shores looks rather boring and dead. That is because many animals stay buried in the sand, but some of them do leave traces of their presence. Can you guess who these two animals are?<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100735.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1. Who am I?<br />[Hint: Snail]</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100763.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2. Who am I?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Let me reveal the answers at the end of the post.<br />
<br />
Other than the plain sand star, I also came across a few <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/asterina.htm">crown sea stars</a> (<i>Aquilonastra coronata</i>) of varying size. Usually, they are spotted under stones or on coral rubble. However, the ones that I saw were wondering on the sea lettuce seaweeds. the rest of the team came across a pretty orange variation of the crown sea star. Sometimes, we call them rock sea stars.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100737.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crown sea star 1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100739.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Underside of crown sea star 1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100818.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crown sea star 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100820.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Underside of crown sea star 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100821.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comparing the cron sea star 1 and 2.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I also came across a few <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/goniodiscaster.htm">biscuit sea stars</a> (<i>Goniodiscaster scaber</i>).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100762.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biscuit sea star</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100829.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small biscuit sea star, near a pink sponge.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Oh... what a pretty <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/crinoidea/crinoidea.htm">feather star</a>. This feather star was found at the side facing Pulau Ubin. It looks very similar to seaweed it was resting on.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100760.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feather star</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I did not take much notice of sea cucumbers today but I did came across one <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/colochirus.htm">thorny sea cucumber</a> (<i>Colochirus quadrangularis</i>) and one <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/orange.htm">orange sea cucumber</a>.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100816.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thorny sea cucumber</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100825.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange sea cucumber</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At the southeastern side of the island, it was a land mine of <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/echinoidea/urchin/salmacis.htm">white sea urchins</a> (<i>Salmacis sp.</i>).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100831.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small white urchin and a tiny painted sand star.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I came across one that is half dead. I could see what is inside the urchin, but unfortunately, my camera does not do justice to what I saw. Checking the sea urchin anatomy online, the pinkish jelly-like substance are the gonads (sex organs of the sea urchin).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100832.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half dead. The spines are still moving.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100833.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside of the sea urchin (from the mouth).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://th05.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/f/2011/332/1/a/sea_urchin_anatomy_by_abiogenisis-d4hk3dv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://th05.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/f/2011/332/1/a/sea_urchin_anatomy_by_abiogenisis-d4hk3dv.jpg" height="236" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea urchin anatomy<br />[Image from <a href="http://abiogenisis.deviantart.com/art/Sea-Urchin-Anatomy-271355683">http://abiogenisis.deviantart.com/art/Sea-Urchin-Anatomy-271355683</a>]</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Other than the active stone crabs, the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/anomura/hermit/stripeorange.htm">orange-striped hermit crabs</a> (<i>Clinanarius infraspinatus</i>) are out busy feeding on the shore. The orange-striped hermit crabs are easy to spot with large jerking movements from a shell and orange pincers sticking out when they are active. Once disturbed, the hermit crab retract into the shell.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100740.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermit crab, feeding on the seaweed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100741.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermit crab retracted. This hermit crab cannot fit its pincers into the shell</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100743.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another hermit crab emerging from its shell.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There were a few of this anemone seen on the island today. I think this is a <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/actiniaria/peachia.htm">peachia anemone</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100766.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peachia anemone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Large cluster of<a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/actiniaria/posy.htm"> posy anemone</a> can be seen at the northern part of the island. They looked like giant <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/others/zoanthid/mutuki.htm">broad zoanthid</a> (<i>Palythoa mutuki</i>) but the thick tentacles of the posy anemone distinguishes them from the zoanthids. The posy anemone looks like a pink sunflower in the sea.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100768.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large group of posy anemones</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100769.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Single posy anemone. Looks like sunflower.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100770.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bulb-tiped tentacles.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Nearby, there was an <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/slugs/sacoglossa/ornata.htm">ornate leaf slug</a> (<i>Elysia ornata</i>). It does not look to be of a good state, with a pair of rather crumpled 'wings' (parapodia).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100771.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ornate leaf slug</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100773.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Damaged pair of 'wings'?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Also, there were a few <a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100773">hairy sea hares</a> (<i>Bursatella leachii</i>), some of them looked stressed and produced purple ink when I transported to a shallow pool.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100776.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hairy sea hare</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100778.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hairy sea hare and the remains of the purple ink.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Next to the hairy sea hares was an <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/slugs/anaspidae/extraordinaria.htm">extraordinary sea hare</a> (<i>Aplysia extraordinaria</i>), I think, moving about slowly on a patch of spoon seagrass. It was in a dark shade of brown and white spots.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100813.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Extraordinary sea hare?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100811.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rhinophores (two 'antennas') and oral tentacles (two frilly flaps). </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I love to photograph the cute looking <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/grapsidae/metopograpsus.htm">purple climber crabs</a> and predawn trips are the best to photograph them as they are less sensitive to human presence. These crabs can be easy found feeding on algae on boulders or jetty pillars.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100834.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple climber crab</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
An interesting find for this trip would be this anemone, which Kok Sheng said that he has seen this before at Cyrene reef. Mei Lin was the one who spotted this pretty anemone.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100835.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unknown anemone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This anemone has yet to be identified. It has a pinkish oral disk with tiny bumps on its tentacles and bumpy body column.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100837.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oral disk.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100838.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tentacles with tiny bumps on the underside.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100839.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bumps on body column.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And to end off the trip, Mei Lin also found a <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/echinoidea/sandollar/peronella.htm">pink sand dollar</a> (<i>Peronella lesueuri</i>).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100840.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink sand dollar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/156100841.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Underside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was a great day on Pulau Sekudu, though rather tiring as it was a long low tide window of 2.5 hours.<br />
<br />
This trip was made possible with permit and permission from the National Parks Board (NParks) and Chay Hoon for the boat arrangements. We will be making another trip here in two days' time.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Posts by others on this trip:</u></b><br />
Chay Hoon on her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ilmare77/media_set?set=a.10152490922068713.1073741893.619308712&type=1">Facebook</a>.<br />
Marcus Ng on his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/marcus.ng.54738/media_set?set=a.10152202740248660.1073741838.624178659&type=1">Facebook</a>.<br />
Kok Sheng - <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.sg/2014/06/sekudu-survey-with-interesting-sightings.html">Sekudu survey with interesting sightings</a><br />
Ria - <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2014/06/spongeless-on-sekudu.html">Spongeless on Sekudu</a>pei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687181727224230999.post-5154594168823374222014-06-02T20:29:00.000+08:002014-06-04T00:25:53.653+08:00Coral bleaching situation at Terumbu Pempang LautRecently, the tropical region is on high alert on coral bleaching as the water temperature in this region is getting warmer.<br />
<br />
Here is the bleaching alert of Singapore and her neighbouring waters from <a href="http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/data/cb/baa/baaenc.gif">Coral Reef Watch</a>.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuA6JYU6B3E03e78jBXTqW34pA62_0ybpaaLDsGQUeVIjuWnhBwbglOZJLGrBAkjibfi24F54RW0uWFTFTkVEQCxvwBIUZn3KA1tYEa6RagqgmU4elp24dL3FB5UgVYz5KOzFb6jK58_4Q/s1600/baaenc.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuA6JYU6B3E03e78jBXTqW34pA62_0ybpaaLDsGQUeVIjuWnhBwbglOZJLGrBAkjibfi24F54RW0uWFTFTkVEQCxvwBIUZn3KA1tYEa6RagqgmU4elp24dL3FB5UgVYz5KOzFb6jK58_4Q/s1600/baaenc.gif" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bleaching alert in the Southeast Asia region<br />
[Image from <a href="http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/data/cb/baa/baaenc.gif">Coral Reef Watch</a>]</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
From the image, Singapore is located in middle of a Watch zone and Alert Level 1 zone.<br />
<a name='more'></a><div>
<b>What is coral bleaching?</b></div>
<div>
The following information is obtained from <a href="http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html">National Ocean Service</a>.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"When corals are stressed by changes in conditions such as temperature, light, or nutrients, they expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, causing them to turn completely white. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Warmer water temperatures can result in coral bleaching. When water is too warm, corals will expel the algae (zoocanthellae) living in their tissues, cauing the coral to turn completely white. This is called coral bleaching. When a coral bleaches, it is not dead. Corals can survive a bleaching event, but they are under more stress and are subject to mortality."</blockquote>
<div>
<b>How are the corals in Singapore doing?</b></div>
<div>
It has been observed, through diving and intertidal shore surveys, that some of our corals are showing signs of stress and have started bleaching. Some are partially bleached, some small colonies are almost completely bleach.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here is a look at the corals from Terumbu Pempang Laut. </div>
<div>
(Apologies for unlabelled images. I am not proficient in identifying corals at the moment.)</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894706.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faviidae</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894708.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faviidae</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894709.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Porites sp.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894710.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faviidae</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894716.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faviidae, almost completely bleached</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894718.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralsoft/feabrown.htm">Brown feathery soft coral</a>, perfectly alright.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894719.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faviidae</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894722.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralsoft/alcyoniidae.htm">Leathery soft coral</a>, looks rather pale.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894723.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralhard/pocilloporidae/pocillopora.htm">Cauliflower corals</a> (<i>Pocillopora sp.</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894724.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralhard/faviidae/hexa/hexacolumn.htm">Columnar hexa favid coral</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Even some of the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/others/zoanthid/tuberculosa.htm">sea mat zoanthid</a> (<i>Palythoa tuberculosa</i>) looked pale and bleaching.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894802.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea mat zoanthid</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The consoling part is that these images only make up a tiny fraction of the whole Terumbu Pempang Laut. I only covered a small area of the reef for this trip so it is difficult to make a conclusion on how the bleaching situation is like in this reef. However, I do understand that our corals are rather tough, having to survive a silty water environment.<br />
<br />
Here is the aerial footage of Terumbu Pempang Laut. See if you can spot any bleaching corals from the video.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/TSLxOtL3RaY?list=PLW5jVVj_zmq5IdRE2Sioj9TmHd0XPJSyx" width="640"></iframe></div>
pei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687181727224230999.post-18806224267820242932014-06-01T21:25:00.000+08:002014-06-03T23:25:21.636+08:00My first visit to Terumbu Pempang LautIt has been about 3 months since I last did an amphibious landing on our intertidal shores. The previous trip was to Pulau Semakau to check on the oil spill situation during the Lunar New Year. Today, we are doing an amphibious landing on one of the terumbus we have in Singapore. Terumbu refers to submerged reef. During high tide, it looks no different from any sea surface. The reef is being submerged. However, during the period of low spring tide, the tide falls below the reef, exposing the reef. It looks as though a piece of land has emerged from the sea and sank back a few hours later.<br />
<br />
So where exactly is Terumbu Pempang Laut? Take a look at this google map image by Ria Tan.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnzXToPhJ4NeLMe509iQgUA7gQMc0dgqvWXpwRP-1TsMcUofJc_nMYj9G8B-qvgTgUCccyn7Jb6vRC-YfcXwbVxavj3nQdqkwtwMm3hxo4Hz4rIBKe4zw8jyxnHcISYCXXzUwf0EKNgxA/s400/tpempang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnzXToPhJ4NeLMe509iQgUA7gQMc0dgqvWXpwRP-1TsMcUofJc_nMYj9G8B-qvgTgUCccyn7Jb6vRC-YfcXwbVxavj3nQdqkwtwMm3hxo4Hz4rIBKe4zw8jyxnHcISYCXXzUwf0EKNgxA/s400/tpempang.jpg" height="268" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2014/06/terumbu-pempang-laut-check-up.html#.U4x6V5SSzio">Ria Tan</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
From the image, you can see that Terumbu Pempang Laut is the furthest submerged reef northwest of Pulau Hantu. This is my first time visiting this reef. I have yet to visit Terumbu Pempang Tengah and Terumbu Pempang Darat.<br />
<a name='more'></a>On journey to the submerged reef, we encountered the scary passing storm which turned the southern sky dark and threatened us with lightnings.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-a-sin.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/t1.0-9/10365923_10152401668639000_3746223000035976796_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://scontent-a-sin.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/t1.0-9/10365923_10152401668639000_3746223000035976796_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dark clouds in the sky as we made our way to Terumbu Pempang Laut</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Lucky, the clouds passed by quickly and by the time we reached the terumbu, the rain had passed us. It was great as I will be able to fly the drone. We were treated with a dramatic sunrise behind Pulau Bukom oil refinery.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894794.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful sunrise.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While on our way to the reef from the dinghy, the sky presented us with a rainbow.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894796.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rainbow after the rain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I had some time to spend checking out the shore before flying the drone. Unfortunately, I did not cover much ground on foot and wished I could reach further.<br />
<br />
I only managed to come across one <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/archaster.htm">common sea star</a> (<i>Archaster typicus</i>), but other saw a large group of them.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894702.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common sea star</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was not easy but I came across a few <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/actiniaria/star.htm">wiggly reef star anemone</a>. This anemone is very shy and will retract its tentacles and disappear from the substrate at the slightest sign of danger or disturbance.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894704.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wiggly reef star anemone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894788.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wiggly reef star anemone with a different colour</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The reef had pretty medium patches of the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/porifera/bluejorunna.htm">blue jorunna sponge</a> (<i>Neopetrosia sp.</i>), which appears to be the favourite food of the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/slugs/nudibranchia/funebris.htm">polka-dot jorunna nudibranch</a> (<i>Jorunna funebris</i>). Alas, I did not come across any of the nudibranch.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894703.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue jorunna sponge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I saw two swimming crabs, one of which is the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/portunidae/bluespined.htm">blue-spined swimming crab</a> (<i>Thalamita prymna</i>), I think, and the other is a <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/portunidae/pelagicus.htm">flower crab</a> (<i>Portunus pelagicus</i>).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894705.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue-spined swimming crab</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The flower crab was scavenging on the sand and showed me its pincers when I approached nearer. Obviously, it was not happy with me invading its private space.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894713.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flower crab</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894715.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Argh... get away from me!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There is a good coverage of the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/ovalis.htm">spoon seagrass</a> (<i>Halophila ovalis</i>) on some parts of the terumbu. Thanks to the drone, I was able to get a good aerial shot of the spoon seagrass coverage. Alas, no dugong feeding trail spotted this time.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij93-evLE1Q22EQqlCyqsRsu-4s1n7bJGYXj5t-SjieYg-2pgiHbURPl2mSr8v7Gk6TXnzvJyRE97BjlZMAvApV8aHb1wnjVhkD4jAYyXkc68hVrJoR0Y2dyW6Qwbxn6cTnRzb6fIeL2nk/s1600/DJI00007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij93-evLE1Q22EQqlCyqsRsu-4s1n7bJGYXj5t-SjieYg-2pgiHbURPl2mSr8v7Gk6TXnzvJyRE97BjlZMAvApV8aHb1wnjVhkD4jAYyXkc68hVrJoR0Y2dyW6Qwbxn6cTnRzb6fIeL2nk/s1600/DJI00007.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spoon seagrass coverage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In a nearby area of dry and shallow pool, I heard some splashing going on and noticed an animal crossing between pool with a dry patch in between. It was a <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/gobiidae/maudae.htm">saddled shrimp-goby</a> (<i>Cryptocentrus maudae</i>). The shrimp-goby is often seen with its snapping shrimp partner. However, this shrimp-goby looks lonely and does not seem to associate itself with the burrow it stopped on. Perhaps it has not found a snapping shrimp partner yet?<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894712.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saddled shrimp-goby</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Towards the end of the trip, Ria found a young <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/bivalvia/tridacnidae/squamosa.htm">fluted giant clam</a> (<i>Tridacna squamosa</i>).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894805.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young fluted giant clam</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894806.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Size of the giant clam, with my bootie as size reference.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Then I came across an empty <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/conidae/conidae.htm">cone snail</a> shell. However, not every animal should be touch or handled with your bare hands. The cone snail is one of the most dangerous animals on our shores as it can inject venom into our body without us even feeling it.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894791.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cone snail, overview.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894792.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cone snail, underside.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894793.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cone snail, flattened end.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We ended the trip with the latest way to ride the dinghy back to the boat. I called it the tug and push method, which does not require boat engine. The boat was so near the edge of the reef that we were about 3m away and the dinghy only required manpower to pull it from the reef to the boat.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894808.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New form of dinghy adventure.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155894807.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No engine required.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Lastly, here is the aerial footage of Terumbu Pempang Laut.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/TSLxOtL3RaY?list=PLW5jVVj_zmq5IdRE2Sioj9TmHd0XPJSyx" width="640"></iframe>
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<b><u>Posts by others:</u></b><br />
Chay Hoon on her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ilmare77/media_set?set=a.10152460347913713.1073741889.619308712&type=1">Facebook</a><br />
James Chua on his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jamez.sicarius/media_set?set=a.10152216183979195.1073741868.644094194&type=1">Facebook</a><br />
Russel Low on his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.743053212412740.1073741834.109257872458947&type=1">Facebook</a><br />
Ria Tan - <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2014/06/terumbu-pempang-laut-check-up.html#.U4x6V5SSzio">Temrubu Pempang Laut chek up</a><br />
<br />pei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687181727224230999.post-61579566821505374122014-06-01T21:03:00.001+08:002014-06-01T21:03:21.677+08:00[Update] Welcome to my new blog URLHello!<div>
Welcome to my "new" blog. As you have noticed, it is only a change in the blog's URL.</div>
<div>
Thank you for reading my wonderful posts about Singapore's marine life.</div>
<div>
Singapore GOT wildlife.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Cheers,</div>
<div>
Pei Yan<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZEpgLhd8SXr6_3YrhUuuIZ3AxvPJx2WD3byQUQQ-nnnZzwp1B9uJtace-hCiWlY7yt3Ylc7lyz-UQ_y2IbrfQvt0C3srWOc_v0DW__cz43xzb3XLbfbCBX6XfpTGCvndA18Eqo1Sqocp/s1600/14249290773_6bcb1a1af1_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZEpgLhd8SXr6_3YrhUuuIZ3AxvPJx2WD3byQUQQ-nnnZzwp1B9uJtace-hCiWlY7yt3Ylc7lyz-UQ_y2IbrfQvt0C3srWOc_v0DW__cz43xzb3XLbfbCBX6XfpTGCvndA18Eqo1Sqocp/s1600/14249290773_6bcb1a1af1_o.jpg" height="400" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo of me flying the drone by WildSingapore (Ria Tan).</td></tr>
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</div>
pei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687181727224230999.post-89119306299232713152014-05-29T21:13:00.000+08:002014-06-02T21:11:35.461+08:00Saving Changi CrabsOn this very morning, something upsetting happened at one of the beaches in Changi. Just as my friends and I were about to end our intertidal survey, we found a 50m driftnet. It is unsure how long the driftnet had been laid.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfieLMn6fVcH5zlXrIF4J9wHRAi9wlxP1pMttuVTi7sRrKt5JCcGIa6ceA0E1MdcaSR5aypfCHibL-yGGg0gmnm0sSUIxKjKZr87hQE4gEzj_SD4x5RB10yy1-k1sOS3-hK2cPVphJk4I/s1600/140529chgsafs08292m6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfieLMn6fVcH5zlXrIF4J9wHRAi9wlxP1pMttuVTi7sRrKt5JCcGIa6ceA0E1MdcaSR5aypfCHibL-yGGg0gmnm0sSUIxKjKZr87hQE4gEzj_SD4x5RB10yy1-k1sOS3-hK2cPVphJk4I/s1600/140529chgsafs08292m6.jpg" height="293" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking at the driftnet after we brought it in in sections.<br />
[Photo from <a href="http://projectdriftnet.blogspot.sg/2014/05/50m-net-with-40-crabs-at-changi-29-may.html">Project Driftnet</a>]</td></tr>
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It took us plenty of patience and skills to untangle and cut free the trapped marine animals from the net.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZtI-Jo9eqIKbSn01cbTXHvEAMNjwT274Ke7kRbjRMp1Pss53Pm7GbeVuNbqGM28WvF6tD5ovn1n88Hf9sdHJuDfqBzogAH9DJ8qHbOLHJAGwGXZxew8q9G-HY5XGXnAE16yIMuCbDJ-c/s1600/140529chgsafs08288m6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZtI-Jo9eqIKbSn01cbTXHvEAMNjwT274Ke7kRbjRMp1Pss53Pm7GbeVuNbqGM28WvF6tD5ovn1n88Hf9sdHJuDfqBzogAH9DJ8qHbOLHJAGwGXZxew8q9G-HY5XGXnAE16yIMuCbDJ-c/s1600/140529chgsafs08288m6.jpg" height="293" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working hard and carefully to free the tangled flower crabs from the net.<br />
[Photo from Project Driftnet]</td></tr>
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In total, we counted 40 flower crabs, 1 stone crab, 1 stingray, 1 horseshoe crab, 1 flounder and some decomposed fish.<br />
<a name='more'></a>I tried to remove a very agitated stone crab, probably stressed from being trapped in the net and unable to free itself. It took me many attempts to cut free the crab before my hands were unable to hold its powerful repel.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYrRT5YsaOE7479pdO0JLPYxAxcHx44wYRYU5T_lWeLh4yLJGZQdqe5TQ95vDQO0eQT9TJ0mz8Aeqe2Be5oSB-pQFCyClEKDtF8eyxcixZIjX8kfLcr0fO5kw2-LpzsY49HSd2Lro0A00/s1600/jameschua2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYrRT5YsaOE7479pdO0JLPYxAxcHx44wYRYU5T_lWeLh4yLJGZQdqe5TQ95vDQO0eQT9TJ0mz8Aeqe2Be5oSB-pQFCyClEKDtF8eyxcixZIjX8kfLcr0fO5kw2-LpzsY49HSd2Lro0A00/s1600/jameschua2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me attempting to cut free the stone crab.<br />
[Photo by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jamez.sicarius/media_set?set=a.10152209584274195.1073741866.644094194&type=1">James Chua</a>]</td></tr>
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<div>
Unfortunately, I could not remove all of the nets tangled in the crab before it escaped.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Changi beach is not all about driftnets and trapped, dying animals. The intertidal shore is full of life too. On the rocks, there are numerous <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/actiniaria/diadumene.htm">lined bead anemone</a> (<i>Diadumene lineata</i>) lining among various nook and cranny on the rock surface.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873451.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lined bead anemone</td></tr>
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<div>
In the sheen deep part of the shore, there were spare distribution of these colourful <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/others/ceriantharia/common.htm">cerianthids</a> in their bright neon colours. They are also known as peacock anemones but they are not true anemones.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873453.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cerianthid (Peacock anemone)</td></tr>
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<div>
On the water surface, a <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/hemiramphidae/broadnose.htm">broad-nosed halfbeak</a> swam by but was rather shy and quick to swim away after this shot.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873454.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broad-nosed halfbeak</td></tr>
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<div>
The seagrass meadow is not all that dull and boring. If you stop and take a closer look, you can find marine animals everywhere.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873459.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/slugs/anaspidae/geographica.htm">Geographic sea hare</a> (<i>Syphonota geographica</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873507.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/goniodiscaster.htm">Biscuit sea star</a> (<i>Goniodiscaster scaber</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873472.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/sandpainted.htm">Painted sand star </a>(<i>Astropecten sp.</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873471.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/others/pennatulacea/veretillidae.htm">Flowery sea pen</a></td></tr>
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<div>
Oh.... Whose siphon does this belongs to?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873504.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who am I?</td></tr>
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<div>
It is a <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/volutidae/nobilis.htm">noble volute </a>(<i>Cymbiola nobilis</i>)! This is my first time seeing a buried noble volute, with only its siphon visible.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873505.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noble volute</td></tr>
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<div>
This <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/shrimp/alphornament.htm">ornamented snapping shrimp</a> (<i>Alpheus sp.</i>) looked rather lost on the seagrass patch. Snapping shrimps poor vision and they require the help of a goby "partner" to help find its way back to its burrow by keeping one of its antennas in contact with the fish.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873506.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ornamented snapping shrimp</td></tr>
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And with the latest hype about large emergence number of tropical swallowtail moths (<i>Lyssa zampa</i>), I found the sea version. Presenting the "sea zampa":<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873503.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is just part of the wings of <i>Lyssa zampa</i>.</td></tr>
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Now for the interesting finds of this trip.<br />
Chay Hoon found a cute <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/protoreaster.htm">juvenile knobbly sea star</a> (Protoreaster nodosus), or so we think it should be the juvenile. It is greenish.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873462.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overview</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873463.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Underside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873464.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tube feet on one of its arms.</td></tr>
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Moving on the silty bed of seagrass was a cerberilla nudibranch (<i>Cerberilla sp.</i>), spotted by Chay Hoon. I found another one later in the trip.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873469.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cerberilla sp.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There was also the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/slugs/nudibranchia/gymnodorisblack.htm">tiny black gymnodoris nudibranch</a> (<i>Gymnodoris sp.</i>).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873476.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overview</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873481.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side view, with a glimpse of underside</td></tr>
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The <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/actiniaria/tapetum.htm">mini carpet anemone</a> (<i>Stichodactyla tapetum</i>) were scattered everywhere on the seagrass meadow. I noticed that they have a stalk body column, which made them look like sprouting tiny sea mushrooms.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873508.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mini carpet anemone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873509.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side view, with the body column visible.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The most interesting find for this trip has to be this swimming <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/worm/enteropneusta/enteropneusta.htm">acorn worm</a>. We usually see the buried form of the worm with evidence of it through its strings of "poop" coming out of the ground. However, the one we saw was swimming in the sheen deep water and we gently scooped it up. The acorn worm was moving so fast that I could not get a proper full shot of the worm. I only managed to capture a half length shot of the worm.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155873458.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acorn worm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Despite the unhappy end to the trip, it was a great morning to spend at Changi beach and seeing so many interesting animals.<br />
<br />
Best of all, I made it to school on time for morning assembly.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Posts by others:</u></b><br />
Chay Hoon on her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ilmare77/media_set?set=a.10152455613288713.1073741887.619308712&type=1">Facebook</a><br />
James Chua on his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jamez.sicarius/media_set?set=a.10152209584274195.1073741866.644094194&type=1">Facebook</a><br />
Kwan Siong on his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/koh.siong.7/media_set?set=a.10152132104778359.1073741842.745698358&type=3">Facebook</a><br />
Ria Tan - <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2014/05/changi-with-colourful-slugs.html#.U4x37ZSSzio">Changi with colourful slugs</a></div>
pei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687181727224230999.post-11565790155763511362014-05-19T20:38:00.000+08:002014-06-01T19:38:57.097+08:00I'm a human climbing crab at Tanah Merah Ferry TerminalWhen I mention "Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal", what will you relate it to? Ferries, Golf, Resorts, Bintan, overseas, travelling, holiday.<br />
<br />
Do you know that as you walked along the jetty to your ferry, you had actually just walked over a reclaimed areas that has transformed into a beautiful coral garden? Corals, where are they? They are actually right at the base of the seawall.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWv2VHMlYKUJ8WNbo7Wn1ACdL1dZs4QnSfkr27lEyz_6awKG63_p-oZoJGAmi-ffhDx_zcgnvTq6U7SmCLsMfRbvrtHoNlVBp14FbKC0FSlF0dgsngRJccPNvaTmApaDRTRFiX3Z77TC1/s1600/tm180514p22.JPG." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWv2VHMlYKUJ8WNbo7Wn1ACdL1dZs4QnSfkr27lEyz_6awKG63_p-oZoJGAmi-ffhDx_zcgnvTq6U7SmCLsMfRbvrtHoNlVBp14FbKC0FSlF0dgsngRJccPNvaTmApaDRTRFiX3Z77TC1/s1600/tm180514p22.JPG." height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful coral garden at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal<br />
[Photo by <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.sg/">Loh Kok Sheng</a>]</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I covered a different stretch of the coral garden on this trip to the shore near Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a>In order to get close to the corals, we first have to scale down a long, damp, slippery and silty seawall to get to the intertidal area. Then the dense coral garden and extremely rocky area proved to be of a great challenge to move around. Every step and your body's centre of gravity matters as you walk.<br />
<br />
As I got down to the coral garden and started exploring, I saw a <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/worm/polychaeta/giant.htm">giant reef worm</a> out scavenging.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720577.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant reef worm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Nearby, was a juvenile <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/pomacentridae/tripunctatus.htm">three-spot damselfish</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720578.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile three-spot damselfish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Along the short area of coverage, I saw a <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/echinoidea/urchin/diadema.htm">long-spined black sea urchin</a> (<i>Diadema sp.</i>). During my last trip here, we saw quite a number of them at the reef edge. However, I did not reach the reef edge on this trip.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720585.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-spined black sea urchin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There was an unknown fish sitting very still on the exposed rock surface. It did not move an inch as I approach closer. It could be a species of mudskipper.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720575.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mudskipper?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now to the corals. The area I was surveying did not have much corals relative to other parts of the seawall. Kok Sheng and the rest covered the very silty but dense part of the seawall. You can read more in his blog post <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.sg/2014/05/coral-overdose-at-tanah-merah.html">here</a>. Despite the great difference in coral density at the area I surveyed, there were still a good range of coral species.<br />
<br />
Here are the various type of corals I saw on this trip. I try my best to match the correct coral name to each photo.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720576.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralhard/fungiidae/circular.htm">Circular mushroom coral</a> (<i>Fungia sp.</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720573.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faviidae </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720579.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cabbage coral?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720581.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faviidae</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720582.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bracket mushroom coral?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720586.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralhard/poritidae/gonbig.htm">Anemone coral </a>(<i>Goniopora sp.</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720587.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralhard/agariciidae/pavona.htm">Pavona sp.</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720589.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralhard/faviidae/echinopora.htm">Echinopora sp.</a></i>?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720592.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brain coral</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720595.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralhard/poritidae/gonbig.htm">Anemone coral </a>(<i>Goniopora sp.</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720601.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralhard/agariciidae/pavona.htm">Pavona sp.</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thankfully, we did not come across any bleaching corals but some corals have started to bleach over at Lazarus Island, thanks to Rene for the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rene.ong.52/posts/10152183926586848">photo</a> updates. It is of a great concern as many corals in neighouring water have been reported bleached as water temperature starts to rise and a possible El Nino occurring soon.<br />
<br />
On our way home, the car team had a glimpse of 3 otters swimming in the canal right next to Changi Coast Track. It was a great way to end the trip.<br />
<br />
Since my previous trip to this shore in <a href="http://peiyansama.blogspot.sg/2013/09/marine-animals-crowd-at-tanah-merah-on.html">September 2013</a>, the shores near Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal has been off limits and anyone who attempts to trespass the area will be arrested. Thankfully, we obtained permission from the relevant authorities to survey this shore.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Posts by others on this trip:</u></b><br />
Jonathan on his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152376254988119.1073741848.696593118&type=1">Facebook</a><br />
Kok Sheng - <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.sg/2014/05/coral-overdose-at-tanah-merah.html">Coral overdose at Tanah Merah</a><br />
Ria - <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2014/05/living-reefs-and-shores-at-tanah-merah.html#.U3no_ViSzio">Living reefs and shores at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal</a>pei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687181727224230999.post-33102370229358654902014-05-17T21:26:00.000+08:002014-06-01T19:39:20.221+08:00New signs of life on Changi BeachRight after a three day Leafmonkey workshop "Walking with Nature at SOTA", some of us only had a few hours of sleep before we head out for another session with nature. The only difference is that we do not see people, but marine animals on our intertidal shores. The location: Changi Beach. <br />
The stretch of shore we covered on this trip is full of new life. I came across so many juvenile animals such as this <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/syngnathidae/seagrass.htm">seagrass pipefish</a>. You can tell how small it is by comparing the pipefish with the size of the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/ovalis.htm">spoon seagrass</a> (<i>Halophila ovalis</i>).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720649.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile seagrass pipefish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I came across another juvenile seagrass pipefish later.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720739.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another juvenile seagrass pipefish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Of course the adult seagrass pipefish were around and there were plenty of them among the seagrass patch.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720641.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1 seagrass pipefish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720730.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A group of 3 seagrass pipefish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720643.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How many seargrass pipefish can you see?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On the blades of spoon seagrass, there were coils of eggs. I wonder which animal they belong to.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720633.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coil of eggs on spoon seagrass blade</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The area we started off has a good patch of seagrass and many animals can be seen if you take a closer look.<br />
<br />
This pink blob-like thing is not a piece of plastic but it is actually a <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/cercodemas.htm">pink warty sea cucumber</a> (<i>Cercodemas anceps</i>).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720632.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink warty sea cucumber</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There are more sea cucumber to be seen on the shores of Changi Beach, such as the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/phyllophorus.htm">ball sea cucumber </a>(<i>Phyllophorus sp.</i>), <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/smooth.htm">smooth sea cucumber</a> and this <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/colochirus.htm">thorny sea cucumber</a> (<i>Colochirus quadrangularis</i>).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720640.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thorny sea cucumber</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
However, the special sea cucumber find for this trip was spotted by Chay Hoon. It is the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/violaceus.htm">sea apple sea cucumber</a> (<i>Pseudocolochirus violaceus</i>). This is my first time seeing the sea apple sea cucumber.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720744.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea apple sea cucumber</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There were many juvenile <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/goniodiscaster.htm">biscuit sea stars</a> (<i>Goniodiscaster scaber</i>) too! It is rather strange that out of 10 sea stars that I came across, 8 of them are turned over.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720638.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile biscuit sea star</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There was also a tiny juvenile <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/asteroidea/sandplain.htm">plain sand star</a> (<i>Astropecten sp.</i>). It was so tiny and cute!</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720714.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny plain sand star, just slightly bigger than a spoon seagrass.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720718.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny plain sand star moving on the sand.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This shore is a great place to find the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/anomura/hermit/stripeorange.htm">orange-striped hermit crab</a> (<i>Clibanarius infraspinatus</i>).</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720710.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange-striped hermit crab</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
However, do not be fooled that every shell on the shore houses a hermit crab. Some shells are in fact the actual marine snail, such as this <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/strombidae/canarium.htm">pearl conch or gong-gong</a> (<i>Strombus turturella</i>) as we call it. I love looking at pearl conch and seeing their eyestalks looking out of its shell. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720724.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eyestalks of pearl conch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Chay Hoon spots a tiny nudibranch. Only she can find such small animals.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720731.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cratena sp.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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This poor <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/shrimp/alpheidae.htm">snapping shrimp</a> can out of its burrow in shallow pool and looks rather lost as it tries to figure the route back to its burrow. Snapping shrimp has poor vision and it will get lost if it wonders too far away from its burrow.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720734.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snapping shrimp</td></tr>
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While checking out the sea apple sea cucumber, a <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/stomatopoda/spearer.htm">spearer mantis shrimp</a> (<i>Harpiosquilla sp.</i>) decided to check on me.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720748.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spearer mantis shrimp</td></tr>
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The rest of the team came across a few <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/cephalopoda/bigseagrass.htm">big-head seagrass octopus</a> on this trip. I too saw one octopus but it was acting rather strangely. It "stood" up on its tentacles, lifted its head and flopped it on the seagrass bed. The strange behaviour took place twice and on the second time, it just laid on the seagrass patch motionless for quite sometime before "recovering".</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720750.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Standing"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720751.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Flopped"</td></tr>
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Here is a short video clip of how the octopus "recovered".<br />
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<param name="movie" value="https://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf"></param>
<param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"></param>
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<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="intl_lang=en-US&photo_secret=3d34755678&photo_id=14203901635&hd_default=false" width="601" height="338"></embed></object></div>
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The last best find on this trip would be a egg mass of octopus. The eggs have tiny black dots, which are the eyes of the developing baby octopus. Through the camera, we can see that the developing baby octopus have started to develop chromatophores on their body. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155720758.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Octopus eggs, with developing octopus.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Chromatophores are actually special units within cells that contain pigment and able to reflect light. The contraction and expansion of the chromatophores results in a change in colour, which changes the appearance of a squid or octopus.</div>
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Unfortunately, the mama octopus is nowhere to be seen protecting the delicate egg mass. I hope the baby octopus will survive and hatch soon.</div>
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For this trip, my photos are shot from my Olympus TG-1 waterproof compact camera.</div>
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<b><u>Posts by others on this trip:</u></b></div>
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Chay Hoon on her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ilmare77/media_set?set=a.10152428240748713.1073741884.619308712&type=1">Facebook</a>.</div>
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Jonathan on his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152376254988119.1073741848.696593118&type=1">Facebook</a>.</div>
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Ria - <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2014/05/changi-crowded-with-life.html">Changi crowded with life</a></div>
pei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687181727224230999.post-44572086479531412662014-05-13T15:45:00.000+08:002014-06-01T19:39:54.449+08:00Ubin Tua Pek Kong Celebration - Day 1Yesterday was the first day of a 6 days celebratory festival of Pulau Ubin Fo Shan Ting Da Bo Gong Temple (Tua Pek Kong). Everyone is welcome to this celebratory event and there is event free bumboat service provided in the evening for all 6 days.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631762.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notification banner at Ubin jetty.</td></tr>
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At Changi Point Ferry Terminal, the same banner is placed outside Ubin Seafood Restaurant, next to the ferry terminal. While at the drop-off point of the ferry terminal, the schedule of events and free bumboat services is displayed.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631745.jpgg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631745.jpgg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detailed schedule and free bumboat service notification.</td></tr>
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If you are unable to understand the schedule in Chinese, the translated version is can be found on my blog post <a href="http://peiyansama.blogspot.sg/2014/04/12-may-17-may-2014-pulau-ubin.html">here</a>. </div>
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The free bumboat service starts exactly at 6.30pm but the usual requirement of 12 pax to leave still applies. Afterall, the bumboat operators are doing a great service for the festival.</div>
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At the ferry terminal, all the ubin bumboats looked a bit different. Each boat has a yellow flag attached to mark the celebratory event. It was rather difficult to find one flag that shows the words printed on it, but I did see one phrase which translates to "smooth sailing".</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631746.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ubin bumboat with flags.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631750.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More ubin boats with flags.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631751.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bow shot of the boats with flags.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631749.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closer look at the flag.</td></tr>
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It was a nice to watch the sunset while on my way to Pulau Ubin.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631754.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sun sets while on my way to Ubin.</td></tr>
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Nearing the Ubin jetty, the passengers can see how well decorated the whole jetty is. It feels like a welcome pathway leading you to the actual location of celebration.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631758.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large flags on the jetty.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631760.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The arrival and departure area of the jetty.</td></tr>
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Of course, many visitors could not resists stopping to take photos.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631764.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo taking with the large flags.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631765.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From jetty.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631766.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Towards jetty.</td></tr>
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I could not resist taking a panorama shot from the jetty.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155632040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155632040.jpg" height="52" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panorama</td></tr>
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At Ubin Town, the opera stage is all setup and ready for tonight's show. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631767.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opera stage</td></tr>
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It will be Teochew opera and tonight, they will be playing 《红鬃烈马》, which translates to 'A Spirited Horse with a Red Mane'. Unfortunately, I did not quite understand what the characters are saying most of the time even though I am a Teochew. However, I did manage to find the English version of the plot and it can be found <a href="http://pages.ucsd.edu/~dkjordan/cgi-bin/chopera.pl?taleid=Opera007">here</a>.</div>
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I went to the opera backstage to have a look and it is rathe interesting.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631780.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone is busy doing up their face.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631782.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Intense concentration.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631784.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Costume set for tonight's show.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631786.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stage right music station</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631791.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stage left music station</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631790.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keeping hair away from hair accessories</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631785.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stage</td></tr>
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While at the temple side, visitors are coming in to offer incense to various gods and deities.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631792.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alter for Jade Emperor</td></tr>
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You can purchase coil incense at the temple, which comes attached with a slip of paper to pen your prayers, and you hang it up after writing your prayer and lit the incense. From my understanding, it is usually the Teochew temple that does the coil incense, in Singapore.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631797.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coil incense.</td></tr>
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At 7.30pm, the Teochew opera began.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631794.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opening scene of the opera.</td></tr>
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There was not much audience tonight as it was only the first day of the celebration.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631868.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Audience for tonight.</td></tr>
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Do notes that the whole opera lasts for about 3 hours, but you may leave whenever you want to. Stages shows during such occasions are meant for the gods and deities to watch. The number of people who actually appreciates Chinese opera are dwindling and so is the number of people practicing Chinese opera. In years to come, Singapore may end up losing the Chinese opera culture, which I think is sad with all the elaborate costumes, props and stage setting.<br />
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More photos of the opera.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155631802.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stage "curtain" for during a change of scene.</td></tr>
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I did not even notice the drawings on the panels until towards the end of the play. It is actually a drawing of the Ubin jetty and its surrounding.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ubin jetty drawing.</td></tr>
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It is an interesting experience to witness how temple festival is celebrated on Pulau Ubin. </div>
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If you are interested, there is still 4 nights left to visit and watch the Teochew opera while the last night will be the highlight of the celebration with getai (live hosted show with lots of singing).</div>
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The best part about operas and getai on Ubin, who cares about noise restrictions at night on Ubin.</div>
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pei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687181727224230999.post-30408435063993942562014-05-07T20:52:00.000+08:002014-06-01T19:40:04.733+08:00The beauty of Pulau HantuMany people will relate '<i>Hantu</i>' as the Malay word for ghost and hence the island Pulau Hantu is literally referred to as "<i>Ghost Island"</i>. The island is actually far from the spooky tales and myths of restless spirits or ghosts.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZJNLG0Gz4z40R3-NhIxABTYddbe9H2H2hoPfP9atn2A6yaBjuocSZSl9_y6J6Pl1_FBnNT9ElaNRRImNVJIod1RlFqa6P1zvJcW9c2TZ7aUUIQzaaBSZcVG69RjkgWdPCpp5j8bnh-UD/s1600/Hantu+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZJNLG0Gz4z40R3-NhIxABTYddbe9H2H2hoPfP9atn2A6yaBjuocSZSl9_y6J6Pl1_FBnNT9ElaNRRImNVJIod1RlFqa6P1zvJcW9c2TZ7aUUIQzaaBSZcVG69RjkgWdPCpp5j8bnh-UD/s1600/Hantu+map.jpg" height="273" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pulau Hantu looks tiny compared to its refinery neighbour, Pulau Bukom.<br />
Image from Google earth.</td></tr>
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The whole of Pulau Hantu is formed by two separate "Hantu" islets - <i>Hantu Besar</i> (Big Ghost) and <i>Hantu Kechil</i> (Little Ghost).<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a>Legend has it that the two islands were formed as two Malay warriors died here while having a fierce battle at sea, with one warrior of smaller size than the other. Their battle was interfered by the sea spirit, whose action was felt strongly against by the gods. Thus, the sea spirit transformed the two warriors into islets so that their spirits can continue to live on them.<br />
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The other version about Pulau Hantu that I had heard of is about the community of fishing owls living on this island where it used to be a fishing village. The Malays refer owl as Burung Hantu. Pulau Hantu is now under the management of Southern Islands Development of <a href="http://www.sentosa.gov.sg/">Sentosa Development Corporation</a>.<br />
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There are no public ferry servicing Pulau Hantu so the only way to get to the island is to negotiate and arrange for ferry service from one of the ferry companies located at West Coast Pier.<br />
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This morning, we were blessed with great sunrise from the ferry we were on.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise on the way to Pulau Hantu.</td></tr>
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Once arrival, its off to check out the reefy northern part of the lagoon. A few of us head straight for lagoon opening while the rest checked out the area nearest to the jetty first.<br />
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Right outside the lagoon, there was a healthy colony of <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralhard/acroporidae/acropora.htm">acropora corals</a> (<i>Acropora sp.</i>)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155477565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155477565.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acropora coral</td></tr>
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There were many <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/pilumnidae/pilumnus.htm">hairy crabs</a> (<i>Pilumnus sp.</i>) heading back to their hiding crevices after foraging on the reef.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hairy crab</td></tr>
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The shallow waters along the reef was pretty clear today and there was a number of the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/crinoidea/crinoidea.htm">feather stars</a> to be seen.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feather star 1</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feather star 2</td></tr>
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The highlight for me was locating the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/bivalvia/tridacnidae/squamosa.htm">fluted giant clam</a> (<i>Tridacna squamosa</i>) Kok Sheng showed me during our previous trip here about a year ago. The others who managed to find this clam were too excited about its progress. Here is the image of the giant clam, taken 1 year ago.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fluted giant clam, taken in May 2013</td></tr>
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Here is the image of the same giant clam, taken on this trip.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155477567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155477567.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same fluted giant clam, taken on this trip</td></tr>
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Wow! The giant clam has grown so much over the period of one year. Mei Lin, who is researching about giant clam, is going to be so happy.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/enhalus.htm">tape seagrass</a> (<i>Enhalus acoroides</i>) looks good in the lagoon and some even had fruits.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155477577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155477577.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fruit of tape seagrass</td></tr>
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I did not spend much time checking out the lagoon and reef as I needed to factor in some time to do aerial documentation of Pulau Hantu.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Po8Thg2MIdk" width="640"></iframe> <br />
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Alas, in all things good about Pulau Hantu, an abandoned driftnet was spotted closer to the lagoon opening during an guided intertidal walk last week. Read more on my previous post <a href="http://peiyansama.blogspot.sg/2014/04/quiet-but-great-day-guiding-at-pulau.html">here</a>.<br />
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So part of today's trip is to help remove the driftnet towards the end of the trip. While checking the driftnet, Nicole spotted a crab tangled in the net. The poor crab has lost both pincers and quite a number of its legs when we found it. The team came across more animals trapped in the driftnet later. Luckily, we came prepared with scissors to free tangled animals.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freeing the crab</td></tr>
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I did not take much photos of the driftnet removal process. Instead, I documented it from the drone.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/JOIlr2TQ-u0" width="640"></iframe><br />
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Unfortunately, it was rather upsetting that the next morning, new driftnets were seen to be laid at the opening of the lagoon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/10257380_10152340249789000_258190939369505308_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/10257380_10152340249789000_258190939369505308_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two fishermen with a blue dinghy laying out the driftnet. <br />
Another net has already been laid further back.</td></tr>
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Read more about the driftnet removal on <a href="http://projectdriftnet.blogspot.sg/2014/05/100m-abandoned-driftnet-at-pulau-hantu.html">Project Driftnet's</a> blog post.<br />
It was a great day of work on the intertidal shore of Pulau Hantu.<br />
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The next morning, I joined a group of divers in exploring the subtidal area of Pulau Hantu. We had a great time with many pretty nudibranch, anemones, flatworms, sea stars, corals and many other marine animals. Who says Singapore has no marine life?<br />
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Here are some photos taken by me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/t1.0-9/10175945_10152340786084000_5480300038960985909_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/t1.0-9/10175945_10152340786084000_5480300038960985909_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volcano nudibranch (<i>Hypselodoris krakatoa</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/10276981_10152340786509000_5833150670122146109_n.jpg." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/10276981_10152340786509000_5833150670122146109_n.jpg." width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hypselodoris infucata</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/1781954_10152340786859000_2922221898730983632_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/1781954_10152340786859000_2922221898730983632_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small icon seastar</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/10308731_10152340787019000_6738015945629765405_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/10308731_10152340787019000_6738015945629765405_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anemone?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/10346644_10152340787704000_5774694544295816469_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/10346644_10152340787704000_5774694544295816469_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swimming crab</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/10339643_10152340787749000_6109776349740286466_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/10339643_10152340787749000_6109776349740286466_n.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cave coral</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1.0-9/1794537_10152340787819000_7267622123502806194_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1.0-9/1794537_10152340787819000_7267622123502806194_n.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Chromodoris mandapamensis</i></td></tr>
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This is my first time seeing the blue-spot nudibranch (<i>Dendrodoris krusensternii</i>) in such a pretty form. Usually when we see the animal during our intertidal trips, the animal's features do not show up so nicely as compared to being submerged. It is a pretty fast mover too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1.0-9/10245540_10152340787919000_5610382235628210909_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1.0-9/10245540_10152340787919000_5610382235628210909_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue-spot nudibranch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/t1.0-9/10273453_10152340788264000_3285837409037038176_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/t1.0-9/10273453_10152340788264000_3285837409037038176_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandperch</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/10314736_10152340788419000_7760948604965753002_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/10314736_10152340788419000_7760948604965753002_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coral</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/10307389_10152340788449000_1506869442294180288_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/10307389_10152340788449000_1506869442294180288_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More coral</td></tr>
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It was a great weekend exploring different parts of Pulau Hantu.<br />
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<b><u>Posts by others on this trip:</u></b><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ivan.kwan/media_set?set=a.10152010625201179.1073741835.602806178&type=1">Ivan</a> on Facebook<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.681922931867408.1073741870.133291903397183&type=1">Rene</a> on Facebook<br />
Ria - <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2014/05/checking-up-on-beautiful-pulau-hantu.html#.U2opX62Szio">Checking up on beautiful Pulau Hantu</a>pei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687181727224230999.post-77169291871150661912014-05-01T17:37:00.000+08:002014-06-01T19:40:21.049+08:00Drone-ing Kusu IslandLocated on one of Singapore's southern islands is this beautiful jetty and Chinese temple.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454548.jpg" height="83" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panoramic view of the jetty</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155455122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155455122.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinese Temple</td></tr>
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Where am I?<br />
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This is Kusu Island, also known to many people as Turtle Island. Legend has it that a magical sea turtle turned itself into an island to save two shipwrecked sailors. Here is a map view of Kusu Island from Google Earth.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155455193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155455193.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Map of Kusu Island from Google Earth.</td></tr>
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In front of the temple is a large pool with a number of sea turtles. You can see the sea turtles when the water level in the pool is shallow. (Unfortunately, I feel rather sad seeing them swim in such shallow waters.) One of them even have a remora fish attached onto its shell.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454549.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea turtle with a remora fish attached on it shell.</td></tr>
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The objective of coming to Kusu Island was not to see the turtles but to check on the intertidal shore. Earlier this year, the main lagoon on Kusu Island was hit with oil spill as a result of a tanker collision nearby. You can read more about the oil spill check on Kusu Island <a href="http://peiyansama.blogspot.sg/2014/01/kusu-island-oiled.html">here</a>. </div>
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Though the shore is rather quiet after the passing short Sumatra shows, there were still interesting animals to be seen.</div>
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The<span style="background-color: white; color: #383838; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;"> </span><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/slugs/anaspidae/extraordinaria.htm">extraordinary sea hare</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #383838; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;">(</span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;">Aplysia extraordinaria</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;">) looks to be in a much better appearance as compared to the oil spill incident. I only came across one sea hare of them but I am sure the rest saw a few of them.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454551.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Extraordinary sea hare</td></tr>
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The special find for me on this trip would be the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/callionymidae/dactylopus.htm">kuiter's dragonet</a> (<i>Dactylopus kuiteri</i>). It was showing us its special flag-like large dorsal fin the whole time. I love the lip colour of this fish.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454558.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kuiter's dragonet</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454552.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kuiter's dragonet, from the tail.</td></tr>
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The other interesting fact about the kuiter's dragonet is that it has a little "feet" on each side of its body. Actually that is its detached first ray from the rest of its pelvic fins. If you look closely at the first image of the fish, you can actually see the first ray. It kind of help the fish to "walk" on the substrate, from observation, when it is too lazy to swim.</div>
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Easy confused with the kuiter's dragonet would be the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/pegasidae/volitans.htm">slender seamoth</a> (<i>Pegasus volitans</i>) that was found just a few steps from the dragonet. Both fish like to spread open their pelvic fins.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454566.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slender sea moth</td></tr>
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Nearby, Rene found a <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/cassidae/glaucum.htm">grey bonnet snail</a> (<i>Phalium glaucum</i>) hiding in a crevice. Some of the members on today's trip were quite puzzled as to how the bonnet snail is able to survive on this shore as it feeds on sand dollars. Perhaps there are sea urchins available as its alternative source of food? However, after some thought, it seems possible to find grey bonnet snail here since the snail has been seen at nearby Seringat-Kias.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454563.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey bonnet snail</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454561.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey bonnet snail, side view</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454562.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey bonnet snail, close up of animal</td></tr>
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The other interesting find for me was a well camouflaged sole fish in accompanying the kuiter's dragonet. I only spotted the fish when it moved and it was very well covered with sand. I think it is a <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/soleidae/orientalis.htm">juvenile oriental sole fish</a> (<i>Brachirus orientalis</i>).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454564.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile oriental sole fish?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454565.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view of the sole fish.</td></tr>
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Another amazing snail was a cowrie found by Marcus.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454582.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cowrie</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454583.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cowrie, underside</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454584.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cowrie, close up of the animal</td></tr>
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An octopus sneakily pretends to be part of the reef, but not quite mastered the technique as it moved in front of my eyes.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454581.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Octopus</td></tr>
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The only flatworm we saw today was the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/worm/polycladida/uniarborensis.htm">dawn flatworm</a>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454579.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawn flatworm</td></tr>
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When the sun rose, it was time to fly my drone. I planned to capture aerial footages of as many shores as I can. </div>
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While the drone was preparing to take off, it made friends with the common seastar.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/p526x296/10006936_10152379003733158_2403082942070357729_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/p526x296/10006936_10152379003733158_2403082942070357729_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Drone with a common seastar.<br />
[Photo by Kok Sheng on his FB]</td></tr>
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Here is an aerial photo at the mouth of the lagoon, showing the 'Danger' sign.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155455121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155455121.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Danger' sign at the mouth of the lagoon.</td></tr>
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<strike>The video footage is undergoing some processing and uploading. It will be embedded on this post once the video has been uploaded on YouTube.</strike></div>
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Update: The video is ready for viewing!</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8VfHvOZG424" width="640"></iframe> <br />
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Here's two other panoramic images from my phone.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454547.jpg" height="88" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panoramic view of the main lagoon.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/155454546.jpg" height="98" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panoramic view of the temp and turtle pool.</td></tr>
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<b><u>Posts by others on this trip:</u></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.680815488644819.1073741869.133291903397183&type=1">Rene</a> on her Facebook</div>
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Ria - <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2014/05/how-is-kusu-island-doing.html#.U2IN-62Szio">How is Kusu Island doing?</a></div>
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pei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687181727224230999.post-33818969236897904862014-04-29T21:01:00.000+08:002014-06-01T19:40:35.720+08:0012 May - 17 May 2014: Pulau Ubin Celebrates the Tua Pek Kong's birthdayHave you ever wondered what this interesting structure (left, photo below) at Ubin town is used for?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qMVsDIRhvQqRpGRpA4b_Klp5tKlmwli0TfuP7ijFWrmsUdXTTXADE1j0fTV_ZQ31_eqM5BFj0VGV3HkauBqmauQnWZioN-UqH3htws3sfQh-8O-qk044tTKFyy-K-bPQkTz0U11S68em/s1600/4007543147_b75e8c41e7_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qMVsDIRhvQqRpGRpA4b_Klp5tKlmwli0TfuP7ijFWrmsUdXTTXADE1j0fTV_ZQ31_eqM5BFj0VGV3HkauBqmauQnWZioN-UqH3htws3sfQh-8O-qk044tTKFyy-K-bPQkTz0U11S68em/s1600/4007543147_b75e8c41e7_o.jpg" height="292" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A stage seen at Ubin town.<br />
[Photo by WildSingapore]</td></tr>
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From 12 May to 17 May 2014, this stage will be transformed into a wayang (chinese opera) performance stage, showing Teochew opera.<br />
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It is the birthday celebration of the Tua Pek Kong (or Tu Di Gong/ Da Bo Gong). The Pulau Ubin Fo Shan Ting Da Bo Gong Temple has made arrangement for a grand celebrations of the deity's birthday with rituals, performances and even Getai (live stage) performance on the last night.<br />
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*Note* Another Taoist deity is too named Tu Di Gong, but they are different persons.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZWrPtRZf0dIRjzKWz4PFTNx7czETXCrV7oIwDhwk7A1HT9_GOUfD0OdojXzRUQYF5GXSC2uxSrVOot51V67LRaOgsnSUC2u481S6sumyW8UadoZgCdDPGbfMiuWT-97gr9yfWCvihCYt/s1600/140427ubins07524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZWrPtRZf0dIRjzKWz4PFTNx7czETXCrV7oIwDhwk7A1HT9_GOUfD0OdojXzRUQYF5GXSC2uxSrVOot51V67LRaOgsnSUC2u481S6sumyW8UadoZgCdDPGbfMiuWT-97gr9yfWCvihCYt/s1600/140427ubins07524.JPG" height="400" width="287" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebration posters seen everywhere on Ubin and even on bumboats.</td></tr>
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The better news is that bumboat services to and from Pulau Ubin will be <b><u><span style="color: red;">FREE</span></u></b> in the evening till night during this festive period.<br />
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<b><u><span style="color: blue;">More information about FREE evening bumboat service</span></u></b><br />
From 12 May to 17 May 2014<br />
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Changi Jetty to Ubin Jetty: 6.30 pm to 9.00 pm<br />
Ubin Jetty to Changi Jetty: 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm<br />
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Look out for the nicely decorated Ubin jetty that welcomes all visitors and worshipper to this joyous occasion on Pulau Ubin.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9H8qRpydneVMWPNe5A8KpiZH4GDBiU5Y63h8CrKphIXlLlHfe3ILRWh82FW-C1yz6mvH5NiY3CaPcQ5CvqtoxbxW1PIN2kUBeEq2JoVNezVT-hTDoYFzlZez86zDp8DXrkoC6-KotNCL_/s400/IMG_4254m6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9H8qRpydneVMWPNe5A8KpiZH4GDBiU5Y63h8CrKphIXlLlHfe3ILRWh82FW-C1yz6mvH5NiY3CaPcQ5CvqtoxbxW1PIN2kUBeEq2JoVNezVT-hTDoYFzlZez86zDp8DXrkoC6-KotNCL_/s400/IMG_4254m6.jpg" height="293" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ubin jetty decoration, May 2010.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Did I mention that <b><span style="color: red;">fortune ang bao</span></b> (red packets) will be given away to? It is while stock last!<br />
<br />
Celebration rituals will begin in the mornings of 12 May and 13 May with Teochew opera performances every evening. This is one of the very few occasions where the probably-the-last wayang stage is transformed into a beautiful opera stage, mainly to entertain the gods and deities. However many people and tourists have been attracted to Pulau Ubin during these festivals to witness the dying Chinese opera culture.<br />
<br />
On 17 May, the last night, the Teochew opera will perform in the morning at 10.00 am while the evening performance will be replaced with exciting live stage song singing show known as Getai. I am sure this climate performance in celebration of the Chinese earth god's birthday will be a great hit. So be sure to make a trip down to experience it.<br />
<br />
If you are interested the following is a rough program guide for each day (translated to best ability):<br />
<b><u><span style="color: blue;">Celebration schedule</span></u></b><br />
12 May<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 10am - Welcoming the arrival of Da Bo Gong ritual</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1pm - Praying rituals begins</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7pm - Luck/ Fortune enhancing rituals</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7pm - Teochew Opera Performance</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-4797a41e-ad8e-0339-1d83-8af42f5aaebe"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 10pm - Welcoming the arrival of Jade Emperor ritual</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">13 May</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 10am - Congregation of worshippers worship ritual</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1pm - </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lion and dragon dance celebratory performance </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 2.30pm - Giving away of Altar blessed charms, while stock last.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 3.30 pm - Departure of Jade Emperor ritual</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7pm - Teochew Opera Performance</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 7.30pm - Bridge crossing ceremony</span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-4797a41e-ad8f-0356-3f8a-76d84e018fdf"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8pm - Birthday greetings by Wei Tuo Fa Gong Temple and Hell Gods of Wealth (Tua Li Ya Pek)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">14 May to 16 May</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4797a41e-ad8f-c4ae-9978-a36f57e0d9d7"></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 7pm - Teochew Opera Performance</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">17 May</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 10am - Teochew Opera Performance</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 6.45pm - Pulau Ubin Fo Shan Ting Da Bo Gong Temple’s Night! + </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Getai Performance</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4797a41e-ad90-359a-71d9-35d4655112ea"></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 10.30pm - Departure of Da Bo Gong ritual</span></div>
pei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687181727224230999.post-88899587504764897002014-04-20T21:49:00.000+08:002014-06-01T19:41:00.167+08:00Quiet but great day guiding at Pulau HantuIt was a quiet day on the intertidal shore at Pulau Hantu. Despite that we still managed to find interesting stuff for the youths of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JSCCYEC">Jurong Spring Youth Club</a>. I was helping <a href="http://www.pulauhantu.sg/">The Hantu Bloggers</a> as a guide.<br />
<br />
Here's a group photo of the youth participants with the four guides. Joining us on the trip is Minister of State Desmond Lee.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/10270791_10152929020669368_3356228781557197352_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/10270791_10152929020669368_3356228781557197352_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group photo<br />
[Photo by MOS Desmond Lee on his Facebook]</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a name='more'></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a>It was my first time landing on Pulau Hantu via the southern jetty. The southern jetty leads to the bigger island that makes up Pulau Hantu and it is equipped with toilet. Immediately, many participants could identify the Sentosa logo on the information panel. Yes, Pulau Hantu is one of the many southern islands managed by Sentosa Corporation Development.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GB7ToZvsfzc/U1NfVT6p4oI/AAAAAAAAEAA/SfXIq80jnRM/w816-h612-no/20140420_080627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GB7ToZvsfzc/U1NfVT6p4oI/AAAAAAAAEAA/SfXIq80jnRM/w816-h612-no/20140420_080627.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Information panel by Sentosa.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unfortunately, I took very little photos of the shore as I was talking and guiding most of the time. Nonetheless, I still managed to get some images of the critters my group saw.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8fih-1bl4WyHNQoQx4ERhx-VskdHhcJjtnigrd55fAJyHGXln_xFJ99gNAfg3MmDZLEDySfWmVlMACTeW5G1mlSzTzahmT0-vDuGUs0mObp1W47P309Bm9lPs_2eKI7WT1Cqmoa2C2jl/s1600/P4203819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8fih-1bl4WyHNQoQx4ERhx-VskdHhcJjtnigrd55fAJyHGXln_xFJ99gNAfg3MmDZLEDySfWmVlMACTeW5G1mlSzTzahmT0-vDuGUs0mObp1W47P309Bm9lPs_2eKI7WT1Cqmoa2C2jl/s1600/P4203819.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea slug, juvenile - <i>Jorunna funebris</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was quite amazing that my group members found the adult sea slug after showing them the juvenile sea slug.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGsNu39lLAGL4XHfOXhkz3PT1cVXzW7jD8TBwD3EAJhyphenhyphen0brAF3lGO_8_7qHdE46-7NyK86DBs8_z_wGKT0DyAUG7lLffvCCMOnXoe246uXP7BO17zWO4w3gfqlvhu8ooxwurrx5jtBHz0/s1600/P4203827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGsNu39lLAGL4XHfOXhkz3PT1cVXzW7jD8TBwD3EAJhyphenhyphen0brAF3lGO_8_7qHdE46-7NyK86DBs8_z_wGKT0DyAUG7lLffvCCMOnXoe246uXP7BO17zWO4w3gfqlvhu8ooxwurrx5jtBHz0/s1600/P4203827.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea slug, adult - <i>Jorunna funebris</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I came across a sea cucumber which I have yet to encounter before. It is the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/lecanora.htm">white-rumped sea cucmber</a> (<i>Actinopyga lecanora</i>) .<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXQFTE1zj29uIqVfggVm3rGTm3AAkE_8yG75zP5MkikG9LY69QAuMaKU6sFOlqcWq2G5UFX99erpA0JmbkqP8Lyhae4KKr20uv77eTXJL8tDAhoLMRHcCozNs-L5O7m7PqnIjwWWm714_/s1600/P4203822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXQFTE1zj29uIqVfggVm3rGTm3AAkE_8yG75zP5MkikG9LY69QAuMaKU6sFOlqcWq2G5UFX99erpA0JmbkqP8Lyhae4KKr20uv77eTXJL8tDAhoLMRHcCozNs-L5O7m7PqnIjwWWm714_/s1600/P4203822.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Size of the sea cucumber while it was trying to elongate itself.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGNh1mYi7_Wb97Q-IhhJKZ_N1zZA0OmtY3BcLJ_D_Rc0KCDvI3yl7YRDZA0HI6a7YuAQAP6Htewuba1qCw28A4hXwkWWJfZPFJOKG09_3kz-uobNiQIv7GZ4a7svwHN884PZK7X4Vs7oT/s1600/P4203820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGNh1mYi7_Wb97Q-IhhJKZ_N1zZA0OmtY3BcLJ_D_Rc0KCDvI3yl7YRDZA0HI6a7YuAQAP6Htewuba1qCw28A4hXwkWWJfZPFJOKG09_3kz-uobNiQIv7GZ4a7svwHN884PZK7X4Vs7oT/s1600/P4203820.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Size of the sea cucumber when it was spotted.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Other groups saw a tiny frogfish, many snake eels and interesting critters. We did not manage to come across any seahorse on this trip.<br />
<br />
Towards the end of the walk, the dark approaching clouds threatened us to end the intertidal walk slightly earlier. We managed to get a group photo of my group before we left the shore.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRsQGVQSaQ7kiKOZjX0VCr8JOQBTWAG_cIJ2dm4Pcf7g_nLv1qBZH1zHZgibSzuGaGc_5lZscJuV184xa3ZvoYAU4aJz6YjsJW5BHwvhDYPv_olxnLC43GgC_HyvHfeeEKI0T-6_w2boQ/s1600/P4203830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRsQGVQSaQ7kiKOZjX0VCr8JOQBTWAG_cIJ2dm4Pcf7g_nLv1qBZH1zHZgibSzuGaGc_5lZscJuV184xa3ZvoYAU4aJz6YjsJW5BHwvhDYPv_olxnLC43GgC_HyvHfeeEKI0T-6_w2boQ/s1600/P4203830.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group photo of my group.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
During this trip, the youth club took this opportunity to present Edusave awards to some of the participants. It is rather interesting that Jurong Spring Community Centre, together with MOS Desmond Lee, have decided to present this academic and character excellence recognition at various events. From kayaking, bowling, to community outreach events and also this environmental shore trip. Here is one of the awardees being presented the award at Pulau Hantu.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1.0-9/10151245_631962126881248_6195232753081292394_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1.0-9/10151245_631962126881248_6195232753081292394_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edusave award presentation on Pulau Hatu<br />
[Photo by Jurong Spring Youth Club on their Facebook page]</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Alas, there was a driftnet laid in the middle of the big lagoon. It looks abandoned, judging from the amount of algae that has accumulated. The intertidal shore team will be back again two weeks later and we will attempt to haul the whole net out of the shore.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s8zMWDqCpFI/U1Nf8XBAd9I/AAAAAAAAEAY/igI1cSddVzU/w816-h612-no/20140420_095640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s8zMWDqCpFI/U1Nf8XBAd9I/AAAAAAAAEAY/igI1cSddVzU/w816-h612-no/20140420_095640.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driftnet on the shore.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfWv4pWeJgg/U1NglYJAY_I/AAAAAAAAEAw/P-FMLxPx-ps/w459-h612-no/20140420_095655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfWv4pWeJgg/U1NglYJAY_I/AAAAAAAAEAw/P-FMLxPx-ps/w459-h612-no/20140420_095655.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right stretch of the driftnet on the shore.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was a great trip despite my cold, which was suppressed by non-drowsy decongestants. At the same time, another team was out doing a trip at the Sisters' Island.<br />
<br />
You can read more at Ria's blog post: <a href="http://wildshores.blogspot.sg/2014/04/our-special-sisters-islands.html#.U1PP-OaSzio">Our Special Sisters Islands</a>.<br />
<br />pei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687181727224230999.post-25616333033887419612014-02-02T13:00:00.000+08:002014-06-01T19:41:13.626+08:00Northern Beauty of SemakauIt was my first time checking the northern reef of Semakau. It was also the team's first time covering the whole reef of Semakau through a team effort.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuGwpi3iqnrBkhDf_LlyESa_HbDmNJIgq84k8FoI3k3dhb0yQukY1u58hw5Vp6GDlo9bXJJRd4jX7j_3NUb4lzw8glcJXEZSJrwa7PhQ3kUYFphyphenhyphen9ndOzi8odW0LoCQY6ujZ-nds6FptR/s1600/Semakau+reef+earth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuGwpi3iqnrBkhDf_LlyESa_HbDmNJIgq84k8FoI3k3dhb0yQukY1u58hw5Vp6GDlo9bXJJRd4jX7j_3NUb4lzw8glcJXEZSJrwa7PhQ3kUYFphyphenhyphen9ndOzi8odW0LoCQY6ujZ-nds6FptR/s1600/Semakau+reef+earth.jpg" height="273" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink line marks the reef coverage the team covered on this trip.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Another team check the submerged reef next to Semakau's western reef, Terumbu Raya.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a>The purpose of this trip was to assess the impact of oil spill in this area. Read more about the findings <a href="http://peiyansama.blogspot.sg/2014/02/oil-spill-reaches-semakau-landfill.html">here</a>.<br />
<br />
The ground at northern reef is a softer than the western reef. There were certain parts where it can get rather soft, something which I have yet to be comfortable with while carrying my camera gears.<br />
<br />
Despite facing oil refineries of Pulau Bukom, the northern tip of Semakau reef is beautiful with corals and many other animals.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331700.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large coral structures with oil refineries in the background.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Some animals were rather aggressive. This is the first time a <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/pilumnidae/pilumnus.htm">hairy crab</a> (<i>Pilummus sp.</i>) raised its pincers at me.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331474.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hairy crab raising its pincers at me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/portunidae/portunidae.htm">swimming crab</a> nearby decided to do the same to me.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331476.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swimming crab raising its pincers at me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Then came the showdown at Semakau between a pair of swimming crab. It could be a male and a female crab with the male trying to get the female to mate.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331478.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fighting swimming crab</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I took a video of this "shore fight".<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Dm5MonihYdc" width="640"></iframe> <br />
Not all animals were aggressive.<br />
This <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/xanthidae/floridus.htm">floral egg crab</a> (<i>Atergatis floridus</i>) seems to be chilling away on the reef but it got rather annoyed when I disturbed it.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331481.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Floral egg crab, overview</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331483.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Floral egg crab, underside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331486.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Floral egg crab, showing the mouth part</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Neither was this juvenile <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/dasyatidae/lymma.htm">blue-spotted fantail ray</a> (<i>Taeniura lymma</i>).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331707.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue-spotted fantail ray</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331480.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close-up of the ray.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Nor this <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/xanthidae/integerrimus.htm">red egg crab</a> (<i>Atergatis integerrimus</i>).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331509.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red egg crab</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There were signs of new life, among the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seaweed/phaeophyta/sargassum.htm">sargassum seaweed</a> (<i>Sargassum sp.</i>).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331479.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squid eggs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There were many <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/actiniaria/magnifica.htm">magnificent anemones</a> (<i>Heteractis magnifica</i>) on the northern reef and a number of them were hosting the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/pomacentridae/ocellaris.htm">false clown anemonefish</a> (<i>Amphiprion ocellaris</i>).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331490.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you see me?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331491.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stranded on very shallow water.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331494.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A family</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331513.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stranded outside its anemone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331515.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peek-a-boo!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I only came across one flatworm, the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/worm/polycladida/uniarborensis.htm">dawn flatworm</a> (<i>Pseduobiceros uniarborensis</i>).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331495.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawn flatworm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Could this be the fruit of <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seagrass/ovalis.htm">spoon seagrass</a> (<i>Halpohila ovalis</i>)?<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331504.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fruit of spoon seagrass?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331502.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closer look.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I love to look at the eyes of conch snails, like this <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/strombidae/canarium.htm">pearl conch</a> (<i>Strombus turturella</i>).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331505.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eyes of pearl conch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Towards the end of the trip, I came across a <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/holothuroidea/horrens.htm">durian sea cucumber</a> (<i>Stichopus horrens</i>).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331731.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Durian sea cucumber</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And a small <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/cephalopoda/reefoctopus.htm">reef octopus</a> swam by as I was leaving the reef. I was frightened for a short moment as I thought I saw blue rings on the octopus. I must be still thinking about the blue-ring octopus I saw diving in Indonesia last year. The size and texture does feels like a blue-ring octopus.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331520.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reef octopus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The southern shores never fails to amaze me. Even seeing the false clown anemonefish makes me happy and excited.<br />
<br />
Posts by others:<br />
Kok Sheng - <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.sg/2014/02/oil-spill-check-at-northern-semakau.html">Oil spill check at Northern Semakau</a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.678139272237468.1073741831.109257872458947&type=1">Singapore Reef Watch</a> on Facebook.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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pei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687181727224230999.post-68915175449669517612014-02-01T23:30:00.000+08:002014-06-01T19:42:36.887+08:00Oil spill reaches Pulau SemakauOn 29 January 2014, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) released a <a href="http://www.mpa.gov.sg/sites/global_navigation/news_center/mpa_news/mpa_news_detail.page?filename=nr140129.xml">media statement </a>about a collision between the departing Hong Kong-flagged chemical tanker, "Lime Galaxy" and the arriving China-flagged containership, "Feihe" in the evening at about 2.7 km, south of Jurong Island.<br />
<br />
The media statement reported that "Feihe" sustained damages on her bunker tanks, resulting in some spillage of bunker fuel. Oil spill response companies were activated to support in the clean up efforts.<br />
<br />
It is not revealed the exact location of the collision as Jurong Island is rather large but the image below shows the possible locations, mapped out by Ria Tan (wildsingapore).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9WnfC8pI9npvpGbAGbOxtbiazxq76XDo1XStH2LGZbvBb2NvcYHO75f65bgk42gAQdRIbXNX2jn_5XfuKFMLF3EeMaWa0imhccBpGRdKHwvPKKZtMA4EmnRKKEnrHHgQPZ4PTLcaIxfL/s1600/collision2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9WnfC8pI9npvpGbAGbOxtbiazxq76XDo1XStH2LGZbvBb2NvcYHO75f65bgk42gAQdRIbXNX2jn_5XfuKFMLF3EeMaWa0imhccBpGRdKHwvPKKZtMA4EmnRKKEnrHHgQPZ4PTLcaIxfL/s1600/collision2.jpg" height="256" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Possible locations of the collision, mapped by Ria Tan.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The following day, 30 January 2014, MPA released another update about the collision: <a href="http://www.mpa.gov.sg/sites/global_navigation/news_center/mpa_news/mpa_news_detail.page?filename=nr140130.xml">Collision between Lime Galaxy and Feihe - update 1</a><br />
<a name='more'></a>It just so happened that within 12 hours, <a href="http://www.mpa.gov.sg/sites/global_navigation/news_center/mpa_news/mpa_news_detail.page?filename=nr140130a.xml">another collision</a> took place 4 km off Marina South.<br />
<br />
Within short time frame of alerting friends about the oil spillage from the two collisions through social media, we have received news from friends that the oil spills had hit various locations in the southern islands. Locations such as Pulau Hantu, Pulau Semakau, Kusu Island and St. John's Island were surfaced.<br />
<br />
My post about the oil spill situation at Kusu Island can be found <a href="http://peiyansama.blogspot.sg/2014/01/kusu-island-oiled.html">here</a>.<br />
<br />
After the Kusu Island check, the few of us made a last minute decision to change the location for today's fieldtrip. The oil spill situation was much more important so other shores can still wait.<br />
<br />
We split up into two groups. One group heading for Pulau Semakau and the second group heading for Terumbu Raya, a submerged reef right next to the impact zone of Semakau.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-7Ui4IhBpRQbOrtD3n1_83y98ofyLvh564HiNejmuVZIyRXNhAT4OZsnvUt4UrqgvUqQ4TqwvMafIXV_PIpC9EubH4nXfnQnQCEJKLOSg37MySC8876JxKxi2lGeE-eFwXSE_hC9MQkT/s1600/Semakau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-7Ui4IhBpRQbOrtD3n1_83y98ofyLvh564HiNejmuVZIyRXNhAT4OZsnvUt4UrqgvUqQ4TqwvMafIXV_PIpC9EubH4nXfnQnQCEJKLOSg37MySC8876JxKxi2lGeE-eFwXSE_hC9MQkT/s1600/Semakau.jpg" height="273" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Location of Terumbu Raya</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The good is that the Terumbu Raya team came back with good news of no signs of oil spill reaching the submerged reef and one of them even had three sightings of turtle surfacing.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, the Semakau team had some not so good news from the northern mangrove and reef patch. There were oil sheen and oil slicks noticed.<br />
<br />
Assessing the damaged done on the reef patch to the mangroves, the mangroves were reported to be hit worst.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46Ygt5CR_CsNU2e8OjsptdznhFTQRyVsNK_W8qgUu0ecjIMURFDpejgoNbg7P1qJFrPihE6ZWmmbOcRBM6H_imBxDA38JqdOsQNqs-7t8WDM1A7NQ91BLZc88JkwYrJ-FaEparDdybPlu/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46Ygt5CR_CsNU2e8OjsptdznhFTQRyVsNK_W8qgUu0ecjIMURFDpejgoNbg7P1qJFrPihE6ZWmmbOcRBM6H_imBxDA38JqdOsQNqs-7t8WDM1A7NQ91BLZc88JkwYrJ-FaEparDdybPlu/s1600/Untitled.png" height="236" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern mangrove and reef area.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Along the red line, where the line of mangrove stops, was badly covered with oil. There was not enough time to do a comprehensive survey of the area coverage of mangrove trees being hit by the bunker oil.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_N41YhWNjTic-qNCCUt0-8CRjPKbY6u-0-y3PPWf0Ihuuox2ESQYnJKXcaRKQWfADqOc9GHTUYezZvjFKV-P6C_XrYp8Y-lOIDJPSB1c-nePYhRBhE9gbKYBaK2DuDyH0xf0LnEIsa2KH/s1600/P2010313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_N41YhWNjTic-qNCCUt0-8CRjPKbY6u-0-y3PPWf0Ihuuox2ESQYnJKXcaRKQWfADqOc9GHTUYezZvjFKV-P6C_XrYp8Y-lOIDJPSB1c-nePYhRBhE9gbKYBaK2DuDyH0xf0LnEIsa2KH/s1600/P2010313.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oil marks on the sand, right in front of the mangrove line. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Along the mangrove line, large amount of dying <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seaweed/phaeophyta/sargassum.htm">sargassum seaweed</a> (<i>Sargassum sp.</i>) gathers on the shore as the sargassum season comes to an end. The moist look on the sargassum were not seawater but oil. The large clusters of sargassum seaweed were trapping oil.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8z1J0PVj7DKhXeKF0LspD-kSfGmo548Oqte8KUBh0yUhC7eN52z_fv-kEyeVbnZDQLgPalZ0vDfSwHqTpXzwo6Sp4dEg2Jokzi1pJNdyiCN2aG6BuGvza9JjxYOSnAkHH35GbWHmsAma1/s1600/P2010314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8z1J0PVj7DKhXeKF0LspD-kSfGmo548Oqte8KUBh0yUhC7eN52z_fv-kEyeVbnZDQLgPalZ0vDfSwHqTpXzwo6Sp4dEg2Jokzi1pJNdyiCN2aG6BuGvza9JjxYOSnAkHH35GbWHmsAma1/s1600/P2010314.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oil on sargassum seaweed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqu-_P-CFzr83JbFvmQ84hCarpmQUl6eD8A4cjsRruyd-YTS9XTuqluzvUBd6qD0UJNc7jF0Xcd-HB10vhB76OZBH5vOzjV1bZCyhMb_UEqeyKh80dQ9y3rZ5ym0f8WeHuT2jdmIsk9PRK/s1600/P2010316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqu-_P-CFzr83JbFvmQ84hCarpmQUl6eD8A4cjsRruyd-YTS9XTuqluzvUBd6qD0UJNc7jF0Xcd-HB10vhB76OZBH5vOzjV1bZCyhMb_UEqeyKh80dQ9y3rZ5ym0f8WeHuT2jdmIsk9PRK/s1600/P2010316.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excess oil flows onto the beach from the saturated sargassum seaweed, in negligible amount.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuuWZu9eogkEYkAfOas7q718XHkm2ZrlmT5jBLJwghslsy07TLkLd1f_fYNnU-5xFj_rM230-F8BrOOXBKyud_vQZKrbC1763y-YW3jGjNwA1LpsajbKnk6Tpsw8wKVgJPzjz5EN9PDOA/s1600/P2010318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuuWZu9eogkEYkAfOas7q718XHkm2ZrlmT5jBLJwghslsy07TLkLd1f_fYNnU-5xFj_rM230-F8BrOOXBKyud_vQZKrbC1763y-YW3jGjNwA1LpsajbKnk6Tpsw8wKVgJPzjz5EN9PDOA/s1600/P2010318.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The oil coverage on the blue drum indicates the oil being washed towards the mangrove.<br />
Sargassum seaweed covers the ground of the beach.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46G77jvxIGbBoB0Ufnt0beun3u_1w_6ByROVCU2uDLaWz6MclnIcO3Dq0ggfV8CdJ3JPsGUzB5jYi0820Y3D7Gnz1OBnaIfJ7cX5Xdap-852OiCBMg6tlmkEQtSfwKUXERbcxWR8f99fx/s1600/P2010325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46G77jvxIGbBoB0Ufnt0beun3u_1w_6ByROVCU2uDLaWz6MclnIcO3Dq0ggfV8CdJ3JPsGUzB5jYi0820Y3D7Gnz1OBnaIfJ7cX5Xdap-852OiCBMg6tlmkEQtSfwKUXERbcxWR8f99fx/s1600/P2010325.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaves of <i>Avicennia rumphiana</i> coated with oil at high water mark,<br />
with no sargassum seaweed to absorb the impact. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYIHztJb38Tag-Bz8jbOs3bDWuAyb-sIYtfNrayffH2L0sJau63o0fyXi8Dz8hGYGu6PmTN7mx6Msqw0e6n1SvEJCTMgUnmlzjWckmMeNxkSpGPpJmtvfY4LEd72K1f6IJxQcSCke6-MA/s1600/P2010326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYIHztJb38Tag-Bz8jbOs3bDWuAyb-sIYtfNrayffH2L0sJau63o0fyXi8Dz8hGYGu6PmTN7mx6Msqw0e6n1SvEJCTMgUnmlzjWckmMeNxkSpGPpJmtvfY4LEd72K1f6IJxQcSCke6-MA/s1600/P2010326.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another <i>Avicennia rumphiana</i>, entangled with a mesh of sargassum seaweed soaked in oil.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KNz7WPkIvmKb9wS1xT9LbMPHiD4dA3EMTwvKcHHInUsGw9TBCBrD0MqDhTwT3ql99jHWzT0gFnVn-USsThIGanOvAowHAvw_AJJM-TUP0gTb47Hi_EDLs8c3E3yNJt_WsUAdLzGu03bj/s1600/P2010344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KNz7WPkIvmKb9wS1xT9LbMPHiD4dA3EMTwvKcHHInUsGw9TBCBrD0MqDhTwT3ql99jHWzT0gFnVn-USsThIGanOvAowHAvw_AJJM-TUP0gTb47Hi_EDLs8c3E3yNJt_WsUAdLzGu03bj/s1600/P2010344.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mangrove, young or mature, with roots and leaves covered by oil.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaEmuzWdB2t7MpC3wCwuqeMkgG_nFKGWvnIhrZGCpV5hW27KvXKo0M1nlHBeZFBcU473N3A5ykqylPnNrlDWNtQWBUlHmpMYudLlMSI7fLAIzpZuLUtqDTCqPYxTnPz4airAlOS3UIDmS/s1600/P2010346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaEmuzWdB2t7MpC3wCwuqeMkgG_nFKGWvnIhrZGCpV5hW27KvXKo0M1nlHBeZFBcU473N3A5ykqylPnNrlDWNtQWBUlHmpMYudLlMSI7fLAIzpZuLUtqDTCqPYxTnPz4airAlOS3UIDmS/s1600/P2010346.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More images mangrove leaves and sargassum seaweed in oil.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
An overview of the mangrove from the beach clearly shows where the high water mark reaches in the mangrove at northern part of Semakau.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DM1U0AfZD-VcndvX7TwyPepssYUtfzwn3eWA5V10gTzPXSHZH9A_Hq4Z9u6IFvCTw3kJX0XmpNMjgt1OM2IcxY8Z2oV4_ImN2zaJiOnod3K7Km7lbIUevuihh2dPjmsZkXzShNdrb4BT/s1600/mangrove+line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DM1U0AfZD-VcndvX7TwyPepssYUtfzwn3eWA5V10gTzPXSHZH9A_Hq4Z9u6IFvCTw3kJX0XmpNMjgt1OM2IcxY8Z2oV4_ImN2zaJiOnod3K7Km7lbIUevuihh2dPjmsZkXzShNdrb4BT/s1600/mangrove+line.jpg" height="237" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red line: Sargassum seaweed among the mangrove roots traps the oil as the tide receded.<br />
Yellow line: Level at which oil landed directly on mangroves.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Some of the rocks at the northern tip of Semakau were coated with oil.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331727.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oil from the rock.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Though the mangrove was impacted by the bunker oil spill, the sargassum seaweed seemed to provide some level of buffer and containment by acting like a 'sponge' in trapping the oil while the mangrove roots helps to trap the seaweed within the mangrove and beach area. The northern reef at Semakau had some what been protected by the mangrove indirectly.<br />
<br />
An<a href="http://mangrove.nus.edu.sg/guidebooks/text/1026.htm"> oil spill accident in October 1997</a>, resulting in 25 000 tonnes of oil spewed into the sea. Massive cleanup operation took place and it was helped by mangroves at Semakau as the oil gets accumulated on the tree trunks of the mangroves. Thus, the mangroves seemed to have helped in trapping and accumulating oil, preventing the oil in flowing back out as the tide recede and impacting the intertidal area. However, further investigation will be required to arrive at a conclusion.<br />
<br />
With the mangrove being covered with oil, it means that mangrove animals may be affected. A <a href="http://news.mongabay.com/2014/0129-hance-oil-spill-trinidad.html?fbfnpg">news article</a> posted on mongabay.com recently shared about series of oil spills in the Caribbean, affecting many wildlife and the mangrove.<br />
<br />
While on the intertidal reef area, there were sparse patches of oil sheen on the water surface. These oil sheen are probably small amount of oil leaking from the mangrove and trapped sargassum. I did not come across any patch of oil slicks on the reef. The following images shows oil sheen, in small patches, on the reef.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331694.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With mangrove roots</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154331698.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another patch on small pool.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here's the photo montage of the oil spill situation in Semakau.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/AJHD55b_gyc" width="640"></iframe> <br />
<br />
<b><u>Summary of news release from MPA:</u></b><br />
29 January 2014 - <a href="http://www.mpa.gov.sg/sites/global_navigation/news_center/mpa_news/mpa_news_detail.page?filename=nr140129.xml">Collision between Lime Galaxy and Feihe</a><br />
30 January 2014 - <a href="http://www.mpa.gov.sg/sites/global_navigation/news_center/mpa_news/mpa_news_detail.page?filename=nr140130b.xml">Oil spillage clean-up and containment efforts continue</a><br />
30 January 2014 - <a href="http://www.mpa.gov.sg/sites/global_navigation/news_center/mpa_news/mpa_news_detail.page?filename=nr140130.xml">Collision between Lime Galaxy and Feihi - Update 1</a><br />
30 January 2014 - <a href="http://www.mpa.gov.sg/sites/global_navigation/news_center/mpa_news/mpa_news_detail.page?filename=nr140130a.xml">Collision between vessels NYK Themis and AZ Fuzhou</a><br />
31 January 2014 - <a href="http://www.mpa.gov.sg/sites/global_navigation/news_center/mpa_news/mpa_news_detail.page?filename=nr140131.xml">Oil spillage clean-up and containment efforts continues - Update 2</a>pei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687181727224230999.post-32912313728347149232014-02-01T13:00:00.000+08:002014-06-01T19:42:48.406+08:00Kusu Reef: A reef with the lion city view under lots of stressThe reef at Kusu Island is rather unique. It is one reef that has a special view - The cityscape of Singapore. This view can be reach with a 15 mintues ferry ride from <a href="http://www.sentosa.com.sg/en/nature/southern-islands/getting-to-marina-south-pier/">Marina South Pier</a>.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316827.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kusu reef with Singapore's cityscape in the distance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Kusu Island is managed by Sentosa. All visitors are required to pay an entrance fee of SG$0.50 upon arrival at the island. On this island, there is a chinese temple and three Kramats. You can read more about Kusu Island <a href="http://www.sentosa.com.sg/en/nature/southern-islands/kusu-island/">here</a>.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a>I did not visit Kusu Island for the temples but to check the reefs. It was 2 years since I last checked this beautiful reef with cityscape view. The blog post of my previous trip to Kusu is <a href="http://peiyansama.blogspot.sg/2012/06/singapores-city-reef-kusu-island.html">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, one of the lagoons on Kusu Island was hit by oil spill resulted from the collision of two vessels nearby. The details on the impact of the oil spill can be found in a separate <a href="http://peiyansama.blogspot.sg/2014/01/kusu-island-oiled.html">blog post</a>.<br />
<br />
The reef was rather quiet today but I did see some animals and checked the various types of corals on the reef.<br />
<br />
Kusu Island is one location that I know of with plenty of <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/actiniaria/magnifica.htm">magnificent anemone</a> (<i>Heteractis magnifica</i>) but they seemed to be lesser of them as compared to my previous visit.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316831.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large clusters of magnificent anemone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Of the many anemones I came across, a few of them had the <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/othercrust/shrimp/brevicarpalis.htm">five-spot anemone shrimps</a> (<i>Periclimenes brevicarpalis</i>). It was difficult to get a good photo of them on this trip as they are either in deeper water or in areas with oil slick.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316756.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First shrimp spotted.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316785.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A five-spot anemone shrimp couple.<br />
The bigger shrimp is female.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Throughout the trip, I only came across two <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/worm/polychaeta/sabellidae.htm">fan worms</a>.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316769.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fan worm 1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316784.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fan worm 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Only 1 sea slug encountered on this trip. The <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/slugs/sacoglossa/ornata.htm">ornate leaf slug</a> (<i>Elysia ornata</i>).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316766.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ornate leaf slug</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
2 flat worms, one of which very much prefers to do free swimming than move on the reef.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316783.jpgg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316783.jpgg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/worm/polycladida/uniarborensis.htm">Dawn flatworm</a> (<i>Pseudobiceros uniarborensis</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316760.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/worm/polycladida/damawan.htm">Damawan flatworm</a> (<i>Pseudobiceros damawan</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316762.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Damawan flatworm swimming</td></tr>
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Here's a short video of the damawan flatworm swimming.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='560' height='315' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxjv_LwB6dAQtbpkbZzwUVmnbRNcX8Yers3AxPhsvTBi7lrMIuC86935M6IMcTPo7iY7mCIUWEShy80T5DONQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
In the lagoon, near the sea wall on the right, there was dying <a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/hemiramphidae/shortnose.htm">quoy's halfbeak</a> (<i>Hyporhamphus quoyi</i>). It was not very active and keeps floating to its side.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316919.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overview</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316920.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right side view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316918.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Underside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316795.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closer look at its jaw. <br />
The halfbeak has a much longer lower jaw than the upper jaw.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The reef at Kusu is full of different beautiful corals.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316754.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unknown coral 1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316757.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralhard/agariciidae/pavona.htm">Lettuce coral</a> (<i>Pavona sp.</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316771.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralhard/euphyllidae/paraancora.htm">Branching anchor corals</a></u> (<i>Euphyllis paraancora</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316773.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralhard/oculinidae/galaxea.htm">Galaxy coral</a> (<i>Galaxea sp.</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316789.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/coralhard/acroporidae/monbranch.htm">Branching montipora coral</a> (<i>Montipora sp.</i>) ?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316836.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unknown plate coral</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316901.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unknown coral 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316829.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coral reefscape at Kusu Island</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sadly, all this beautiful coral reefscape at Kusu are under impact of human dumping activities. Along the trip, we came across mattresses, furnitures and construction materials on the reef, damaging and possibly causing stress to the animals.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316824.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dumped mattress</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316825.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magnificent anemone attached itself to the side of the mattress</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316903.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dumped mattress breaking off, revealing the springs used.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316904.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mattress springs spread out along the reef.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316907.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mattress sheets covering corals</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/peiyan/image/154316911.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some kind of bedside drawers with wheels.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It is upsetting that our beautiful reef is being treated in such manner. There were mattresses dumped all over Kusu Island. All of them are already being encrusted with animals. Furthermore, the mattress sheets could be soaking and absorbing the bunker oil that reached Kusu Island, resulting in slow release of the oil in the long term?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Kok Sheng managed to cover most of the reef around the island and he found more other items being dumped. Read more from his blog post <a href="http://wondercreation.blogspot.sg/2014/01/stress-and-more-stress-on-kusu-island.html">here</a>.</div>
pei yanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715199302664499544noreply@blogger.com0