Unidentified Eggs

brownick · Post by **brownick** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:41 pm

I spotted these eggs inside an empty barnacle while diving at Keystone Jetty on 1/20. I didn't note the exact depth though I would guess around 40 fsw. Unfortunately I didn't see any caretakers around to aid with the id. I haven't had time to research them so I thought this would be a great resource to utilize. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!!!

brownick · Post by **brownick** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:42 pm

Here is a zoomed in view:

Jan K · Post by **Jan K** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 5:48 am

These are Kelp Greenling eggs.

brownick · Post by **brownick** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 8:17 am

Thanks Jan!!

nwscubamom · Post by **nwscubamom** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 11:10 am

I had read that Grunt Sculpins lay their eggs in empty Giant Barnacle shells - could these be Grunt eggs?

BTW, Nick, when Joe and I went a' hunting for your Ciona off Bell Island, we came across ooooodles of empty Giant barnacle shells stuffed with eggs. In fact, that's how I found the Ciona that we found - I was ooogling at some eggs and then noticed the Ciona in a crack just below the eggs!

Look at the color differences between these eggs - could they be the difference between Kelp Greenling eggs, and Grunt Sculpin eggs? Or just a difference in the age and development of the eggs?

- Janna