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Fins to Feather

by Scarlet Colley - May - 2003

The Laguna Madre bay is diverse in its marine life. The vast rainforest of the bay is made up of the very important Turtle Grass and Manatee Grass. Black Mangroves help to hold the sides of the bay intact along with the oyster beds. Then the rich grass beds spread out to provide the most wonderful habitat for the most wonderful diversity of sea life. The bay is shallow for the most part and its tidal ranges expose vast areas during low tide. The shore birds use these flats to feed. Then at high tide the flats are covered again and sea creatures swim in to feed on new nutrients. The tides may be high and low once a day or twice a day. Tide charts are used by fisherman and birders and other boaters to choose the best times to be out on the bay. There are always tide charts available at local bait shops, in various weekly papers and on line.

The bay is hyper saline which means it is very salty. Because it is shallow the water evaporates but the salt does not so this makes the bay more salty than off shore water. But this also makes for a good healthy environment for fish to lay eggs in and a safe nursery for young fish to grow up in. The hyper saline water keeps the bacteria levels down to a minimum and the grass beds provide a rich source of food and safe harbor. The types of marine life that occur in the bay waters is diverse and vast from microscopic to our large marine mammal our Bottlenose Dolphins. All have lived together and created many types of echo niches.

Some of the marine life lives on the bottom like Flounder, Black-edged Moray Eels, Shrimp Eels and Stingrays . Some like to hide inside of objects like the Atlantic Octopus and Toad fish. Some marine life likes structure like the Sergeant Major fish, Brown Spined Sea Urchins and Sea Cucumbers. Some like to Scavenge like the Hardhead fish and Crabs and Shrimp. There are those that prefer the grass beds like the Seahorse and Redfish. Then there are those that like the beach front like the Brittle Star fish and Coquinas and Olive shells. Some like to be in the floating seaweed like the Sargasso fish and Nudibranchs. Some just free float like the Sea Hare or Ink fish. Some attach to things like barnacles and tube worms. And the list goes on and on.

Many of these wonderful creatures are on display at the Coastal Studies Lab. They are located in Isla Blanca Park on the south end of the Island. There is no charge to visit the Lab and the hours are Sunday thru Friday 1:30 to 4:30 and they are closed on Saturday. There is also a wonderful display there of shells and hands on objects. There is an Octopus that has quite a wonderful personality and there is also a giant red hermit crab named Sebastian with great big green eyes. There are Sea Urchins and Sea Horses and even some Spiny Lobsters. It’s a great place to visit while on vacation here or even if you are a resident. Also don’t forget Sea Turtle Inc. the Island’s first class rehabilitation facility for the endangered Kemp’s Ridley and other species of turtles. It is located across from the Tiki towards the Convention Center. The Lab’s phone no. is 956-761-2644 and Sea Turtle Inc.’s phone is 761-4511.

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