Category: CORAL REEF


11-20-12 Fire Shrimp aka Scarlet Cleaning Shrimp from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: CORAL REEF, CRUSTACEANS, TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
November 19, 2012

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Infraorder: Caridea
Family: Hippolytidae

Genus/species: Lysmata debelius

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Length up to 3 centimetres (1.2 in) long, with males and females appearing similar. It has a deep blood red body, with conspicuous white antennae and white tips to the third to fifth pereiopods. There are white dots on the cephalothorax and legs; white dots on the abdomen distinguish L. splendida from L. debelius

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Widespread throughout the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean coral reefs. Often found lingering around an Eel’s hole where it will clean the face of the eel when it sticks its head out.

DIET IN THE WILD: Carnivore. As a “cleaner shrimp,” it will set up cleaning stations and remove dead tissue and parasites from fish that present themselves. It will also scavenge for meaty bits along the substrate bottom.

REPRODUCTION: Pairs of fire shrimps will reproduce continually. Hermaphrodite, therefore any two individuals may mate. The greenish egg mass is held beneath the abdomen of the female until the larvae hatch which become free swimming, entering the plankton undergoing several weeks of development.

Water Planet

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11-16-12 Leopard Wrasse aka Blackspotted Wrasse

Filed under: CORAL REEF, INDO-PACIFIC, TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
November 15, 2012

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) 
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes) 
Family: Labridae (Wrasses)

Genus/species: Macropharyngodon meleagris

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Sexual dichromism. Females are white with black or brown irregular spots with white to blue margins over the body. Males have orangey-red background with green mottling. Max. length: 15 cm (6 inches).

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indo Pacific: Eastern Indian Ocean to western Pacific and the islands of Oceania. Habitat: Subtidal reefs and outer lagoons, at depths of 0–30 meters (98 feet).

DIET IN THE WILD: Feed on gastropods, hard shelled prey and foraminiferans.

REMARKS: Wrasses are most easily identified by their pointed snouts and prominent canine teeth that protrude in front of the jaw. Other common characteristics include their form of propulsion, which depends mostly on the winglike motion of the pectoral fins with only an occasional burst of speed provided by the caudal fin. Color, markings and body shapes change during maturation.

Philippine Coral Reef PR04

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11-12-12 Moon Wrasse from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

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November 11, 2012

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Labridae (Wrasses)

Genus/species: Thalassoma lunare

GENERAL CHACTERISTICS: Adult’s caudal fin is a large yellow crescent edged in purple and blue, the source of the species common name. Body dark green to blue with vertical red lines on scales; pectoral fins a bright pink surrounded by neon blue. The head is distinctive for its bright irregular pink and violet bands radiating from the mouth towards the body, a kind of fluorescent camouflage. Max. length: 25 cm or 10 inches.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indo-Pacific; Red Sea to East Africa to the Line Islands, northwest to southern Japan, and southwest to northern New Zealand. Found on marine reefs to a depth of 20 m or 65.5 ft. Also lagoons, coastal reefs, protected seaward reefs, and estuaries.

DIET IN THE WILD: Feeds mainly on small benthic invertebrates and fish eggs

REPRODUCTION: Protogynous hermaphrodite

REMARKS: When frightened this fish will hide in the reef or bury itself in the sand; also buries in sand to sleep.

Philippine Coral Reef PR04

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10-31-12 Barhead Spinefoot from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: CORAL REEF, TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
October 30, 2012

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii 
Order: Perciformes
Family: Siganidae (Rabbitfishes and Spinefoots)

Genus/species: Siganus doliatus

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Length to 25 cm (9.5 in). Light blue body above, silvery below with intricate patterns of thin blue and yellow lines; pair of brown bars on head and forebody; yellow tail.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Tropical west Pacific in coral rich areas of channels and lagoon slopes, reef flats and seaward reefs. Depth 1–15 m (3-45 ft).

DIET IN THE WILD: Feeds on benthic seaweeds Reproduction and Development: Pelagic spawner. Mortality/Longevity: Stout venomous spines discourage would-be predators.

REPRODUCTION: Pelagic spawner. Juveniles form schools. Pairs form at 7 cm (2.75 inches) which continue to form loose schools to feed in areas being flooded by the tide.

REMARKS : Fins and spines are venomous. Caution must be used when handling. Reactions can range from mild to severe
Named rabbitfish due to their voracious appetite.

Phillipine Coral Reef PR04

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10-9-12 Clarks Anemone Fish from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: CORAL REEF, TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
October 9, 2012
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Pomacentridae  Damselfishes

Amphiprion clarkii  

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS:  To 12 cm (4.75 in). Black to entirely orange with pair of white or pale blue bars. Second bar wide; tail white or yellowish; other fins variably black to yellow-orange. There is also an orange variation: some are entirely pale orange, other than the two white bands; others have a dark patch on rear body.  (See remarks)

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indo-Pacific: Persian Gulf to Micronesia, New Caledonia and Fiji. Also Southwest Japan to northern Australia. Depth 1–55 meters (3-180 ft.) in outer reef slopes, less typically inhabit lagoons. Symbiotic with 10 species of sea anemones. Non-migratory.

DIET IN THE WILD:  Primarily planktonic copepods and benthic algae.

REPRODUCTION:  Monogamous; oviparous. Fertilization is external; benthic spawners; parents create a nest and male guards eggs. Are protandrous hermaphrodites; all mature as males In the absence of a female, the largest juvenile will mature within 5–6 months into the breeding male. The maturation of the smaller (all male) juveniles is stunted by the adult pair’s presence.

REMARKS: Coloration is apparently influenced by the host sea anemone species. Symbiotic with several anemones found in the Steinhart including Entacmaea quadricolor, Heteractis crispa, H. magnifica.

Philippine Coral Reef PR04 and Water Planet

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8-20-12 Bignose Unicornfish from Ron’s Tropical Marine Series

Filed under: CORAL REEF, INDO-PACIFIC, TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
August 19, 2012

TAXONOMY

Kingdom:   Animalia

Phylum:     Chordata

Class:         Actinopterygii

Order:        Perciformes

Family:      Acanthuridae

Genus/Species    Naso vlamingii

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

Length to 60 cm (23 in). Adults develop a convexly rounded prominent snout and extremely tall dorsal and anal fins. Gray ovate compressed body with bright blue markings. Tips of the tail fin are unusually long. Courting males are able to instantaneously turn iridescent blue.

DISTRIBUTIN/HABITAT


Indo-Pacific in deep lagoon and seaward reefs from 4–50 m (12-150 ft). Diurnally in conspecific groups midwater off steep slopes.

DIET IN THE WILD


Zooplankton.

REPRODUCTION


External fertilization. Egg scatterers, non-guarding. Remarks: Courting males are able to instantaneously turn iridescent blue.

Main Coral Reef Exhibit PR04

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8-7-12 Plating Hydnophora aka Horn Coral from Ron’s Marine Series (Philippine coral Reef)

Filed under: ANIMAL ATTRACTIONS, CNIDARIANS, CORAL REEF, INVERTEBRATES, TROPICAL MARINE — Leave a comment
August 7, 2012

TAXONOMY

KINGDOM Animalia

PHYLUM Cnidaria (possess cnidocytes)

CLASS Anthozoa (Sea Anemones and Corals)

SUBCLASS Hexacorallia (water-based organisms formed of colonial polyps generally with 6-fold symmetry)

ORDER Scleractinia (Stony Corals)

FAMILY Merulinidae

GENUS Hydnophora sp.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
Hexacoral or stonycorals with colonies that may be massive, encrusting, or branched; usually brown, greenish, or yellowish. Conical protuberances over the entire colony’s surface. Tentacles often partially extended during the day.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT
Widely distributed in the Indo- Pacific. Common in variety of reef habitats.

DIET IN THE WILD
Nutrition mostly provided by symbiotic zooxanthellae, but also take other food sources, such as plankton.

REPRODUCTION: The small polyp stony (SPS) corals are male and female and can reproduce both sexually and asexually. They reproduce sexually by releasing eggs and sperm at the same time (spawning), resulting in a fertilized egg which then forms into a free-swimming planula larva. Eventually the planula larvae settles onto the substrate, becoming plankters. This then forms a tiny polyp which begins to excrete calcium carbonate and develops into a coral. Planula larvae are extremely vulnerable to predation, and very few survive. Hydnophoras reproduce asexually from breakage due to storms resulting in fragmentation.

REMARKS: Hydnophora are very aggressive and can extend sweeper polyps and sting or basically eat other corals it touches.

LOCATION; Main Philippine Coral Reef Tank PR04

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7-31-12 Laced aka Honeycomb Moray Eel from Ron’s Marine Series

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July 30, 2012

PHYLUM  Chorada

CLASS     Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

ORDER    Anguilliformes (Eels and morays)

FAMILY    Muraenidae (Moray eels)

GENUS/SPECIES   Gymnothorax favagineus

 

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

This diverse group is noted for large mouths with numerous teeth, small gill openings, and the absence of pectoral and pelvic fins.  The anal and dorsal fins extend along much of the body and are continuous with the caudal fin. Gill openings are small and roundish and situated on the side of the head.

G. favagineus grows to 3 m, thus it is one of the two largest of Indo-Pacific moray eels. Spots variable between individuals and size.  The surface is covered with dark spots the size of their eye that form a honeycomb pattern. Some individuals colored almost totally black (those found in turbid water).    

 

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT

Red Sea, East. Africa to Papua, New Guinea and Great Barrier Reef.  Usually rests in  reef flat rubble and outer reef slopes of  continental reefs, 1–45 m (3-150) in depth. Often found in crevasses with cleaner wrasses or cleaner shrimps.

                                   PHOTO BELOW: Symbiotic relationship with a cleaner shrimp.  

DIET IN THE WILD

Predator upon cephalopods, crustaceans and small fishes.

 

REPRODUCTION

Leptocephalus larvae.

 

LOCATION

Dark Cluster  PR22  

 

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7-20-12 Sling-jaw Wrasse from Ron’s Tropical Salt Water Series

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July 19, 2012

TAXONOMY

Class:  Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

Order:   Perciformes (Perch-likes)

Family: Labridae (Wrasses)

Genus/species:   Epibulus insidiator

 

GENERAL CHARACTERICS

Max length : 54.0 cm. The mouth of this species is protrusible and unfolds into a tube easily half the body length. The jaws swing forward into a long tube that strong suction to catch prey. When not in use, the entire apparatus is conveniently folded under the head.

Small juveniles are brown with thin white bars. Color varies with age and sex, but adult color is variable, including with an all-yellow xanthic form. Terminal males are dark with a white head and a dark streak extending horizontally through the eye. Male becomes ornamented with orange and yellow over the back. Juveniles dark with fine vertical white lines. Intermediates with yellow blotches, pale tail and sometimes with black pectoral fins.

 

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT

Tropical marine waters of the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea, throughout South-east Asia and Micronesia, north to Japan, south to Australia and east to the Tuamoto Islands. In Australia it is known from the north-western coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country, and from the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.  E. insidiator inhabits coral-rich areas of lagoon and seaward reefs

 

DIET IN THE WILD

Small coral-dwelling crustaceans and fishes.

 

Location: Venoms Cluster PR 27

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7-16-12 Pacific Mole Crab aka Sand Crab from Ron’s Tidepool Series

Filed under: ARTHROPODS, CORAL REEF, CRUSTACEANS, INDO-PACIFIC, TEMPERATE MARINE — Leave a comment
July 15, 2012

TAXONOMY

KINGDOM      Animalia

PHYLUM        Arthropoda  (External skeleton, segmented body and jointed appendages)

SUBPHYLUM  Crustacea

CLASS          Malacostraca

ORDER         Decapoda  (ten legged)

FAMILY        Hippidae  (mole crabs or sand crabs)

GENUS/SPECIES  Emerita analoga

 

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

 Grey or sand colored exoskeleton without spines or claws.  The eyes are on long stalks and the antennae are also elongated so as to project above the surface of the sand. The legs and uropods have hairy margins to assist in digging and for use in collecting food and transferring it to the mouth.  The first pair of antennae reach above the sand for respiration, and the second pair, resembling feathers, are extended when the crab feeds. The female is nearly twice as large as the male up to 35 mm  (1.4 in) long and 25 mm (1.0 in) wide.

The sand crab always moves backwards when burrowing or crawling.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT

Pacific coast from Alaska to Baja California in the northern hemisphere and between Ecuador and Argentina in the southern hemisphere. E. analoga live in the swash zone (area of breaking waves) of the sandy beach intertidal zone.

DIET IN THE WILD

Antennae collect small organisms, mostly dinoflagellates which are brought to the mouth and consumed.

 REPRODUCTION

During the reproductive season (February-October), females can produce one clutch per month of 50-45,000 eggs, which take approximately 30 days to develop. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae are planktonic for 4-5 months.

PREDATORS

Fish, water birds, and shorebirds.

The barred surfperch is a very common fish in the surf zone, and sand crabs have been found to make up 90% of its diet.

Emerita analoga are  also used as bait by fishermen.

 

REMARKS

Sand crabs are known to carry parasites. They are an intermediate host of parasitic worms which are passed on to the predators of sand crabs. Sea otters and birds can eat many crabs per day, and the ingested parasites have been known to kill these predators.

Researchers monitor levels of DDT and domoic acid (a diatome neurotoxin) on a regular basis to assess the health of the ocean.

LOCATION Tidepool

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