"Nha Trang underwaterworld 3" Nha Trang Travelogue by kelnsha

Thorny Seahorse features a long snout and spiny ridges on the body: the white bands on the nose are diagnostic for Hippocampus histrix. Coloration rather variable but Malaysian specimens seem to be bright yellow-green most of the times. Quite common on sand bottoms in proximity of seagrass beds at very low depth, often in pairs or loose aggregations of several individuals: compared to Hippocampus kuda and its close relatives, this species seems to prefer cleaner water and a more brightly lit environment.

Cypraea tigris

Sea shell or cowrie - Family Cypraeidae.

Cowrie - any of various tropical marine gastropods of the family Cypraeidae, having glossy, often brightly marked shells, some of which are used as currency in the South Pacific and Africa.

Feather stars

Feather stars are one of the most visible members of the reef community. They are especially abundant in areas exposed to periodic strong currents, which convey an abundant supply of planktonic food.

Sea urchin

Sea urchins have a basic echinoderm body structure including a water vascular system with associated tube feet, and a chitinous skeleton covered with a thin layer of skin. The tube feet function in locomotion as in starfish, but movement is also aided by leverage action of the spines on the underside of the body. As a result they can move much faster than starfish.

Jellyfish

Jellyfish - beware of the Stingers.

Dendrochirus zebra

Zebra Lionfish are nocturnal predators, preferring to hide during the day inside crevices and in generally overhanging, shadowy places.

Tube anemone

Tube anemone, unidentified species.

Corythoichthys flavofasciatus

Yellow-Banded Pipefish is easy to approach closely but a quite active swimmer like most members of its genus.