Some MARINE LIFE
of Belize
Honduras
and 
eastern Mexico
including the Yucatan Peninsula
and Cozumel Island 

a list with Sea Turtles, Fish,
Corals, Jellyfish, Mollusks,
and Arthropods  

not with Whales, Dolphins, 
& the Manatee

including creatures of the coral reef
& some subterranean creatures
in water in caves of the Yucatan


A list compiled by Armas Hill


Noting those seen during Focus On Nature Tours
and pelagic trips with an (*)


PHOTO AT UPPER RIGHT: a SEA FAN on CORAL


Codes:

BZ:  Belize
CZ:  Cozumel Island (where the Caribbean Sea & the Gulf of Mexico meet)
YP:  in the area of the Yucatan Peninsula, including coastal & offshore Caribbean & Gulf of Mexico waters 

(p): seen pelagically

Classifications as designated by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) relating to threatened species:
(t1):  critically endangered
(t2):  endangered
(t3):  vulnerable
(nt):  near-threatened  

(ph):  species with a photo in the FONT website 


Relating to Illustrations in Books: 

(ASC:xxx)    refers to plate numbers in the "National Audubon Society Field Guide to Seashore Creatures"
(ATMF:xxx)  refers to plate number of photo in the "National Audubon Society Field Guide to Tropical Marine Fishes"
(FGCF:xxx)  refers to page with an illustration in the book "A Field Guide to Coastal Fishes from Maine to Texas" by Val Kells & Kent Carpenter   

Links:

A Listing of scheduled Focus On Nature Tours

Upcoming FONT Birding & Nature Tours in Central America (including Mexico)

FONT Past Tour Highlights  

Mammals, including Marine Mammals, in:  Central America    Mexico

Directory of Photos in this Website

Links, in the following list, to:

Sea Turtles

Fish

Corals    Jellyfish & Portuguese Man-of-war 

Mollusks (Shells)   Squids & Octopods

Arthropods:    Crustaceans    Echinoderms

        MARINE, or SEA, TURTLES 

1. Leatherback (Sea Turtle)  (t1) (ph)  ______  BZ  YP
   Dermochelys coriacea  (the single member of its genus)
   
   The Leatherback is the world's largest turtle. It can weigh half a ton. It is a deep diver. It can go to a depth of about 5,000 feet.
   
   
2. Loggerhead (Sea Turtle) (t2) (ph)  ______  BZ  YP
   Caretta caretta  (the single ember of its genus)
   
   
   
   
   Loggerhead Sea Turtle
   (photo by Alan Brady during a FONT pelagic trip)
   
   
3. Green (Sea) Turtle  (t2) (ph)  ______  BZ  YP
   Chelonia mydas
   
   
4. Hawksbill (Sea Turtle)  (t1) (*) ______  BZ  YP
   Eretmochelys imbricata  (the single member of its genus)
   
   The Hawksbill (Sea Turtle) favors, among other places, coral reefs. It has a varied diet. 
   It has a long beak and two pairs of prefrontals.
   
   
5. Kemp's Ridley (Sea) Turtle  (t1) ______  YP
   Lepidochelys kempii
   
   The Kemp's Ridley is said to be the world's rarest sea turtle". It is "critically endangered".
   
   
   An excellent book about Sea Turtles is "Voyage of the Turtle - In Pursuit of the Earth's Last Dinosaur", by Carl Safina, Owl Books, published in 2007.   
   
   
   
   FISH
   
   Click the above link for a list of Marine Fish of Belize & eastern Mexico: 344 species
    
   
   
   OCEAN INVERTEBRATES
   
   
   REEF CORALS
   
   
   Most of the coral species in this list are "hard" corals. Others are "soft" corals and black corals. 
   
   Currently, there are about 66 hard corals known to occur in Belize. 54 of them are typical HERMATYPIC CORALS and 12 are AHERMATYPIC species. 
   
   A HERMATYPIC CORAL is a reef-building coral with symbiotic zooanthellae in the tissues. 
   The zooanthellae utilize carbon dioxide and sunlight to produce organic compounds which are absorbed by the coral as food. providing the overwhelming majority of nutrition need by the coral colony. 
   Corals which do not have zooanthellae are called AHERMATYPIC CORALS, and must rely on capturing prey with the stinging cells in their tentacles. 
    
   
   HYDROCORALS  (Class Hydrozoa) 
   
   
   FIRE CORALS  (Family Milleporidae)
   
   
6. Branching Fire Coral  ______  BZ  (ASC:25)
   Millepora alcicornis
   
   Millepora alcicornis is highly toxic. People touching it suffer a sever burning sensation and blistery rash.
   
   
7. Blade Fire Coral  ______  BZ
   Millepora complanata
   
   
8. Millepora striata  ______  BZ
   
   
   LACE CORALS  (Family Stylasteridae)
   
   
9. Rose Lace Coral  ______  BZ
   Stylaster roseus
   
   
   STONY CORALS  (including Staghorn & Elkhorn Corals)  (Class Anthozoa, Order Scleractinia)
   
   
   Family Astroecoenidae
   
   
10. Blushing Star Coral  ______  BZ
    Stephanocoenia michelini
    
    
    Family Pocilloporidae
    
    
11. Ten-ray Finger Coral  ______  BZ
    Madracis decactis
    
    
12. Eight-ray Finger Coral  ______  BZ
    Madracis formosa
    
    
13. Encrusting Star Coral  ______  BZ
    Madracis luciphila  (or M. pharensis luciphila)
    
    
14. Yellow Pencil Coral  ______  BZ
    Madracis mirabilis
    
    
15. Star Coral  ______  BZ
    Madracis pharensis
    
    
    Family Acroporidae
    
    
16. Staghorn Coral ______  BZ  (ASC:55)
    Acropora cervicornis
    
    
17. Elkhorn Coral ______  BZ  (ASC:32)
    Acropora palmata
    
    
18. Fused Staghorn  ______  BZ
    Acropora prolifera
    
    
    Family Agariciidae
    
    
19. Lettuce Coral  ______  BZ  (ASC:33)
    Agarica agaricites
    
    
20. Fragile Saucer Coral  ______  BZ
    Agarica fragilis
    
    
21. Lowrelief Lettuce Coral  ______  BZ
    Agaricia humilis
    
    
22. Lamarck's Sheet Coral  ______  BZ
    Agaricia lamarcki
    
    
23. Thin Leaf Lettuce Coral ______  BZ  
    Agaricia tenuifolia
    
    
24. Scroll Coral  ______  BZ
    Agaricia undata
    
    
25. Sunray Lettuce Coral  ______  BZ
    Leptoseris (or Helioceris) cucullata
    
    
    Family Siderastreidae
    
    
26. Massive Starlet Coral  ______  BZ  (ASC:14)
    Siderastrea siderea
    
    
27. Lesser Starlet Coral  ______  BZ  (ASC:16)
    Siderastrea radians
    
    
    Family Faviidae
    
    
28. Cladocera arbuscula  ______  BZ
    
    
29. Boulder Brain Coral  ______  BZ
    Colpophyllia natans (or breviserialis)
    
    
30. Knobby Brain Coral  ______  BZ  (ASC:4)
    Diploria clivosa
    
    
31. Grooved Brain Coral  ______  BZ  (ASC:3)
    Diploria labyrinthiformis
    
    
32. Symmetrical Brain Coral  ______  BZ  (ASC:2)  (has also been called Common or Smooth Brain Coral)
    Diploria strigosa
    
    
    
    Symmetrical Brain Coral
    
    
    
33. Golfball Coral  ______  BZ
    Favia fragum
    
    
34. Rose Coral  ______  BZ  (ASC:175)
    Manicina areolata 
    
    
35. Lobed Star Coral ______  BZ  (ASC:10)  (has also been called Boulder Star Coral or Common Star Coral)
    Montastrea annularis
    
    
36. Great Star Coral  ______  BZ  (ASC:11,174)  (has also been called Large Star Coral)
    Montastrea cavernosa
    
    
37. Smooth Star Coral  ______  BZ
    Solenastrea bournoni
    
    
38. Knobby Star Coral  ______  BZ
    Solenastrea hyades
    
    
    Family Poritidae
    
    
39. Finger Coral ______  BZ  (ASC:13)  (another name is Clubbed Finger Coral)
    Porites porites
    
    
40. Mustard Hill Coral  ______  BZ  (ASC:9)
    Porites astreoides
    
    
41. Honeycomb Plate Coral  ______  BZ
    Porites colonensis
    
    
42. Blue Crust Coral  ______  BZ
    Porites branneri
    
    
    Family Rhizangidae
    
    
43. Dwarf Cup Coral  ______  BZ
    Astragia solitaria
    
    
44. Lesser Speckled Cup Coral  ______  BZ
    Colangia immersa
    
    
45. Hidden Cup Coral  ______  BZ
    Phyllangia american
    
    
    Family Oculinidae 
    
    
46. Caryophyllia ambrosia  ______  BZ
    
    
47. Deltocyanthus agassizzi  ______  BZ
    
    
48. Deltocyanthus moseleyi  ______  BZ
    
    
49. Javenia cailleti  ______  BZ
    
    
50. Diffuse Ivory Bush Coral  ______  BZ  (ASC:35)
    Oculina diffusa
    
    
51. Ivory Tree Coral  ______  BZ
    Oculina valenciennesi
    
    
52. Large Ivory Coral  ______  BZ
    Oculina varicosa
    
    
    Family Caryophyllidae
    
    
53. Smooth Flower Coral ______  BZ  (ASC:173,198)
    Eusmilia fastigiata 
    
    
54. Baroque Cave Coral  ______  BZ
    Thalamophyllia riisei
    
    
    Family Meandrinidae
    
    
55. Pillar Coral  ______  BZ  (ASC:6)
    Dendrogyra cylindrus
    
    
56. Elliptical Star Coral  ______  BZ
    Dichocoenia stokesii
    
    
57. Maze Coral  ______  BZ
    Meandrina meandrites
    
    
    Family Mussidae
    
    
58. Rough Star Coral  ______  BZ
    Isophyllastrea rigida
    
    
59. Sinuous Cactus Coral  ______  BZ
    Isophyllia sinuosa 
    
    
60. Large Flower Coral  ______  BZ  (ASC:1)
    Mussa angulosa 
    
    
61. Artichoce Coral  ______  BZ
    Mussa (or Scolymia) cubensis
    
    
62. Spiny Flower Coral  ______  BZ
    Mussa (or Scolymia) lacera
    
    
63. Knobby Cactus Coral  ______  BZ
    Mycetophyllia aliciae
    
    
64. Lowridge Cactus Coral  ______  BZ
    Mycetophyllia danaana
    
    
65. Rough Cactus Coral  ______  BZ
    Mycetophyllia ferox
    
    
66. Ridged Cactus Coral  ______  BZ
    Mycetophyllia lamarckiana
    
    
67. Ridgeless Cactus Coral  ______  BZ
    Mycetophyllia reesii 
    
    
    Subclass Octocorallia:  including Sea Fans 
    
    
68. Corky Sea Fingers  ______  (ASC:68)
    Briareum asbestinum
    
    
69. Sea Plumes  ______  (ASC:60,66)
    Pseudopterogorgata spp.
    
    
70. Sea Fans ______  BZ  (ASC:64)  (soft coral gorgonians)
    Gorgonia ssp.  (G. ventalina: Common Sea Fan)
    
    
71. Yellow Sea Whip  ______  (ASC:60,66)
    Pterogorgia citrina
    
    
72. Spiny Muricea  ______  (ASC:61)
    Muricea muricata
    
    
73. Eunicea Sea Rods  ______  (ASC:56)
    Eunicea spp.
    
    
74. Double-forked Plexaurella  ______  (ASC:58)
    Plexaurella dichotoma
    
    
    JELLYFISH  (Class Scyphozoa)
    
    
75. Moon Jellyfish  (*)  ______  BZ  (ASC:502)
    Aurelia aurita
    
    Aurelia aurita is the jellyfish most commonly washed up on beaches during high tide or after a storm. It is up to 6 inches in diameter.
    
    The Moon Jellyfish is mildly toxic. Its sting causes a slight rash that may itch for several hours.
    
    
    
    Moon Jellyfish
    Above on a beach; below in the water.
    
    
    
    
    
76. Upside-down Jellyfish  ______  BZ  (ASC:509)  (a local Spanish name is "sombra pica", meaning "stinging shade")  
    Cassiopeia xamachana
    
    The adult Upside-down Jellyfish is usually seen upside down on the bottom, in semi-stagnant water. In Belize, it is found in a few parts of the San Pedro Lagoon.
    The tentacles are pronounced and frilly and contain thousands of zooxanthellae. Sometimes many of these jellyfish are seen together.
    Although the adults are primarily sedentary, the young may be rarely seen offshore in outlying atoll lagoons actively swimming about. The adult is up to 8 inches in diameter.      
    
    
    
    Upside-down Jellyfish
    
    
77. Crown Jellyfish  ______  YP  (ASC:503)
    Nausithoe punctata
    
    
78. Purple Jellyfish  ______  (ASC:508)
    Pelagica noctiluca
    
    
79. Cannonball Jellyfish  ______  (ASC:507,514)
    Stomolophus meleagris
    
    
80. Sea Thimbles  ______  YP
    Linuche unguiculata
    
    Sea Thimbles are small jellyfish. They are transparent with rows of brown lines and dots that make them visible. They have very small tentacles.
    
    Sea Thimbles occur in masses that sometimes number in the millions. They are blown ashore at various times of the year, often due to shifts in ocean currents. Their sting is harmless to most people, but rarely some people are allergic to it.    
    
    One may hear the term "Sea Lice" along the Caribbean coast of Mexico, at beaches such as Cancun and Cozumel. 
    This tiny nuisance is actually the larvae of jellyfish, that of the Sea Thimble.
    At times, particularly from April through August, large numbers can cover whole beach areas. Sometimes local people use  a red flag system to notify beach-goers. 
    There are now several products on the market that neutralize the stings. While not 100% effective for all swimmers, they do help.
    The best treatment for jellyfish stings is prevention. Wearing water shoes is a good way to avoid stings on the beach and at rocky areas. In the water, small jellyfish are virtually invisible and they can be camouflaged around and among seaweed. 
    In addition to the above-mentioned "jellyfish lotion", locals believe that even oily sun tan lotion can deter stings. Tentacles stick to the skin, but the oil seems to help them slide away.          
    
    
81. Caribbean Cubomedusae, or "Sea Wasps"  ______  YP
    Chiropsalmus spp.
    
    "Sea Wasps" are small, transparent jellyfish, about the size and shape of a small match box. They have one tentacle on each corner of their body.  
    The name "Cubomedusae" is due tot he body shape (like a cube). The creature is related to the deadly Cubomedusae off Australia. Fortunately, the Caribbean variety is not deadly, but it will impart a strong sting.
    These animals usually live in deep water, but they rise to the surface in the daytime. They are not, however, very common. A snorkeler or diver is generally not likely to encounter these jellyfish.
    
    
    HYDROIDS  (Class Hydrozoa): not true jellyfish)
    
    
82. Portuguese Man-of-war ______  BZ  YP  (ASC:512,513)
    Physalia physalis
    
    The Portuguese Man-of-war is a common siphonophore occurring at the sea surface. Gas-filled, its clear blue float and pink crest are unmistakable. Its long, blue, coiled stinging tentacles are up to over 10 meters in length, hanging below a blue to purple-colored colony.   
    Also known by the name "bluebottles".
    The float is up to 30 centimeters long, and has a crest which acts as a sail. It is blown along by wind and carried by currents. Shows "tumbling" behavior when it dips each side alternately in the water, so keeping the float moist.
    Highly toxic. Can deliver a painful sting.
    The Bluebottlefish, Nomeus gronovii, is often found in association with Physalia.          
    
    
    
    
    Portuguese Man-of-War
    
    
    MOLLUSKS
    
    SEASHELLS are made by MOLLUSKS. 
    
    MOLLUSKS are invertebrate animals that produce shells of one or two pieces that wholly or partially enclose a soft body.
    
    SHELLS are the skeletons of MOLLUSKS. Like the internal skeleton (endoskeleton) of a mammal, the external skeleton (exoskeleton) of mollusks function both for protection and as a place for muscle attachment. 
    A SHELL found on a beach is the skeletal remnant of a dead MOLLUSK.
    
    MOLLUSKS are either snail-like animals with one shell (UNIVALVES, or GASTROPODS), or clam-like animals with two shells (BIVALVES). The two shells of a BIVALVE are held tightly together when the animal is alive.
    
    A third group of MOLLUSKS are the CEPHALOPODS, including SQUIDS and OCTOPUSES. These animals lack external shells, having instead internal or rudimentary shells. 
      
    
    GASTROPODS  (Class Gastropoda): snail-like mollusks with a one-part shell
    
    
83. Milk Conch  ______  BZ
    Strombus costatus
    
    
84. Rooster-tail Conch  ______  BZ
    Strombus gallus
    
    
85. Queen Conch  (ph)  ______  BZ  (ASC:435)
    Strombus gigas
    
    
    
    Above & below: Queen Conch
    In the lower photo, in the sea
    
    
    
    
86. Hawkswing Conch  ______  BZ
    Strombus raninus
    
    
87. West Indian Fighting Conch  ______  BZ
    Strombus pugilis
    
    
88. West Indian Turban Shell  ______  BZ
    Cittarium (Livonia) pica
    
    
89. True Tulip Shell  ______  BZ  (ASC:421)
    Fasciolaria tulipa
    
    
90. (Florida) Horse Conch  ______  BZ  (ASC:426)
    Pleuroploca gigntea
    
    
91. Emperor Helmet  ______  BZ  (ASC:434)  (called locally in Belize "King Conch")
    Cassis madagascariensis 
    
    
92. Royal Triton  ______  BZ
    Charonia variegata
    
    
    
    Above & below: the Royal Triton
    
    
    
    
    
93. Scotch Bonnet  ______  BZ  (ASC:454)
    Phalium granulatum
    
    
94. Atlantic Partridge Tun  ______  BZ
    Tonna maculosa
    
    
95. Long-spinned Star-shell  ______  BZ  ("Eyestone Shell")
    Astraea phoebia
    
    
96. Moon Snail  ______  BZ
    Polinices spp.
    
    
97. Common Atlantic Bubble  ______  BZ  (ASC:443)
    Bulla striata (formerly occidentalis)   
    
    
98. Flamingo Tongue  ______  BZ  (ASC:449) 
    Cyphoma gibbosum
    
    
    
    Flamingo Tongue
    
    
99. Caribbean Vase  ______  BZ
    Vasum muricatum
    
    
100. West Indian Crown Conch  ______  BZ  (also called Mud Conch)
     Melongena melongena
     
     
101. Bleeding Tooth  ______  BZ
     Nerita peloronta 
     
     
     
     Bleeding Tooth
     
     
102. Tessellate Nerite  ______  BZ
     Nerita tessellata
     
     
103. Four-toothed Nerite  ______  BZ
     Nerita versicolor
     
     
104. Cayenne Keyhole Limpet  ______  BZ  (ASC:384)
     Diodora cayensis
     
     
105. Zebra Periwinkle  ______  BZ
     Littorina ziczac
     
     
106. Spotted Sea Hare  ______  BZ  (ASC:210)
     Aplysia dactylomela 
     
     
107. Atlantic Black Sea Hare  (or "Tinta" in Spanish) (*)  ______  YP (seen from shore)
     Aplysia morio
     
     
     
     
     This odd creature was seen in the water of a coastal bay 
     from the shoreline in the northern Yucatan,
     after dark, during the FONT Mexico tour in March 2009.
     
     In English, it's called the ATLANTIC BLACK SEA HARE.  
     Its scientific name is Aplysia morio.
     In Spanish, it's a "Tinta", so called because it ejects ink when disturbed.
     The word "tinta" in Spanish means "ink".
     The creature, 16 inches long, and 14 inches across, 
     is in the Phylum Mollusca (the Mollusks), in the Class Gastropoda 
     as are other things such as the Common Periwinkle and the Slipper Limpet.
     
     When the Sea Hare swims, the large parapodia is spread very widely.
     It swims in the direction of its "two-pronged head",
     in other words, toward the upper left of the photo.    
     (photo by Marie Gardner) 
     
     
     BIVALVES, also known as PELECYPODS (Class Bivalva)
     
     
108. Mangrove Oyster  ______  BZ  (also called Flat Tree Oyster)
     Crassostrea rhizophorae 
     
     
     CEPHALOPODS including SQUIDS and OCTOPODS  (Class Cephalopoda) 
     
     
109. Spirula  ______  BZ  (a deep-sea squid) (species described by Linnaeus in 1758)
     Spirula spirula 
     
     
110. Caribbean Reef Squid  ______  BZ
     Sepioteuthis sepioidea
     
     
111. Caribbean Reef (or Briar) Octopus  ______  BZ 
     Octupus briareus 
     
     
     
     A Caribbean Reef, or Briar, Octopus in Belize
     
     
     
     ARTHROPODS
     
     
     Class Merostomata
     
     
112. Horseshoe Crab  (ph) (*)  ______  YP  (ASC:666)
     Limulus polyphemus
     
     
     CRUSTACEANS  (Class Crustacea)
     
     
113. Little Striped Barnacle  ______  (ASC:279)
     Balanus amphitrite
     
     
114. Ivory Barnacle  ______  (ASC:275)
     Balanus churneus
     
     
115. Bay Barnacle  ______  (ASC:274)
     Balanus improvisus
     
     
116. Common Goose Barnacle  ______  BZ  (ASC:288)
     Lepas anatifera 
     
     
117. American Pink Shrimp  ______  BZ
     Panaeus durarum
     
     
118. Common Shore Shrimp  ______  YP  (ASC:607)
     Palamonetes vulgaris
     
     
119. Pederson's Cleaning Shrimp  ______  YP  (ASC:616)
     Periclimenes pedersoni
     
     
120. Spotted Cleaning Shrimp  ______  YP  (ASC:617)
     Periclimenes yucatanicus    
     
     
121. West Indies Spiny Lobster  (*) ______  BZ  YP  (ASC:625)
     Panulirus argus
     
     The Spiny Lobster grows up to 21 inches long. 
     
     Off the Yucatan Peninsula, the West Indies Spiny Lobster occurs at the Alacranes Reef.  
     
     
122. Ridged Slipper Lobster  ______  BZ
     Scyllarides nodifer
     
     
123. Caribbean (or Land) Hermit Crab  ______  BZ  (ASC:685)
     Coenobita clypeatus
     
     
124. Red (or Giant) Hermit Crab  ______  BZ  (ASC:682)
     Petrochirus diogenes
     
     
125. Blue Crab  ______  BZ  (ASC:657)
     Callinectes sapidus
     
     
126. Great (or Giant Blue) Land Crab  ______  BZ  (ASC:632)
     Cardisoma guanhumi
     
     When they are spawning, thousands of the Great, or Giant Blue Land Crabs can be seen going into the water at night. In days gone by, hundreds of thousands could be seen in less populated areas going into the ocean. That phenomenon occurs when the moon is is full (lunar periodicity).
     The breeding season, during with spawning occurs, is in July and August. Mating takes place in burrows on land, so all of the migrating crabs are "berried" females. The larvae hatch in the sea and go through a complicated series of shape changes. About 25 days are spent n the sea, before the young crabs come on land.  
     
     The Giant Blue Land Crab is hole-dwelling, and may be up to 7 inches across. The male (called the "bo crab" in Belize) has an usually large claw.    
     
     
     
     A Giant Blue Land Crab in Belize
     
     
     
127. Coral Crab  (ph)  ______  BZ  (ASC:648)
     Carpilius corallinus
     
     
     
     Coral Crab
     
     
128. Stone Crab  ______  BZ  (ASC:642)
     Menippe mercenaria
     
     
129. Large Reef Spider Crab  ______  BZ
     Mithrax spp.
     
     
130. Yellow Box Crab  ______  BZ  (ASC:673)  (another name is Shame-faced Crab)
     Calappa gallus
     
     
131. Spotted Porcelain Crab  ______  BZ  (ASC:647)  (another name is Say's Porcelain Crab)
     Porcellana sayana
     
     The Spotted Porcelain Crab is small, only about an inch wide. It is often found in association with the Queen Conch, and with marine hermit crabs occupying vacant shells.  
     
     
     
     Spotted Porcelain Crab
     
     
132. Arrow Crab  ______  BZ  (ASC:574)
     Stenorhynchus seticornis
     
     
133. Giant Decorator Crab  ______  BZ
     Stenocionopus turcata
     
     
134. Sally Lightfoot Crab  (ph)  ______  BZ  (ASC:649)
     Graspus graspus
     
     
     
     
     Sally Lightfoot Crab
     
     
135. Spotted Decorator Crab  ______  BZ
     Microphrys bicornutus
     
     
136. Ghost Crab  ______  BZ  (ASC:631)
     Ocypode quadrata 
     
     
137. Mudflat Fiddler Crab  ______  BZ
     Uca rapax
     
     
138. Saltpan Fiddler Crab  ______  BZ
     Uca burgersi
     
     
139. Atlantic Mangrove Fiddler  ______  BZ
     Uca thayeri
     
     
140. Mangrove Tree Crab  ______  BZ
     Aratus pisonii
     
     
141. Mangrove Root Crab  ______  BZ  (or Spotted Mangrove Crab)
     Goniopsis cruentata     
     
     
     ECHINODERMS:  Sea Stars & Sea Urchins
     
     
142. Cushion Star  ______  BZ  (ASC:541)
     Oreaster reticulatus
     
     
143. Short-spined Brittle Star  ______  BZ
     Ophioderma brevispina
     
     
144. Atlantic Long-spined Brittle Star  ______  BZ
     Ophiothrix angulata    
     
     
145. Long-spined Sea Urchin  (*) ______  BZ
     Diadema antillarum
     
     The Long-spined Sea Urchin has spines up to 15 inches long. 
     
     
     
     
     BENEATH MUCH OF THE LIMESTONE SURFACE 
     THAT MAKES UP MOST OF THE YUCATAN PENINSULA OF MEXICO, 
     THERE'S WATER, AND IN SOME ODD CREATURES LIVE.
     
     WE SAW THE FOLLOWING IN POOLS IN A CAVE DURING THE FONT NOVEMBER 2008 YUCATAN, MEXICO TOUR:
     (Spanish names precede the scientific names.) 
     
     
146. Aguila Ciega  ("blind eel") (*) ______  YP
     Ophisternon infernale
     
     
147. Dama Blanca  (an eyeless, white fish) (*) ______ YP
     Ogilbia pearsei
     
     
148. Camaron Ciego  ("blind shrimp") (*) ______ YP
     Creaseria morleyi
     
     
149. Cochinilla aguatica  (an eyeless crustacean) (*) ______ YP
     Creaseriella anops 
     
     
     

References include:

"Sea Life - A Complete Guide to the Marine Environment", edited by Geoffrey Waller, with principal contributors Marc Dando & Michael Burchett, 1996.  

"Fishes of the Atlantic Coast: Canada to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean", by Gar Goodson, 1976.  

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