Octopus

octopus, originally uploaded by Junior Naturalist.

A large octopus found washed up on the beach in front of the Sanibel Lighthouse. He was about 14 inches of so and oozed a thick, black ink when we picked him up.

He must not have been dead very long because he still had some pigment in his skin, unlike the small specimens that we came across.

Small octopi

tiny octopus trio in pen shell, originally uploaded by Junior Naturalist.

A trio of dead octopi washed ashore on the beaches of Sanibel Island. A man was carrying them in a large Pen Shell.

Hermit Crab

giant hermit crab, originally uploaded by Junior Naturalist.

Giant dead Hermit Crab without a shell washed up on Sanibel Island. He was about the size of a Grapefruit. There were about a dozen or so of them on the beach without shells, all smaller than this one, but much bigger than any we've seen alive.

Box Fish

box fish, originally uploaded by Junior Naturalist.

Specimen of Box Fish washed ashore on Sanibel. There were probably 40 - 50 of these dead on the beach along with an equal amount of dead Gulf Toadfish.

Sponge

red - orange sponge, originally uploaded by Junior Naturalist.

Sanibel Island

Sponge

orange sponge, originally uploaded by Junior Naturalist.

Sanibel Island

Sponge

red sponge 2, originally uploaded by Junior Naturalist.

Sanibel Island

Stone Crab claw

giant stone crab claw, originally uploaded by Junior Naturalist.

Giant Stone Crab claw in the pile of creatures that were washed ashore on Sanibel Island.

Giant Sponge

giant sponge, originally uploaded by Junior Naturalist.

Giant Sponge washed ashore on Sanibel Island.

Urchins

dead sea urchins and sea potatoes, originally uploaded by Junior Naturalist.

A pile of dead Sea Urchins and Sea Potatoes (the bleached, egg like specimens) found washed ashore on Sanibel Island.

The "Sea Potatoes" are a species of littoral sea urchin. They have spines similar to the Sea Urchin pictured but the spines are longer and appear more hairlike.

There were dozens of these washed up on the beach the week before Christmas 2010.

Calico Crab

spotted crab, originally uploaded by Junior Naturalist.

Dead Calico Crab washed up on the beach. Sanibel Island

Stargazer

decaying stargazer, originally uploaded by Junior Naturalist.

Some type of Stargazer. It was too badly decayed to make a good identification.

Found washed up on the beach in Sanibel about a half mile from the lighthouse.

Mantis Shrimp head

mantis shrimp head, originally uploaded by Junior Naturalist.

Business end of a dead Mantis Shrimp washed up on Sanibel Island after the December cold front we had.

They have spear-like arms like a Praying Mantis and eat fish and shrimp.

Mantis Shrimp

mantis shrimp, originally uploaded by Junior Naturalist.

A pair of dead Mantis Shrimp washed up on Sanibel Island near the lighthouse. The larger one is about 10 inches long.