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Amakusa jelly
Amakusa jellies are small, disc-shaped jellies of the Pelagiidae family - an abundant group of jellies that include the common compass jelly.
Elf
Elf, also known as shad along the South African coast, are found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. They can grow to 60cm in length and up to 14kg in weight.Giant guitarfish
Giant guitarfish were previously thought to be wide-spread, but research has shown that this is probably the combined distribution of four related species. Giant guitarfish are now thought to occur only in the Red Sea and western Indian Ocean as far south as South Africa’s east coast.Zebra Fish
Zebras use their fleshy lips to grasp food and then move it into position for the cutting incisor teeth.Cape stumpnose
Cape stumpnose are commonly found in shallow coastal waters and estuaries as well as deep reefs off the Kwa-Zulu Natal coast.White musselcracker
White musselcracker have thick lips, powerful jaws and large teeth which enable it to eat black mussels, urchins, whelks, crayfish and small fish. Juveniles, which have bright orange fins, and are common in tidal pools.Sixstripe soapfish
Soapfish have glands in their skin which produce toxic secretions against potential predators. The toxins are known as grammistins. The secretions look like lathered soap, hence the name ‘soapfish’.Spotted grunter
Spotted grunter are wide-spread from Cape Point, along the eastern coast of Africa as well as Madagascar. They feed on sand prawns, worms and crustaceans, which they uncover by squirting a jet of water from their mouths, to clear the mud.African penguin
African penguins are found only off the coastlines of South Africa and Namibia. South Africa has two land-based colonies, one in Boulders Beach and the other in Betty's Bay.
Short-tail stingray
Like sharks, rays have cartilaginous skeletons. These flat fish have gill slits on the ventral (under) side of their bodies. Two spiracles behind the eyes on the dorsal (upper) surface draw in water which flows over the gills before exiting through the gill slits.
Abalone
Abalone is a type of large snail which lives in the ocean. In South Africa the name abalone refers to Haliotis midae, which we call “perlemoen”. This name comes from the Dutch term Paarlemoer, meaning “mother of pearl”.Common cuttlefish
Cuttlefish are related to octopus and squid. The common cuttlefish is also known as the ink-fish.
Like octopus, cuttlefish can change both their body colour and texture in response to their environment and their survival needs.
Special cells (chromatophores) located in the outer-skin layers, contain colour pigments, which the animal can alter by neural control (merely by thinking about it!). These chromatophores typically occur in red, yellow, brown, black and blue, and each can be expanded to display a large area of colour, or contracted to a tiny speck.
Common cuttlefish are the largest cuttlefish species found in southern Africa and occur from Mozambique on the east coast to the mouth of the Orange River on the west coast.
They live in sheltered lagoons and estuaries and in the open ocean to depths of 200m.
Cuttlefish have tentacles including two longer ones that are hidden in ‘’pockets’’ under the eyes. They use the long tentacles during mating and for capturing their prey.
Cuttlebones on the beach
Most people are familiar with cuttlebones, which are found washed up on the beach and given to pet birds as a dietary supplement and to sharpen their beaks.
Cuttlefish use the cuttlebone to regulate their buoyancy.