Koh Chang Mollusc Species

Tropical Leatherleaf

Posted on by Dave in Koh Chang Invertebrate Species, Koh Chang Mollusc Species, Koh Chang Wildlife Species Leave a comment

Tropical Leatherleaf (Laevicaulis alte)

Image Copyright Paul Dunn

Observed: Koh Chang, December 2016
Observed By: Paul Dunn

Koh Chang Nature proudly announces… our first slug identification!!!

The Tropical Leatherleaf, Laevicaulis alte is a round, dark-coloured slug with no shell, 7 or 8 cm long. Its skin is slightly tuberculated. The central keel is beige in colour.

This slug has a unique, very narrow foot; juvenile specimens have a foot 1 mm wide and adult specimens have a foot that is only 4 or 5 mm wide.

The tentacles are small, 2 or 3 mm long, and they are only rarely extended beyond the edge of the mantle.

 

Tropical Leatherleaf Wikipedia

 

 

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Mimic Octopus

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Mimic Octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus)

Image Copyright Paul Dunn

Image Copyright Paul Dunn

Observed: Koh Chang Reefs, October 2016
Observed By: Paul Dunn

The mimic octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) is an Indo-Pacific species of octopus capable of impersonating other local species. They are notable for being able to change their skin color and texture in order to blend in with their environment, such as algae-encrusted rock and nearby coral through pigment sacs known as chromatophores. The mimic octopus possesses chromatophores as well as the unique behaviour of taking shape of various objects and animals. The mimic octopus is the only currently known marine animal to be able to mimic such a wide variety of animals. Many animals can imitate a different species to avoid or intimidate predators, but the mimic octopus is the only one that can imitate as diverse a range of forms in order to elude predators.

So they are extremely cool creatures but very hard to photograph due to their astonishing abilities to disguise themselves. So the photos aren’t amazing but just be grateful to Paul Dunn for being able to photograph this elusive beast at all.

Mimic Octopus Wikipedia

 

 

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Tiger Cowrie

Posted on by Dave in Koh Chang Invertebrate Species, Koh Chang Mollusc Species, Koh Chang Wildlife Species Leave a comment

Tiger Cowrie (Cypraea tigris)

tiger cowrie at koh chang

Image Copyright Paul Dunn

Last Observed: November 2015
Observed By: Paul Dunn

The tiger cowrie is a large mollusc with a characteristic and much-prized spotted brown and white shell that can measure up to six inches in length.

It is a widespread species being found on the ocean floor all across the Indo-Pacific region.

Adult tiger cowries feed on coral and invertebrates whilst juveniles feed on algae.

 

Tiger Cowrie Wikipedia

 

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Murex Shell

Posted on by Dave in Koh Chang Invertebrate Species, Koh Chang Mollusc Species, Koh Chang Wildlife Species Leave a comment

Murex Shell (Jorunna fenebris)

Image Copyright BB Divers

Image Copyright BB Divers

Observed: Koh Chang, December 2015
Observed By: BB Divers

The Muricidae are a family of sea snails that have charecteristic shells with elaborate protective spines protruding from them.

The majority of this family are carnivores that feed on smaller species of shells which they gain access to by boring through the shells and sucking out the soft contents (pause for a shudder!)

Muricidae Wikipedia

 

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Dotted Nudibranch

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Dotted Nudibranch (Jorunna fenebris)

Image Copyright BB Divers

Image Copyright BB Divers

Observed: Koh Chang, December 2015
Observed By: BB Divers

The dotted nudibranch is a white-bodied species of nudibranch with distinctive black rings filled with black and white spots.

Dotted Nudibranch Wikipedia

 

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Phyllidia Ocellata

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Phyllidia Ocellata

Image Copyright BB Divers

Image Copyright BB Divers

Observed: Koh Chang, December 2015
Observed By: BB Divers

This strange mollusc is a type of nudibranch that has a bright yellow body that is covered with lumpy white tubercules. It can measure up to 6cm in length, which is probably quite enough. At that length it is cute and colourful – but you probably wouldn’t think that if it was six metres long would you?

Phyllidia Ocellata Wikipedia

 

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Pharoah Cuttlefish

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Pharoah Cuttlefish (Ostracion cubicus)

Image Copyright BB Divers

Image Copyright Jonathan Milnes

Image Copyright BB Divers

Image Copyright Jonathan Milnes

Observed: Koh Chang Reefs, December 2015
Observed By: Jonathan Milnes

The Pharoah Cuttlefish is a large species of cuttlefish that grows up to 42cm in length and 5kg in weight. It is of course a mollusc and not a fish – it has no bone instead having a skeleton made out of a shell known as the cuttlebone.

Cuttlefish are all round  marvellous animals- here are a few reasons  why:
– For a start they are one of the most intelligent invertebrate species with a level of intelligence that has been compared to that of a dog.

– Also like their close relatives the squid they fire out clouds of ink to help them to escape from predators.

– Then there are their eyes, which work in a completely different way to those of vertebrates. So different in fact that these two different eye types are considered to be examples of convergent
evolution
, the separate development of biological organs that perform the same role.

– And there is their skin colour and texture-changing abilities. They can rapidly change their skin colour at will using special skin cells called chromatophores, iridphores and leucophores (read the Wikipedia page it’s fascinating). They use this to camouflage themselves when hunting prey but also in wild technicolour mating and territorial displays that are, frankly, amazing.

– Oh, and they have beaks. And they swim backwards. And their blood is green and they have three hearts. And they are colourblind. And they taste food with their suckers.

Pharoah Cuttlefish Wikipedia

 

 

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Phyllidia

Posted on by Dave in Koh Chang Invertebrate Species, Koh Chang Mollusc Species, Koh Chang Wildlife Species Leave a comment

Phyllidia

Image Copyright Jonathan Milnes

Observed: Koh Chang, 2015
Observed By: Jonathan Milnes

Phyllidia are a family of sea slugs that include the specimen pictured and its close relative the Varicose Wart Slug. This example lacks the bright yellow colour of the Varicose wart slug but is very similar in size and morphology. We’re not sure which species of Phyllidia it actually is.

Phyllidia Wikipedia

 

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Varicose Wart Slug

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Varicose Wart Slug (Phyllidia varicosa)

Image Copyright Jonathan Milnes

Image Copyright Jonathan Milnes

Observed: Koh Chang, 2015
Observed By: Jonathan Milnes

Surely no creature deserves to be christened with a name as repulsive as “varicose wart slug”? Especially not something as brightly coloured, weird and wonderful as this marine mollusc.

The varicose wart slug is found in the tropical marine environment of koh Chang and also all across the Indian and pacific ocean region.

 

Phyllidia varicosa Wikipedia

 

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Giant African Land Snail

Posted on by Dave in Koh Chang Invertebrate Species, Koh Chang Mollusc Species, Koh Chang Wildlife Species Leave a comment

Giant African Land Snail (Achatina fulica)

Image Copyright Perry Stevens

Image Copyright Perry Stevens

Observed: Koh Chang, October 2015
Observed By: Perry Stevens, David Vinot

You wouldn’t think it to see them crawling slowly around Koh Chang  but the giant African land snail is one of the top 100 invasive species of the world.

They carry disease to native plants (and also humans!) and are also voracious and destructive feeders.

I guess you can’t blame them for being successful but they’re big (up to 20cm long), disease ridden, slimy, oh and on occasion they resort to cannibalism.

Achatina fulica Wikipedia

 

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