![]() These egg capsules, each containing 20-40 eggs, belonging to a species of predatory sea snail from the genus Murex, are abundant on Mumbai’s shores.Įlysia hirasei, a tiny sap-sucking sea slug, in a shallow tidepool on one of Mumbai’s rocky shores. In tide pools, the eggs of some marine animal or other are surely to be found, attached to rocks. They are a perfect example of carcinisation, an evolutionary process wherein a crustacean evolves into a crab-like form from a non-crab-like form.Įgg capsules of a predatory sea snail attached to a wrecked boat on Mumbai’s Chowpatty beach (Photo by Rizwan Mithawala) Living literally under a rock, these flat-bodied crustaceans are not true crabs but related to squat lobsters and hermit crabs (which, too, are not true crabs). Beautiful and fragile, they will shed a limb if attacked, and escape, just like geckos do, leaving the tail behind. (Photo by Rizwan Mithawala)Ī porcelain crab under a rock on one of Mumbai’s shores. Low tide exposes a colony of sea sponges in a tide pool off Mumbai’s Marine Drive. A deeper inspection reveals more: anemones, porcelain crabs, sponges, snail eggs, and if you’re lucky, sea stars! A cursory peek reveals some forms of life: barnacles, a few snails and small fish. From just a few inches to a few feet in depth and diameter, these shallow pools of seawater are found in the intertidal zone – the area of the shore exposed only during low tides. Tide pools are microcosms of the sea, teeming with life. ![]() On rocky shores, we walk past them, oblivious. Western Ghats: Improving Large Carnivore Connectivity.Developing an Ecology-based Conservation Strategy for the Indian Pangolin.Riverine Ecosystems and Livelihoods Programme.
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