Just back from St. Croix

[designbysue]

Did a week on the Nekton Rorqual - great trip! - but have some unidentified things.

#1 This was attached to the tip of a tube sponge. I think is is a sponge also but looks strange. Any ideas?

My Photos :: Sunday :: IMG_0172

#2 What kind of crab? Seen in about 25 feet of water at night under the town pier.

My Photos :: Wednesday :: IMG_0915

#3 A sea cucumber, but what kind?

My Photos :: Thursday :: IMG_1148

#4 A juvenile.....??

My Photos :: Tuesday :: IMG_0448

#5 - not too clear but maybe someone can tell.

My Photos :: Tuesday :: IMG_0451
Thanks
Sue

 

[deborahdelamar]

Fishes only: Juvenile Yellowhead Wrasse (See that it's beginning to get its eyelashes? Yellowheads have 'em.) & a juvenile Sunshinefish (a Chromis/Damselfish)

 

[WarmWaterDiver]

Crab is an ocellate swimming crab. We saw both adults and what we think was a juvenile on our recent Curacao trip. Size and capapace shape is a lot like the many blue crabs I've eaten over the years along the Gulf Coast.

Sea cucumber looks like it's probably a donkey dung sea cucumber. I'venever eaten one, nor do they sound appetizing to me.

We like St. Croix, we'll probably return there again March / April 2010.

 

[designbysue]

Thanks for the responses so far. Any thoughts why the cucumber is "decorated"? Thought it might be a donkey dung, but the leaf-like stuff got me.

Here's another
#6 Any ides of what goby this is?

#7 and this?

Sue

 

[Mayor]

My wife and I did enjoy St Croix. Thanks for all the great photos.

 

[designbysue]

Mayor - did you visit my site and look through the St.Croix album? (based on your comment "all")

 

[Mayor]

I did not till now!

 

[designbysue]

That could keep you busy for a while

 

[WarmWaterDiver]

Your guess is as good as mine on the sea cucumber since I didn't see it firsthand. Maybe it's a slow moving one and got some algae growing on it like the mosssy stuff on ground sloths above water?

 

[designbysue]

I'm guessing #6 is a pallid goby and I have found #7 to be a red lizzardfish. (Sat with the Reef Fish book for a while) Anyone have any other thoughts on #6?

And #1 - no one has taken a stab at that one yet.