Haliotis snails, commonly known as abalone, are marine gastropods characterized by their single, smooth, and ear-shaped shell. They have a strong, muscular foot that they use to cling to rocks and other surfaces. The shell exterior is often smooth and covered by the mantle, making encrustations less common. Abalone also have a distinct row of breathing holes on their shell, which can vary in number and shape depending on the species.
Shell Characteristics:
Shape: Oval or elongated, with a relatively flat shell.
Surface: Smooth, with varying degrees of striations or ribs.
Color: Can range from dark green, blue, or black to reddish-brown, olive, or brown, with varying patterns and colors.
Perforations: A series of breathing holes (perforations) on the shell, typically on the left side, allow for water intake.
Inner Surface: Iridescent nacre that lines the inside of the shell, often with shades of pink, red, green, or blue.
Other Features:
Foot: Large, muscular foot used for attachment to substrates and movement.
Radula: A tongue-like band with many small teeth (radula) for scraping algae.
Gills: Symmetrical and well-developed gills for respiration.
Head: Head-lobes are fimbriated, and side-lobes are also fimbriated and cirrated.
Spire: The spire (apex of the shell) can be prominent or concealed, depending on the species
The Strombus dentatus, or toothed conch, is a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, known for its distinctive shell. It's a relatively small conch, with a shell length ranging from about 22 to 52mm. The shell has a flaring outer lip with a notch near the anterior end, and is characterized by three pointed projections near the opening. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region, typically at low tide marks.
Here's a more detailed description:
Shell Shape and Size: The shell is relatively small, with a maximum size of 6 cm (male/unsexed). It is elongate and moderately large.
Outer Lip: The outer lip is flared and features a stromboid notch, a key characteristic of the Strombidae family. It also has three pointed projections near the anterior end.
Color: The shell can be cream, orange, or salmon-pink.
Surface: It has a relatively smooth surface, though it can have spines on the body whorl.
Spire: The spire is short and pointed.
Habitat: Strombus dentatus is typically found in shallow, sandy waters, sometimes buried in sand or rubble, on seaward reefs at depths of 5 to 25m.
Distribution: They are found in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean
Babylonia lutosa, commonly known as the lutose Babylon, is a species of marine gastropod mollusk, or sea snail, belonging to the family Babyloniidae. These snails are characterized by their brown or yellowish-brown shells with darker spiral bands, often reaching up to 4 cm in length. The body of the snail is typically pale yellowish-brown with darker spots. They are nocturnal and burrow into sediment during the day, earning them the nickname "mud snails".
Here's a more detailed description:
Shell: The shell is typically brown or yellowish-brown with darker spiral bands.
Size: It can grow up to 4 cm in length.
Body: The body is usually pale yellowish-brown with darker spots.
Behavior: They are active at night and burrow into sediment during the day.
Habitat: They are found in marine environments, often in muddy or sandy bottoms.
Distribution: Their distribution ranges from Japan to Sri Lanka.
Scientific Classification: They belong to the order Neogastropoda, family Babyloniidae
Mitra papalis, commonly known as the Papal Mitre or Pontifical Mitre, is a species of sea snail in the Mitridae family. These snails are characterized by their large, white shells with vibrant red-orange or purplish blotches, and their overall form resembling a Papal mitre. They can reach lengths of up to 166 millimeters (6.5 inches).
Here's a more detailed description:
Shape:
The shells are elongate to ovate, fusiform, and smooth, lacking axial streaks.
Color:
The shell surface is typically white with small, white nodules under the sutures.
Blotches:
They have several rows of irregular, bright red-orange or purplish blotches.
Aperture:
The aperture is moderately wide and smooth on the inside.
Sutures:
Sutural coronations are present, and the sutures are more adpressed compared to similar species like Mitra stictica.
Similarities to Mitra stictica:
Mitra papalis is similar to Mitra stictica, but it has a longer body form, more adpressed sutures, and wider nodules.
Cyphastrea is a genus of reef-building stony coral, primarily known for its encrusting and plating growth patterns. They are a popular choice for reef aquariums due to their unique appearance and relative hardiness compared to some other Small Polyp Stony (SPS) corals. Cyphastrea corals are known for their vibrant colors and intricate patterns, and they thrive in a variety of tank conditions, making them suitable for both beginner and experienced reef keepers.
Key features of Cyphastrea:
Growth Pattern:
Primarily encrusting or plating, but branching and mobile ball (corallith) forms are also available.
Polyps:
Delicate, star-shaped polyps are spaced out, creating a unique and attractive appearance.
Color:
Cyphastrea corals exhibit a wide range of vibrant colors, including red, blue, green, and brown.
Lighting:
While they can tolerate some higher light, they generally prefer low to moderate light conditions.
Care:
Relatively hardy and forgiving of some tank conditions compared to other SPS corals, making them suitable for both beginner and advanced reef keepers.
Habitat:
Cyphastrea species are found in various reef environments.
Common Species:
Cyphastrea serailia and Cyphastrea microphthalma are common examples.
Aquaculturing:
Cyphastrea corals are increasingly available through aquaculturing, which benefits overall sustainability and coral robustness
Maretia planulata, commonly called the Sea Mouse Urchin or Longspine Heart Urchin, is a species of heart urchin that is known for its algae-eating habits and its role in maintaining a healthy aquarium environment. These urchins are found in sandy, intertidal areas and seagrass beds, typically to depths of 60 meters. They are sediment feeders, meaning they burrow through the substrate and process edible bits of food found within it.
Key characteristics and description:
Appearance: The Sea Mouse Urchin has a distinctive oval shape with a more elongated body than some other urchin species. It has sparse, long spines that are banded brown/orange and white, interspersed with many shorter, moveable white spines.
Size: They grow to about 6 cm in length.
Behavior: They are mainly nocturnal, often only emerging at night.
Diet: They are omnivores and can be supplemented with green feed when algae are not plentiful.
Habitat: They prefer sandy environments and can be found in intertidal zones and seagrass beds.
Reef-safe: They are considered reef-safe and can coexist with other marine life in an aquarium.
Tripneustes gratilla, commonly known as the collector urchin or Halloween urchin, is a species of sea urchin. It's a herbivorous echinoderm found in various tropical habitats like coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and algal forests. These urchins have a dark, often bluish-purple test (shell) with white or orange spines, sometimes completely white or orange-tipped.
Key Features and Behaviors:
Color: While typically dark, their spines can vary from white to orange, with some having orange tips or being entirely white.
Test: The test is usually dark, especially in interradial regions, which are the areas between the spines.
Spines: They possess long, obvious spines, and their spines are often inclined towards adjacent ambulacra, giving the appearance of a pentaradiate cross.
Podia: These urchins have long and obvious tube feet (podia) that help them move and collect debris.
Diet: Tripneustes gratilla is herbivorous, feeding primarily on algae.
Habitat: They are found in a variety of tropical habitats, including coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and algal forests.
Covering Behavior: They are known for their "covering behavior," using tube feet to cover their aboral (top) surface with debris like rocks and other materials.
Predators: Common predators include pufferfishes, octopuses, and humans.
Venom: They possess venom but it doesn't typically cause severe stings.
Edibility: While they are not the most commonly consumed sea urchin, some cultures do eat their gonads.
Other names: They are also known as cake, Parson's hat, Halloween, Hawaiian, priest-hut, pincushion, and hairy sea urchins
Diadema setosum, commonly called the diadem urchin or long-spined sea urchin, is a species of long-spined sea urchin known for its distinct five white dots and extremely long, hollow, mildly venomous spines. It's a typical sea urchin, with a round, hard shell (test) and numerous spines. Diadema setosum is primarily found in the Indo-Pacific region, including areas from Australia and Africa to Japan and the Red Sea.
Key Features:
Spines: Long, hollow, and sharp spines that can cause painful stings, though only slightly venomous.
Test: A round, hard shell made of fused plates.
Color: Black or dark brown, with five distinctive white spots on its body.
Habitat: Shallow tropical reefs in the Indo-Pacific, from Australia to Japan and the Red Sea.
Behavior: Primarily a grazer, active at night, and vulnerable to predation from fish.
Size: Maximum test diameter of 90 mm.
Symbiotic relationships: Can host the urchin shrimp Stegopontonia commensalis.
Diet: Algae.
Distinguishing Features:
Diadema setosum can be distinguished from its sister species, D. savignyi, by the presence of white spots on its test, while D. savignyi has blue markings.
Echinophyllia are a genus of large polyp stony corals (LPS), often referred to as "Chalice corals". They are colonial, foliaceous corals, typically found in the Indo-Pacific. Echinophyllia colonies often form plate-like or encrusting structures on the substrate.
Key characteristics of Echinophyllia:
Shape: Thin, flat, and encrusting, sometimes with plate-like or vase-shaped formations.
Corallites: Widely spaced, irregular, and can be immersed or partly exsert.
Color: Generally gray-blue, green, or brown, with some spectacular color morphs possible.
Growth habit: They tend to grow in sheltered, lower reef slopes, often on vertical surfaces.
Habitat: Found in the Indo-Pacific, Red Sea, and other parts of the Pacific.
Classification: While often sold as "Chalice corals," precise species identification can be difficult.
In reef aquariums: Echinophyllia are popular reef aquarium corals, known for their easy care and diverse forms and colors
Echinophyllia are a genus of large polyp stony corals (LPS), often referred to as "Chalice corals". They are colonial, foliaceous corals, typically found in the Indo-Pacific. Echinophyllia colonies often form plate-like or encrusting structures on the substrate.
Key characteristics of Echinophyllia:
Shape: Thin, flat, and encrusting, sometimes with plate-like or vase-shaped formations.
Corallites: Widely spaced, irregular, and can be immersed or partly exsert.
Color: Generally gray-blue, green, or brown, with some spectacular color morphs possible.
Growth habit: They tend to grow in sheltered, lower reef slopes, often on vertical surfaces.
Habitat: Found in the Indo-Pacific, Red Sea, and other parts of the Pacific.
Classification: While often sold as "Chalice corals," precise species identification can be difficult.
In reef aquariums: Echinophyllia are popular reef aquarium corals, known for their easy care and diverse forms and colors
Favia are a genus of reef-building stony corals, known for their massive or thickly encrusting colonies, often dome-shaped or flat. They are commonly referred to as brain corals or closed brain corals, and are part of the family Mussidae. Favia corals are characterized by having individual walls for each corallite, and they have sweeper tentacles which can extend and sting other corals.
Here's a more detailed description:
Growth Form:
Favia corals can grow in various shapes, including massive, dome-shaped, or encrusting.
Corallites:
The corallites, which are the individual cups where the polyps live, are plocoid (placing them in a cone shape) and often have their own walls.
Septa and Costae:
These structures are well-developed and covered with fine teeth, contributing to the coral's intricate structure.
Polyps:
Favia polyps extend and feed at night, using their tentacles to capture prey and assess their surroundings.
Sweeper Tentacles:
These tentacles are used to "sweep" the water and detect nearby corals, potentially leading to aggression and "coral wars".
Habitat:
Favia corals are found in various reef environments, including shallow water and deeper slopes.
Color:
They can display a wide range of colors, including pale grey, green, brown, and often have calices of contrasting colors
Leptastrea is a genus of stony corals, often described as "encrusting" or "plocoid," meaning they grow in a flat, dome-like shape by covering the substrate. They are relatively beginner-friendly corals, known for their diverse color variations and a tendency towards slower growth compared to some other encrusting corals. Leptastrea colonies typically have small, barrel-shaped corallites with distinct grooves and tubercles.
Key features of Leptastrea corals:
Growth Form: Encrusting or plocoid, forming flat or dome-shaped colonies.
Corallites: Small, barrel-shaped corallites with grooves and tubercles separating them.
Color: Available in a wide range of colors, including cream, green, yellow, and variations of these.
Growth Rate: Generally slow-growing, making them suitable for smaller tanks or aquascapes where rapid growth is undesirable.
Lighting: Can tolerate a range of lighting conditions, from lower to moderate.
Current: Often found in areas with moderate to high water movement.
Care: Considered beginner-friendly, but proper feeding (small food particles) and adequate water parameters are important.
Stinging: Leptastrea have a stinging power, so spacing them appropriately from other corals is recommended.
