3 June ~ 2020

The first photo from Bunaken, Indonesia is of the Ink Spot Sea Squirt , which is very common out at the reef edge. These creatures begin life as a free swimming larvae with eyes and a brain. Once it attaches itself to rocks or coral it's eye and nervous system are ingested, since they are no longer needed. The anti cancer drug trabectedin has been derrived from sea squirts. More information about tunicates, or seq squirts, can be found here and here.

Also below is the Blue Sea Star, which are found in Indonesian seas in the intertidal zone. The Blue Sea Star is also a free swimming larvae when young. There were lots at Bunaken, although in other parts of Indonesia they are declining because of over collection.