Recherche Archipelago mollusc, and over 450 types of sponge, sea grasses, and soft corals. A coral-like algae species, rhodoliths, form beds which support marine species of spiders, snails, and worms, also acting as a creche for scallops. Marine mammals associated with the islands include two species of seal, large groups of common dolphins ("Delphinus delphis"), and minke whales ("Balaenoptera acutorostrata"). Seagrasses found at the island include: "Amphibolis antarctica, Amphibolis griffithii, Halophila decipiens, Halophila ovalis, Posidonia angustifolia, Posidonia australis, Posidonia coriacea, Posidonia denhartogii, Posidonia kirkmani, Posidonia ostenfeldii, Posidonia sinuosa, Syringodium isoetifolium, and Thalassodendron pachyrhizum". The islands support populations of terrestrial flora and fauna,
USS Delphinus (AF-24) USS Delphinus (AF-24) USS Delphinus (AF-24) was built in 1915 as by Workman Clark and Co., Ltd., Belfast, Northern Ireland; acquired by the U.S. Navy 11 August 1942; and commissioned the same day as "San Mateo", Lieutenant O. M. Mikkelsen, USNR, in command. She was assigned the name "Delphinus" on 22 August 1942. Departing San Francisco, California, 12 September 1942, "Delphinus" arrived at Auckland, New Zealand, 4 October. She operated from this base until the end of 1945, carrying chilled and frozen provisions to forward bases in the South Pacific and to the Society, Fiji, and Samoan Islands. After calling