Slideshow # 3 Caribbean Invertebrates 2008 Edition

Phylum Molluska: Bilateral Symmetry Body has: –visceral mass (organs) –mantle, adapted for respiration or shell secretion –one or more muscular “feet” for mobility True coelom in visceral mass

Rough File Clam - bivalve tucked into crevasses in reef snap shut if threatened filter feeders

Amber Penshell - bivalve closes when approached shells often overgrown bivalve mollusk filter feeder

Chitons - Polyplacophora most species graze algae from rocks shell divided into seven separate plates

Queen Conch - Gastropod

Flamingo Tongue Snail - Gastropod found feeding on gorgonians spotted mantle will retract if disturbed poison is stolen from gorgonians

Reef Octopus - Cephalopod only likely to come out at night masters of quick color change approach gently, it may play!

Reef Squid - Cephalopod colors shimmer over skin often in schools may approach you closely if you’re calm

Lettuce Nudibranch skin ruffles on back (gills) look like lettuce color variable feed on algae

Phylum Echinodermata Many have hard endoskeleton just beneath the surface –spines may penetrate out Radial Symmetry as adults Most have arms radiating from central disk

Basket Star daytime appearance  catches plankton with arms, passes it into mouth in center unrolls at night 

Black and White Crinoid

Golden Crinoid 20 arms for feeding body hidden in reef

Brittle star

Sea Biscuit; Heart Sea Urchin look for ½ inch pea crab in spines most likely on sand at night

Pencil Sea Urchin

Long-spine Sea Urchin

Sea Urchin

Sea Cucumber; Tiger’s Tail tail anchored in reef, mouth end scavenges 3 feet – 6 feet long

Sea Cucumber; Donkey Dung

Phylum Arthropoda Class Crustacea Hard exoskeleton Jointed appendages

Thor Anemone Shrimp

Spotted Cleaner Shrimp

Banded Coral Shrimp Body length

Pederson’s Cleaning Shrimp Common in corkscrew anemone may clean your hand if you’re patient

Arrow Crab Spider-like Long rostrum (snout) Eyes at base of rostrum Purple chelipeds Body length

Channel Clinging Crab (king crab)

Nimble Spray Crab Fluorescent green line Hide under boulders or sea urchins when approached

Hermit Crab

Spiny Lobster

Spanish/Slipper Lobster Only likely to see one on a night dive Slipper shaped?

Worms Most or all of these are in the Annelid phlya, with segmented bodies

Christmas Tree Worm 2 spiral crowns per worm crowns serve as gills and feeding appendages

Bristle worm

Horseshoe Worm uses fronds for feeding and respiration

Spaghetti Worm Multiple white feeding tentacles Retracts when disturbed

Cnidarians All have: –tentacles –stinging cells –a gut with one opening –medusa or polyp body form

Bleached Brain Coral 10 ft

Brain Coral 10 ft

Elkhorn coral Don’t get hung up on these in shallow water! 3 feet to 12 feet tall/wide

Great Star Coral 2-8 feet across

Staghorn coral 1-8 feet across, home to damselfish

Finger and Pencil Corals 1 foot to 4 feet across Finger: 3’ – 160’ deep Pencil usually deep Finger whitish Pencil yellowish

Lettuce Coral colonies vary in shape all display ridged surface

Flower Coral large coralites on individual stalks polyps extended

Shelf Coral 1 foot to 5 feet wide Several corals take this form on the wall… growing to light

Fire Coral White, filamentous edges May take many different shapes The COLORS are the key!

Cassiopeia (Mangrove Jelly)

Sea Wasp – generally encountered 1’-10’ deep Avoid stings, but if stung, treat as follows: apply meat tenderizer & vinegar paste or baking soda paste shave area DON’T rinse with soap or fresh water (causes unfired nematocysts to fire) wash gear in salt water and allow to dry

Portuguese Man-of-War Float size Tentacles feet long!!

Sea Fan; Gorgonian 2 feet – 6 feet long wave towards & away from shoreline with surge

Sea Plume; Gorgonians 1 foot – 7 feet tall

Sea Rod; Gorgonian ½ foot – 7 feet tall

Corkscrew Anemone

Giant caribbean anemone

Sponges Filter feeders –important for water clarity No true tissues Sessile as adults Ciliated, free-swimming larvae

Netted Barrel Sponge 2-5 feet across

Pink Azure Vase Sponge look inside for brittle stars

Strawberry Vase Sponge

Encrusting Sponge

Yellow Tube Sponge 2-4 feet across

Purple Tube Sponge 2 feet – 6 feet long

Touch-me-not Sponge touch can result in burning, numbness, and rash treat with vinegar, then meat tenderizer, then cortisone ointment

Rope Sponges 1-8 feet long only in calm, deep water many colors and species

Oddballs

Hawksbill sea turtle Hawks beak in mouth region Serrated edges on posterior of shell 1 foot to 4 feet long

Tunicate 1/2-3/4 in.