invertebrates

phylum Echinodermata

• rock-boring sea urchin (Echinometra mathaei)

• oblong sea urchin (Echinometra oblonga)

• banded sea urchin (Echinothrix calamaris)*

• white-spotted sea cucumber (Actinopyga varians)

• black sea cucumber (Holothuria atra)

• edible sea cucumber (Holothuria edulis)

• stubborn sea cucumber (Holothuria pervicax)*

phylum Cnidaria

• cauliflower corals (Pocillopora spp.)

phylum Arthropoda

• painted hermit crab (Calcinus pictus)*

• hermit crab (Calcinus sp.)

• thin-shelled rock crab (Grapsus tenuicrustatus)

• common hairy crab (Pilumnus vespertilio)*

phylum Mollusca

• mulberry drupe (Drupa morum)*

• black nerite (Nerita picea)

• cowry (Cypraea sp.)

fish

• tide pool goby (Bathygobius spp.)

• zebra blenny (Istiblennius zebra)

* = first identified species encounter

I saw my first banded sea urchin today!! Such an exciting find. Identifying the mulberry drupe was also cool because the shell looks like any other rock until you pick it up and flip it over. I also got to test out my new GoPro today, which I'm super excited to use more for underwater photography in the future.