Chek Jawa
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Ovum cowrie (Cypraea ovum)
These beautiful snails are fast disappearing in Singapore. Previously, 20 species of cowries were found in Singapore, but now not more than 10 remain. The Ovum cowrie is still common under rocks on Chek Jawa. -
Moon Snail (Natica tigrina)
Moon Snails move through wet sand with their oversized foot and mantle. They eat other snails and clams. The Moon Shell uses its foot to enclose its prey, secretes an acid to weaken the shell of the victim, then uses its radula (a rough tongue-like organ) to rasp a hole through the shell of its victim. -
Sand Collar of a Moon Shell (Family Naticidae)
This intriguing object is actually the egg capsule of the Moon Snail. The snail incorporates sand and mucus with its eggs which hardens into a hard plastic-like collar. -
Egg capsule of a Drill
These beautiful rosettes are the egg capsules of the Drill. These egg capsules are laid on the shell of another snail (Pugilina cochlidium) which has been taken over by a hermit crab. -
Unknown egg mass
This is an egg mass of an unknown creature, possibly a snail. -
Sponges (Phylum Porifera)
Sponges of all shapes and colours thrive in the coral rubble area. They can be seen easily only at very low spring tides. -
Sponges (Phylum Porifera)
Sponges of all shapes and colours are abundant in the coral rubble area. -
Sponges (Phylum Porifera)
A sponge is a simple animal made up of a few types of cells. These cells are largely independent of each other and only loosely held together. A sponge can almost be considered a colony of cells. These cells do not form organs so a sponge does not have a mouth, digestive system or circulatory system! -
Sponges (Phylum Porifera)
Sponges feed by generating a current of water through their bodies and filtering out tiny edible titbits. -
Sponges (Phylum Porifera)
Soft and immobile, sponges protect themselves with some of the most powerful poisons known in nature. A sponge doesn't have to wait to be eaten before it irritates with its toxins. Sponges can release toxins into the water to deter other creatures that try to grow on or near them. -
Sponge (Phylum Porifera)
Sponges may grow as balls. -
Sponges (Phylum Porifera)
The same species of sponge can take on different shapes and colours in different locations. -
Sponges (Phylum Porifera)
This black branching sponge has some orange organism encrusting it. -
Sponges (Phylum Porifera)
Sponges can reproduce asexually. In the wild, bits may be broken off in the pounding waves or during storms. These settle elsewhere, growing into new sponges. This ability also helps sponges 'heal' any wounds. -
Sponges (Phylum Porifera)
Many creatures are immune to the sponge's toxins and eat them with impunity. Nudibranchs, starfish, sea urchins and cowries are their main predators. -
Sponges (Phylum Porifera)
This purple branching sponge is commonly seen on Chek Jawa. -
Neptune's Cup Sponge (Petrosia sp.)
Besides simple shapes, some sponges form into more elaborate shapes. -
Sponges (Phylum Porifera)
There are 5,000-10,000 sponge species, found from the intertidal zone to the deepest ocean trenches. They are among the oldest and simplest creatures, evolving 650 million years ago. -
Sponges (Phylum Porifera)
Sponges can grow very fast, some have been seen to double their weight in two days! -
Sponges (Phylum Porifera)
Sponges are an important source of new drugs. Acyclovir, derived from a Caribbean sponge, is used to treat herpes and encephalitis. Arabinosides, used in making antiviral medications, is made from the sponge Tethya crypta. Research is ongoing to study the effects of sponge products in preventing and treating of tumours. -
Sea Pen growing next to small carpet anemone and large clump of algae
Sea pens are more commonly seen at night. -
Common sea pen (Pteroides sp.)
This sea pen is commonly seen in the seagrass lagoon. Sea pens are colonial animals belonging to the same group as corals, sea anemones and jellyfish. The central stalk is one animal, while the 'feathery' portions are other animals. Their common name comes from their resemblence to feather quill pens used in the past. -
Flowery sea pen (Cavernularia sp.)
At night, some of the most beautiful sea pens reveal themselves. During the day, with their flower-like tentacles withdrawn, they look like pencils in the sand. -
Flowery sea pen (Cavenularia sp.)
Flowery sea pens come in various colours from white to pink to orange. -
Unknown sea pen
This unknown sea pen is not often seen. Possibly a Virgularia sp.