12 Creatures on Buccoo Reef to cherish all year round

By wildgirl -
In observance of the season of celebration and thanksgiving, Jahson Alemu shares 12 creatures special to Buccoo Reef that we should cherish and protect. Make a note for 2017 to appreciate the marine environment that surrounds Trinidad and Tobago. Without it, we are rocks in the ocean, black dots on the map.  Follow Jahson on twitter: jahson_alemu

Christmas is in the air. The smell of pastelles, black cake, ham and all sorts of seasonal goodies tantalise our taste buds. From simple to intricate lights adorn houses; and like moths drawn to a flame, paranderos flitter from house to house to spread joy, serenade and wish us well for the season. In the spirit of the season, here is a Christmas tribute to some of the creatures that add vibrancy, wonder, colour and life to our Buccoo Reef.

Red Cushion Starfish, photo courtesy Jahson Alemu

On the first day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me,
One Red Cushion Starfish (Oreaster reticulatus).


Two French Angelfish, photo courtesy Jahson Alemu

On the second day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me,
Two French Angelfish (Pomacanthus paru), and
One Red Cushion Starfish



Three bottlenose dolphins, photo courtesy Jahson Alemu
On the third day of Christmas
My true love gave to me,
Three Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncates),
Two French Angelfish, and
One Red Cushion Starfish.


Christmas Tree Worm, photo courtesy Jahson Alemu
On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
One Christmas Tree Worm (Spirobranchus giganteus)
Three Bottlenose Dolphins
Two French Angelfish, and
One Red Cushion Starfish


Batwing crab, photo courtesy Jahson Alemu
On the fifth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
One Batwing Crab (Carpilius corallines),
One Christmas Tree Worm
Three Bottlenose Dolphins
Two French Angel Fish, and
One Red Cushion Starfish


Black Grouper, photo courtesy Jahson Alemu
On the sixth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
One Black Grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci)
One Batwing Crab
One Christmas Tree Worm
Three Bottlenose Dolphins
Two French Angelfish, and
One Red Cushion Starfish.


Brain coral, photo courtesy Jahson Alemu
On the seventh day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
One giant Brain coral (Colpohyllia natans)
One Black Grouper
One Batwing Crab
One Christmas Tree Worm
Three Bottlenose Dolphins
Two French Angelfish, and
One Red Cushion Starfish


Rainbow Parrotfish, photo courtesy Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble
On the eight day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
One Rainbow Parrotfish (Scarus guacamaia),
One giant Boulder Brain….coral
One Black Grouper
One Batwing Crab
One Christmas Tree Worm
Three Bottlenose Dolphins
Two French Angelfish, and
One Red Cushion Starfish.


Long-spined sea urchin, photo courtesy Jahson Alemu
On the ninth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
One long-spined sea urchin (Diadema antillarum)
One Rainbow Parrotfish,
One giant Boulder Brain ... coral
One black grouper
One Batwing Crab
One Christmas Tree Worm
Three Bottlenose Dolphins
Two French Angelfish, and
One Red Cushion Starfish.


Queen Angelfish, photo courtesy Laszlo Ilyes
On the tenth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
One Queen Angelfish (Holacanthus ciliaris)
One long-spined sea urchin
One Rainbow Parrotfish,
One giant Boulder Brain….coral
One black grouper
One Batwing Crab,
One Christmas Tree Worm
Three Bottlenose Dolphins
Two French Angelfish, and
One Red Cushion Starfish.


Spotted eagle ray, photo courtesy Laszlo Ilyes

 On the eleventh day of Christmas
My true love gave to me:
One Spotted Eagle Ray (Aetobatus narinari)
One Queen Angelfish
One long-spined sea urchin
One Rainbow Parrotfish,
One giant Boulder Brain….coral
One black grouper
One Batwing Crab,
One Christmas Tree Worm
Three Bottlenose Dolphins
Two French Angelfish, and
One Red Cushion Starfish.



Buccoo Coral Reef, photo courtesy Jahson Alemu


On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me: a healthy coral ecosystem with
One health coral reef
One Spotted Eagle Ray
One Queen Angelfish
One long-spined sea urchin
One Rainbow Parrotfish,
One giant Boulder Brain….coral
One black grouper
One Batwing Crab,
One Christmas Tree Worm
Three Bottlenose Dolphins
Two French Angelfish, and
One Red Cushion Starfish.


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

12 Birds of Tobago

By wildgirl -
Image
Faraaz Abdool brings you twelve of Tobago’s birds. Enjoy these stunning photos of island residents in their common habitats. All photos courtesy Faraaz Abdool; Trinidad Motmot by Joanne Husain   Tobago boasts some of the bird world’s most incredible representatives –   a mixture of South America and the Caribbean with seasonal migrants from as far as the Arctic Circle. Coincidental confluences of southward migration and the Atlantic hurricane season bring to Tobago some Europeans as well. Exciting rarities aside, let’s look at some of the island’s most familiar inhabitants.  Although Red-billed Tropicbirds don’t quite look like grizzled seafarers, they spend most of their life at sea. Dainty and delicate, they touch land only to breed, preferring uninhabited and often inhospitable offshore islands for protection from predators.. Lacking sharp talons or even an aggressive personality, Red-billed Tropicbirds are extremely vulnerable to human activity on their nes...
Read more

Eels of the Caribbean

By wildgirl -
Image
Dr Anjani Ganase, marine ecologist, tells us about the eels that inhabit our coral reefs. Research shows, she says that "... eel species that occur in different coral reefs around the world have strikingly similar genetics, even though their distances apart..." Eels have an unfortunate association with snakes because they look like them. However, eels are not related to snakes at all; rather they are specially adapted fish that have developed without fins. To move in their underwater world, they undulate their long bodies to create propulsion which moves them through the water. This means that they swim easily in the water column and do not just slither along the bottom. They have flattened bodies and tails that allow them to swim with considerable grace - like a colourful ribbon rippling in the wind. On coral reefs around the world, eels are a common sight in bright colours - greens, yellows with exotic spotted or reticulated patterns. Unl...
Read more

The Parrot and the Parrotlet

By wildgirl -
Image
Faraaz Abdool, photographer and birder, tells us about the members of the parrot family that are native to Tobago. All photos courtesy Faraaz Abdool In this season, look up into the immortelles blooming on the hills, you are sure to see these parrots. Some Orange-winged Parrots have brown faces. Some theorize it is a variant of the plumage, others are of the view that the brown is a result of pollen staining while eating immortelle flowers.   Widespread across tropical and subtropical regions around the world, members of the parrot family have charmed humans with their vivid coloration, extraordinary intelligence and charismatic personalities. Whether we’re speaking of cockatoos, lorikeets, macaws or budgerigars, members of this family are immensely popular and immediately recognizable. It is theorized that ancient parrots have been present on the earth for up to 66 million years. Indeed, this would mean that our feathered friends were present durin...
Read more