Location: Terumbu Semakau
Finally the last leg of low tide trips! This time, we are on the patch reef just off Pulau Semakau (landfill). Though it may be our thrash island, biodiversity just off the landfill is rich and alive! This is yet another giant clam survey... We've been getting lucky for the last few trips, finding two clams per trip. How was the 'catch' today? Well, we had..... TWO... But a different species....
This one here is commonly known as the burrowing giant clam (Tridacna crocea). Like the name suggests, you can most likely find a clam like that in dead rubble or rocks.
Usually the T. crocea are more colourful than the T. squamosa - exhibiting orange, green, yellow, blue and even whitish morphs!
These strange animals aggregate - meaning that they cluster together. These two clams were approximately 1 m apart! The previous ones found were about 5-10 m apart. One explanation about this behaviour could be for protection in groups.
Besides the clams, we saw some naked molluscs - nudibranchs!
Discodoris boholiensis...
The most common - Jorunna funebris (also called oreo cookie nudibranch!)
Special nudibranch in season - Ceratostoma sp. During diving, I see more of the other species which can vary from orange to brown. This green one here released whitish stuff along the edge of its body. It probably means that it feels disturbed and releasing chemicals to deter the object of disturbance.
My other finds were mostly anemones. My recent obsession. :)
This bubble anemone are usually found in the deeper waters but today, Kok Sheng found one near the edge while James and I separately found one each on the flat. Kok Sheng risked his pants (from getting it all wet) to capture photos and videos of the tomatofish in his anemone.
As for me, I had a wet-less time with this fellow. :) The tomatofish is like the clownfish, a symbiont with the bubble anemone. Tomatofish are usually much more aggressive! The fish just keeps darting in and out of the anemone. I think I got only a few decent shot of it, looking pissed off... :P
The 'food' anemone - Pizza anemone could be found here too! Finally I see one underwater, but looks almost the same when it is not submerged. :P
Another unusual nem - possibly the Heteractis crispa. Their unique features is the body column has bumps. Along the edge of the column, there is an infold which folds out to give the bumpy column. Unfortunately I wasn't able to photograph the column well this time.
My observations were that the tips are usually either bluish or purple.
I spotted this male shrimp on this one. I had a hard time getting the fully body but I only managed to get this without the tail! :S
A separate photo of its tail. This smaller shrimp is the male. On my previous trips, I only found females. Wonder if this one has a female hidden.
What a good weeks! With a total of 6 new clams! Congratulations to the team who have found them. Thanks! Let's see what the next trips will bring us.
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