Long after the Northern Expedition is over, the photographers have been working hard processing the bazillion shots they took of the vast variety of creatures discovered during the Expedition. Here's a glimpse at some of them.
One of the super highlights of the Expedition was to find a large basket star! Although the team that regularly visits our shores have found small ones, this large one is a nice surprise in one of the dredge surveys. This animal is an echinoderm, like sea stars and brittle stars.
These lively creatures are Scintilla bivalves that behave like slugs! They can creep about and even leap around with a mobile foot, and have lots of 'tentacles' sticking out of the body mantle.
A colourful scallop. This tiny clam has a ring of eyes and fine tentacles. It can 'swim' by clapping its valves together and using jet propulsion.
Rene also has a set on worms. Worms can be quite attractive! Flatworms come in a bewildering variety of colours and patterns.
The spaghetti worm has lots of fine tendrils on its head to gather food.
The Beautiful fireworm can swim about in the water and has lots of bristles that give a nasty sting. So don't touch it!
This set also features super tiny 'pods' of all kinds. Amphipods, isopods and copepods.
And this looks like the Mangrove leaf slug that I found during the survey. It looks much better in this photo!
Arthur Anker has also posted lots of lovely photos of MORE marine creatures discovered during the Northern Expedition.
Check out his set on flickr!
More surveys will be conducted between now and the Southern Expedition in May 2013. Do look out for information sent to registered volunteers through the Mega Marine Survey yahoo groups mailing list.
To join the Survey, register your interest in this form and you'll be invited to join the mailing list to receive updates on the Survey and sign up for Survey activities.
