Category Archives: Coral of The Ryukyu Islands

The Most Beautiful Bivalve In The World – Pedum spondyloideum

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The Coral scallop (Pedum spondyloideum) is the most beautiful animal I have encountered underwater. The delicate bivalve lives within the hard coral its entire life.

  • Scientific name: Pedum spondyloideum
  • Distribution:  Ryukyu Islands
  • Habitat:  Hard corals in shallow water
  • Diet: Filter feeders
  • Average Size:  35mm-55mm

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What purpose do they serve in the ecosystem? Researchers believe these beautiful bivalves serve a beneficial function among hard corals.

  • Provide circulation for feeding coral
  • Defend the host by expelling water when threatened by corallivorous marine life

The hard coral provides the bivalve with support and protection. The shell is very thin and fragile. Below is a great example of a protected piece of coral with an army of coral scallops.

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The crown of thorns starfish is the most devesting predator of the coral. If the coral (host) dies the bivalve will not survive.

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The coral scallop is very thin and fragile. The living animal is much more beautiful than the protective shell it produces. These specimens were given to me by a fellow researcher.

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I first started photographing these beauties in 2010, below are some of my favorite images taken throughout the Ryukyu Islands.

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 My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically to serve as an online nature reference guide. If you would like to make a contribution to support my mission, please click on the donation link  paypal.me/maketheswitch4nature

Your donations will help conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines.  Thank you for your support, Shawn M Miller.

#MakeTheSwitch4Nature

The Shorelines of Iheya Island Turn Red

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Mass coral spawning took place this weekend on Izena, Iheya and Noho Island. I have been waiting a very long time to see this natural wonder.

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Coral spawn slick

Coral spawning takes place late at night during high tide. When many species of coral spawn on the same night it naturally forms a mass of gametes know as a coral spawn slick. These coral slicks eventually wash ashore the next morning. These brightly colored coral slicks give off a very strong odor that will stick in my memory forever. 

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Coral spawn slick

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Coral spawn slick art

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Iheya beach – RW&B

While exploring the island we stumbled upon more bright coral slicks. We often explored beaches polluted with single use waste. As you can see our trash is a series problem in our oceans and the shorelines worldwide.

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Coral spawn slick and trash

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Pink Coral spawn slick

Look close and you can see single-use waste and micro plastic floating on the surface of the water

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Coral colored spawn slick

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Red coral splash

Noho Island had a thick smelling coral slick at the local fishing port.  A group of locals showed up to go swimming but immediately decided it was a bad idea and went to another location.

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Noho – Fishing port

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Coral spawn slick washed up

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Noho fishing port

Learn more about making a difference, TEDx talk | Adapting to or Changing Environment by Shawn M Miller

 My Mission: To document and preserve the wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically  to serve as an online nature reference guide. If you would like to make a contribution to support my mission, please click on the donation link paypal.me/maketheswitch4nature

Your donations will help worldwide conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines.  Thank you for your support.  Shawn M Miller.