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Carol McCutch's Cozumel Blog

Late December '08 Early January '09, Part 2

Here are a couple of cruise ship passengers exploring the natural wonders of Cozumel's waterfront. It is so refreshing to see them taking an interest in the tide pools and not just the t-shirt and jewelry shops.

Those of us that live here take the waterfront pretty much for granted, but it really does have some interesting critters and is worth exploring from time-to-time.

Reticulated starfish -- Each arm of the starfish has hundreds of tube feet. These attach themselves to a food object such as a mussel or bivalve. Then with amazing strength it can pry open the shell and the feast begins. Here is the gross part, the sea star then forces its stomach into the shell, excretes enzymes and turns the insides into a puree which it uses to digest the shell contents. Having had its fill, it slinks off leaving the unfortunate shell completely cleaned of its former occupant and looking like it is just closed for the duration.

.Sea stars are very famous for being able to regenerate their arms, and in some cases their entire bodies can be regenerated from just a bit of an arm left.

This can happen because they have most of their vital organs only in their arms. Sea stars have no eyes but can tell if it is light or dark. They breathe through there feet.

 
Filefish and rope to the left. I have concluded that there is something in the ropes around the snorkel areas that file fish like to eat. I see them hanging out so often. The ropes around Dzul Ha and President Hotel sting. Really sting, you can get a rash for touching them.

 

I have photos of the file fish in other blogs, but this was pretty close. They are closely related to the triggerfish. Below is a young trigger fish with it's "trigger" up for protection. They sure are cuties.

 

There is almost always something curious near my back door. This appears to be a type of wasp, but I could find no information on it. There were 3 of these that came and died by my back door. Apparently at the end of their life cycle (usually after procreating). Sure was pretty and if anyone that reads this has a clue as to what it is, please let me know..

The Cozumeleños people are not only very resourceful, but take their lot in life with a smile and an acceptance unlike anywhere I have lived.

This man has found the perfect way to travel around town. Love his smile.

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Trumpetfish are piscivores - which means they eat fish. I thought that their peculiar appearance of standing on their heads was to disguise themselves. I guess in a sense it is, but only because they are waiting for fish to appear and I think they are hiding from the intended meals.

They will hang until a fish appears and then lightening fast they will expand their mouths widely and swallow the fish. When they do, the mouth appears much like a trumpet. Hence the name trumpetfish. .
One of the fish that the trumpetfish prey on is the damselfish. Damsels are aggressive little guys and are really quite full of hutzpa. They will keep cool and hide when a trumpetfish passes, but chase after and nip their tails after they pass

 

Below is a trumpet fish traveling in the horizontal position.

 

 
Below Left is Victor from Cuba. He is part of Aquino's salsa band, Fuerza Latina. Aquino is below singing to a couple of salsa dancers. It is a fun dance style to watch. One of the favorite places to watch is Sundays at Playa Azul beach. As you can see, Salsa is for all ages.

 

Cozumel Singer

 

The band on youtube

Carol Welcomes Comments & Questions. Email Her.