Northwest Dive Club

Spatman found this Great Sculpin last Saturday... a nice, somewhat colorful representation of the species, IMO!
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Because of his size I decided to try for some closeups, and he obliged by staying still. As I looked at the pics (see above) I noticed what I can only describe as "blurry, whitish" areas on him. I had noticed the same discolored areas on Buffalo Sculpin before, and figured it was just because they sat around on the bottom. At first I thought it was probably schmutz in the water or my poor focusing skills, but on closer inspection I found what I call "Sea Lice" on him. I've seen these on salmon before, but not sculpins.
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Is it coincidence that the "blurry whitish" areas have the Sea Lice on them? I suppose it could either be cause or effect, as in they could be there because of the areas or they could be the cause of them. The rest of his skin seems clear and healthy looking. Anyway, thought it was kind of cool and thought I'd post it here for some of our critter guru's to weigh in on if they so choose!
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Looks like acne. Poor guy.

Tom, I notice the parasites on many of the Great and Buffalo Sculpins I see here on Whidbey, Some Lingcods have them too. THey are parasitic copepods I was told. Lepeophtherius of some sort.

Thanks Jan.

...and as long as we're being grossed out by parasites, I took this shot of a Brown Rockfish and noticed weird "danglies" on it's face.
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Here's a blow up of the shot.
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Again, not sure what they are, but the arms look almost "crustaceanish". Ideas Anyone?

Interesting. Never seen this one. hopefully somebody will enlighten us .

Dang, I am washing myself and gear better after diving. Yuck.

This is an outstanding find, Tommy! These are parasitic copepods (slang: sea lice) of the lepeophtherius species; they are either lepeophtherius pravipes or lepeophtherius breviventris. Both are virtually identical to the naked eye. These little suckers infest the facial area of the unfortunate host (often sculpins), feeding off it. It is not lethal for the host, but once they're infested, it's for life. Gruesome.

Awesome Tommy!

Seth T. wrote:This is an outstanding find, Tommy! These are parasitic copepods (slang: sea lice) of the lepeophtherius species; they are either lepeophtherius pravipes or lepeophtherius breviventris. Both are virtually identical to the naked eye. These little suckers infest the facial area of the unfortunate host (often sculpins), feeding off it. It is not lethal for the host, but once they're infested, it's for life. Gruesome.

Awesome Tommy!

Thanks Seth...

So, I'm assuming you're referring to the ones on the rockfish, not the sculpin? Where did you find them? I haven't been through my books... don't remember seeing anything like it.

Tom Nic wrote:
So, I'm assuming you're referring to the ones on the rockfish, not the sculpin?

No! The sculpin. I have no idea what those suckers are on the rocky.

I sent off an email to Greg Jensen - hopefully he'll get a chance to look at the photo and know what the crab-leg-like thingies are on the Brown Rockfish.

Cross your fingers!

- Janna

Seth T. wrote:This is an outstanding find, Tommy! These are parasitic copepods (slang: sea lice) of the lepeophtherius species; they are either lepeophtherius pravipes or lepeophtherius breviventris. Both are virtually identical to the naked eye. These little suckers infest the facial area of the unfortunate host (often sculpins), feeding off it. It is not lethal for the host, but once they're infested, it's for life. Gruesome.

Awesome Tommy!

Seth, you surprise me!! You didn't know that Spotted Ratfish have a toxic spine on their dorsal fin, but you know all this about parasites??!?!

Do explain!!

Enquiring minds want to know!

- Janna

nwscubamom wrote:
Seth, you surprise me!! You didn't know that Spotted Ratfish have a toxic spine on their dorsal fin, but you know all this about parasites??!?!

Do explain!!

Enquiring minds want to know!

- Janna

Well, I've acquired some books recently and have been pouring through them. There is just fascinating stuff in our waters! Almost all of the parasitic copepods in our water are too small to see (literally specks floating around), but there are a couple of visible ones. The lepeophtherius parasite is absolutely what's infecting the sculpin. No question.

The rockfish is tougher but appears to be something in the Phrixocephalus species. This species is even worse than the one infecting the sculpin!

Curious, what books did you get?

- Janna

My favorite book by far is Pacific Northwest Marine Life. Unfortunately, it's almost the most expensive by far.

Seth T. wrote:My favorite book by far is Pacific Northwest Marine Life. Unfortunately, it's almost the most expensive by far.

Looks like a great book though. It's a little cheaper at Amazon.com, about $48 including tax if you choose the free shipping option.

Googling around to see if I could find it even cheaper, I found this web site for PNW marine ID classes taught by the Vancouver BC aquarium and none other than the author, Andy Lamb: Pacific Northwest Marine Life Identification - a Field Course for Divers.

Only place I can find it cheaper was Overstock.com.

Yeah, I got mine from Amazon as well, but is was sold through some seller other than Amazon themselves. The cover of the book came destroyed. I wasn't too happy about that.

So I heard back from Greg Jensen and he thinks the little things on the Brown Rockfish might be leeches.

- Janna (getting really creeped out now...)

nwscubamom wrote:So I heard back from Greg Jensen and he thinks the little things on the Brown Rockfish might be leeches.

- Janna (getting really creeped out now...)

Leeches?! (Here's Tom joining Janna in getting creeped out...)

Is it just me, or do those things look like they have "joints"? Didn't think leeches have joints, or I could easily be misreading what they look like in the pic.

Tom Nic wrote:

nwscubamom wrote:So I heard back from Greg Jensen and he thinks the little things on the Brown Rockfish might be leeches.

- Janna (getting really creeped out now...)

Leeches?! (Here's Tom joining Janna in getting creeped out...)

Is it just me, or do those things look like they have "joints"? Didn't think leeches have joints, or I could easily be misreading what they look like in the pic.

Leeches eh? Anyone ready to get a pee valve installed?

Sounder wrote:

Tom Nic wrote:

nwscubamom wrote:So I heard back from Greg Jensen and he thinks the little things on the Brown Rockfish might be leeches.

- Janna (getting really creeped out now...)

Leeches?! (Here's Tom joining Janna in getting creeped out...)

Leeches eh? Anyone ready to get a pee valve installed?

Hmmm, NOT ANYMORE Maybe I'll try Depends. That's gonna haunt me now for years. LEECHES......P-Valves Ugh!

It'll make you ask yourself... "how bad do I really need to go?"