Page 55 of 218
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 1:17 pm
by Jan K
In spite of the gloomy weather above, life beneath the waves goes on.
Kelp greenling courtship dance :luv:
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 12:40 pm
by Jan K
From the muddy bottom of Lagoon Point:
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 7:27 pm
by Blaiz
wow cumanotis, new critter very pretty!
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 9:35 pm
by nwscubamom
Jan, remember the darkening of the head that we found on the lings? I wonder if that was some sort of mating signal - similar to what these other Greenling family members are doing?
- Janna
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 9:56 pm
by Jan K
nwscubamom wrote:Jan, remember the darkening of the head that we found on the lings? I wonder if that was some sort of mating signal - similar to what these other Greenling family members are doing? - Janna
Yes, it did enter my mind. But unlike the greenlings, the ling just laid there, and no action observed. I really
don't know. But you are right, it might have some signaling significance. Lets keep critterwatching
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 7:52 am
by LCF
Oooh, thank you for the Cumanotus and Dirona pictures side by side -- I'm sure, if I have ever seen the former, I've mistaken it for the latter, but your pictures make the differences clear.
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 12:00 pm
by Jan K
Wishing all of you Happy Holidays..
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 12:45 pm
by John Rawlings
Thanks, Jan, for this wonderful "Christmas card"! Unfortunately, now when I look at our Christmas tree at home I will have visions of nudibranchs eating it!!!!
Thank you also for sharing another wonderful year with us of your marvelous photos, artwork and stories of your adventures!!!!
- John
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 1:56 pm
by nwscubamom
What he said. Merry Christmas, Jan, to you and your family!
You are one interesting fella!
- Janna
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 7:05 pm
by Tom Nic
Merry Christmas Jan, and thank you for making mine bright!
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2011 8:21 am
by Jan K
I found this Red Irish Lord clinging to a rock only by spotting the eggs it is guarding.
Well camouflaged, I think ...
It will be not long for new generations of lords, hopefully many will survive and beautify the Ol' Langley Tire Reef
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 2:50 pm
by Jan K
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:55 pm
by LCF
Oh, what a lovely gift to receive at the end of a truly awful work day . . . TWO new posts on this thread! I had never thought about the direction of spiral of nudibranch eggs, but as I haul up my memories, they ARE counterclockwise . . . what people will notice, and try to sort out!
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2011 3:57 pm
by Jan K
Thank you Lynne, hope your day is better now
On the same dive, I found SEVEN Puget Sound King crabs. OK, maybe not invasion,
but I never saw this many here before.
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2011 4:08 pm
by airsix
Wow, Jan! Your posts here are always great, but the last several are really top notch.
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2011 5:51 pm
by LCF
OOh! OOh! Puget Sound King crabs! I have GOT to get up to Keystone, SOON!
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 12:04 pm
by Dusty2
Love the viking cartoon! It really works for those little guys.
They have probably been around all year but they were just to small to see. Now that they are a little bigger and you have noticed them you will probubly see lots more. They started out at PT last spring as tiny little guys and are at the yearling stage now. I sure love the colors they are showing off now!
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 1:01 am
by Chenari
Awwwww Luuuuuckyyyyyyy. We've only ever seen one and we had to go to Canada for that one, lol.
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 11:12 pm
by Jan K
Thank you for kind words. Chenari, Whidbey is not that far. With your eagle eyes,
you will probably find many more
Made two dives at Possession Point Fingers and found plenty of Red Irish Lords,
some guarding eggs. It was nice to see that females do take part in guarding
the egg masses, unlike the Lingcod or Kelp Greenlings I see around..
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 11:33 pm
by Dusty2
Nice! Work Jan, That certainly is the brooding center for RIL's I have never seen so many so close together. They have to be the kings of camouflage. So tough to see.
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 8:48 am
by LCF
Interesting! Next time I see two together like that, I'll have to scout around for the egg mass.
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 9:35 pm
by Jan K
I don't know if the slug was eating the worm, but the Opalescent nudibranchs are
known to eat lots of different inverts.
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 10:54 pm
by dwashbur
Looks like a common earthworm???? Maybe dropped by a fisher-person?
I've seen dozens of H. crassicornis swarmed over a dead egg yolk jelly. It's quite amazing.
I love the info you provide with your pictures, I always learn something new. Keep it coming!
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 9:30 am
by Dusty2
That is an awesome looking opalescent. I've never seen one that had that lack of coloration. You have a talent for finding unusual specimens. Keep up the good work. I love your posts.
Re: Buffalo Sculpin
Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 10:08 am
by kcamfield
Are they poisonous? They look like a stone fish.
Jan K wrote:After seeing hundreds of Buffalo Sculpins, this is the first time I found one with spines erected. It was not reaction to my presence, the "horns" were up when I spotted it many feet away...