City's hidden marine life: Crabs, starfish and anemones surviving amid pollution

Along Mumbairsquos busy coastline lies a world that often goes unnoticed Between the tides marine life quietly thrives crabs scuttle anemones bloom from the sand and starfish leave patterns behindDespite pollution plastic waste and constant human activity these species continue to survive adapting to an increasingly hostile environmentBiologist Dr Abhishek Nandkishor Neelam Satam has documented this hidden ecosystem through photographs captured along Mumbairsquos shoresMarine life is most visible during low tide typically in the early morning or late evening Key locations include Bandra Bandstand rocky shore Haji Ali Carter Road Priyadarshini Park and JuhuSpecies along Mumbairsquos coastPorcelain crabsPorcelain crabs small and delicate in appearance are among these survivors When threatened they can shed their limbs to escape predators and regenerate them later through moulting Despite their name they are not true crabs They belong to a group called Anomurans or ldquofalse crabsrdquo shaped by an evolutionary process known as carcinisation They have only three pairs of walking legs with a reduced fourth pair tucked near the bodyDid you knowPorcelain crabs can drop their limbs to escape danger and grow them back laterWhere to spot marine lifegtgt Bandra Bandstand rocky shoregtgt Haji Aligtgt Carter Roadgtgt Priyadarshini Parkgtgt JuhuBest time Early morning or late evening during low tideZoanthidsThis image captured near Priyadarshini Park at night shows glowing zoanthids against the cityrsquos skyline highlighting the contrast between urban life and marine ecosystems Through beach walks and photography Satam aims to raise awareness about this fragile yet resilient ecosystemDid you knowThese small flowerlike animals grow in colonies on rocksFeather duster worms SabellidaeThese marine worms build tubelike structures using sand and shell fragments Their feathery appendages extend outward to capture food particles from the water The image captures feather duster worms alongside zoanthids showcasing the coexistence of multiple species in polluted coastal zones Despite increasing sewage and plastic waste such marine habitats continue to surviveDid you knowThese worms live in tubes and use featherlike structures to feedGastropod Spiral melongenaDuring one marine walk participants witnessed a rare moment mdash a gastropod laying eggs along the shore The sight highlights how extraordinary marine life exists alongside the city often unnoticedDid you knowThis sea snail lays visible egg clusters along the shoreStarfishA starfish moving across the sand creates natural patterns turning the shoreline into a living canvas These slowmoving creatures are known for their ability to regenerate lost limbsDid you knowSome starfish can regrow their arms if damagedSpongesSponges growing along the coast resemble vertical structures drawing comparisons to the cityrsquos skyline Though sensitive and typically found in clean water these organisms have adapted to survive in polluted conditionsDid you knowSponges are animals that soak in water and filter out food to surviveWhite beauty sea slug Goniobranchus trimarginatusThis striking sea slug first described from Mumbai is considered rare and is usually seen between March and May Spotting it outside this period especially in winter makes the sighting unusual and significantDid you knowThis colourful sea slug appears only during specific times of the yearPearly sand anemoneOn the sandy stretch of Girgaon Chowpatty the pearly sand anemone survives beneath the surface About the size of a palm it buries its body in the sand with only its flowerlike tentacles visible It is often called the ldquocarrot anemonerdquo due to its shapeDid you knowThis softbodied animal hides in the sand exposing only its tentacles