WILLA WEI PHOTOGRAPHY / FLICKR
@ NICK SONG / FLICKR
LEAFY SEADRAGON
SEA ISLAND SPECIES impressed with the circle , they lay their eggs in the center , then the male completes the fertilization process .
Leafy Seadragon
While many are familiar with seahorses , few have heard of the leafy seadragon , found in reefs or beds of seagrass off the coast of Australia . An interesting adaptation , leaflike limbs are affixed to their head , body and tail so that the leafy seadragon can easily be camouflaged within their environment . Their long , thin snouts allow them to suck up food and just like their seahorse relatives , the males give birth , with the females laying eggs under the males ’ tails .
The oceans are the true final frontier of Earth . As technology enables scientists to explore further and deeper into the salty seawater depths , we ’ ll continue to learn more about the ocean ’ s great mysteries , flora and fauna .
While the world ’ s oceans have an incredible amount of rare and unique animals and phenomena , the local Georgia coastline is home to some special sea life of its own .
Sea Island Lead Naturalist Haley Watkins says that Eastern oyster reefs form along the mud banks and tidal flats of the river and on some parts of the beaches , creating a reef-like ecosystem for fish , shrimp , blue crabs and more . “ It ’ s a nursery ground , or feeding ground , for all kinds of species that ultimately venture offshore into the Atlantic Ocean and become a global species ,” Watkins shares .
One of the most unique local species is the horseshoe crab , which dates back 350 million years . The ancient species has a hard armor to protect it as it ventures along the ocean floor and along the beach .
Bottlenose dolphins can also be found near Sea Island , and the local populations have their own behaviors that set them apart from cetaceans
you ’ ll find elsewhere . “ Bottlenose dolphins are known to strand feed on the Georgia coast , which is when they herd a school of fish up onto the beach or up onto the banks of the river , then glide on just a few inches of water and catch those fish on land ,” Watkins explains . “ It ’ s a really smart behavioral trait that we see out of our bottlenose dolphins that you really don ’ t see in many other parts of the world .”
This region remains one of the most diverse in the U . S . “ It ’ s amazing how many different species rely on this habitat that you can find right in the Black Banks River behind Sea Island ,” Watkins says . One of the most rare and vulnerable marine mammals , the Florida manatee , also frequents the waters here . “ Across the Georgia coast , we have huge swings in high tide and low tide — sometimes over 9 feet — so the water and habitats are constantly changing . I think that ’ s something that creates a really unique environment for a lot of wildlife .”
SPRING / SUMMER 2023 | SEA ISLAND LIFE 85