I love the water: one of my earliest memories is of learning to swim. That being said, I have tremendous respect for all bodies of water, especially the ocean. I recently bought a copy of Two Oceans: A Guide to the Marine Life of Southern Africa to start identifying some of the critters we saw in Arniston recently. I tell you: if I caught a glimpse of some of the crawlies pictured I’d be on dry land in no time!
- Red Starfish
- Sea anemone
- Shaggy Sea Hare
- Southern Right Whale
Bluebottle
Physalia physalis
Cape Fur Seal
Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus
We saw this big seal on 16 Mile Beach in the West Coast National Park. It was clearly in distress, though we couldn’t see any obvious injury.
Sighting: 16 Mile Beach [April]
Cape Sea Urchin
Parechinus angulosus
Sea urchins are fairly common along the coastline. You will also often come across their fairly delicate, prettily patterned pale green shells along the shore known by the cute Afrikaans name “see-pampoentjies” (sea pumpkins). The live animals, common in rock pools, are covered in sharp, brittle spines which break off easily under your skin should you handle them.
This article on the Two Oceans Aquarium site makes for interesting reading.
They are edible and are part of the cuisine of several nations, including sushi, though I must admit I am not brave enough to try them!
Knysna Seahorse
Hippocampus capensis
These seahorses occur only in the Knysna, Swartvlei and Keurbooms estuaries. [1]
I am told that if you snorkel in the canals of the Thesen Islands Marina you will see them along the walls.
I have only seen this fairytale creature in the tank at the SANParks Garden Route Head Office on Thesen Island.
Red Starfish
Callopatiria granifera
We spotted this little guy in a rock pool on the way to Waenhuiskrans Cave.
Sighting: Arniston [September]
Sea anemone
Shaggy Sea Hare
Bursatella leachii
These unfortunate-looking “slugs” are fairly common in the shallows of the lagoon.
“They are about 10cm in length and munch on alga or decaying matter.” [2]
Sighting: Knysna Estuary [March]
Spiny Starfish
Sighting: Gerickes Point
Three-spot Swimming Crab
Ovalipes trimaculatus
This crab is common on sandy shores in South Africa. It has a characteristic “sad face” pattern on its carapace.
Sighting: 16 Mile Beach [April]
West Coast Rock Lobster
Jasus lalandii
The West Coast Lobster, or Cape Rock Lobster, is commonly called crayfish or kreef. I am more familiar with these guys on a braai grid than I am with them in their natural habitat I am afraid. They make fine eating and as a result, have been over-fished for years despite strict measures to protect them.
The gazetted regulations in terms of the Marine Living Resources Act (Act No. 18 of 1988) for the recreational fishing of West Coast rock lobster include (among others):
- A bag limit of four per permit holder per day for own use;
- The possession of a recreational rock lobster permit (obtainable at any SA Post Office);
- Recreational permit holders collecting and landing West Coast rock lobster may do so only between 8am and 4pm. The rock lobsters must be landed by or before 4pm.
- No person shall buy, barter, sell, or offer for sale any rock lobster which is caught with a recreational permit.
The current season starts 15 November 2012 and closes 01 April 2013.
References:
- Knysna seahorse (2023) SANBI. Available at: https://www.sanbi.org/animal-of-the-week/knysna-seahorse/ (Accessed: 6 February 2025).
- de Villiers, N Knysna Estuary Research Foundation (2017) A Shaggy Tale. Available at: https://knysnabasinproject.co.za/a-shaggy-tale/ (Accessed: 28 March 2025).
