tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861001736355166727.post5145198593398166939..comments2023-11-28T00:22:01.941-10:00Comments on RPG Called Life: My Big Island trip: Hapuna BayElenihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661310499468356602noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861001736355166727.post-38331880627130917502010-09-11T14:19:42.297-10:002010-09-11T14:19:42.297-10:00It's a type of starfish/sea star, which makes ...It's a type of starfish/sea star, which makes it an echinoderm ("spiny skin"--appropriate, right?). The phylum includes sea urchins, sand dollars, and sea cucumbers. (Crustaceans, such as crabs and lobsters, are in the arthropod phylum, along with insects).<br /><br />Since starfish I've touched before aren't spiky, I was wondering whether the spikes were just for show, but I asked a friend who does a lot of diving and he says they do really hurt if you touch them (and you're likely to get an infection from the stuff that hangs out on them). He also said that some people try to kill them because they eat so much coral, but sometimes people will try to kill them by cutting them up, in which case each piece is likely to grow into another whole crown of thorns. Not such a great idea.<br /><br />Tricky little fish. Ouch!<br /><br />No, no sunglasses. Just a snorkel mask :)Elenihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07661310499468356602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861001736355166727.post-89365450650021456542010-09-11T03:02:23.189-10:002010-09-11T03:02:23.189-10:00Wow, that crown of thorns is one of the coolest th...Wow, that crown of thorns is one of the coolest things EVER! What is it? A crustacean? Must be related to the star fish...?<br /><br />re: the little fish that cleans larger fish -- a book I'm reading at the moment actually discusses that pair! Apparently there's another fish that imitates the 'wiggle' that the little fish does, and the big fish falls for it. The impostor then takes a big bit out of the big fish and swims away...<br /><br />Are you wearing sunglasses in that last picture? (Looking good, btw...)Sebastian Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06450717426716164401noreply@blogger.com