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Flame Streaked Box Crab – Calappa flammea, A large brightly colored burrowing crab that draws water through its gills and is often seen spouting it out of its head like a fountain. It uses its scissors like claws like a can opener to rip open hermit crab shells. Subphylum: Crustacea, Infraorder: Brachyura |
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Frilled Sea Hare – Bursatella leachiplei, Camouflaged among the sea grasses, with its body projectiles that mimic seaweed, it ceaselessly slides over the mud, scraping up algae with a zipper-like ribbon of teeth, passing it into its three stomachs and grinding it with large horny crop stones. Sub-class: Opisthobranchia |
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Giant Heart Cockle – Dinocardium robustum, Has a heavy ribbed, heart-shaped shell, mottled brown and purple coloring. When removed from the water it may violently catapult itself about with its pointed foot. Class: Pelecypoda, Family: Cardiidae/cockle or heart shells |
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Giant Sea Cucumber – Isostychopus badonotus, Grows to be the largest of all cucumbers in the Gulf of Mexico. This, and other large species, are dried and eaten in oriental countries. Lives in mud flats in deeper water offshore. Class: Holothuroidea |
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Grass Shrimp – Palemonetes pugio, So transparent they hardly cast a shadow. They remain tiny throughout their entire life, feeding on detritus and tiny creatures in the mud and sand. In the winter the tidal creeks seethe with them, providing food for a tremendous number of estuarine fish and wading birds. Subphylum: Crustacea, Order: Decapoda, Infraorder: Caridea |
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