Intertidal and shore walks with Young Nautilus (Oct-Dec 2024)

Join Young Nautilus to explore our own coastal backyard in Singapore, and take a closer look at the amazing animals! Expose your children to science and nature, see in action what they have learnt in schools about wildlife! Here's their public programmes.

Intertidal and shore walks with Young Nautilus (Apr-Jun 2024)

Join Young Nautilus to explore our own coastal backyard in Singapore, and take a closer look at the amazing animals! Expose your children to science and nature, see in action what they have learnt in schools about wildlife! Here's their public programmes.

Founded by educators equipped with degrees in Life Science and Marine Biology, Young Nautilus is an education enrichment partner for schools and families that provide fun and engaging science learning journeys. By fostering a deeper understanding of the world and the dynamic changes that shape it, we enrich what are taught in the MOE syllabus.

Changi - an easy intertidal adventure for the family

There are lush seagrass meadows at the southern tip of Changi near Carpark 7 and the sandy shores of Carpark 6. It's easy for families and ordinary people to visit at low spring tide.

Be astonished by the amazing marine life seen here! The seagrass meadows are very similar to those at Chek Jawa. 

Come visit them for yourself during the upcoming evening low spring tides at the end of the year!

What can you see at these Changi shores?

Shore exploration for kids with Young Nautilus (Oct-Dec 2020)

Join Young Nautilus to explore our own coastal backyard in Singapore, and take a closer look at the amazing animals! Expose your children to science and nature, see in action what they have learnt in schools about wildlife! Here's their public programmes.

Founded by educators equipped with degrees in Life Science and Marine Biology, Young Nautilus is an education enrichment partner for schools and families that provide fun and engaging science learning journeys. By fostering a deeper understanding of the world and the dynamic changes that shape it, we enrich what are taught in the MOE syllabus.

IYOR Intern's Take on Singapore's Marine Life - The sea anemones' venomous concoctions

We end this series of science communication with the world of venom in sea anemones. Yes, the tiny cnidae that you read earlier are venomous! No touching!

Soft-bodied and somewhat jelly-like, these sea anemones are packed with great survival skills in the ocean: from evading of predators to microscopic weapons of death. These sea anemones continue to wow as we now learn more about their venomous stinging cells.

Venomous concoctions in sea anemones

The sea ninja’s most potent weapon is its venom. The cnidae of anemones contain a venomous concoction filled with a menagerie of toxins that causes different kinds of physiological effects on their victims. Some anemone toxins viciously destroy cells, while others are responsible for paralysing victims, causing them excruciating pain.

IYOR Intern's Take on Singapore's Marine Life - The sea anemones' weapons of death

We're back with new stories about the sea anemones written by IYOR intern Shabdita. Our heartiest congratulations to her for receiving an Honorable Mention for her recent submission to the Asian Scientist Writing Prize 2019! You can read her works here.

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They can hide, but not forever! So how does the sea anemones defend itself from potential predators? Let's find out in this post!

Cnidae - The Microscopic Weapons of Death

Instead of using knives, swords or throwing stars, the sea ninja (aka the sea anemones) uses microscopic weapons known as cnidae for defending against predators and capturing prey. Cnidae are microscopic capsules, which forcefully shoot out threads when there is mechanical and/or chemical stimulations. For example, the freshwater polyp Hydra magnipapillata can discharge its cnidae due to changes in light levels. In general, there are three types of cnidae: nematocysts, ptychocysts, and spirocysts.

Cnidae of Cnidaria. They come in all shapes and sizes! Source: Snail's Odyssey.

IYOR Intern's Take on Singapore's Marine Life - How sea anemones evade predators?

Now that you got to know a bit more about the sea anemones, so how sea anemones evade predators? Let's find out in this post!

The Game of Survival 

Stealthy, quiet, and well-camouflaged, the sea anemones are likened to ninjas of the sea. Photo credits: Grae Hunter. 

A typical sea anemone (aka sea ninja) has to evade its predators, battle other anemones, and find its next meal in an ocean of scarcity and competition. Toxins are a sea anemone’s most vital weapon because they play a part in capturing prey, repelling predators, digestion, and interspecies competition.

IYOR Intern's Take on Singapore's Marine Life - Sea Anemones aka 'Sea Ninjas'

Celebrating Singapore Shores 2019 at Berlayer Creek! It couldn't have been possible without the hard work of our IYOR Interns!

Our IYOR Interns are such a talented bunch! From making videos to creating art works, they have done so much to raise awareness about Singapore's shores over the past year. In this mini series, we will be featuring one intern's passion for sea anemones as she shares about them through writing about them in a fun and creative way! She hopes that you will fall in love with the sea anemones, just like she did! 😁😁😁

The Sea Ninjas - Sea Anemones

Sea anemones are like the middle children of marine life. They don’t get as much attention as their more popular siblings i.e. your corals and jellyfish. Like corals and jellyfish, sea anemones fall in the phylum known as Cnidaria. Cnidaria is an ancient venomous phylum, which is distinguished by a unique feature known as cnidae. Cnidae play a variety of role in predation, adhesion and defence. Cnidarians are incredibly diverse in terms of diet, behaviour and habitat. 

Participate in "My Defining Maritime Moment" Social Media Contest (1 Mar to 31 Aug)!

Love taking photos? And a great love for our seas? Then this contest is for you!

"My Defining Maritime Moment" is organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore! Participants stand a chance to win $200!

Also, a chance to be featured at the “My Defining Maritime Moment” Exhibition held at the Singapore Maritime Gallery @ Marina South Pier.

Visit Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)’s Facebook Page for more information.

Volunteers needed for July 2018 marine litter survey

Here's a chance to visit some of our shores and make a difference for the marine litter issue! Volunteer for the NUS-NParks Marine Debris Monitoring Programme in July.

Photo by Liz Lim

Volunteers needed for May 2018 marine litter survey

Here's a chance to visit some of our shores and make a difference for the marine litter issue! Volunteer for the NUS-NParks Marine Debris Monitoring Programme.

Photo by Liz Lim

Volunteers needed for Apr 2018 marine litter survey

Here's a chance to visit some of our shores and make a difference for the marine litter issue! Volunteer for the NUS-NParks Marine Debris Monitoring Programme.

Photo by Liz Lim

Now available: "The Singaporean Seas and Shores" by Wild Drawings

Take a dive with Wild Drawings to explore Singapore's vibrant waters! A special poster to celebrate International Year of the Reef 2018,

click on image for larger view

Colourful terumbu karang (coral reefs) bloom amongst Singapore’s southern islands, and scattered along our coasts are a variety of other marine habitats: mangroves, sandy beaches, rocky shores, mudflats and seagrass beds. Many of our natural marine habitats have dwindled due to pollution, land reclamation and heavy vessel traffic. Nevertheless, they remain home to countless life forms, as fascinating as they are beautiful.

Volunteers needed for Feb 2018 marine litter survey

Here's a chance to visit some of our shores and make a difference for the marine litter issue! Volunteer for the NUS-NParks Marine Debris Monitoring Programme.

Survey Chek Jawa!

Awesome volunteers came for training yesterday at Chek Jawa. For the NParks Ubin Comprehensive Biodiversity Survey using the methods and materials developed by NParks for their citizen science Intertidal Watch programme.

27 Jan (Sat): Workshop on microplastics at St John's Island

Now open for registration! The FREE Microplastics Analysis Workshop will be held at St John's Islands and includes a hands on experience of field surveying for microplastics. As well as a panel discussion to learn about impact of marine trash and community efforts to address them.

Registration now open for Chek Jawa intertidal walks in February 2018

Sign up now for intertidal walks at Chek Jawa in February 2018! Perfect for kids and the family. Including a FREE walk in Celebration of World Wetland Day. These walks are usually charged.

Singapore mangroves, a few steps from an MRT station!

Right next to Labrador MRT station is a boardwalk through the mangroves of Berlayar Creek. In just a few steps, you are enveloped in a shady forest with birdsong. Spot squirrels and perhaps even otters!

Registration now open for Chek Jawa intertidal walks in January 2018

Sign up now for intertidal walks at Chek Jawa in January 2018! Perfect for kids and the family.

Volunteers needed for Dec 2017 marine litter survey

Here's a chance to visit some of our shores and make a difference for the marine litter issue! Volunteer for the NUS-NParks Marine Debris Monitoring Programme.