Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Reef Octopus

[Originally posted to the Moorea Coral Reef LTER (MCR LTER) Marine Life Encyclopedia]

Reef Octopus
(Octopus cyanea)

Reef Octopus - Octopus cyanea
Photo by Gerick Bergsma

Octopuses possess complex eyes and well developed brains, and are extremely intelligent and inquisitive.

Distribution
Throughout the tropical Indopacific, from Africa and the Red Sea to Polynesia

Habitat
Exposed reefs and reef flats

Diet
Crustaceans, mollusks and fish

Quick Fact
Reef octopuses are masters of camouflage and hiding.  Lacking shells or bones, they can squeeze into impossibly small holes and crevices, and can change their color and skin texture to match almost any background (sand, coral, algae).  If provoked, reef octopuses may flatten themselves and turn white to appear intimidating.  If all else fails, octopuses can use jets of water to quickly propel themselves away from danger, and squirts of ink to confuse predators that might chase them.

Learn More
- Animal Diversity Web
- Shedd Aquarium

- Moorea Biocode Database

Pineapple Cucumber

[Originally posted to the Moorea Coral Reef LTER (MCR LTER) Marine Life Encyclopedia]

Pineapple or Prickly Cucumber
(Thelenota ananas)

Pineapple or Prickly Cucumber - Thelenota ananas
Photo by Gerick Bergsma

Cucumbers feed using specially modified tube feet to bring food to their mouths.

Distribution
Throughout the Indian and West Pacific, including eastern Africa, India, Japan, Australia and French Polynesia

Habitat
Reef flats and sand patches

Diet
Algae (esp. Halimeda sp.) and detritus

Quick Fact
Pineapple Cucumbers are known to host pearlfish, symbiotic fish that live in the cucumber's gut.  Pearlfish have long, slender bodies and are able to enter and exit their cucumber home through the cucumber's anus.  It is thought that they may feed on parts of the cucumber's digestive tract, as well as hunt for small crustaceans and fish outside the cucumber.

Learn More
- Echinoderms

- Moorea Biocode Database

Cone Snail

[Originally posted to the Moorea Coral Reef LTER (MCR LTER) Marine Life Encyclopedia]

Cone Snail
(Conus spp.)

Cone Snail - Conus spp.
Photo by Gerick Bergsma

Conus is a diverse genus, with over 500 species.

Distribution
Worldwide, primarily in tropics, but several species inhabit temperate reefs.

Habitat
Exposed reefs, reef flats and sand patches

Diet
Worms, mollusks (including other cone snails), and fish

Quick Fact
Cone snails are predatory, and hunt by sniffing out their prey with their long proboscis.  Many burrow through the sand, sneaking up on their prey before stinging them with a harpoon-like mouthpart called a radula.  They then inject their prey with some of the most powerful neurotoxins known.  The toxin in several species, including C. textile and C. geographus are powerful enough to kill humans, and are being studied for their abilities to disrupt nerve function, possibly leading to more powerful pain killers.

Learn More
- Wikipedia
- Nature

- Moorea Biocode Database

Banded Cleaner Shrimp

[Originally posted to the Moorea Coral Reef LTER (MCR LTER) Marine Life Encyclopedia]

Banded Cleaner Shrimp
(Stenopus hispidus)

Banded Cleaner Shrimp - Stenopus hispidus
Photo by Gerick Bergsma

Cleaner shrimp clean parasites and injured tissue from reef fish, and "dance" by swaying side to side and whipping their antennae to attract clients.

Distribution
S. hispidus is found on tropical reefs worldwide.

Habitat
Reef flats and protected reef environments

Diet
Fish parasites and dead tissue

Quick Fact
Cleaner shrimp are highly territorial and may remain within a one meter area for as long as one year.  Males and females are often found in pairs, and it is believed that cleaner shrimp mate with one partner for life.  Females are usually larger than males, and mating can only occur when females have recently molted their exoskeleton.

Learn More
Coming Soon
- Moorea Biocode Database