invertebrates

phylum Echinodermata

• rock-boring sea urchin (Echinometra mathaei)

• oblong sea urchin (Echinometra oblonga)

phylum Cnidaria

• hermit crab anemone (Calliactis polypus)*

• glass anemone (Aiptasia pulchella)*

phylum Arthropoda

• hermit crabs (Calcinus spp.)

• pale anemone crab (Dardanus deformis)*

• thin-shelled rock crab (Grapsus tenuicrustatus)

• ciliated mantis shrimp (Pseudosquilla ciliata)*

phylum Mollusca

• black nerite (Nerita picea)

phylum Annelida

• feather duster worm (Sabellastarte sp.)*

fish

• Indo-Pacific sergeant (Abudefduf vaigiensis)*

• Chinese trumpetfish (Aulostomus chinensis)*

• tide pool goby (Bathygobius sp.)*

• reef triggerfish (Rhinecanthus rectangulus)*

• parrotfish (Scarus sp.)*

• moorish idol (Zanclus cornutus)*

* = first identified species encounter

I'm finally starting to dip my toes into fish ID, so there were many new identifications today! One particularly exciting fish species to recognize was the iconic reef triggerfish, or the humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa (roughly translated to 'triggerfish with a snout like a pig'), because it's the state fish of Hawaiʻi.

I also saw my first mantis shrimp ever and first anemones (two species!) in Hawaiʻi! It was also super interesting to see and learn about the symbiotic relationship between the pale anemone crab and the hermit crab anemone. So many unexpected firsts and exciting new invertebrate species today.

A personal win was finally getting my first good pictures of rock crabs in Hawaiʻi!