We have just got home from our wine tasting and barbeque. I have eaten so much this afternoon I don't think I am going to eat again for a week.
Thanks so much to everyone who voted for my poor wet kookaburra, putting her on the TT. She was sitting outside when we got home and I have fed her some raw mince so she is really pleased too
On Wednesday David and I went on a rock pool walk with Jeannie who knows just about everything there is to know about the creatures that live in rock pools. We spent a very pleasant couple of hours checking out the rock pools at Fingal Bay and this week I will be posting some of the interesting creatures that we spotted.
Today is probably the best creature I found. Isn't it beautiful. It is a Rose Petal Bubble Snail, this specimen is about 10 cm long and if you look really close you can see two tiny black dots at the front of it, those are his eyes.
The delicate colouring of the frilled mantle of the animal clearly shows the basis for the species’ common name. In contrast, the shell itself is covered in fine brown-black stripes and is paper-thin and easily broken (these snails are sometimes known as ‘paper bubbles’ for this reason). The shell may measure up to 6 cm in length but is far too small or fragile to offer much protection for the animal which may measure up to 12 cm. This species is carnivorous and feeds on marine polychaete (bristle) worms. The Rose Petal Bubble Snail is most commonly encountered in shallow water bays during its breeding season (summer to early autumn) when specimens will lay strings of white, spaghetti-like ropes of eggs. It belongs to a large group of snails and slugs which are hermaphroditic – that is to say, each animal has functional male and female organs. Individuals however still have to mate to ensure cross-fertilization. Once mated, all individuals are capable of laying eggs.
Here is what Wikipedia has to say about this animal.
What an amazing looking creature -- so pretty for a water-snail ! Found the two little eyes after inspecting both end for them !! ha ha !! A wonderful find and capture -- so many wonderful things around us in nature that we are unaware of until we start looking !
What a fascinating snail!! And congratulations on your kooka making it to the TT - I knew it was a magnificent shot :) Thanks too, Babs for your kind words on the passing of my brother - I truly appreciated it. My heart goes out to you now too as it must be so hard to lose a daughter. I can't even begin to imagine how hard it must be. Thanks xx
Thanks also for your congratulations on the kookaburra reaching the TT. She was very pleased when I rewarded her with some raw mince when she came to call.