Terumbu Raya Rocks!

2 May 2010 - The team was out this beautiful Sunday morning to look for giant clams at Terumbu Raya, a submerged reef off Pulau Semakau.

Terumbu Raya means "The Great Submerged Reef" and this shore is indeed marvellous. The team made lots of wonderful finds!

James found this Fluted Giant Clam (Tridacna squamosa) near the reef edge. Isn't the lined pattern on its mantle pretty?

and at the same time, Kok Sheng found this beautiful Burrowing Giant Clam (Tridacna crocea) within metres from the fluted giant clam James found!

Further on, James also found the shell of a recently dead Bear Paw Giant Clam (Hippopus hippopus)! This rare clam is believed to be extinct in Singapore.

It is still the jellyfish season and the team saw a few of this Ribbon Jellyfish (Chrysaora sp.). This animal packs a powerful sting, so do not touch it!

These two pygmy squids (Idiosepius sp.) were having a good old tug-of-war over a shrimp and it was really interesting to see them change colour in an instant.

Spotted also were two clusters of squid eggs lying side-by-side.

Mei Lin found this tiny False Clown Anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris) hiding among the tentacles of a Giant Carpet Anemone (Stichodactyla gigantea).

And lying perfectly still below the anemonefish is this almost transparent shrimp. This shrimp could hardly be seen if not for the colourful spots on its tail!

Spotted in another giant carpet anemone is this beautiful Five-spot Anemone Shrimp (Periclimenes brevicarpalis).

Kok Sheng found this stunning Gymnodoris Nudibranch (Gymmodoris rublopabulosa). Love its bright colours!

Also seen were a few of these Pimply Phyllid Nudibranch (Phyllidiella pustulosa).

This common Blue-lined Flatworm (Pseudoceros sp.) is the only flatworm I saw today...

A beautiful stone? Nah, this is the White-rumped Sea Cucumber (Actinopyga lecanora). It is also known as the Stonefish Sea Cucumber as it resembles a smooth stone when disturbed.

This Purple Sea Cucumber is more commonly found on our northern shores so it was a nice surprise to see this on Terumbu Raya.

And last but not least, our most exciting, special, and rarest find of the day - a Tiger Cowrie (Cypraea tigris)! Chay Hoon and Mei Lin spotted it at the same time and there was a good commotion as the two of them squealed in delight over this marvellous find!

Apparently, this beautiful and rare cowrie had only been spotted in dive trips, and this is our first intertidal record. =)

Here's what the cowrie looks like with its mantle fully extended... I guess that's how it got its name?

and this is what the shell looks like, when the mantle is retracted...

the underside of the cowrie, with its strong muscular foot to flip itself over when overturned. awww... isn't the snail pretty?

Terembu Raya is also home to many beautiful corals and it is particularly breathtaking at the reef edge with many different types of corals. Do check out Kok Sheng's blog for his "half-snorkelling" adventure and underwater shots of the corals at the reef edge!

Read also:

• Kok Sheng - The Great Reef lives up to its name
• Ria - The other side of Terumbu Raya
• James - 100502 Terumbu Raya
• Mei Lin - Clam-tiful Day
• Chay Hoon - Mollusca Day @ Terumbu Raya.....