Guide to The marine life of Bahia Honda
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Guide to
www.floridastateparks.org/bahiahonda
The marine life
of Bahia Honda
Written and illustrated by:
Monay Markey, Park Services specialist
sharon buck, park volunteer Bah
ia
Snorkeling Honda State Park has some interesting areas for snorkeling.
SCUBA diving is also permitted but is not recommended because
the waters around Bahia Honda are fairly shallow. Soft coral,
sponges and small coral heads can be found just offshore on
the Atlantic side of the island. This area also contains rocky
holes where tropical fish, spiny lobster and stone crabs can
be found.
Before snorkeling or diving, there are a few guidelines you
should follow:
Never snorkel or dive without a Diver Down flag displayed. This
flag is required by state law. Its purpose is to make boaters in the
area aware that divers or snorkelers are in the water. Diver Down
flags and snorkeling equipment can be purchased or rented at the
park’s dive shop.
Never touch any marine life while snorkeling or diving. Marine life
can be harmed by just a touch. It can also be harmful to you! Stay
clear of the yellow stingray, Portuguese man-of-war, fireworm and
long-spined sea urchin.
Often along the shallow rocky bottoms you may see large holes.
Never stick your hands down inside these, as they are likely the
home of some fairly disagreeable characters. Fish with poisonous
barbs such as scorpion fish; morays and octopus with unfriendly
bites; or crabs with large pinching claws are likely inhabitants.
Collection of live shells, marine life and plants is prohibited. Take
only photos, leave only bubbles.
Spiny lobster or stone crab claws can be taken if all laws concerning
their harvesting are obeyed.
Snorkeling and SCUBA diving is prohibited in the following areas:
• Marinas and associated channels
• Borrow pit on the bayside in front of the cabins
Caution should be exercised when snorkeling or diving near the
Bahia Honda Channel. The current in this area can be very strong.
Queen Conch Seagrass Meadows
Strombus gigas Seagrass are true flowering plants, not algae. Three common species
This very famous pink and tan snail has found in our waters are the flat-bladed turtle-grass, the round bladed
been over collected because of its manatee-grass and the narrow-bladed shoal-grass. These underwater
beautiful shell and tasty meat. They are plants carry out photosynthesis just as land plants do – this process
protected in Florida so collecting is releases oxygen into the water in the form of visible bubbles. Seagrass
prohibited. Most of the conch that is benefit the coral reefs by trapping suspended sediments, helping to
served in restaurants is imported from keep the water clear. They also cycle nutrients and are an important
other countries that farm raise it. Conch feeding ground for many organisms such as shrimp and small fish.
is served throughout the Keys in soups,
fritters, “cracked” and many other When you snorkel above the seagrass beds off Bahia Honda, you are
delicious ways. floating above the home of hundreds of marine plants and animals.
The seagrass beds act as the intermediate habitat between the
Florida Horse Conch mangroves and the coral reefs. Some organisms migrate between the
Pleuroploca gigantea mangroves and the coral reefs on a seasonal or daily cycle. Seagrass
This giant snail (19 inches) is not beds also serve as intermediate habitat for larger species that move
actually a true conch but related to tulip out to the reef when they mature.
snails. It is a voracious carnivore that
feeds on other snails such as the Queen Hardbottom Communities
Conch. The inside of the shell is orange Hardbottom communities are found on the Atlantic Ocean side of
in color. The horse conch is the state Bahia Honda inside the reef proper. The hardbottom community
shell of Florida. consists of Key Largo limestone substrate with little or no sediment.
Hardbottom communities are dominated by algal species such as
Briar Octopus shaving brush algae, oatmeal algae and feather algae. A combination
Octopus briareus of species of hard and soft corals are also found in the hardbottom
Octopods are very curious and community including finger coral, golfball coral, sea blade and sea rod.
intelligent creatures. If left alone they Coral may be found growing wherever the hard substrate sticks up
are harmless. Never try to pick one up; and gives it a place to anchor. There are also rocky holes that are
it has a beak underneath its body that particularly attractive to stone crabs, spiny lobster and tropical fish.
injects venom. It uses this venom to
immobilize its favorite food, crabs. The Unconsolidated Substrate (sandy bottom) Communities
octopus is related to snails. The unconsolidated substrate consists mainly of unvegetated, loose
sand. At Bahia Honda, this habitat surrounds most of the island and
Hawksbill turtle grades into the seagrass beds. It is an important habitat because a
Eretmochelys imbricate number of burrowing organisms live hidden beneath the sand. Many
If you are very lucky you may see one of fish species can be found here too, particularly where it occurs
these beautiful sea turtles foraging for adjacent to the mangroves.
food in the hardbottom community. They
grow to about 100 pounds and have a
hooked beak-like upper jaw.
Beaugregory Yellow Stingray
Pomacentrus leucostictus Urolophus jamaicensis
This bright blue and yellow fish grows Though small, no wider than about
to about 4 inches. It is very territorial 14”, this ray can inflict extreme pain
carefully guarding its patch of algae, from its spine if stepped on or
and will nip at you if you get too close. carelessly handled. It is disc shaped
and tan in color with darker mottling.
Sergeant Major
Abudefduf saxatilis Spotted Moray
A small fish about 4-6 inches long that Gymnothorax moringa
has 5 black body bars. It will often These morays reach a maximum
approach divers. length of 4 feet and are usually
hiding during the day in holes under
Gray Angelfish coral or in rocks. They extend their
Pomacanthus arcuatus head out of their hole and continually
These curious fish are often seen in open and close their mouth to
pairs. They are relatively unafraid and breathe; this is not a threat.
often come close to divers. Size can
range from 10-24 inches. Seahorse
Hippocampus erectus
Great Barracuda This master of disguise lives in the
Sphyraena barracuda shallow sea grass meadows. Its
Ultimate predator, commonly up to 4’ flexible tail is used to hold onto a
in length, but may reach 6’. It’s often blade of marine growth. When passing
seen cruising around turtle grass over sea grass beds you should look
beds. It is usually not considered a carefully or you may not see the many
danger to humans. interesting creatures that live there.
Hogfish Spotted Sea Hare
Lachnolaimus maximus Aplysia dactylomela
Named for its pig-like snout, this fish This sea slug has an olive drab body
can change colors to match its covered with black ring-like spots. It
surroundings. It can also be identified emits a purple cloud of mucus if
by its three long dorsal fin spines. disturbed. Has an internal shell.
They may reach a length of 3 feet.
Hawkwing Conch
Highhat Strombus raninus
Equetus acuminatus This is a smaller conch (5”) and is an
This fish likes to hide under rocks and herbivore. It is found in the seagrass
sponges. It is white with several beds or hardbottom communities. Its
horizontal black stripes and has and shell is very well camouflaged with
extremely long dorsal fin. sediment and plant growth.
Horseshoe Crab Honeycomb Cowfish
Limulus polyphemus Lactophrys polygonia
Fossils of these creatures reveal they This strange looking fish grows to
have been around for over 350 million about 18 inches. Projecting from just
years and are considered to be “living above the eyes are horn-like spines. If
fossils.” Although called a crab, they stressed it secretes a toxic substance
are actually related to spiders. that can kill other fish.
Loggerhead Sponge Redfin Needlefish
Spheciospongia vesparium Strongylura notata
This is a cake-shaped, large (up to Up to 3’, this skinny fish has a long
40”) gray sponge with a cluster of beak studded with many sharp teeth.
black holes in the top center. Sponges
filter large quantities of water daily Balloonfish Diodon holocanthus
and provide homes for a number of This olive colored fish has long spines
small fish and crustaceans. on its head, small brown spots on its
Loggerhead sponges provide critical body but no spots on its fins or tail. It
habitat for juvenile spiny lobster. can be found resting on the bottom. If
it feels threatened it will draw water
Fire Sponge into its belly and inflate itself three
Tedania ignis times its normal size. Its strong beak-
This sponge forms a red crust on like mouth allows it to crush, and eat
walls, rocks and dead corals. It can hard shell invertebrates.
cause a rash and pain if touched.
Nurse Shark
Vase Sponge Ginglymostoma cirratum
Ircinia campana You will often see this shark lying
Also known as Robinson Crusoe Hat, under coral heads or rock ledges. They
this vase-shaped brown sponge is have two barbells on their upper lip
found in turtle grass beds. Many and a small mouth. Because of special
times snapping shrimp live within the adaptations in their gills, they can
vase sponge and can be heard when breathe while staying still, a
one gets close to the sponge. characteristic that makes people think
they are tame.
Tubed Sponge
Callyspongia vaginalis Spotted Scorpionfish
This lavender or gray sponge grows in Scorpaena plumieri
clusters in shallow water. The outer This well camouflaged fish can
walls of the tube are rough. Another cause great pain from its spines if
name for this sponge is Branching touched or stepped on. It likes to
Vase Sponge and it is often found hide in rock holes or rests on the
washed up on the shore. bottom ready to ambush it’s prey.
Moon Jelly Slimy Sea Feather
Aurelia aurita Pseudopterogorgia americana
Round with a transparent bluish-pink Colonies of these can grow to 6 feet,
body, their reproductive tissues are bluish gray in color. Covered in a
arranged in a four-leaf clover pattern. slimy protective mucous.
These jellies can cause a mild sting in
or out of the water and are often seen Blue Crab
washed up on the beach in spring. Callinectes sapidus
Found in seagrass meadows and
Sea Walnut (Comb Jelly) sandy bottom communities. It has a
Mnemiopsis maccadyi blue-gray body and bright blue claws
Comb jellyfish are not actually tipped with red.
jellyfish and are the most primitive
animals to have a digestive tract. This Spiny Lobster
transparent, pear-shaped blob propels Panulirus argus
itself by moving rows of microscopic Unlike the Maine lobster, Florida
cilia called combs. They are about 4 lobsters have no claws, they are
inches in length and iridescent. protected by sharp spines instead.
They vibrate the base of their long
Portuguese Man-Of-War antennae to produce an audible
Physalia physalius warning sound. Hide in rock crevices
A common drift species, it has a and come out at night to feed.
bluish-pink float which supports a
diverse colony of polyps. Stinging Stone Crab
tentacles located on the underside Menippe mercenaria
of the float can be up to 30 feet This is a large, thick shelled crab with
long and inflict a severe sting. See black tipped claws, often found hiding
most often when winds are in mud or rock holes. It is the favorite
southeasterly. They can still sting eating crab of the Keys and both it and
when washed ashore. spiny lobsters are caught
commercially in traps.
Bubble Algae
Ventricaria ventricosa Marine Hermit Crab
Green plants that look like large glass (Order Decapoda)
marbles or small balloons with a Hermit crabs do not produce their own
reflective coating. These thin-walled shell. As they grow, they must move
algae are composed of one cell – one of into a larger shell. This is one of the
the largest cells known. They attach reasons we don’t encourage visitors to
to the substrate by minute hair-like collect sea shells. Some large species
appendages called rhizoids. of hermit crabs use discarded queen
conch shells.Golfball Coral Disk Algae
Favia fragum Halimeda opuntia
Small coral that may encrust on rocks This common oatmeal algae forms
or form golf ball-sized pebbles. Made dense green colonies that cover the
up of tiny creatures called polyps that bottom in patches. This calcareous
filter nutrients from the water. algae disintegrates into sand after it
Harmed when touched. dies. All species of calcareous algae
contribute to the submerged sediment
Common Rose Coral and washes ashore as beach sand at
Manicina areolata Bahia Honda.
Pale yellow, pink or green in color.
Undulating (rolling) edge is where the Merman’s Shaving Brush Algae
polyps live. Usually found in turtle Penicillus capitatus
grass beds. Harmed when touched. Resembles a green colored old-
fashioned shaving brush. Common in
Thick Finger Coral shallow lagoons or bays with mud,
Porites porites turtle grass or sand bottoms. Grows
Greenish-tan coral forms smooth in beds or individually and is a
clumps in sandy, grassy or rocky calcareous algae.
areas. Branches are enlarged at the
ends. Harmed when touched. Mermaid Cup Algae
Acetabularia calyculus
Encrusting Fire Coral Small green algae with parasol-like
Millepora alcicornis or cup shaped discs on slender stalks.
This coral forms yellowish-orange These one-celled organisms are
branching colonies, often with whiter common in shallow areas and may
tips. Painful if touched, can cause occur in clusters or solitary.
welts. This is not a true coral.
Feather Algae
Corky Sea Fingers Caulerpa sertularioides
Briareum asbestinum Long, erect featherlike blades make
This soft coral forms colonies of this a beautiful algae. These plants
purple, finger-like rods. When polyps prefer shallow, sandy areas or
are extended, they appear soft and mangrove roots.
fuzzy. This is true of all corals.
Cushion Sea Star
Sea Rod Oreaster reticulatus
Plexaura flexuosa Huge sea star, up to 20” across, found
Finger-like colonies usually oriented on sand bottoms. It moves across the
in a single plane-overall smooth seabed on thick, tubed feet. Adults
appearance. Brown to purple in color. are orange or pale yellow and
juveniles are green.Brittle Stars West Indian Sea Egg
(Class Ophiuroidea) Tripneustes ventricosus
These starfish have long, flexible arms It has short, white spines on a dark
and the ability to hide in any small test; most common urchin of the turtle
space. This makes them rather hard to grass beds. Spines are not harmful.
spot. They feed on a wide variety of
food, from bacteria to tiny fish. Sea Biscuit
Clypeaster rosaceus
Sea Cucumber This large, thick, short-spined
Holothuria mexicana echinoderm looks very much like a
This sea cucumber is a large (16”), puffed-up rounded sand dollar. When
lumpish, warty creature of the turtle living, it is covered with short black
grass beds. It feeds on bottom bristles. It is hard to see on the bottom
sediment, digests the nutrients and since it often covers itself with
excretes the leftover sand. If disturbed seagrass, shells and other debris to
it will expel its digestive organs and hide from predators.
then burrow in the sand to hide until
they re-grow. Pink Tipped Anemone
Condylactis gigantea
Pencil Urchin Variable in color, this beautiful
Eucidaris tribuloides creature is often seen with pink or
This unique urchin has short, thick, purple-tipped white tentacles set on
blunt-tipped, relatively sparse spines. an orange column. Uses sticky
The spines may be fuzzy from an algae tentacles to capture prey, it can be
coating. Usually seen hiding under up to 12” wide. Prefers rocky areas.
rocks or in crevices.
Fireworm
Long-spined Urchin Hermodice carunculata
Diadema antillarum This is a large reddish colored
Needle-like black spines are long, 12” worm, (up to 12”) with bushy red
or more and are poisonous. It feeds at and white bristles along the sides of
night on algae and turtle grass. Hides its body. The bristles or (setae) are
in crevices and is important to the barbed and harmful when touched.
coral reef ecosystem. Don’t touch!
Spaghetti Worm
Red Rock Urchin Eupolymnia crassicornis
Echinometra lucunter It is common in the seagrass and
This common urchin is up to 3” across hardbottom communities where it
and has red to black spines. It is found burrows into the sediment. It then
hiding in rock crevices in hardbottom stretches its numerous slender white
communities. tentacles out to catch food.You can also read
