decorator-velcro crab @ Big Sister's Island 24Dec2010

This amazing crab was a large one being about outstretched palm sized. Spotted in the big lagoon near the stingray patch. It was the star like appearance which one notices first and remarks ... 'that is odd!?'. i.e. to see a star shaped object with pale blue and yellow bits. And then when it moves, it's identity becomes known. This particular one was able to ambulate rather speedily and it reminded me of a R&D robot taking its first few steps only this one was for real and was probably older than humankind!

iPhone version :

decorator crab-iPhone from BeachBum on Vimeo.


Desktop version :

decorator crab-desktop from BeachBum on Vimeo.


Read more about it here :
http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/majoidea/retusa.htm

Other blogs on things seen during this trip:
http://sgn090608.blogspot.com/2010/12/101224-big-sisters-island.html
http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-eve-with-big-sister.html
http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2010/12/joyous-fishes-on-sisters-island.html
http://wildshores.blogspot.com/2010/12/merry-reef-on-sisters-island.html

Nemo Dat Duo Habit@ Big Sisters 31Dec2008

Nemo @ Big Sister's Island from BeachBum on Vimeo.

Was suprised to come across a carpet anemone with two very active nemos, one about 5cm and the other about 2.5cm. Almost the entire lagoon at Big Sisters was filled with Sargassum seaweed. The anemone proved impossible to find after I moved away from it and the others in the group gave up looking for it after a good look in the Sargassum fields. The Sargassum cover was so thick that it covered huge portions of the area.

Visit these links for more information on :-
Sargassum : http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/seaweed/phaeophyta/sargassum.htm
Anemones : http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/cnidaria/actiniaria/gigantea.htm
Nemos : http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/pomacentridae/ocellaris.htm