On Tuesday, a pesky monkey, demented duck and mulchy cow descended on Labrador Park to browse on the abundant marine life in the intertidal zone. Though nominally a protected area, the waters on the far side of the shore are currently blighted by a long steel fence (visible in the picture on the right) that shelters ongoing reclamation work and laying down of offshore submarine utilities from public view, lest pesky brown apes and green ducks work up a fuss at the further erosion of Singapore's last unspoilt rocky shore.
Visible from the sand are exposed meadows of seagrasses, which are not algae but flowering plants that have adapted to marine environments. They are regarded as rich foundations of very fruitful marine habitats in the region, providing food and shelter to creatures from dinky little crabs to fat old seacows. Even at low 
tide, the flats were as noisy as a bus full of SOBs too poor to buy earphones for their phones, with snapping shrimp clicking from holes that dot almost every square metre. Up in the air, we saw two birds that were quacking to each other – to the untrained air they appear like soaring eagles, but I am pretty sure that if it quacks like a duck, it's probably one!
This writhing mass of things is a catfish ball consisting of juvenile eel-tailed catfish that swarm together like a living glob, devouring every duck in their path. I am not sure why they need to behave like China tourists, visiting each cluster of coral or seaweed enmasse, as these fish (family Plotosidae) are known to have venomous spines that inflict painful wounds.
Some colourful flower crab, sitting in the shallow waiting in vain to be dissected by TGWTTIHS who is currently threatening hapless Parisian firemen with deflowerment, having already devoured a duckless doughboy.
I discovered that cows have a soft spot for these little hairy crabs AKA teddy bear crabs, as unlike their more mean-tempered relations, they are placid and cuddly and allow you to nuzzle their furry backsides. Sea anemones have a taste for these crustaceans too, I hear.. :P
A large brown nudibranch. I call this the flabby flappy brown sea cow :P.
This one I dub the green seamonkey slug.
And this lean and mean fellow I christen the sleek slim shandy duck slug. Thanks to the cow for the ID and more sober accounts of the visit.
Thanks.
More marine life at http://dearkitty.blogsome.com/2006/12/07/new-marine-animal-species-discovered-in-hawaii/
Posted by: dearkitty | 08 December 2006 at 05:28 AM