Getting the Most Out of Your Underwater Experience:

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1 Getting the Most Out of Your Underwater Experience: An introduction to identifying the fish, creatures, and coral of the Virgin Islands Part II: Creatures and Coral Brian Naess, Research Associate Institute for the Environment, UNC-Chapel Hill

2 Credits All photos taken by ENST 259 instructors: Brian Naess, Liz Naess, Andrew George, Kolya Lachinsky All identifications for class photos based on the 3 book series by Paul Humann and Ned Deloach: Reef Fish Identification, Reef Creature Identification, and Reef Coral Identification of Florida, Caribbean, and Bahamas published by New World Publications, Inc. Disclaimer: Visual identification of many creatures like sponges and tunicates is at best an educated guess!

3 3 Main Divisions Fish sharks, eels, rays Creatures crabs, shrimp, clams, starfish, anemones, lobsters, squid, octopus, worms, cucumbers, tunicates, sponges, urchins, turtles Coral hard and soft varieties, marine plants and algae

4 * Images scanned from Reef Creature Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas by Paul Humann and Ned DeLoach Creatures

5 We ll Focus On Cnidarians: Hydroids, Anemones, Zoanthids, and Corallimorphs Segmented Worms: Fireworms, Feather duster worms, Calcareous tube worms Crustaceans: Shrimp, Lobsters, and Crabs Mollusks: Snails, Bivalves, Squid, and Octopuses Echinoderms: Sea stars, Urchins, and Cucumbers Tunicates and Sponges Sea Turtles: Green and Hawksbill turtles

6 What to Look For 0) What Kind of Creature Is It? 1a) Shape 1b) Distinctive Traits 2) Color 3) Behavior 4) Location 5) Size

Cnidarians: Hydroids, Anemones, Zoanthids, and Corallimorphs Hydroids Usually colonial; branched skeleton resembling feathers or ferns Arrangement of stalk, branches, and polyps key to identification

7 Cnidarians: Hydroids, Anemones, Zoanthids, and Corallimorphs Hydroids Usually colonial; branched skeleton resembling feathers or ferns Arrangement of stalk, branches, and polyps key to identification Anemones Solitary polyps attached to bottom Tentacles vary in length, shape, color, and number Zoanthids Usually smaller than anemones Oral disc has no tentacles except two rings of tentacles around outer edge Corallimorphs Tentacles radiate out from center and form concentric circles Protruding mouth Where to Look Hydroids All areas of reef Anemones All areas of reef. Bodies often hidden in recesses. Zoanthids - Many live on sponges. Others found on all areas of reef. Corallimorphs Most attach to solid structure, often in protected areas. * Descriptions taken from Reef Creature Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas by Paul Humann and Ned DeLoach. Page 62-66

8 Cnidarians: Hydroids, Anemones, Zoanthids, and Corallimorphs Christmas tree hydroid Giant Anemone Giant Anemone Feather plume hydroid Warty Corallimorph Mat Zoanthid

9 Segmented Worms Fireworms Bundles of sharp, white bristles that will penetrate the skin and break off Feather Duster Worms Bodies hidden inside parchment-like tubes attached to reef Feather-like radioles that extend from tube act as gills and capture plankton Calcareous Tube Worms Tubes often hidden in rock or coral Colorful radioles form spirals and whorls Where to Look Fireworms Can be found crawling all over, especially on gorgonians and fire coral Feather duster worms All reef and nearreef areas. Often shy and retract in tube Calcareous tube worms All areas of reef. Tubes often encased in live coral. * Descriptions taken from Reef Creature Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas by Paul Humann and Ned DeLoach. Page 140-1

10 Segmented Worms Christmas tree worm Bearded fireworm Star horseshoe worm

11 Crustaceans: Shrimp, Lobsters, and Crabs Shrimp Long, hair-like antennae Lobsters Bottom-dwellers, clawless Spiny lobsters have long, conical antennae Slipper lobsters have plate-like antennae Crabs Claws, three to four pairs of legs Usually secretive, hiding in recesses and in association with anemones and urchins Where to Look Shrimp Under overhangs, recesses and in association with anemones. Usually more than one. Lobsters Caves, recesses. Look for antennae. Often more than one. Crabs Caves, recesses, behind urchins. If you see long-spined urchin next to wall, look behind urchin for nimble spray crab. * Descriptions taken from Reef Creature Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas by Paul Humann and Ned DeLoach. Page 164-6

12 Crustaceans: Shrimp, Lobsters, and Crabs Banded coral shrimp Peppermint shrimp Pederson cleaner shrimp Spotted cleaner shrimp

13 Crustaceans: Shrimp, Lobsters, and Crabs Spanish lobster Caribbean spiny lobster Spotted spiny lobster

14 Crustaceans: Shrimp, Lobsters, and Crabs Yellowline arrow crab Nimble spray crab Blotched swimming crab

15 Mollusks: Snails, Bivalves, Squid, and Octopuses Snails/Gastropods Identified by shell shape, sculpturing, color pattern, etc. Snail s body normally hidden, but you may see tube-like mouth and/or two tentacles with eyes Bivalves Two shells hinged together by a ligament Squid Eight arms with two longer tentacles. Stabilizing swim fins along the sides. Usually in groups of 3 or more. Octopuses Eight arms of equal length, globular/bag-like body Incredible ability to camouflage Where to Look Snails Sea grass, sand, shallow reef areas. Some attach/feed on gorgonians Bivalves Cracks, recesses, attached to structure like pilings, sometimes attached to gorgonians Squid Usually shallow, reef/near-reef areas. Octopuses Hard to spot unless moving. Can be in recesses. Look for piles of shells. * Descriptions taken from Reef Creature Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas by Paul Humann and Ned DeLoach. Page 256-8

16 Mollusks: Snails, Bivalves, Squid, and Octopuses Atlantic wing-oyster Crown conch Rough fileclam

17 Mollusks: Snails, Bivalves, Squid, and Octopuses Caribbean reef squid Common octopus

Echinoderms: Sea stars, Urchins, and Cucumbers Sea stars Central disc with typically five triangular arms Incredible regenerative abilities Brittle stars Long, thin arms

stars Sea grass, sandy areas Brittle stars Sponges, fire coral, under rocks Sea urchins Everywhere, particularly in shallow reef/near reef areas.

18 Echinoderms: Sea stars, Urchins, and Cucumbers Sea stars Central disc with typically five triangular arms Incredible regenerative abilities Brittle stars Long, thin arms with flattened central disc Sea urchins Spherical bodies with long, protective spines Sea cucumbers Sausage shaped bodies crawling across reef or sand Where to Look Sea stars Sea grass, sandy areas Brittle stars Sponges, fire coral, under rocks Sea urchins Everywhere, particularly in shallow reef/near reef areas. Sea cucumbers Sandy areas, sea grass beds, and reef rubble areas. * Descriptions taken from Reef Creature Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas by Paul Humann and Ned DeLoach. Page 350-3

19 Echinoderms: Sea stars, Urchins, and Cucumbers Cushion sea star Banded arm brittle star Common comet star Sponge brittle star

20 Echinoderms: Sea stars, Urchins, and Cucumbers Rock-boring urchin West Indian sea egg Long-spined urchin Donkey dung sea cucumber

Tunicates and Sponges Tunicates Attached to substrate on one end, two siphons at the other end for food and oxygen Can close their siphons quickly when disturbed Highly evolved with nervous system

shapes (barrel, ball, tube, rope, encrusting, etc.) Simplest multicellular animal Where to Look Tunicates Reef areas, sometimes attached to gorgonians. Often bodies are hidden in crevices.

21 Tunicates and Sponges Tunicates Attached to substrate on one end, two siphons at the other end for food and oxygen Can close their siphons quickly when disturbed Highly evolved with nervous system and complex muscles Sponges Water passes through numerous small pores where food and oxygen are filtered out, then exits out one or more large excurrent openings Many different sizes, colors, and shapes (barrel, ball, tube, rope, encrusting, etc.) Simplest multicellular animal Where to Look Tunicates Reef areas, sometimes attached to gorgonians. Often bodies are hidden in crevices. Sponges Usually near/on reefs, reef walls, overhangs, sometimes attached to substrate like gorgonians, mangrove roots, etc. * Descriptions taken from Reef Creature Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas by Paul Humann and Ned DeLoach. Pgs 14,400

22 Tunicates Blue bell tunicates Painted tunicates Overgrowing mat tunicates Strawberry tunicates

23 Sponges Black ball sponge Scattered pore rope sponge Branching tube sponge Orange icing sponge Brown bowl sponge Red-orange encrusting sponge

24 Sea Turtles Marine reptiles that only come ashore to lay eggs All species of turtles are endangered We ll see hawksbill and green turtles Where to Look Sea turtles will most often be found in sea grass areas, feeding on turtle grass. You may find them swimming over deeper water, and you may spot them surfacing for air from the beach. Hawksbill turtles have generally brown shells with mottled markings, overlapping plates on their shells, and an overhanging upper beak Hawksbill turtles have two pairs of plates between the eyes Green turtles have brown to dark brown shells that are generally unmarked, though they can have mottled markings like the hawksbill or wave-like/brush-stroke patterns Green turtles have only two plates between the eyes. * Descriptions taken from Reef Fish Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas by Paul Humann and Ned DeLoach. Pg 481

25 Sea Turtles Green turtle Hawksbill turtle

26 Quiz Banded tube-dwelling anemone* Visual ID: Translucent brown-and-white banded outer tentacles, whitish oral disc and central tentacles. Habitat and Behavior: Inhabit areas of sand and coral rubble. Nocturnal, solitary polyps extend from parchment-like tube buried in sand. * Description taken from Reef Creature Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas by Paul Humann and Ned DeLoach. Pg 118

Quiz Reticulated brittle star* Visual ID: Reticulated network of fine dark lines on bone white to bluish disc. Arms whitish to pale yellow with brownish bands and short spines.

27 Quiz Reticulated brittle star* Visual ID: Reticulated network of fine dark lines on bone white to bluish disc. Arms whitish to pale yellow with brownish bands and short spines. Habitat and Behavior: Inhabit sandy areas around reefs. Hide under slabs of coral and rubble. * Description taken from Reef Creature Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas by Paul Humann and Ned DeLoach. Pg 370

Quiz Flamingo tongue* Visual ID: Cream-white mantle covered with orangish, often somewhat rectangular spots with black outlines. Shell is lustrous cream to white.

28 Quiz Flamingo tongue* Visual ID: Cream-white mantle covered with orangish, often somewhat rectangular spots with black outlines. Shell is lustrous cream to white. Habitat and Behavior: Attach to and feed on gorgonians in all types of habitats. * Description taken from Reef Creature Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas by Paul Humann and Ned DeLoach. Pg 282

29 3 Main Divisions Fish sharks, eels, rays Creatures crabs, shrimp, clams, starfish, anemones, lobsters, squid, octopus, worms, cucumbers, tunicates, sponges, urchins, turtles Coral hard and soft varieties, marine plants and algae

30 Coral * Images scanned from Reef Coral Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas by Paul Humann and Ned DeLoach

31 We ll Focus On Hydrocorals: Fire coral Gorgonians: Sea rods, Sea plumes, and Sea fans Stony corals: Branching & pillar corals, Finger corals, Star corals, Brain corals, and Cup corals Marine plants and Algae

caused by nematocysts on tentacles 3 different flavors: blade,

32 Fire Coral Hydrocorals Actually member of hydroid family Two types of polyps: sensory/stinging encircling stout feeding polyps Sting caused by nematocysts on tentacles 3 different flavors: blade, branching, and box Look for mustard color with white ends; white hairs

33 Gorgonians Polyps have 8 tentacles Stems and branches all have central trunk Entire coral colony attached at a single point Pay special attention to arrangement of polyps, as it can be helpful in identification

34 Gorgonians Sea Rods Knobby sea rod Porous sea rod

35 Gorgonians Sea Plumes Sea plume forest Rough sea plume

36 Gorgonians Sea Fans Wide mesh sea fan Common sea fan

37 Stony Corals Hermatypic reef-building Colonies increase size by asexual budding Tentacles in multiples of six

38 Stony Corals Branching and pillar corals Pillar coral Elkhorn coral Staghorn coral

39 Stony Corals Finger corals Branched finger coral Clubtip finger coral

40 Stony Corals Star corals Boulder star coral Blushing star coral Elliptical star coral Lobed star coral

41 Stony Corals Brain corals Boulder brain coral Symmetrical brain coral Grooved brain coral

42 Stony Corals Cup corals Orange cup coral

43 Marine Plants and Algae Photosynthetic Marine plants have roots, stems, leaves, and flowers Example: Sea grasses Algae attach to substrate using rhizoids, have stalks rather than stems, and blades instead of leaves Examples: Brown, green, and red algae * Descriptions taken from Reef Coral Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas by Paul Humann and Ned DeLoach. Pgs188-9

44 Marine Plants and Algae Sea grass Turtle grass

45 Marine Plants and Algae Brown algae White scroll alga and Y Branched alga

46 Marine Plants and Algae Green algae Green feather alga Green grape alga Bristle ball brush

47 Marine Plants and Algae Red algae Fuzz ball alga Y-Twig alga

48 Quiz Black-ball sponge, elliptical star coral, etc.

49 Quiz Bluestriped grunt (juv.), erect rope sponge, smooth star coral, etc.

50 Quiz Clubtip finger coral, elkhorn coral, turtle grass, watercress alga

51 Quiz Common octopus, orange ball sponge, some type of vase sponge, long-spined urchin, etc.

52 Tips for Productive Snorkeling Good fitting mask Take your time Reefs are 3D swim down and explore Don t use fins in shallow water Stay horizontal in water less than 20 deep Look for overhangs, openings, caves Focus on one thing at a time Spend some time in the shallows Little fish are just as cool as big fish!

ABCs & Name the parts!

ABCs & Name the parts! Objective: These two activities are used to introduce the students to the variety of marine life living in European waters while learning their ABCs and practicing their letter writing.