Slugs of Pulau Tekukor

28 May 2010 - It's Vesak Day today, and the team was out on Pulau Tekukor in the wee hours of the morning for another giant clam hunt. Pulau Tekukor lies just south of Sentosa and was formerly used as an ammunition dump. The island is closed to the public and we are lucky to be able to visit as Mei Lin has a permit for her giant clam project.

The shore of Pulau Tekukor is covered with lots and lots of Zoanthids. We had to try really hard not to step on them, they were just everywhere!

We saw quite a number of these Frilly Anemones (Phymanthus sp.) too. This is the first time I came across one with pinkish hues.

Octopus. Surprisingly, it stayed very still for us to take photos. =)

This is a Mud Crab (Scylla sp.). Mud crabs belong to the same family as swimming crabs. Their last pair of legs are paddle-shaped, but are not used for swimming as mud crabs are big and heavy. Instead, these legs are used for burrowing.

This pretty but inedible crab is the Floral Egg Crab (Atergatis floridus). It is also known as the Brown Egg Crab.

and this is the Red Egg Crab (Atergatis integerrimus). Like the brown egg crab, this crab is also poisonous.

Spotted this crab half-buried in the sand. Not sure if its dead or if it's just a moult...

This small, insect-like animal is an Arrow-head Spider Crab (Menatheius sp.). Though quite common, this crab is often overlooked as it is well camouflaged.

We spotted quite a number of Long-spined Scorpion Fish (Paracentropogon longispinis) today.

This is a Filefish. Like the octopus, this fish can change colours and patterns to match its surroundings!

There were many White-spotted Rabbitfishes (Siganus cacnaliculatus) on the shore today.

And the worms we saw today include: a White-orange Black Flatworm (Pseudobiceros uniarborensis)...

a Blue-lined Flatworm (Pseudoceros sp.)...

and a Spotted Black Flatworm (Acanthozoon sp.). This is one of my favourite flatworms. Isn't it beautiful?

Learnt today how to spot tiny slugs on the shore. Just look among the Hairy Green Seaweed (Bryopsis sp.)! This well-camouflaged creature is the Bryopsis Slug (Placida daguilarensis).

They are really hard to spot, being only about 1cm. This poor slug got washed away from its seaweed by the waves.

another tiny slug we spotted... I've no idea what it is though.

This is an Ornate Leaf Slug (Elysia ornata).

This beautiful slug is the Thuridilla gracilis. (Thanks James, for the id!)

Chay Hoon found this Chromodoris fidelis. Isn't it cute?

and a Starry Mouthed Nudibranch (Bornella stellifer)!

Now, meet Harry, the harried Hairy Sea Hare (Bursatella leachii)!

There were lots of these Black Long Sea Cucumbers (Holothuria leucospilota) on the shore today.

a beautiful sunrise greeted us towards the end of our trip...

the rocky portion of Pulau Tekukor. I thought it looked like the Martian landscape! =)

here's another part of the shore, with Sentosa in the background.

Adventure on Pulau Jong

17 May 2010 - My third consecutive intertidal trip of the week! This morning, the team was out at Pulau Jong to help Mei Lin look for giant clams. And it didn't take long before the team found two beautiful clams!

Here's one of them. This Fluted Giant Clam (Tridacna squamosa) was partially covered by a leathery soft coral. Hmm... I wonder if the coral will have any adverse effect on the clam?

the same giant clam, with Pulau Jong in the background.

Pulau Jong is home to many different types of soft corals. This is a leathery soft coral (Family Alcyoniidae).

and here's another type of leathery soft coral...

Apart from soft corals, there are hard corals on Pulau Jong too. This is an Acropora Coral (Acropora sp.). This coral's unique bright yellow centre caught my eye.

Nope, this is not a coral, but an anemone - the Frilly Anemone (Phymanthus sp.).

Chay Hoon spotted this beautiful Gymnodoris Nudibranch (Gymnodoris sp.) with yellow spots.

This is the Polka-dot Nudibranch (Jorunna funebris). I always think the slug resembles a cow. =P

and this pretty slug with all the frills is the Black-margined Nudibranch (Glossodoris atromarginata).

I had a most exasperating time trying to take decent pictures of this Tiny Armina Nudibranch (Dermatobranchus sp.). Just can't seem to get it nicely focused... =S

and this is the nudibranch that drives James crazy - the Pimply Phyllid Nudibranch (Phyllidiella pustulosa). Why? because even though the slug appears to have greenish bumps to our naked eyes, in photos, the bumps always turn out light-bluish!

Saw quite a number of these Blue-lined Flatworms (Pseudoceros sp.) today...

and quite a few of this Black Long Sea Cucumber (Holothuria leucospilota) too...

This is a White-rumped Sea Cucumber (Actinopyga lecanora).

here's another one, out of water, looking a little "deflated"...

Was a little surprised to find a hermit crab residing in this spider conch shell... a nice change from the usual stalk-eyes and muscular foot of the spider conch. =)

Red Egg Crab (Atergatis integerrimus). Been seeing these crabs quite often on my recent field trips.

Chay Hoon found this unusual sea star near the end of our trip. It has 7 arms and is about 1cm in size. No idea what species this is, but its mottled pattern resembles that of the more common Crown Sea Star (Asterina coronata).

Here's what the underside of the star looks like...

Pulau Jong, or affectionately also known as "Pau" Island amongst ourselves, is located south of mainland Singapore, near Pulau Semakau. In the background of this photo, is the transfer building of Semakau Landfill.

Pulau Jong is a really small island. But its extensive shore is exposed during low tide.

On the other side of Jong is the oil refineries of Pulau Bukom.

It was a pretty scary experience doing amphibious boarding and landing on Jong. The currents were really strong and waves kept crashing onto our little dinghy. And amidst all the action, we still have to be careful where we place our feet lest we step on a stonefish! Am glad everyone made it safely. =)

Pulau Sekudu: The Frog Island

16 May 2010 - Pulau Sekudu, or Frog Island, is located just off Chek Jawa on Pulau Ubin. As it is now part of the Chek Jawa wetlands, a permit from NParks is needed to land on the island. This is my first visit to this island of beautiful rock formations.

The shore of Sekudu is quite similar to that of Changi's. Many Flowery Sea Pens of all colours were found this morning.

also in abundance were various types of anemones.

this anemone lookalike is actually a White Spiral Fan Worm. This animal is very sensitive to disturbances and will retract into its tube at the slightest sign of danger.

another type of worm spotted today is the Blue-lined Flatworm (Pseudoceros sp.).

this is the Little Ruby Flatworm (Phrikoceros baibaiye). My first time seeing it. Isn't it pretty?

another first for me today is this Denison's Nudibranch (Dendrodoris denisoni).

and this is another first - a beautiful Gymnodoris Nudibranch! No idea what species it is though...

a pretty Pink Moon Snail.

the insides of an open clam...

Mei Lin spotted this Red Shrimp.

This is a Spearer Mantis Shrimp (Harpiosquilla sp.). They have strong, sharp pincers. Do not touch!

Arrow-head Spider Crab (Menatheius sp.)

Marcus found this weird crab. No idea what species it is...

Stone Crab aka Thunder Crab (Myomenippe hardwickii) hiding under a rock.

Quite a number of octopuses were spotted this morning...

Three-spined Toadfish (Batrachomoeus trispinosus). I finally heard its croak today. It really does sound like a frog! =D

This is the Garlic Bread Sea Cucumber (Holothuria scabra).

Big Synaptid Sea Cucumber. Saw two of them today.

White Sea Urchin (Salmacis sp.).

another type of sea urchin - the Pencil Sea Urchin aka Thorny Sea Urchin (Prionocidaris sp.). Sharp-eyed Mei Lin spotted this tiny specimen.

Like the shores of Changi, Pulau Sekudu is equally star-studded! This is an orange Crown Sea Star (Asterina coronata).

and this neat-looking star is the Biscuit Sea Star (Goniodiscaster scaber).

Cake Sea Stars (Anthenea aspera). These stars can be found in a variety of colours and patterns.

This is a Painted Sand Star (Astropecten sp.).

My favourite sea star of all is the Knobbly Sea Star (Protoreaster nodosus). This is my first sighting of a knobbly on the northern shore.

The team even found a juvenile Knobbly!

here's a look at its underside...

the special find for today's trip - a rare Pink Sand Dollar (Peronella lesueuri)!

The frog-shaped boulder on Pulau Sekudu. This is just one of the many stunning rocks on the island that had been shaped by the forces of nature. =)

Read also:

• Chay Hoon - Checking up Pulau Sekudu...
  
• Kok Sheng - The froggy Sekudu 2010
  
• Marcus - Starstruck on Sekudu
  
• Mei Lin - Fantastic time at Sekudu
  
• Ria - Frog Island annual check up