Christmas Eve on Big Sister's Island

24 December 2010 - It was nice to spend Christmas Eve with a group of fellow nature lovers on Big Sister's Island, away from the crowd of last-minute shoppers and revellers in town. So, what did we see on this peaceful and quiet island?

Plenty of Frilly Anemones (Phymanthus sp.) were found.

In contrast, this is the only Giant Carpet Anemone (Stichodactyla gigantea) which I came across today. But sigh, no anemonefish or shrimp were spotted on it.

This is not an anemone, but the Circular Mushroom Coral (Family Fungiidae). Saw quite a few of them today.

Spotted Black Flatworm (Acanthozoon sp.). This flatworm was huge, approximately 10cm in length.

A clump of seaweed? Look closely again. There's an Ornate Leaf Slug (Elysia ornata) hidden among the Hairy Green Seaweeds (Bryopsis sp.).

Is this a Turban Snail (Family Turbinidae)?

Two-spot Reef Octopus (Family Octopodidae).

I like the colours on this Blue-spined Swimming Crab (Thalamita sp.). Isn't it pretty?

This is the Red Egg Crab (Atergatis integerrimus).

And it's fellow poisonous cousin, the Floral Egg Crab (Atergatis floridus). I didn't see the most poisonous crab of Singapore this evening - the Mosaic Reef Crab (Lophozozymus pictor).

We saw many different fishes on the shore. This is a Flathead (Family Platycephalidae).

Filefish (Family Monacanthidae) hiding among the seaweeds.

Is this a Scorpionfish (Family Scorpaenidae)?

No idea what this is. Some fish perhaps?

And this is the best find of the day - a Tiger-tailed Seahorse (Hippocampus comes)! Kok Sheng found a pair of them clinging onto a sponge. =)

Land Hermit Crab (Coenobita sp.) residing in a large moon snail shell. Cute!

A cute little spider scuttles across our path as we made our way back towards the jetty.

Today's trip to Big Sister's Island is the last intertidal trip of the year for me. Looking forward to more wonderful adventures on our shores in 2011. Merry Christmas and a great year ahead everyone!