INTO the blue
Coastal Ecology of Peng Chau
Thanks to its unique geography, history and culture, 60% of Peng Chau's coastal area is unspoiled. Diverse organisms and seabirds can be found and some of the species here are rarely found in Hong Kong. The Chinese white dolphins and river dolphins are regular visitors of neighboring waters.
Chinese white dolphins
Uniquely, the population along the Chinese coast has pink skin, and the pink colour originates not from a pigment, but from blood vessels which were overdeveloped for body temp. control. These dolphins can live up to 40 years.
Yangtze finless porpoise
The finless porpoises are the only porpoises to lack a true dorsal fin, the forehead is unusually steep compared with those of other porpoises
Yellow sea horse
Sea horse use their dorsal (back) fins for propulsion and their flexible tails for cling to seagrass and other objects. They can change colour patterns to camouflage themselves and as courtship displays.
limpet (Cellana grata)
Commonly found on Hong Kong rocky coastal area, the large speciment reached up to 4 to 5 cm long. It is conical in shape with various colour and spotty radial lines
Chiton (Liolophura japonica)
There are little researches on Chiton despite several different kinds were found. Only one or two species were identified. The lenght is about 6 cm for the larger kind. They live on the rocks exposed to low tide, it attached itself tightly on rock surface makes it difficult to distinguish from the background
Coral reefs provide an important ecosystem for life underwater, protect coastal areas by reducing the power of waves hitting the coast(up to 97%), and provide a crucial source of income for millions of people.
According to the Civil Engineering and Development Department and Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department, more than 40 kinds of corals can be found around Peng Chau. Some of them are of below,
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