Sunday, February 17, 2019

Tunnels and Islands


2/6/19
ULONG ISLAND
Morning stop to Ulong Island, which was inhabited in the 1800's and earlier. Remains of the village wall can be seen, as well as pieces of pottery scattered about. This was a Survivor filming location. Two of the contestants were disqualified for swimming to nearby boats requesting food. Funny, since the island is teeming with crabs especially at full moon when they all come out to lay their eggs- too bad the guys were too busy hiding in the caves to notice this potential buffet. The island is also covered in rats, which the government had tried to eliminate without success. They can swim, so there's no stopping the rodents from island hopping. They eventually declared defeat. Palau is very clean. However, this young coconut crab managed to find some trash and decide to make it his home. He will soon grow out of it and become a large, delicious but homeless crab that can go for $30/lb on the market.

                                                                                           Some kind of Asian Mimosa blossom on crack

SIAES TUNNEL
After exploring the island some, captain Ken took us out to the Siaes tunnel/cave where most of the the fish 
swam upside-down. I tell you this, but provide no evidence.

First nudibranch I've ever seen... boy it was so exciting!
Puffer

 Mimic Filefish
Twotone Dartfish

Saddled Butterflyfish

Phyllidiella pustulosa (type of nudibranch) 




ULONG CHANNEL

Pink Anemonefish

Freckled Hawkfish

Mariaglaja inornata (type of Head Shielded Slug)

Nembrotha (type of nudibranch) 

White Spotted Puffer

Blacktip Reef shark

Candycane Pygmygoby


No comments:

Post a Comment