About 40 minutes after the tide reached 0.3m in height, only did Hen and I reached the far end of the coral reef edge. If it was at normal sea level, I wouldn’t have the guts to even travel half the distance lest I get swept away by the strong current. But with the waves lapping at our shins, we stopped and gazed out towards the east. The sun was just peeking through the curtained-skies and boy, it was definitely a jaw-dropping fantastic day! With the Singapore Straits just behind us, we slowly trudged our way back towards the meeting point while reminiscing about the past couple hours of the fun, the cool and the embarrassing. =)
The Dog-Faced Water Snake (Cerberus rynchops) was one of the first creatures (besides the pesky mosquitoes) to cross our paths as we treaded our way through the mangroves. Mildly venomous, this reptile feeds on fish although the big ones can feed on eels, mudskippers, catfish etc. It’s noted that the dog-faced water snakes are not aggressive in water (usually lethargic and docile). However, on land, their first response to threats is to flee, which was what did this lil’ creature here did as its comfy spot was getting too crowded by the minute.
And after getting feasted by mosquitoes left and right, up and down; Hen and I finally reached our designated spot where we will be conducting our survey. It wasn’t 5 minutes before we heard Ron give out a cry of surprise. And guess what, it was none other than the elusive mud lobster (below)!!
It was my first time – even for the experienced guide himself – seeing this creature (the whole of it) in Singapore! The mud lobsters (Thalassina anomala) are rarely seen as they live within underground burrows, which are dug extensively beneath mangrove habitats. Their existence are usually indicated by volcano-shaped mounds that result from their digging (and I was writing about this just the other day too!). Sometimes, it emerges from its burrow at night (as shown by the picture). Its digging oxygenates the soil profile below while its mound provides a place to live for creatures such as ants, crabs and snakes.
This crustacean here was approximately 25-30 cm in length. Wicked stance!
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(left): After seconds of contemplation, we decided to note this organism down as an ascidian (Greek for ‘little body). Ascidians are distantly related to chordates (or those possessing a back bone) as they have – during the larval stage – 1) a tail, 2) a dorsal nerve cord, 3) a dorsal stiffening structure (aka the notochord), and 4) pharyngeal gill clefts.
(top right): The main focus of the picture was the algae that lies in the middle of the picture. Since we were running low on time (compared to the large tract of area that we had to survey), Hen and I just named this plant-like organism ‘Algae 2’ and as we planned to sort all of them out after we reached the Visitors’ Center.
(bottom right): At a closer look, ‘Algae 3’ resembles the seasonal Strap Brown Seaweed (Dictyota sp.) rather closely in shape.
(bottom): And just as I was feeling for the holdfast which bound the algae to the fan shell (top right), I suddenly felt something slimy. Immediately jerking my hand away lest it was a snake (or something venomous), I went through the thicket of algae once more after having my chopsticks in hand. And at closer look, we saw it was a little fish. But the curious thing was the fish didn’t even do so much as flick its fin as it felt my touch. Generally, a fish will flee in 2 shakes of a duck’s tail if a shadow do so much as just pass above it. Thinking that it was dead, we tried to get a reaction from it once more. Since it seemed rather lethargic and that organisms like fish can be collected for further verification, all I ended up with later in my container, was water. >_> Sigh..
(left): ‘Algae 4’ which looked similarly to ‘Algae 2’. Again, a specimen was collected for further identification later on.
(right): Discovered by Hen, ‘Algae 5’ looked rather pretty with its bronze-reddish hue. We assumed it to be the red Gracilaria sp., but we couldn’t be too sure.
(left): Looking at this picture now, I am uncertain which number this alga was classified under. >_< It’s fortunate that Hen remembered to collect specimens for the identification of algae.
(right): Calcareous green algae is one alga that is easily recognisable. This alga (Halimeda sp.) is one of the green algae that deposits calcium carbonate internally. It may be green when it’s alive, the skeleton that it leaves behind is behind is white once it dies off.
(left): Lying in the middle of this picture of 2 species of algae, one is the mermaid’s fan (Padina sp.) (top right) while the other is probably the Bryopsis sp. (the pale green strands that lie in the middle of the picture).
(right): In the midst of the Tape seagrass (Enhalus acoroides) meadow, Hen picked out a bivalve that was encrusted with drills (Thais sp.) all around. In the picture, only a couple of drills can be seen as the rest have fallen into the plastic, which will also be containing this bivalve soon enough.
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(left): Then, swimming as freely as you please about in the seagrass meadow was a snapping shrimp (Alpheus sp.). It wasn’t easy to catch a picture of it as it was weaving rather nimbly through blades of tape seagrass before disappearing from our sight entirely (after a short stopover at Hen’s left foot.. lol). These shrimps are skilful diggers that can dig deep (and often complex) burrows. Their poor eyesight are compensated by well-developed sensory feelers for touch and smell.
(top right & bottom right): Sponge 1 and Sponge 2, looked relatively familiar but which names still remain elusive like the mud lobster. As soon as the new sponge guidebook comes out later this year, I am so going to get it. This helpless feel does not become me.
(left): If it wasn’t for a black-lipped conch (Strombus urceus), I wouldn’t have knelt down and the rock star or the Crown Sea Star (Asterina coronata) would have went unnoticed.
(right): Hen found the second one of the day by sheer chance. =) Who would have thought that there would be a star stuck to the bottom of an ascidia-encrusted T-shaped shell (or something like it)? Lucky~~
Turning it over, underneath (in grooves) the arms are somewhat long slender tube feet that end in suckers. And as one might have guessed, the tube feet are used for locomotion (or walking, but in my opinion, sliding would be a better word) ^^.
(left): Other sea stars such as the common sea star (Archaster typicus) was seen pseudo-mating (fake sex, in other words). When these stars are about to mate, the smaller male stacks above the female in order to stake a claim on her. Possessive aren’t we? But anyway, this act itself does not mean that their sexual organs are in contact with each other, hence pseudo-mating. Instead, external fertilisation takes place as the eggs and the sperm are released at the same time.
(right): I have no clue what this might be, but Hen and I assumed that it might be an anemone.
(Top): Taking a closer look at the bottom of the green-lined ‘bell’, in the midst of the tentacles are 4 large brown specks. The tentacles itself made us catch our breath; it wouldn’t be surprising if this was indeed an anemone. Sea anemones are often called flowers of the seas as their long, flashy, radially-arranged tentacles look rather similar to flower petals.
(Bottom): Traversing along the sea-grass meadow once more, I went further in front to continue our hunt. And what a bountiful find the next creature was!!! Sprawled and interlaced among the blades of the seagrass was a rather fat Banded file snake (Acrochordus granulatus). Nocturnal and harmless to humans, these creatures are usually seen in the late evening or early morning.
Seeing this snake, I immediately called (okay, I might have screamed a little >.<) out to Hen, who then subsequently called a rather excited Ron by phone. Not knowing whether it was harmless or otherwise, my mind had only 1 intent and that was taking pictures of the reptile (hmm.. thinking about it, I should have waited for the coordinators first and get their advice. Noted!). Later, Mindy (with gloves and all) came, saw and conquered~~ :) (she handled the snake rather expertly before placing it on a sandy mound).
(left): The banded file snake can achieve a length to about 1m or more. It is banded with black or brown bands on white or beige. On the underside along the centre of the belly lies a prominent fold. The loose skin is covered with small rough scales; this file-like skin then helps it to grip slippery prey, like small fishes (its main diet). Also, we noticed that the snake did several peristalsis movements along 2/3 of its body (probably digesting its prey?).
(right): As can be seen, the snake has rather tiny eyes that’s accompanied by a rather small mouth. However, those nostril-like holes seem rather big don’t they? :)
All too soon, the skies herald the arrival of the morning sun by gradually turning to a rose-peach hue; revealing baby blue clouds that glimmered over the horizon. It was 15 minutes before we had to return to the meeting point. As quickly and as efficient as possible, Hen and I went on to finish the rest of the tract. Although we came out from the Hunting-Seeking session with countless ‘kiss’ marks from the mosquitoes, it was worth it (and more)! Farewell banded snake and (hopefully), I’ll be able to see you again in July (fingers crossed ^^x).
** Again, my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to AY for his camera. You rock, senpai!
