Photo: Gustav Paulay

Date Found: 10/13/06

Scientific Name: Leiaster sp.

Family: Ophidiasteridae

Common name: purple sea star

Described/undescribed?: undescribed

Unknown to expedition members?: No; seen earlier by Scott Godwin

Common organism type (i.e. coral, crab, worm): sea star

Where collected: FR-15-2, (Fore reef, 15 meters)

Identified by: Guastav Paulay

Collection Method used: hand

Where found (i.e. FFS, NWHI, HI, Pacific, Worldwide): NWHI

Endemic?: yes?

Interest/significance:  Previously collected by Scott Godwin at Pearl and Hermes, this striking sea star appears to be a NWHI endemic.  Leiaster sea stars are usually hidden during the day and only emerge at night; they also tend to be red or be mottled with red.  This species is out in the day and is a striking purple in color!

Photo: Gustav Paulay

Date Found: 10/14/06

Scientific Name: Dardanus sp.

Family: Diogenidae

Common name: hermit crab

Described/undescribed?: probably undescribed

Unknown to expedition members?: yes

Common organism type: hermit crab

Where collected: FR-25-3 (Fore reef, 25 meters)

Identified by: Gustav Paulay

Collection Method used: hand

Where found (i.e. FFS, NWHI, HI, Pacific, Worldwide): FFS only?

Endemic?: likely

Interest/significance:  We have now collected species of Dardanus hermit crabs which are potentially undescribed; this is one found in shallow habitats. 

Photo: Gustav Paulay

Date Found: 10/14/06

Scientific Name: Holothuria aff. jousseaumi

Family: Holothuriidae

Common name: sea cucumber

Described/undescribed?: potentially undescribed

Unknown to expedition members?: no

Common organism type (i.e. coral, crab, worm): sea cucumber

Where collected: FR-10-3 (Fore reef, 10 meters)

Identified by: Gustav Paulay

Collection Method used: hand

Where found (i.e. FFS, NWHI, HI, Pacific, Worldwide): Pacific

Endemic?: no

Interest/significance: A small sea cucumber that is unusual for its habit of attaching many grains of sand to its body.  This species is widespread in the Pacific, but this is the first record from the Hawaiian Islands.  The species may be undescribed. It is related to Holothuria jousseaumi from the Red Sea.

Photo: Andy Collins

Date Found:  10/15/06

Scientific Name: Frenulina sanguinolenta

Family: Laqueidae

Common name: reef  brachiopod

Described/undescribed?: described

Unknown to expedition members?: no

Common organism type: lamp shell (brachiopod)

Where collected: LPR-3 (Lagoon Patch Reef)

Identified by: Gustav Paulay

Collection Method used: Hand

Where found (i.e. FFS, NWHI, HI, Pacific, Worldwide): Indo-west Pacific

Endemic?: No

Interest/significance: Brachiopods are ancient animals that dominated the seas hundreds of millions of years ago, but today are rare in most habitats, with only a fraction of their former diversity remaining.  On coral reefs a handful of species inhabit the reef interior, and can be encountered in caves and in rubble.  This represents the first record of the phylum in FFS.

Photo: Gustav Paulay

Date Found: 10/15/06

Scientific Name: Polycitor sp. (must be confirmed in laboratory)

Family: Polycitoridae

Common name: Sea squirt

Described/undescribed?: probably undescribed

New species?: probably

Common organism type (i.e. coral, crab, worm):?

Where collected: FR_2, (Fore reef)

Identified by: Tito Lotufo

Collection Method used: Hand collecting

Where found (i.e. FFS, NWHI, HI, Pacific, Worldwide): probably only NWHI

Endemic?: probably

Interest/significance: The polycitorids are colonial ascidians found worldwide in tropical and temperate waters. This species in particular is covered by a thin layer of coarse sand which makes them very cryptic. There are no records of this genus in the region.

Photo: Jim Maragos/USFWS

Date Found: 10/13/06

Scientific Name: Acropora sp.

Family: Aroporidae

Common name: Coral

Described/undescribed?: Undescribed

New species?: Probably

Common organism type: Coral

Where collected: LP_1, (Lagoon Patch Reef)

Identified by: Jim Maragos

Collection Method used: Not collected, photographed only

Where found (i.e. FFS, NWHI, HI, Pacific, Worldwide): Probably only NWHI

Endemic?: Probably

Interest/significance: Although acropora are one of the most common types of coral in the Pacific they are rare in Hawaii.  If this is indeed a new species it may suggest that acropora corals have evolved over a longer time period in Hawaii than what is currently thought, since there are no other acropora like it elsewhere in the Pacific.