Whidbey Island Critters

Fish & Invertebrate sightings and descriptions, hosted by resident NWDC ID expert Janna Nichols (nwscubamom).
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Two not so Red Irish Lords being cozy on the wall at Possession Point Fingers :kissing:
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Dusty2
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Dusty2 »

Nice camo and good eyes for seeing them. RIL's are really good at that game.
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Chenari
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Chenari »

Awwww they're so cute together!
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DonGeorge
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by DonGeorge »

Cutest picture ever! ;-)
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

some more from the walls of Possession Pt. Fingers :
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LCF
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by LCF »

Squat lobsters are one of my very favorite things for photographers to record -- they have those permanent "happy face" smiles, which I can't see through my mask, but show up so nicely in pictures.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

This shrimp was not so lucky ...
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Dusty2 »

I really like those two red dendronotid pix. Really tough guys to get a good shot of.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

why do I feel lately like the jellyfish ? :questionmarks:
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

The Whitespotted greenling is still guarding the eggs, most of the Bull kelp is now gone from
the vicinity ofthe eggs. I sure hope they will hatch successfully. Still no eyes showing..
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Leopard sure fits this nudibranch's name ..
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Zen Diver
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Zen Diver »

Jan, your work continues to fill me with awe and wonder. You're amazing. :joshsmith:

Valerie
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Thank you Val for your kind words, I am glad you enjoy my take on our critters ...
I find many more Butterfly crabs then I do Umbrellas.
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nwscubamom
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by nwscubamom »

Love it!! Totally looks like Darth Vader's helmet and cape. And thanks for the side-by-side on the umbrella vs. butterfly. I always get those confused on those.

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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

As I said, plenty of Butterflies around the rocks of Keystone Jetty ...
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Dusty2
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Dusty2 »

Wow! Nice collection. Amazing how many different colors and combination's there are. I like the black one with pink wings
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Blaiz
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Blaiz »

nice collection indeed! and here I get all excited to find ONE crab
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Blaiz wrote:nice collection indeed! and here I get all excited to find ONE crab
I hope you don't think I saw all of them on one dive ? It is usually ONE crab once in a while scenario ...
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LCF
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by LCF »

Keystone is the only place I've ever seen butterfly crabs, and I've seen them there several times, but never with a bright stripe down the middle of the carapace like the ones in your pictures, Jan. That's cool!
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Blaiz
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Blaiz »

lol no i dont expect all on one dive, but that's a couple year's worth of collage photos at least

so far ive seen two butterfly crabs in six months, so your dozen or more.....
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

OK, maybe the Lingcod didn't get its black eye this way, but I can't find explanation anywhere... :dontknow:
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Dusty2
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Dusty2 »

Maybe that's part that sticks out of his cave and he got a tan! :rofl: Nice catch though to get it from two angles.

Seriously maybe it's a sexual change thing. I know that the females tend to be much darker and that some fish do change sexes as they mature?? Guess we have to hope Greg knows.
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Dusty2 »

LCF wrote:Keystone is the only place I've ever seen butterfly crabs, and I've seen them there several times, but never with a bright stripe down the middle of the carapace like the ones in your pictures, Jan. That's cool!
Maybe Greg can say yeah or nay to this. I have seen a few of these and I'm thinking that it has something to do with molting. These guys split right down the middle where the line is when they molt??
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nwscubamom
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by nwscubamom »

Oh my goodness! I saw the very same thing with the Ling Cod up off Vancouver Island in October! I know we're not supposed to post our pics on your thread Jan, but check this out!

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I thought it was just something weird with that ONE fish - but your photo makes me think it's more than that...

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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

White-lined dironas are plentiful now at Lagoon Point. Wandering along the muddy bottom
meeting some interesting critters, trumpet and sapsucker among others...
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Greg Jensen
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Greg Jensen »

Dusty2 wrote:
LCF wrote:Keystone is the only place I've ever seen butterfly crabs, and I've seen them there several times, but never with a bright stripe down the middle of the carapace like the ones in your pictures, Jan. That's cool!
Maybe Greg can say yeah or nay to this. I have seen a few of these and I'm thinking that it has something to do with molting. These guys split right down the middle where the line is when they molt??
Has to be a 'nay'- nothing to do with molting. All crabs back out of their old molt, with the split occurring where the rear of the carapace meets the abdomen.
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