Pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti) Mindoro Island, Philippines
by Sergio Discepolo 2010
The pygmy seahorse, also known as Bargibanti’s seahorse, (Hippocampus bargibanti) is a seahorse of the family Syngnathidae found in the western central Pacific Ocean. It is tiny, usually less than 2 centimetres (0.79 in) in size and lives exclusively on fan corals. For more details see below.
Banded sea urchin (Echinothrix calamaris)
by Sergio Discepolo 2010 - Green Island, Mindoro, Philippines
The banded sea urchin or double spined urchin, Echinothrix calamaris, is a sea urchin with a test (shell) diameter of about 5 cm. It has two sets of spines, shorter closed spines which are dark in colour and can deliver a nasty sting, and longer open ended spines that are often banded. This gives it a significant advantage.
It is found in the Indo-Pacific region, on back reefs. It is active at night, hiding in crevices or under rocks at night.
Many juvenile fish of the family Apogonidae (cardinal fish) may hide in the spines for protection.
The differences between Echinothrix calamaris and Echinothrix diadema are: the spines of E. diadema are not banded, there is only one layer, and they are darker. The more similar species is Diadema savignyi (which has banded spines) - the distinguishing feature being that the banded spines of D. savignyi are closed at their ends.
From Wikipedia
Fire urchin (Asthenosoma ijimai) - Mindoro Philippines
Riccio di fuoco by Sergio Discepolo 2010
Platelminta (Pseudoceros bifurcus) Mindoro Green Island
by Sergio Discepolo 2010
