Two for ID help
Two for ID help
Heath's (but it doesn't have the patch of dark spots in front of the gill plume)? Very pale nobilis?
Hairy orange hermit? There were two of these guys at the base of the jetty at Edmonds, and I have never seen a hermit crab a) so big and b) so hairy.
"Sometimes, when your world is going sideways, the second best thing to everything working out right, is knowing you are loved..." ljjames
Re: Two for ID help
It's a heath's they don't all have that spot. As for the crab I'll let Greg do that one
http://dustys-lights.com/, An awesome light at an unbelievably low price
Dusty's Lights on facebook
http://underthesound.smugmug.com/
Dusty's Lights on facebook
http://underthesound.smugmug.com/
Re: Two for ID help
Definitely Heath's. I usually identify them by their overall shape, because they always looks like they just got stepped on.
Dave
"Clearly, you weren't listening to what I'm about to say."
--
Check out my Internet show:
http://www.irvingszoo.com
"Clearly, you weren't listening to what I'm about to say."
--
Check out my Internet show:
http://www.irvingszoo.com
Re: Two for ID help
Lynne, here are some color variation I found here on Whidbey :
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
Re: Two for ID help
Interesting that none of those has the "blotch" the book describes, and the yellow one has a yellow gill plume.
"Sometimes, when your world is going sideways, the second best thing to everything working out right, is knowing you are loved..." ljjames
Re: Two for ID help
The id factor I use is the texture. Each of the yellow nudibranchs has it's own distinct skin texture. Color, spots, can vary greatly and many of the books use examples form other areas which can be wildly different but the texture remains the same. Look at the leopard nudie described in Dave's book, it looks nothing like they do up here. There are many such examples.
http://dustys-lights.com/, An awesome light at an unbelievably low price
Dusty's Lights on facebook
http://underthesound.smugmug.com/
Dusty's Lights on facebook
http://underthesound.smugmug.com/
- Greg Jensen
- Amphibian
- Posts: 857
- Joined: Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:02 am
Re: Two for ID help
Hermit is a hairy hermit, Pagurus hirsutiusculus. The blue markings on the legs don't show up very well on really big, old fuzzy guys like this one.
Re: Two for ID help
Thanks, Greg! This was HUGE crab, for a hermit -- probably 2 1/2 inches across, maybe more. First one I can remember seeing.
"Sometimes, when your world is going sideways, the second best thing to everything working out right, is knowing you are loved..." ljjames
- Tubesnout23
- Submariner
- Posts: 585
- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2008 11:24 am
Re: Two for ID help
I was wondering what kind of species that crab was too. The thing that I found unusual was its dark color and the fact that its body was so large that it could not fit it all inside that small shell. As Lynne pointed out to me:"It looked like an underwater tarantula"...I will always remember that!LCF wrote:Thanks, Greg! This was HUGE crab, for a hermit -- probably 2 1/2 inches across, maybe more. First one I can remember seeing.
Great pictures Lynne!
- Tubesnout23
- Submariner
- Posts: 585
- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2008 11:24 am
Re: Two for ID help
So what's the difference between a Heath's and a Monterey Sea Lemon?dwashbur wrote:Definitely Heath's. I usually identify them by their overall shape, because they always looks like they just got stepped on.
Re: Two for ID help
Monterey dorids have "bumpier" tubercles and are more pickle-shaped than flat; Heath's have those color blotches on the skin, flatter tubercles, and the gill plumes match the skin color. At least that's what I'm getting from the feedback on these photos in various places.
"Sometimes, when your world is going sideways, the second best thing to everything working out right, is knowing you are loved..." ljjames
Re: Two for ID help
As I said earlier, Texture and general shape are the two main factors.Tubesnout23 wrote:So what's the difference between a Heath's and a Monterey Sea Lemon?
The Heaths will tend to be flat with thin frilly looking edges. They look like they have skin covered with tiny warts. Their rinophores are stubby and usually withdrawn and you seldom catch them with their gills out.
Heaths texture The Monterey's are covered with tiny little cone shaped spikes and the body is very rounded in shape. The gills and rinophores will always be yellow and the black spots will cover the spikes which they do not on the heaths.
http://dustys-lights.com/, An awesome light at an unbelievably low price
Dusty's Lights on facebook
http://underthesound.smugmug.com/
Dusty's Lights on facebook
http://underthesound.smugmug.com/
- Tubesnout23
- Submariner
- Posts: 585
- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2008 11:24 am
Re: Two for ID help
Thank you very much folks!Dusty2 wrote:As I said earlier, Texture and general shape are the two main factors.Tubesnout23 wrote:So what's the difference between a Heath's and a Monterey Sea Lemon?
The Heaths will tend to be flat with thin frilly looking edges. They look like they have skin covered with tiny warts. Their rinophores are stubby and usually withdrawn and you seldom catch them with their gills out.
Heaths texture The Monterey's are covered with tiny little cone shaped spikes and the body is very rounded in shape. The gills and rinophores will always be yellow and the black spots will cover the spikes which they do not on the heaths.