Below are several video clips that show off some of the spectacular variety of invertebrates (animals without backbones) that live in and around the sanctuary.

To view a video, simply click on play button (>) in the video controller at the bottom of the window. A brief description of each video is provided below the window.

Moon Jellies (Aurelia aurita)

This video highlights the graceful, pulsing movements of moon jellies. Jellies, like coral polyps, belong to the scientific group of animals known as Cnidaria (ni-day-ree-a). Like coral, they may also provide shelter for other animals, as seen in the second half of this video. The small fish swimming under the moon jelly's bell are believed to be juvenile jacks. (0:35)

Credit: FGBNMS/Hickerson

top of page

Octopus & Squid

Octopus and squid belong to a class of animals called cephalopods, or head and foot animals. They are mollusks, but lack the external shells of their snail and clam cousins.

The most common octopus at the Flower Garden Banks sanctuary is aptly referred to as the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris). However, this cool video shows a Caribbean two-spot octopus (Octopus filosus), which was spotted out and about hunting in broad daylight, which is rather an unusual occurrence.

The video begins with the Caribbean two-spot octopus crawling and "jetting" (pushing itself forward by expelling a stream of water) across the reef with a file clam clasped in its tentacles. As the octopus flees the camera, it rapidly and repeatedly changes its color and pattern. Only in certain color combinations are the two spots visible that give it it's name. Outside of the den where the octopus disappears with its prey, you can see the leftovers of other file clams scattered about the reef. Piles of shell discards (middens), like these, often indicate where an octopus lives.

The end of this video shows brief clips of two small squid (probably Loligo plei) seen swimming up in the water column at night. (1:22)

Credit: FGBNMS/Hickerson

top of page

Sea Hares (Aplysia sp.)

Sea hares are often referred to as shell-less snails, although they do actually have small internal shells. The species in this video is relatively large, ranging up to 10 inches in length. Each sea hare has two pairs of rolled tentacles--a pair near the mouth, which it appears to use for feeding, and a pair called rhinophores on top of the head.

This video shows sea hares swimming over the algae-covered bottom at Stetson Bank by flapping the large, fleshy extensions of their mantles like wings. They were probably attracted to Stetson Bank because of all the algae, their primary food. (1:27)

Credit: FGBNMS/Hickerson

top of page