sand star regeneration @ cyrene

sand star regeneration @ cyrene from BeachBum on Vimeo.

[Click on the VIMEO link for better quality video]
Seastars have a remarkable ability to re-generate their limbs.
This one had lost two of its arms but it was growing two new ones.
You can see the tiny arms jutting out.

Link : http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-213X/7/115
This Article explains all about regeneration in sea cucumbers.

moving star @ cyrene

moving star @ cyrene from BeachBum on Vimeo.
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Ever wondered how sand stars move?
They use their tube feet. Each arm has numerous tube feet.
The clip shows how a sand star moves over undulating terrain....much like a hovercraft...except you have to pay attention to see the tube feet at work.

More on sand stars !...
http://www.wildsingapore.com/chekjawa/text/p610.htm
http://www.wildsingapore.com/chekjawa/text/s603.htm
http://mangrove.nus.edu.sg/pub/seashore/text/221.htm

sand star w central hole @ cyrene

sand star @ wonderful cyrene from BeachBum on Vimeo.

[Click on the VIMEO link for better quality video]

Came across this sand star (amongst the thousands at Cyrene) which had a peculiar vent at its top. It was opening and closing the hole as if on some periodic cycle. It looked like it was passing water through. This vent was not the madreporite as you can see the madreporite a little to the left. (someone correct me if I am wrong here). Apparently, some star species have an anal aperture at the top side. This is likely what the hole is.

The aperture is lined by a membrane which opens up just below the exterior minute fingers surrounding the hole.

Notice the tiny conical snail shell slightly off centre.
More on sand stars !...
http://www.wildsingapore.com/chekjawa/text/p610.htm
http://www.wildsingapore.com/chekjawa/text/s603.htm
http://mangrove.nus.edu.sg/pub/seashore/text/221.htm

25Apr2008 - 2 stars on a collision course @ Cyrene

How 2 stars avoid a 'leg-on' collision...
A 4 legged Archaster typicus vs a 5-legged Protoeaster nodosus and some tiny hermit crabs scurring away. A daily occurence at a unique submerged reef near you!


Some useful links on Protoeaster nodosus a.k.a Giant Nodulated sea star, Horned sea star or Chocolate Chip sea star :-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protoreaster_nodosus
http://www.wildsingapore.com/chekjawa/text/c631.htm

about seastars in general : http://www.wildsingapore.com/chekjawa/text/p610.htm
about starfish 'science' : http://www.vsf.cape.com/%7Ejdale/science/science.htm
how do starfish grow? : http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/art98/janstar.html

25Apr2008 - Cyrene star search 2 - Pentaceraster mammillatus

Pentaceraster mammillatus - a first record for Singapore!
http://wildfilms.blogspot.com/2008/04/super-star-of-cyrene-has-name.html







Some local links for Cyrene Reef :
http://tidechaser.blogspot.com/2007/03/cyrene-reef.html
http://iyor08singapore.blogspot.com/2008/04/cyrene-reef-special-reef-in-singapores.html
http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2008/04/stars-of-cyrene-reef.html
http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/2007/11/lush-seagrass-meadow-of-cyrene-reef.html
http://teamseagrass.blogspot.com/2007/10/cyrene-reef-26-oct-07.html

BMT Maritime Consultants doing a Marine Traffic Study around Cyrene :
http://testbmtmc.bmthq.com/?/183/126/

ASEAN Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation (ARCBC) report on Marine Protected Areas http://www.arcbc.org.ph/MarinePA/abstract.html

Google links for Pentaceraster mammillatus :
http://iyor08singapore.blogspot.com/2008/05/cyrene-star-in-news.html
http://wildfilms.blogspot.com/2008/05/cyrene-star-in-news.html
http://zipcodezoo.com/Animals/P/Pentaceraster_mammillatus.asp
http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=213126
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/cav1i4/echinoderms/echinoderms.htm

Could juvenile (larval) specimens have been brought here via vessel ballast tanks?
Read about water ballast here :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailing_ballast#Water_ballast