Exploring Marine Ecosystems and Native Plants: Insights from Coral Reefs to Backyard Gardens
Late January I wrote a post about cleaning stations and recently, at MOTE I got to see some cleaning behavior close up. It is utterly amazing to see these two species work together so well. The small blue fish is a Caribbean neon goby more commonly called a cleaner goby because of its cleaning behavior.… Continue reading Symbiotic Cleaning Relationships
Have you ever been snorkeling and seen something loaf shaped on the bottom and wondered what on earth that was? Well, most likely you were looking at a Sea Cucumber. Sea Cucumbers are in the same Phylum (Echinodermata) as sea stars - they have tube feet powered by a water-vascular system that they use to walk along the bottom of the ocean.
Sometimes, when it's quiet while I'm stationed at MOTE's Contact Cove, I like to show guests (especially older kids who have a bit more patience and ability to hold still for a length of time) a fun way to interact with the peppermint shrimp. I usually start by asking if they would like to get a "shrimp manicure"? If people are game, I show them how to place their hand in the enclosure and tell them to hold very still and wait.
I regularly confuse gobies and blennies, so when I saw this amazing fish at Mote recently, I decided it was time to memorize their ID characteristics. I'm also excited learn a bit more about this goby.
I started watching this little juvenile burrfish in an enclosure off to the side a bit and found that I just couldn't stop- its magnetic! This recording I made was especially good - I caught the burrfish sampling some gravel bits almost as big as its face and nipping at the fins of the much larger squirrelfish which made me laugh out loud.
Erica Lauer Vose 