Phylum Porifera sponges Phylum Cnidaria
|
|  Yüklə 61.5 Kb.
|
|
QUEST MARE/BIOL 264 Invertebrate Identification List
hermit crabs Panulirus marginatus - banded spiny lobster Panulirus penicillatus - tufted spiny lobster Parribacus antarcticus - brown slipper lobster Stenopus hispidus - banded coral shrimp Phylum Echinodermata Acanthaster planci - crown-of-thorns seastar Actinopyga mauritiana - speckled sea cucumber Actinopyga obesa - plump sea cucumber Chondrocidaris gigantea - rough spined urchin Colobocentrotus atratus - shingle urchin Culcita novaeguineae - cushion seastar Diadema paucispinum - long-spined black urchin Echinometra mathaei - rock boring urchin Echinometra oblonga - black boring urchin Echinothrix sp. - banded and black sea urchins Heterocentrotus mammillatus - slate pencil urchin Holothuria atra - black sea cucumber Holothuria whitmaei - teated sea cucumber Linckia multifora - pink seastar Ophiocoma spp. - brittlestars Opheodesoma spectabilis - sea worm sea cucumber Tripneustes gratilla - collector urchin Phylum Chordata - tunicates II. Species descriptions: Phylum Porifera - sponges Description: encrusting or vase-shaped masses covered with small pores; often brightly colored (no pattern); spicules give sponges a "gritty" feel Habitat: on hard substrates Phylum Cnidaria - corals Hermatypic corals Cyphastrea agassizi (Leptastrea bottae) – Agassiz’s Coral Growth form: small, globular encrustation's; Black, cream, occasional green. Fine structure: calices large (2-3 mm) and well separated with individual walls; elevated primary septa. Habitat: reef flats exposed to sand scour. Cyphastrea ocellina - eyed coral Growth form: small encrusting or clumpy colonies; light reddish brown. Fine structure: calices small (1-3 mm), crowded, elevated above surface, randomly oriented in clumps; calyx wall thick with raised edges. Habitat: reef flat and tide pools Fungia scutaria – oval mushroom coral Growth form: large (4-28 cm) free-living, solitary coral; light brown, tentacles may be green and purple mouth Fine structure: septa of uniform dimensions radiating out from central depression; some originate partway out to the edge. septa thin and serrated, thicker at inner edge. Habitat: reef flats, frequently in crevices or depressions. Gardineroseris planulata – Honeycomb coral Growth form: large, thin encrusting sheets or rounded lobes; uniform yellow-tan with darker corallites. Fine structure: calices variable in size, up to 5 mm, irregular shape, share thin common walls. Habitat: reef flats and slope to 50 m. Leptoseris incrustans - swelling coral Growth form: small encrusting colonies; greenish to reddish color with small, round light colored lumps. Fine structure: sunken calices separated by irregular swellings covered with wavy ridges. Corallites too small to see. Habitat: shady areas under ledges Montipora General Description: calices separated by open space; papillate projections between calyces cover colony. Montipora capitata - rice coral (previously called M. verrucosa) Growth form: highly variable, encrusting and plate-like (shallow water) or branching (deep); dark-chocolate with white borders to beige or white. Fine structure: papillae large, randomly distributed, absent from underside of free margins. Habitat: all environments, 0-50 m. Montipora flabellata - blue rice coral Growth form: small, encrusting with irregular lobes; blue to turquoise or brown color. Fine structure: papillae smaller, sometimes fused to form ridges; calices with elevated collars. Habitat: exposed areas, to 10m deep. Montipora patula - sandpaper rice coral Growth form: plates or encrusting colonies; yellow-brown with light borders. Fine structure: papillae small, forming rings around calyx, polyps may be blue or purple. Habitat: reef flat. Pavona General description: septa continue beyond calyx into open space. Pavona duerdeni – Duerden’s or porkchop coral Growth form: encrusting round, or with rounded disks or lobes 5-15cm high and 2-5cm across; light gray or pale brown. Fine structure: calices regular and symmetrically arranged. Habitat: wave-exposed environments to 5m deep. Pavona varians - corrugated coral Growth form: encrusting globular masses covered with small, winding ridges; tan or tan-brown. Fine structure: elongate, angular steep-sided ridges with calices in valleys; septa line sides of ridges. Habitat: moderately to heavy surge on reef flat and slope. Pocillopora General description: branching colonies; calices crowded together on regularly-spaced wart-like projections (verrucae) and connected by a network of common walls, ridges, seams, or grooves. Pocillopora damicornis - lace coral Growth form: finely branched with many divisions; branches not thicker than a pencil; colonies small, up to 15 cm; bushy-shaped; light to dark brown. Fine structure: septa and columella poorly developed; walls of terminal calices flare outward. Habitat: protected areas in shallow water. Pocillopora eydouxi - antler coral Growth form: large (up to 1.5m) with thick, cylindrical, vertical or flattened branches that lack divisions; brown. Fine structure: calices have distinct septa and columella. Habitat: wave-exposed areas, 0-18 m. Pocillopora meandrina - cauliflower coral Growth form: heavy, flattened branches often forked near the end, may be c-shaped at tip; brown to pink. Fine structure: septa and columella poorly developed; calyx irregularly shaped. Habitat: wave-exposed habitats, 0-30 m. Porites General description: calices 5-sided polygons; well developed septa and columella give "snowflake" appearance. Calices very small, coral appears smoother than other genera Porites compressa - finger coral Growth form: finger-like columnar branches with porous skeleton; tips of branches usually blunt or flattened; light-brown to yellow. Fine structure: calices flush with surface; upper septa surface looks like elevated rods. Habitat: wave-protected areas, 0-50 m. Porites lutea – mound coral (P. evermanni) Growth form: resembles P. lobata by forming low, flat-topped or cube-like lobes with rounded edges; usually gray, brown, or purple. Appears ‘fuzzy’. Fine structure: septa made up of thin plates that form a continuous porous surface; calyx walls form a ring. Habitat: wave-exposed reef flats usually 6m or shallower. Porites lobata - lobe coral Growth form: colonies form large lobes, never thin or finger-like; colonies may be huge, covering several meters or more; usually yellow-green, can be brown, or blue-gray. Fine structure: calyx sides are thin and elevated into sharp walls. Habitat: wave-exposed areas, 0-50 m. **Porites lutea/ lobata are difficult to distinguish** Porites rus - plate and pillar coral Growth form: columnar lobes, irregular, or flat plates; usually cream or gray with pale tips. Fine structure: small, round, shallow calices well separated on the surface, often in rows with irregular ridges in between. Habitat: moderate surge, to 8m deep. Ahermatypic corals Tubastraea coccinea – orange cup coral Growth form: encrusting clumps of large (> 1 cm) tubular individual polyps, clump of 10-20 large calices 5-10 cm across; animal orange. Fine structure: calyx wall very thin, porous and composed of glandular ridges; primary and secondary septa distinct; upper edge of septa depressed below. Habitat: shallow water. Zoanthids - colonial anemones Palythoa caesia – pillow zoanthid Growth form: rubbery encrusting mats; usually blue-gray, but may be pink, pink or brown in color. Fine structure: thick rubber-like sheet of tissue fills the entire space between the polyps, smooth and featureless when polyps retracted; polyps up to 8 mm in diameter. Habitat: surge pools and reefs. ***Warning: may be highly toxic to the touch!*** Zoanthus sp – green mat zoanthid Growth form: encrusting mats with polyps connected only at base; greenish, purplish, pink or some combination Fine structure: polyps may be up to 7 mm diameter. Habitat: shallow water. Note: may be toxic to touch Phylum Platyhelminthes - flatworms Description: dorso-ventrally flattened worms; lacking dorsal or lateral gills; often brightly colored Size: up to 5 cm length Habitat: under rocks and in crevices, nocturnal Phylum Annelida - segmented worms Eurythoe complanata - fire worm Description: segmented worm with long white bristles protruding laterally; brightly colored Size: up to 15 cm length Habitat: under rocks and in coral rubble in shallow water; *** WARNING: this species is venomous *** Loimia medusa - spaghetti worm Description: long, white tentacles radiating out from a central burrow Size: up to 1 m length (tentacles) Habitat: shallow water, buried under rocks and sand Sabellastarte spectabilis - feather duster worm Description: large, plush, feather-duster like tentacles sticking out of holes Size: up to 12 cm length (tentacles) Habitat: shallow water, burrowed on hard substrates Spirobranchus giganteus - Christmas tree worm Description: brilliantly colored spiraled fans sticking out of coral; retracts when touched. Two spirals per worm. Size: 3-6 cm length (fans) Habitat: burrowed inside coral heads Phylum Mollusca - snails, nudibranchs, clams, octopus & squid Conus spp. - cone shells Description: cone-shaped shells in a variety of colors and forms Size: up to 15 cm length Habitat: nocturnal; some live under rocks, some buried in sand most of the time *** WARNING: these species are poisonous, some potentially fatal *** Cypraea caputserpentis - snakehead cowry Description: small, brown dome-shaped shell with white spots; often covered with a tan mantle studded with tentacles Size: up to 3 cm length Habitat: shallow water under rocks and coral rubble Cypraea tigris - tiger cowry Description: large, spotted dome-shaped shell; often covered with a mottled mantle studded with tentacles Size: up to 10 cm length Habitat: below 3 m on hard substrates Hexabranchus sp. - spanish dancer (previously H. sanguineus, but split into H. aureomarginatus & H. pulchellus) Description: dorso-ventrally flattened slug; mottled red and white with a ring of posterior gills and anterior rhinophores Size: up to 25 cm length Habitat: hard substrates, feeds on sponges; occasionally swimming Morula spp. & Drupa spp. - drupes Description: robust shells, often covered with tubercules and short spines; aperture lined with teeth in adults. Size: to 3 cm length Habitat: common in shallow and moderately deep reefs in crevices. Carnivores, feed (depending on species) on worms, other molluscs or coral. Octopus spp. - octopus Description: 8 arms lined with suckers; mottled-brown and black, often with white spots Size: up to 1 m length Habitat: in holes and cracks on the reef; out in the open at night; *** WARNING: these species are poisonous and can bite *** Phylum Arthropoda -- crabs, shrimp, lobsters, etc. Carpilus maculatus - 7-11 crab Description: large, oval crab with large claws and numerous dark red spots Size: up to 15 cm length Habitat: wedged in cracks on hard substrates, feed on other crabs and snails. hermit crabs Description: small to large crabs living inside of snail shells Size: up to 9 cm length Habitat: on sand and in holes in the reef Panulirus marginatus - banded spiny lobster Description: claw-less, mottled lobster with large antennae; tail banded with white, leg joints often orange Size: up to 40 cm length Habitat: under ledges and in caves Panulirus penicillatus - tufted spiny lobster Description: claw-less, mottled lobster with large antennae; legs with conspicuous white stripes running lengthwise, joints not orange; tail without bands Size: up to 40 cm length Habitat: under ledges and in caves Parribacus antarcticus - brown slipper lobster Description: mottled, dorso-ventrally flattened lobster with large anterior lobed antennal scales; carapace and claws bordered with bristles Size: up to 20 cm length Habitat: under ledges and in caves on shallow reef flat Stenopus hispidus - banded coral shrimp Description: shrimp with red and white banded body and claws. Size: up to 5 cm length Habitat: in pairs, in holes and cracks on coral reefs Phylum Echinodermata – sea stars, brittle stars, urchins, etc. Sea stars (Asteroids) Acanthaster planci - crown-of-thorns sea star Description: 10-16 arm sea star covered with long, sharp spines Size: up to 35 cm diameter Habitat: on coral reefs ***Warning spines are venomous!*** Culcita novaeguineae - cushion sea star Description: large, plump cushion-like sea star; often bright red or mottled reddish-brown Size: up to 25 cm diameter Habitat: on coral in shallow areas Linckia multifora – spotted Linckia Description: 3-5 long, slender arms, small body; yellowish to reddish-brown, often mottled; arms often of irregular length Size: up to 15 cm diameter Habitat: shallow areas Brittle stars (Ophiuroids) Ophiocoma spp. – brittle stars Description: long, slender arms with numerous lateral spines; often black or brown Size: up to 15 cm diameter Habitat: shallow water under rocks, or in holes on the reef, nocturnal Sea cucumbers (Holothuroids) Actinopyga mauritiana – white-spotted sea cucumber Description: large brown and white speckled cucumber; body lined with tube feet; ring of five small teeth around anus Size: up to 15 cm length Habitat: usually clinging to reef or rock, often in rough areas Actinopyga obesa - plump sea cucumber Description: large brown sea cucumber; anal teeth yellow Size: up to 30 cm length Habitat: usually clinging to reef or rock, but easily dislodged Holothuria atra - black sea cucumber Description: black, smooth, round cucumber often covered with sand Size: up to 40 cm length Habitat: on shallow sandy reef flats Holothuria whitmaei - teated sea cucumber Description: black, smooth, hard cucumber often covered with sand. Is wider and harder to the touch than the previous, with teat-like projections on the base. Size: up to 30 cm length Habitat: on shallow sandy reef flats Opheodesoma spectabilis – Conspicuous sea cucumber Description: body long and tubular, thin and transparent; body banded pink to dark red Size: up to 1 m length Habitat: on shallow sandy reef flats Sea urchins (Echinoids) Colobocentrotus atratus - Helmet urchin Description: small, flattened urchin with paddle-like spines; dark coloration Size: usually 4-6 cm but up to 9 cm diameter Habitat: clinging to wave-swept shores Diadema paucispinum - long-spined black urchin Description: large urchins with long, slender black spines; primary spines are several times the test diameter, which is relatively small. Size: up to 30 cm diameter Habitat: in holes on the reef Echinothrix spp. - banded / black sea urchin (Wana) Description: large urchins with long, slender spines, banded light and dark green or black with a bluish sheen (both species tend to have banded spines); shorter needle-like secondary spines are usually green or banded Size: up to 15 cm diameter Habitat: in holes on the reef; ** WARNING: this species is venomous** Echinometra mathaei - rock boring urchin Description: small, light-colored urchin with short spines, thick at the base and tapering to a sharp point; typically greenish-gray or reddish-brown Size: usually 4-6 cm but up to 15 cm diameter Habitat: in holes and depressions on rock in shallow areas Echinometra oblonga – oblong boring urchin Description: small, dark-colored urchin with short spines, thick at the base and tapering to a sharp point; typically dark purple or black Size: usually 4-6 cm but up to 15 cm diameter Habitat: in holes and depressions on rock in shallow areas Heterocentrotus mammillatus - red pencil urchin Description: large, blunt, pencil-thick spined urchin; often bright red Size: up to 20 cm diameter Habitat: in holes on the reef Chondrocidaris gigantea- rough spined urchin Description: large, blunt, pencil-thick spined urchin; spines covered with rough, thorn-like projections and often covered with encrustations Size: up to 25 cm diameter Habitat: in holes on the reef Tripneustes gratilla - collector urchin Description: black, round urchin with short, narrow spines often tipped with white or pink; smooth regions between spines. Algae or shell are often held on spines Size: up to 10 cm diameter Habitat: variety of habitats Phylum Chordata - tunicates Description: encrusting or vase-shaped encrusting masses covered with small pores; tunicates have a smooth feel; often brightly colored, may have pattern Habitat: on hard substrates Last Revised: 2/1/2011 |