Purpose of NatureScouter

This blog will address mainly two issues - Nature and Scouting.

The purpose of Nature blogs is to educate and promote the awareness of Singapore’s and global environmental and conservation issues to the public and the Scouting community. The Scouting-related blogs serve the similar purpose by promoting the World’s largest youth movement and its activities to the public.

This blog was created thanks to the persistent demands of all my dear friends to blog, and on my 25th birthday, this blog was born.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Crinoid Hunt at Hantu

It's been a long time since my last entry. Just got so busy after my Korea's World Scout Youth Forum and Conference. But here I am again!

It was another hunt, but this time for crinoids or what you would call feather stars. Two researchers from Japan (Dr. Yoshihisa Fujita & Mr. Masami Obuchi) led the team.

Stupidly enough, I didn't take a single photo of any crinoids... but nonetheless a bunch of the usual critters found, with a couple of nice finds.

Octopus
The octopuses were all out to play. Saw like 7 or 8 of them... big and small...

Fish
Fishes! No idea what the hell are these... Ain't a fishy guy here.

Fish-Flathead
But I sure know this is a flathead or also known as a crocodile fish. Found quite a few of them embedded in the sand.

Clownfish
Also found quite a few anemones with clownfish or better know as Nemo. Even found a baby nemo measuring about 1cm long only!!

Crab
Crabbies.

Crab&Snail
Crabbie eating a snail. Escargot?

Flatworm
Flatworms. Apparently the one on the left is usually only seen during dives and not on intertidal. Wondering why is it doing at the intertidal area...

Nudibranch
Nudis!! Can't remember the names...

Peacock_Anemone
A transparent peacock anemone. Have seen this a few times, and always by chance.

Anemone
Hunter in action. This sea anemone was happily feasting on a tiny fish (about 1cm). This too was transparent and once again spotted by chance. Perhaps it's the silver sheen of the fish that gave away it's location.


CRINOID 101
Crinoid
A little something I've learnt from the researchers. Using an old photo as an example.
- Baby crinoids are born with only 5 arms!!
- Crinoids autotomise their arms at the base in order to grow more arms!!
- Crinoids are ID-ed by the number of segments in their arms and cirri!!
- They are a very difficult group to ID!! Duhz...
- Colour and patterning may or may not be unique within species...

Something new learnt everyday!!