1. Slideshow # 3 Caribbean Invertebrates 2008 Edition

2. 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

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

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

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

6. Queen Conch - Gastropod

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

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

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

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

11. 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

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

13. Black and White Crinoid

14. Golden Crinoid 20 arms for feeding body hidden in reef

15. Brittle star

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

17. Pencil Sea Urchin

18. Long-spine Sea Urchin

19. Sea Urchin

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

21. Sea Cucumber; Donkey Dung

22. Phylum Arthropoda Class Crustacea Hard exoskeleton Jointed appendages

23. Thor Anemone Shrimp

24. Spotted Cleaner Shrimp

25. Banded Coral Shrimp Body length

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

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

28. Channel Clinging Crab (king crab)

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

30. Hermit Crab

31. Spiny Lobster

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

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

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

35. Bristle worm

36. Horseshoe Worm uses fronds for feeding and respiration

37. Spaghetti Worm Multiple white feeding tentacles Retracts when disturbed

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

39. Bleached Brain Coral 10 ft

40. Brain Coral 10 ft

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

42. Great Star Coral 2-8 feet across

43. Staghorn coral 1-8 feet across, home to damselfish

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

45. Lettuce Coral colonies vary in shape all display ridged surface

46. Flower Coral large coralites on individual stalks polyps extended

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

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

49. Cassiopeia (Mangrove Jelly)

50. 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

51. Portuguese Man-of-War Float size Tentacles 10-30 feet long!!

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

53. Sea Plume; Gorgonians 1 foot – 7 feet tall

54. Sea Rod; Gorgonian ½ foot – 7 feet tall

55. Corkscrew Anemone

56. Giant caribbean anemone

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

58. Netted Barrel Sponge 2-5 feet across

59. Pink Azure Vase Sponge look inside for brittle stars

60. Strawberry Vase Sponge

61. Encrusting Sponge

62. Yellow Tube Sponge 2-4 feet across

63. Purple Tube Sponge 2 feet – 6 feet long

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

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

66. Oddballs

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

68. Tunicate 1/2-3/4 in.