Aquarist's Blog: Julianne E. Steers

MASTERS OF TRANSPARENCY

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 23:17:00 GMT

Surveying the kelp beds off of San Clemente, my team and I saw a rampant stream of tiny MYSID SHRIMP. Like most small animals, they are the food of larger animals. The mysids have opted for the ultimate in camouflage; many of them have become masters of transparency. Weaving to and fro amongst the blades, we dropped a bucket in the briny blue to capture a few. Upon return at the lab, we could take a closer look (and to have a special treat for some of our specimens).

MYSID SHRIMP
Acanthomysis sculpta

Subphylum: Crustacea
Size: Up to 1cm.
Range: British Columbia, Canada to California, USA.
Diet: Plankton and Detritus
Notes: Living mysids are primarily transparent, but may be tinted yellow, brown, or black due to their diet. While migrating, gray whales will feed at the surface on this organism.

AQUATIC VAGABOND

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 02:37:00 GMT

You wouldn't think the surface of a crab would be particularly inviting environment for creatures to colonize.

Now, suppose some little larva of a sponge or barnacle tunicate drops down from the water column looking for a nice protected spot to call home; actually, a mobile home. The pincers go into action and nip or crush the intruder, helping to keep the nuisances away. The pincers are, however, of no help to certain unreachable spots on the backend of the crab's carapace because of the way they are positioned. It's kind of like trying to scratch the center of your back. So, the larvae settles and in a few weeks you have a small hitchiker residing on the crab

The barnacle is an extremely odd creature; it has thick calcareous plates which constitute its protective shell inside which it lives upside down. The appendages used for feeding are, in fact, its feet, thus the name of the group to which it belongs -- cirripedes (curled feet) -- Ah, a marine yoga master living its life standing on its head. The strange characteristics of barnacles are probably one of the reasons that Darwin spent 8 years studying these organisms.

ACORN BARNACLE
Balanus sp.

Subphylum: Crustacea
Size: Up to 10cm. Though usually 2-3cm.
Range: Alaska to Southern California
Diet: Plankton and Detritus.
Notes: Barnacles reach out with little feathery barbed legs to strain out plankton and absorb oxygen.

3RD ANNUAL INTERNSHIP SYMPOSIUM

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 17:05:00 GMT

The 2010 Internship Symposium was held on July 15th in the Ocean Institute's Samueli Conference Center. An audience of over 70 family and friends listened intently as our interns presented their projects

Over 10 projects were presented on a variety of topics from an octopus enrichment maze to side-scan sonar technology. The training and experience provided through our internships is culturing the next generation of scientists.

PLEASING A PICKY EATER

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 03:17:00 GMT

While the sights of larger reef inhabitants amaze many divers, if you take a closer look at the kelp forest or the reef, one will find all sorts of tiny gems. Just last week, my team and I cruised by a huge kelp canopy and spotted several ribbons of white eggs. Upon closer inspection, we discovered the producers of the spirals, the SPOTTED TRIOPHA NUDIBRANCH.

Just like other nudibranchs, these underwater slugs have funny appetites. Well, they are picky eaters and will only eat one species of bryozoan (encrusting moss animals). So, here they were, mowing down a colony of bryozoans on the canopy. One after another, these nudibranchs were quite to content to eat and mate in the kelp forest. This could cause a considerable challenge when housing them at the Institute. Luckily for us, bryozoans are not in short supply, the nudibranchs' fridge will always be well stocked.

Remember to look out for these kelp forest inhabitants with their interesting diet on your next visit.

SPOTTED TRIOPHA NUDIBRANCH
Triopha maculata

Phylum: Mollusca
Size: Up to 15cm. Though usually 2-5cm.
Range: Vancouver, Canada to Baja California, Mexico.
Diet: Bryozoans.
Notes: Identified by the 10 to 12 branched processes along its leading edge. This species can vary in color from reddish orange to brown and its body is covered in spots.

LITTLE DEVELOPMENTS

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 01:35:00 GMT

The grunion (Leuresthes tenuis) are back! It is such a remarkable experience to watch the grunion come up onto shore at night to spawn. Even more awe inspiring is watching the eggs develop. Look at this magnified view of a few grunion eggs on day 8 of development.

ORANGE COUNTY HAS CORALS?

Wed, 26 May 2010 18:19:00 GMT

Well, not in the traditional sense, but we have corals off our local coast. When people of think of corals, they often have a striking image of the soft flowing corals of the tropics or the hard corals of the Hawaiian archipelago. Our local corals are true stony corals, but are not huge reef builders like their commonly known relatives; however, they exhibit some interesting traits.

BROWN CUP CORALS have been observed to fend off other organisms and strengthen the survival of their species. These cup corals defend itself by using stinging cells in its tentacles and prevent themselves from being overgrown by tunicates. The tunicate instead avoids the cup coral and grown around each individual it encounters. How's that for a diverse aggressive behavior by a solitary animal?

BROWN CUP CORAL
Paracyathus stearnsii

Phylum: Cnidaria
Size: Up to 3.5 cm
Range: British Columbia to Baja California
Diet: Plankton.
Notes: Color ranges from light brown to a deep purple/brown, with almost clear long tentacles.

NOT A MINIATURE PALM TREE, BUT A WORM

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 02:49:00 GMT

Often mistaken for a plant, the FEATHER DUSTER WORM is a marine variety that are relatives of segmented land worms. This species secretes a leathery tube. Feathery cirri extents from the tube in colors orange, tan, and maroon.

FEATHER DUSTER WORM
Eudistylia sp.

Phylum: Annelida
Size: Up to 25 cm
Range: Alaska to southern California
Diet: Plankton.
Notes: Their colorful plumage retracts into a non-calcareous parchment tube if startled.

BUBBLE COLLECTOR

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:41:00 GMT

Through aquarium system design, one can engineer the system to have certain components. Such is the case with the Institute's Octopus habitat. Occasionally, the influx of water into the tank will percolate causing a few large bubbles to emanate from below the substrate. This small eruption of large air bubbles is quite a delight to our TWO-SPOT OCTOPUS (Octopus sp.).

As the bubbles rise, the octopus collects them under her mantle. Sometimes the octopus gathers enough bubbles that it appears there is a balloon possessing two eyeballs in the tank; other times just a few bubbles will lift the mantle in their effort to escape. From time-to-time, the bubbles are released as the octopus lifts its arms all the while trying to contain the globules of air. Hours of enriching fun are had by the octopus as bubbles are collected and released, collected and released, collected and released.

The TWO-SPOT OCTOPUS gains welfare from the enrichment in the form of sensory stimulation.

NOT EXACTLY CAVIAR

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:21:00 GMT

This Tuesday, our CABEZON (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus), known the County-over as Big Al, laid eggs. Obviously, our "Big Al" is not a male, but portrays the part well as the main character in one of our LiteraSea programs. CABEZONS spawn off the Californian coast between October and March. Females lay eggs on algae-free rocky surfaces, tucked into crevices. The male will swoop in after to fertilize the eggs and then guard the next for the next few weeks. The eggs are pale green or red and are poisonous to many mammals and birds; however, several BAT STARS (Asterina miniata) that reside in the tank are enjoying the delicacy with no ill effects.

Having no male to fertilize the eggs, this batch is infertile.

GIANT AND KNOBBY

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:41:00 GMT

If you have ever had the pleasure to go tidepooling, then you already know that seastars are the most popular creatures inhabiting those pools -- especially among the younger crowd. Tidepool excursions are a wonderful experience: the sound of surf accompanied by the refreshing sea breeze are reason enough to go.

With bright blue and purple highlighting their spines, the KNOBBY SEA STAR (Pisaster giganteus) is sure to catch your eye peeking out from under a rocky ledge. Like all sea stars, the KNOBBY SEA STARS common off our coast use their tube feet for locomotion. The tube feet operate on a water vascular system. This operation aids in feasting on mussels, snails, and barnacles. They pry open hard-shelled animals using their tube feet, and then surround the prey with their stomach.

LIVIN' ON A BALLOON

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:16:00 GMT

Cruising around on a recent collecting trip, the Husbandry Team and I spotted listless balloons bobbing on the surface, one after another after another. All from the recent Valentines Day celebration. It seems these mylar messages, were accidentally released into our atmosphere and eventually settled back down to the sea.

We rescued all the balloons we saw that day--7 in all during our hour-long jaunt. Bringing them aboard, we found that some critters had already taken up residence on the surface. Only a mere 5 days or less and these larvae had already settled out on what was available.

While we found several animals who seemed quite content with their mylar habitat, other larger marine creatures such as turtles, seabirds, and dolphins have been known to mistake balloons as prey. Just remember, what goes up, must come down.

We brought back the encrusted balloons for disposal and to observe the week-old larvae. Under magnification, our identification was confirmed as a colony of GOOSENECK BARNACLES (Lepas anatifera).

LE' GO MY LEGO

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:50:00 GMT

During a feeding, I provided our TWO-SPOT OCTOPUS (Octopus sp.) with a structure made out of Legos as an enrichment item. Tucked inside the Legos was a tasty morsel of squid. It’s all part of the Institute's “enrichment program” for these inquisitive and intelligent animals. It helps keep octopuses and my team of aquarists, healthy, happy, and stimulated.

Cruising about her habitat, the octopus noticed the Lego structure sitting outside the tank as I approached. She moved up the wall to take a closer look. I submerged the Legos. Within a minute, she was at 'play' with her new toy. Pulling and tugging at the Legos, she removed one piece in minutes and then apparently decided it was best to continue the project back home in her den.

Traveling with enrichment tool in tow, she arrived at the front porch of her den. She pushed and pushed the legos at the entrance, but no luck, the new-found puzzle would not fit. After several minutes, and much supposed frustration, she released the legos and their buoyancy popped them to the surface where a nearby BAT STAR (Asterina miniata) took an interest and crawled upon. Moments later, the TWO-SPOT OCTOPUS climbed to the surface to claim the treasure that was rightfully hers. Several guests and I watched as the octopus gently pried the BAT STAR off the Legos.

With Legos in tow again, she proceeded to shove the object into her den for safe-keeping -- again at the front entrance and even tried a smaller back entrance, but to no avail the Legos would not fit! Suddenly, in one fell swoop, all Legos were separated. Armed with a Lego on each arm, as if in an instant she had an epiphany, sat the octopus munching her food reward.

Given these remarkable animals’ intelligence, I can never wait to see what she will do next.

Feedings of the TWO-SPOT OCTOPUS occur during our weekend public programs.

AMEND ITS CARNIVOROUS HABIT

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:13:36 GMT

One of the most distinctive features of IDA'S MITER is their elongate siphon. In live animals can usually be seen extended from the front of the shell waving back and forth as the animal moves, sniffing for any appetizing scents. This siphon or proboscis fulfills the snail's carnivorous diet by slurping up tiny meaty morsels it encounters on its sandy bottom excursions.

IDA'S MITER SNAIL
Mitra idae

Phylum: Mollusca
Size: Up to 6.4cm
Range: Northern California, USA to Baja
Diet: Worms.
Notes: This snail possesses a thin organic coating over its shell called the Periostracum.

RONQUIL FINDS SHELTER IN OUR AQUARIA

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 01:27:00 GMT

Out of the many fish species in the world, the family of ronquils enlists only seven. Long and slender, ronquils can easily be mistaken for blennies.

STRIPEDFIN RONQUIL
Rathbunella hypoplecta

Phylum: Chordata
Size: Up to 16cm
Range: Eastern Pacific: San Francisco, California to northern Baja California, Mexico
Diet: Small invertebrates.
Notes: A bottom fish that seeks shelter in rocky crevices. The male guards the eggs.

NOT YOUR TRADITIONAL LUMP CRAB

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:14:00 GMT

Crawling around in our aquaria, we have quite the lumpy and bumpy critters. Read the article about the Institute's LUMPY CRABS online at the Orange County Register.

NOT ONE LIKE THE OTHER

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:17:00 GMT

Usually possessing the ‘normal’ five arms like most other sea stars, the FRAGILE SEA STAR is often found with four, six, or even one arm. This variability is a result of this species' exceptional ability to regenerate damaged arms and/or to shed individual arms as a means of asexual reproduction. Peer into our aquaria and count how many arms you see on each fragile sea star!

FRAGILE SEA STAR
Linckia columbiae

Phylum: Echinodermata
Size: Up to 10cm
Range: Eastern Pacific: San Pedro, CA, USA to Galapagos Islands
Diet: Bacteria, plankton, and fine organic detritus.
Notes: A single arm that has part of the central disc can survive and grow more arms. This arm with new budding arms is referred to as a comet.

QUITE THE NEWBORN!

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:12:00 GMT

After nearly 7 months in our aquaria, a CALIFORNIA SKATE egg has hatched. Several eggs were laid this past spring by our two resident female CALIFORNIA SKATES. One was fertile and spent the last several months developing in its keratinous cocoon -- all the while, feeding off of a nutritious yolk. Last Thursday night, the egg hatched. The newborn is quite the spitting image of its parents that reside in the neighboring aquarium. Yet, another success of the comforting habitat that is provided for our menagerie of animals.

CALIFORNIA SKATE
Raja inornata

Phylum: Chordata
Size: Up to 76cm
Range: Eastern Pacific: Strait of Juan de Fuca in Canada and USA to central Baja California, Mexico.
Diet: Crustaceans, polychaete worms, mollusks, and small fish.
Notes: Skates are oviparous -- meaning they lay eggs that hatch outside the skates body. Eggs are oblong capsules with stiff pointed horns at the corners deposited in sandy or muddy flats.

CASTANETS OF THE SEA!

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:59:00 GMT

This bivalve lives with one shell attached to the rocky reef and the other free to open and close. When anchored, the ROCK SCALLOP uses it's rows of 'eyes' to sense potential prey and predators. When a predator approaches, the scallop will snap its shells shut to protect itself from becoming a tasty morsel. The snap is audible and can often be heard as part of the orchestra of the sea. On the other hand, the scallop will also open and close its two shells to bring in microscopic sustinance that floats on by.

You can often find many other plants and animals setting up residence on the shells of ROCK SCALLOPS. On your next visit, take a look at our specimens to see how many sponges, corraline algae, bryazoans, and other sedentary organisms are living on the 'back' of this mollusc.

ROCK SCALLOP
Crassedoma giganteum

Phylum: Mollusca
Size: Up to 26cm
Range: British Columbia, Canada to Baja California, Mexico
Diet: Plankton
Notes: Adductor muscle of this species is often eaten, but be aware that this species is slow-growing and take more than 25 years to reach maturity.

HOLY MACKEREL!

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:51:00 GMT

The smaller of the mackerel species, PACIFIC MACKEREL are superb, swift swimmers. These fish will form multi-species schools with sardines as exhibited in our schooling display at the Institute.

PACIFIC MACKEREL
Scomber japonicus

Phylum: Chordata
Size: Up to 36cm
Range: Worldwide in temperate and tropical waters
Diet: Plankton
Notes: Has 10 finlets on its deepy forked tail (caudal peduncle) that aid in locomotion.

TRICKED YOU!

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:05:00 GMT

In the wild, the RAINBOW SCORPIONFISH enjoys resting upside-down in comfort underneath ledges and in crevices. Uncommon to our waters, it is quite a sight to see in our live teaching collection. This fish's belly-up behavior is misleading, but after observation, you will discover that the scorpionfish is alive and well.

RAINBOW SCORPIONFISH
Scorpaenodes xyris

Phylum: Chordata
Size: Up to 15cm
Range: California, USA to Peru and the Galapagos Islands
Diet: Benthic crustaceans, octopus, squid, small bony fishes
Notes: Possesses venomous spines like its more commonly seen cousin, the california scorpionfish (Scorpaena gutatta).

BRAND NEW 'SHELL'

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:54:00 GMT

One of our RETIRING SOUTHERNER crabs molted this past week. It is quite a sight to see as the crab wiggles about painstakingly removing each limb from the old exoskeleton as gently as can be. All this effort, just so the crab can grow. After about 45 minutes, the crab was decked out in its shiny new shell.

Read the article about the Institute's RETIRING SOUTHERNER crabs online at the Orange County Register.

EAT WHERE YOU LIVE

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 03:38:00 GMT

This sea slug matches the color of its dinner. Dining on sulphur sponge, the MUSHROOM SIDEGILL will excavate a depression within the tissue in which to live as it munches along.

MUSHROOM SIDEGILL
Tylodina fungina

Phylum: Mollusca
Size: Up to 3cm
Range: Southern California to Galapagos Islands
Diet: Sponges
Notes: Having a thin shell over it's large foot, this nudibranch is often confused with limpets.

SURFACE TENSION LOCOMOTION

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:42:00 GMT

Many species venture out onto the surface of tidepools when the tide is out and the pools are very calm. Occasionally, our nudibranchs will travel upside down on the surface of the water by employing surface tension for support and locomotion. They are likely just cruising around looking for food. Since nudibranchs have almost neutral buoyancy, they can easily hang by surface tension.

OPALESCENT NUDIBRANCH
Hermissenda crassicornis

Phylum: Mollusca
Size: Up to 5cm
Range: Sitka, Alaska to Baja California, Mexico
Diet: Mollusks, eggs, and hydroids
Notes: The nematocysts of the hydroids that it eats are transported to the tips of its cerata where they are used for defense purposes.

2ND ANNUAL INTERNSHIP SYMPOSIUM

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 20:17:00 GMT

The 2009 Internship Symposium was held on July 7th in the Ocean Institute's Samueli Conference Center. It was wonderful to see family, friends, staff and interns come together to learn more about science, our work, and the experiences of our interns who help to make it happen!

Over 10 projects were presented on a variety of topics from biological illustrations to sea lion populations. The internships play a vital role in enhancing our programs. Most importantly, the training and experience provided through our internships is helping to prepare the next generation of scientists.

DIME SIZED CEPHALOPODS

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:37:00 GMT

Now measuring just about the size of a dime, zooplankton and krill are on the menu for our TWO-SPOT OCTOPUS hatchlings. As the octopuses consume tasty morsels, their stomachs take on an orange hue.

Read the article about the Institute's newborn octopuses online at the Orange County Register.

TINY LITTLE SUCKERS

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:40:00 GMT

Once again, the Institute is filled with many little tentacles. Back in February, our TWO-SPOT OCTOPUS laid eggs in the comfort of her den...the soda can. Several months later, we now have over 2 dozen tiny octopuses crusing around our tanks and more being discovered everyday as they peek out from the rocky habitat.

Unlike, the TWO-SPOT OCTOPUS species that laid eggs here at the Institute last October, these offspring are much larger. These young will often remain on the bottom after hatching, whereas the Octopus bimaculatus species' young is planktonic .
For the past month, the hatchlings have been eating well and growing strong; all the while searching for a secure place to hide out during the day. We will continue to watch and observe their growth over the coming days.

TWO-SPOT OCTOPUS
Octopus bimaculoides

Phylum: Mollusca
Size: Up to 20cm (mantle length)
Range: Central California to Northern Baja California, Mexico
Diet: Snails, clams, and small fishes
Notes: The two large blue spots just below the eyes give this octopus its name.

GRUNION IN THE NEWS

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:29:53 GMT

The grunion run season has been showing record numbers. Check out the article in the Orange County Register.

FISH OUT OF WATER

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:29:00 GMT

From March to August along the California coast, something unique happens…grunion spawn. The eggs of the grunion remain on the beach, out of water, and incubate in the sand.
To learn more about the grunion, we are culturing some eggs here in the Ocean Institute lab. Come see for yourself.
We hope that you will join us for our Grunion Run Overnight program to see this amazing fish in action.

GRUNION
Leuresthes tenuis

Phylum: Chordata
Size: Up to 18cm
Range: San Francisco Bay to Baja California, Mexico
Diet: zooplankton
Notes: Grunion eggs only hatch with an environmental trigger, such as waves washing them out to sea.

CAPSULES OF EGGS ON SNAIL SHELLS

Sun, 31 May 2009 21:57:00 GMT

Every year about this time, our Kellet's whelks are busy laying eggs on any hard surface they can find in our aquaria. From acrylic walls to wavy top turban snail shells, no hard surface is safe from being the prime spot to secure their future offspring.
Each female deposits many rows of egg capsules that each contain hundreds of eggs. As the eggs develop, the capsules will darken in color before they will be ready to hatch out in a couple months.
Why the capsule? A female snail produces egg capsules in her reproductive system and molds the capsule with her foot. As the snail molds the capsule, the material hardens and stabilizes the egg capsule—all the better for protecting eggs.

KELLET'S WHELK
Kelletia kelletii

Phylum: Mollusca
Size: Up to 16cm
Range: Monterey Bay, California to Baja California, Mexico
Diet: Mollusks and worms
Notes: Although whelks can feed year round, when females aggregate to lay eggs they do not feed.

MASTER OF DISGUISE

Sun, 31 May 2009 21:19:00 GMT

We have a new octopus in our Ecology Learning Center! Like all octopuses, the RED OCTOPUS can change its color and texture, making its appearance highly variable. Often times, students will be directly looking at the octopus and insist that they only see rocks. This octopus is, definitely, the master of disguise.

RED OCTOPUS
Octopus rubescens

Phylum: Mollusca
Size: Up to 50cm
Range: Alaska to Baja California, Mexico
Diet: Crustaceans, mollusks, and fish
Notes: Smaller of the few species of octopus we see off the Southern California coast.

TEEMING WITH LIFE

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:52:00 GMT

Several months ago, I collected a couple of GIANT KELP (Macrocyctis pyrifera) holdfasts. The abundance and diversity of life associated with the structurally complex and high productive Macrocystis kelp populations are amazing. Over the months the microscopic organisms in each holdfast have blossomed that now they are visibly teeming with life. The other day, I counted over a dozen species in these small holdfasts. Large GIANT KELP holdfasts in the wild have been known to contain over 150 species. ...quite the little nursery.

SPAWN OF PISASTER

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:52:00 GMT

One of our Discovery Pools was quite murky the other day. Often alarming to the layman, but quite exciting for curious minds. This conglomeration of sea stars were spawning.

Sea stars are male or female. Fertilization is external and occurs when the sea stars release enormous numbers of sperm and eggs in the ocean or in this case, the Ocean Institute aquaria. Environmental signals trigger and coordinate the timing of gamete release. The fertilized embryos are swept along the currents for about two months where they form part of the zooplankton. So the next time you see sea stars "smoking", don't be alarmed, it's time to spawn!

KNOBBY SEA STAR
Pisaster giganteus

Phylum: Echinodermata
Size: Up to 60cm
Range: Vancouver Island, BC, Canada to Baja California, Mexico
Diet: Mollusks and small fish.
Notes: Spawning occurs in March and April.

RIBBONS OF EGGS

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:56:00 GMT

It's springtime and the creatures are out to mate. Such is the case with our SPANISH SHAWL nudibranchs. Each nudibranch is both male and female (simultaneous hermaphrodites) producing sperm and eggs. To mate two nudibranchs come together side by side and pass sperm packets through a tube on the right side of it's head. The brightly colored nudibranchs have now laid bright orange colored egg ribbons. The eggs have been developing in the tank and will be planktotrophic veligers after seven days. Who knows, perhaps they will develop into miniature slugs if they can make it past the hungry hoards of filter-feeders in our aquaria.

SPANISH SHAWL
Flabellina iodinea

Phylum: Mollusca
Size: Up to 3cm
Range: Galapagos Islands to British Columbia, Canada
Diet: Hydroids
Notes: Swims by flexing its body strongly and gracefully from side to side.

COOL AS A SEA CUCUMBER...FEEDING

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:48:40 GMT

Often these animals just attach to the side of a tank or sit on the bottom substrate to just hang out for the day, but every once in awhile these echinoderms are cruisin' around plucking detritus from the water or gravel. When feeding brilliant feathery orange tentacles of the WARTY SEA CUCUMBER (Parastichopus parvimensis) emerge to capture suspended detritus and transfer to the mouth at the center.

A close-up of the broad feeding tentacles of this sea cucumber shows the organism mopping the surface on which it is feeding upon with its mucus-covered tentacles before drawing them back, one at a time, into the mouth to be sucked clean of any particles. They consume organic detritus and ingest fine-grained sands to digest off the bacteria, micro algae and diatoms that cover the surface of each sand particle. Think of it as one of us licking our fingers off one by one to enjoy every last bit of a tasty morsel.

KELLETII THE MOOCHER

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:29:24 GMT

You never know what animal behavior you will discover when wandering through our labs. Just the other day, I observed a KELLET'S WHELK (Kelletia kelletii) barging it's way in to steal a tasty shrimp from a BAT STAR (Asterina miniata). The bat star was firmly attached to the side of the tank, with its stomach distended slowly consuming the morsel of food. Unbeknownst to the sea star, the kellet's whelk invited itself to lunch and was gorging on the prey.
These snails use their long, prehensile proboscis to reach into nooks and crannies or in this case, underneath the webbed arms of the bat star, and use the radula at the tip to scrap off flesh from prey or drill through shells. Meanwhile, our CABEZON (Scorpaenichthyes marmoratus) took an interest to the activity and swam over to see what the commotion was all about.

KELLET'S WHELK
Kelletia kelletii

Phylum: Mollusca
Size: Up to 17cm
Range: Monterey Bay, California to Baja California, Mexico
Diet: Snails, worms, fish, crustaceans.
Notes: The proboscis can extend up to 3 times the length of the shell.

MUTUAL BENEFITS

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:24:03 GMT

Symbiosis is abound in the biological world. There are many examples in nature of two organisms living in close association with each other. The association of two organisms (2 animals, 2 plants, 1 plant/1animal, etc) that depend on others for food, to two organisms that will not survive unless they are always together.
There are many cases off our local coast where symbiotic relationships exist. One such case is with the WARTY SEA CUCUMBER (Parastichopus parvimensis) and a SCALE WORM (Arctonoe pulchra). The two live in relative harmony, each benefiting from one another for survival.
As you observe the WARTY SEA CUCUMBER in our discovery pools, you may notice something scurry about. A closer look will highlight a SCALE WORM camouflaging with the coloration of the sea cucumber delicately feasting on the leftover detritus.

WARTY SEA CUCUMBER
(Parastichopus parvimensis)

Phylum: Echinodermata
Size: Up to 25cm
Range: Monterey, California, USA to Baja California, Mexico
Diet: Detritus and small mud-dwelling organisms
Notes: The name warty comes from the numerous black-tipped projections covering the sea cucumber's brownish skin.

SCALE WORM
(Arctonoe pulchra)

Phylum: Annelida
Size: Up to 3cm
Range: Alaska, USA to Baja California, Mexico
Diet: Detritus
Notes: This species is attracted by the smell of its host. Its body color is usually close to that of its host. Adult scale worms are territorial and will try to drive other individuals off their host. They may injure or kill one another in fights over a host.

MMM...MORE KELP PLEASE.

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:33:47 GMT

New to our collection, the black sea hare lumbering around devouring kelp at an amazing rate which requires the husbandry team to constantly replenish the habitat with fresh blades of kelp. This sea hare is massive, measuring over 35cm in length.

On Monday, our black sea hare laid eggs. Sea hares are hermaphrodites, meaning that they have both male and female sex organs. Seeing how individuals cannot fertilize themselves, the eggs that were laid are infertile.

Commonly, sea hares form chains of several animals, each passing gametes to the individual in front. Eggs are usually laid in long, strands that may contain 2 million eggs each. The strands resemble angel hair pasta. Several egg masses may be laid by an individual in its lifetime. If young sea hares were not eaten by predators, they would be among the most common of all animals in the sea.

BLACK SEA HARE
Aplysia vaccaria

Phylum: Mollusca
Size: Up to 99cm (females)
Range: Morro Bay, California to northeastern Baja California, Mexico
Diet: Detritus and mucus.
Notes: It has been said that this species of sea hare is the largest gastropod in the world.

DO CRABS RETIRE?

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 18:42:36 GMT

A perfect specimen for our A House for Hermit Crab program. Hiding amongst the sand, the retiring habits of this crab have earned this species its unusual common name. The hairiness of this 'shy' crab is quite distinct from other crustaceans.

RETIRING SOUTHERNER
Pilumnus spinohirsutus

Phylum: Arthropoda
Size: Up to 3.5 cm
Range: San Pedro, CA to Baja California, Mexico
Diet: Tiny crustaceans, detritus
Notes: Avoids bright light areas, prefers to stay secluded under a rocky ledge.

MOVIN' AND A SHAKIN'

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:42:32 GMT

During my morning rounds, I observed quite a bit of activity in one of our tanks. There was certainly some movin' and a shakin' going on. Lo and behold within a tuft of artificial eelgrass, there were two SPOTTED KELPFISH spawning. The female of the pair laid white eggs and the male externally fertilized them. During gestation, the male will continue to guard the eggs until they hatch.
Look closely on the photo below and you will see the mass of eggs just below the female kelpfish. When you visit, you may be able to spot the eyes of the developing fish within the eggs.

SPOTTED KELPFISH
Gibbonsia elegans

Phylum: Cnidaria
Size: Up to 16 cm
Range: Piedras Blancas, CA, USA to Baja California, Mexico
Diet: Small crustaceans and mollusks
Notes: Extremely abundant close among short seaweeds. Not easily observed because of ability to blend with background. Coloration varies depending on habitat.

COMMENSAL LIVING

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:43:26 GMT

Today, a small pea crab was observed nestled amongst the gills of one of our giant keyhole limpets. The pea crab is not rare, but due to its hidden living quarters, the crab is only occassionally seen by the keenest of observers. Most pea crab species use bivalves as a host, so finding an individual under the mantle of a limpet is rare.
Poor swimmers, they remain within an individual mollusk, picking food particles off the gills or mucus strands of their filter-feeding host; though, the crabs cause no immediate life-threatening damage.

MOTTLED PEA CRAB
Opisthopus transversus

Phylum: Arthropoda
Size: Up to 2cm (females)
Range: Eastern Pacific
Diet: Detritus and mucus.
Notes: The male crab only grows to a fraction of the size of the female pea crab.

RECYCLABLE?

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:57:26 GMT

An octopus can squeeze through any opening larger than its beak, its only inflexible part. Octopuses establish dens in crevices, mollusk shells, or in man-made objects like aluminum cans. They use dens to lay eggs and hide from predators. Their soft, fleshy bodies lack shells, allowing them to squeeze into tiny spaces.

TWO SPOT OCTOPUS
Octopus bimaculatus

Our recent addition, was found off the coast living in, of all things, a soda can. When natural housing is at a premium, organisms will take up residence in whatever happens to be available. This can, likely, made its way to the ocean through one of Orange County's many watersheds. Like the soda can, trash works its way into our ocean via stormwater causing issues for our coastal habitats. While this octopus is relatively content with seeking refuge in an emptied can, the environment succeeds by being trash free. Please be part of the solution, dispose of trash properly. Learn about our Watershed Overnight program.
Come view our new octopus peering out through the opening in the can.

NOT YOUR AVERAGE COFFEE BEAN

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:41:01 GMT

This snail cruises the sandy areas around the rocky reef in search of food. The snail's proboscis (tubular feeding and sucking organ) is long, and carries the jaws and radula at its tip which is used to munch on tunicates.
This is the latest snail to be added to our living collection and you'll be in awe of the intricate shell pattern.

SOLANDER'S COFFEE BEAN SNAIL
Trivia solandri

Phylum: Mollusca
Size: Up to 2 cm
Range: Palos Verdes, CA to Panama
Diet: Tunicates
Notes: Closely related to cowrie snails. Shell is often covered by their mantle to prevent other organisms from fouling its shell. When disturbed, the mantle will retreat under the shell.

BOUQUET OF BIOLUMINESCENCE

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:34:36 GMT

Most scuba divers spend all of their time over the rocky reef habitat, but there are many other areas to explore in the underwater world. I enjoy mixing it up a bit and doing a dive over a sandy area. There is a plethora of wildlife to see that is not blatantly obvious.
With the appearance of the terrestrial pansy flower, each sea pansy is a colony of animals. The upper surface is often dusted with a light layer of sand and the peduncle (stem) buries itself to anchor the colony. Though anchored, sea pansies will move around quite a bit in the sandy seafloor making them a perfect specimen for our Life in the Abyss overnight program.

SEA PANSY
Renilla koellikeri

Phylum: Cnidaria
Size: Up to 8 cm
Range: Santa Barbara, CA to Baja California, Mexico
Diet: Micro zooplankton
Notes: The sea pansy is strikingly bioluminescent when disturbed, due to Green Fluorescent Protein, a molecule that has become extremely important recently for modern biological science.

SEASTARS GROW NEW ARMS

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 21:39:14 GMT

Seastars are well known for their remarkable powers of regeneration. A complete new animal can grow from a small fragment such as an arm. Autotomy (self amputation) usually is a protective function, losing the body part to escape a predator rather than being eaten. These seastars are easily stressed by predators such as large fish and other sea stars, and have the ability to shed arms to escape, growing them back within a few weeks. Such is the case with our SUNFLOWER SEASTAR (Pycnopodia helianthoides) . When collected, this individual was missing a few arms. Over the time in our living collection, these arms have started to regrow and it is quite a sight to see: A huge seastar with over 18 large arms and just a few tiny arms. Just imagine, if others could regenerate limbs.

WARDROBE CHANGE

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:01:27 GMT

We have many fish at the Institute that camouflage with their surroundings; some change in a matter of minutes or hours, whereas others take years. Such is the case with our California Scorpionfish and over the past few weeks there has been a distinct coloration change of one individual.
Several years ago, I collected 'live' rock for habitat structure in our aquaria. A few of the rocks had small colonies of Strawberry Sea Anemones (Corynactis californica) on the surface. Over time, these anemones have reproduced and multiplied to create quite a 'pink and fuchsia' presence in the exhibit. This environment has evoked a change in color in one scorpionfish from the usual brown hues to a mottled pink.

CALIFORNIA SCORPIONFISH
Scorpaena guttata

Phylum: Chordata
Size: Up to 43 cm
Range: Santa Cruz in central California, USA to Baja California, Mexico
Diet: Crustaceans and small fishes
Notes: Has many venomous spines in its dorsal fin.

ENGLISH SOLE

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:38:59 GMT

One of the many flatfish that we observe during our research trawls with students. Likewise, they are often caught for the commercial fishery as well.

Parophrys vetulus

Phylum: Chordata
Size: Up to 57 cm
Range: Bering Sea to Bahia San Cristobal, central Baja California, Mexico
Diet: Small crustaceans, marine worms, brittle stars and small mollusks
Notes: Adult English sole are almost entirely observed in offshore sandy habitats. These flatfish migrate depending on tidal currents.

SPINY MUDSTAR

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:21:49 GMT

Commonly burying themselves in their sandy or muddy habitat, watch these stars in our aquaria as they emerge from beneath the sand and move rapidly along the substrate.

Luidia foliolata

Phylum: Echinodermata
Size: Up to 40 cm in diameter
Range: Southeast Alaska to San Diego, CA
Diet: Bivalves, sea cucumbers and brittle stars
Notes: A very fragile species of sand star. Often found at a depth of approximately 12 to 600 m, or more. Also known as the Leafy Flat Star.

OCTOPUS PRESS

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:46:31 GMT

You may view a new article about the octopuses online at the Los Angeles Times.

DAY THREE AND COUNTING

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 06:38:42 GMT

Another day for the young cephalopods has completed. Several individuals seem to be feasting on tiny zooplankton.

You may view new photos of "Day 3" and read the article about the Institute's newborn octopuses online at the Orange County Register.

HATCHING OCTOPUSES

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:49:46 GMT

The octopus eggs are beginning to hatch. We now have many octopus paralarvae floating around in the exhibit. While there are well over 300 young, right now, and more hatching over the next couple days, few ever make it to adulthood. The young are the size of a grain of rice. The Husbandry Team is feverishly tending to the new members of our collection with the hopes of raising them to adulthood, though the odds are against that.

TWO-SPOT OCTOPUS
Octopus bimaculatus

Phylum: Mollusca
Size: 3-4mm at birth
Range: Central California to Northern Baja, Mexico.
Diet: zooplankton

SPOTTED SAND BASS

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:38:42 GMT

Several juvenile sand bass are now on exhibit. We have been watching one individual grow up in our aquaria from just over 3cm in size.

Paralabrax maculatofasciatus

Phylum: Chordata
Size: Up to 60 cm
Range: Monterey, CA to Mexico.
Diet: small fishes and benthic crustaceans
Notes: In southern California, spotted sand bass are largely restricted to shallow, warm-water areas such as bays, estuaries, and harbors. Most of these bass mature first as females and later change into males, although primary males may also exist. Spotted sand bass have many similarities to barred sand bass (Paralabrax nebulifer).

FASTER THAN A SPEEDING BULLET

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:19:02 GMT

This unique crustacean has very developed stalked, compound eyes that diligently scan its environment. In our aquaria, it's almost as their eyes are following you. Mantis shrimp are primarily night stalking predators, waiting motionless in their burrows for unassuming, passing prey. When the moment strikes, the mantis shrimp utilizes a front pair of limbs as massive grasping appendages. They even have the ability to smash crabs and other hard shelled prey.
The mantis shrimp in our live teaching collection was highlighted in today's Orange County Register.

MANTIS SHRIMP
Hemisquilla ensigera californiensis

Phylum: Arthropoda
Size: Up to 30 cm
Range: Santa Barbara, California to the Bay of Panama
Diet: annelids, gastropods, bivalves, crustaceans
Notes: Mantis make underwater attacks for prey making this species a group of highly specialized and skilled carnivores. The speed of their forelimbs clocks in at a remarkable 30 feet per second.

GETTING TO THE "ROOT" OF IT ALL

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:25:53 GMT

There are many habitats off our coast, one environment that most overlook is that within a kelp holdfast. A holdfast is the part of certain rootless plants, such as giant kelp (and other algae), used to attach the plant to a surface. Kelp provides a refuge from the harsh physical environment for many organisms. Small plants and animals can be found living between the large holdfasts of kelp and many animals also live within the holdfast itself. Explore this amazing ecosystem during our weekend programs and see what organisms you can find.

GIANT KELP
Macrocystis pyrifera

Phylum: Phaeophyta
Size: Up to 100 feet
Range: Santa Cruz to Turtle Bay, Mexico and along the temperate coasts of South America and New Zealand
Diet: Obtains energy through photosynthesis
Notes: Algin from kelp is used in food products such as toothpaste and ice cream.

GRACEFUL CANCER CRAB

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:16:15 GMT

This crab is very similar in appearance to the famed Dungeness Crab (Cancer magister). Lucky for the Graceful Cancer Crab as it doesn't grow anywhere near as big.

Cancer gracilis

Phylum: Arthropoda
Size: Up to 11 cm, but average is 7cm
Range: Alaska to Baja California, Mexico
Diet: Small invertebrates (barnacles and bivalves)
Notes: It is common to see C. gracilis larvae and small juveniles clinging to large jellyfish for transportation to nearshore areas.

WOAH! THAT PING PONG BALL HAS LEGS!

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 04:08:00 GMT

Adding to the diversity of crabs off our coast, the purple globe crab has a distinct round shape that few other crabs possess.

PURPLE GLOBE CRAB
Randallia ornata

Phylum: Arthropoda
Size: Up to 5 cm (carapace size)
Range: Northern California to Baja California, Mexico
Diet: Small invertebrates, detritus
Notes: This is a small crab and relies heavily on hiding in the sand to avoid predators and humans.

PORCELAIN CRAB

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 03:48:25 GMT

Often hidden from view, these crabs seek shelter under stones and in mussel beds. When we collect mussels for use in our programs and for feeding several of our animals, we also collect the porcelain crabs for use in our House for Hermit Crab program. In addition, you can observe these crabs feeding all day long by raking the water with feathery mouthparts called maxillipeds.

Petrolisthes spp.

Phylum: Arthropoda
Size: Up to 2.5 cm
Range: Alaska to the Gulf of California
Diet: Plankton, diatoms, and detritus
Notes: Females bearing marroon-colored eggs have been observed March through July. Overall color of these crabs is reddish brown; occasionally blue. These crabs obtain their name from the brittle nature of their pincers that can be cast off if the critter is threatened and break like porcelain in the process.

FILTER FEEDING WITH ELEGANCE

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:04:07 GMT

Nudibranchs are another one of those amazing animals that lives off of our coast. From defensive survival tactics to its unique feeding behavior, you will be intrigued by Melibe.

HOODED NUDIBRANCH
Melibe leonina

Phylum: Mollusca
Size: Up to 15 cm
Range: Alaska to the Gulf of California
Diet: Zooplankton.
Notes: This nudibranch uses it’s strong foot to attach to kelp and eelgrasses. Most nudibranchs use a rasp-like tongue to consume their prey, the melibe employs its oral hood to sweep the water to collect plankton.

USE SOME ELBOW GREASE!

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:11:58 GMT

Crabs come in all shapes and sizes. These crabs have elongated pincers that really give them the need for elbow room!

ELBOW CRAB
Heterocrypta occidentalis

Phylum: Arthropoda
Size: Up to 3cm (carapace size)
Range: Central California to Baja California
Diet: Detritus.
Notes:Usually frequents open sandy areas, partially buried in the sand when not foraging. May be a major food item for some of the fishes that feed from both the sand bottoms around the reefs, as the crabs are often found in the stomachs of many fish.

BORIS MOLTED!

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:26:06 GMT

Last Thursday afternoon, our largest lobster, Boris, molted; subsequently two of our other lobsters also molted over the weekend. 'Tis the season.... Each lobster will take approximately one to two weeks to completely solidify their new "shell."

CALIFORNIA SPINY LOBSTER
Panulirus interruptus

Phylum: Arthropoda
Size: Up to 3 feet in length.
Range: Monterey Bay, California to Baja California
Diet: Clams, urchins, snails, and small fish
Notes: An exoskeleton is an external skeleton that supports and protects an animal's body. As the lobster grows, the chitonous exoskeleton is periodically molted and a new, larger one is formed in its place.

VELCRO WARDROBE

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:11:07 GMT

We have a new decorator crab in our collection. This one certainly has an affinity toward using small pieces of gorgonia (sea fans) as part of it's "wardrobe". The gorgonia, sponge, algae, and other organisms help this crab camouflage into its habitat.

MOSS CRAB (aka MASKING CRAB)
Loxorhynchus crispatus

Phylum: Arthropoda
Size: Up to 12.5cm
Range: Humboldt, CA to Baja California, Mexico
Diet: Urchins, sponges, algae and small crustaceans
Notes: When a moss crab molts and grows a new shell, it often transfers its living decorations from the old shell to the new one.

SLATE PENCIL URCHIN

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 23:13:20 GMT

Most pencil urchins live in tropical areas, but this slate pencil urchin lives off our coast and is now exhibited at the Institute.

Eucidaris tribuloides

Phylum: Echinodermata
Size: Up to 10cm
Range: Catalina Island, CA to Ecuador
Diet: Algae
Notes: Often covered with encrusting animals.

EGGS BY THE HUNDREDS

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 21:54:25 GMT

Yesterday, our female octopus laid several hundred eggs in strings on the wall of her lair. The octopus is currently guarding the eggs against predators, and gently blowing currents of water over them so that they get enough oxygen.

TWO-SPOT OCTOPUS
Octopus bimaculoides

Phylum: Mollusca
Size: Up to 3 feet
Range: Central California to Baja California, Mexico
Diet: Crustaceans, mollusks, and small fishes
Notes: Eggs are laid whether or not they are fertilized. Females tend their eggs continuously for two to four months until they hatch.

SIMNIA SNAIL

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 05:52:47 GMT

Rarely seen, this snail was oddly collected via a trawl on our R/V Sea Explorer. Upon inspection of a brown gorgonian (also, not commonly collected via trawl) that was pulled out of the net, our crew spotted this tiny simnia snail feasting away on the, frankly, sad-looking gorgonian. Now, in our teaching collection, this snail is quite content...as long as there are plenty of tasty polyps to munch on.

Delonovolva aequalis

Phylum: Mollusca
Size: Up to 2.5cm
Range: Monterey Bay, California to Isla San Martin, Baja California, Mexico
Diet: gorgonian polyps
Notes: Rare. This snail lives and feeds exclusively on gorgonians. Only about 1 in 50 branches of gorgonian have these rare molluscs.

QUEEN TEGULA SNAIL

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 06:57:53 GMT

To most this snail appears to be the common wavy top turban snail (Megastraea undosa) from a topside view; however, the underside reveals a golden rim. The snails were once sought after by collectors for their shell's characteristic golden color.

Tegula regina

Phylum: Mollusca
Size: Up to 5.5cm
Range: Santa Barbara Island, California to Baja California, Mexico
Diet: algae
Notes: Uncommon. The shell is often covered in algae.

COLONIAL CUP CORAL

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 05:28:26 GMT

Few stony corals are found off the Southern California coast. On a recent dive, I came across a small colony of peach-colored corals.

Stony corals are most widely known from the tropics where their skeletons provide the framework for extensive limestone reefs. These coral reefs develop into whole islands in the Caribbean and Indo-Pacific oceans. The corals along our California coast are non reef-building species.

Coenocyathus bowersi

Phylum: Cnidaria
Size: Colony up to 15cm wide
Range: Monterey, Bay, California to Baja California, Mexico
Diet: zooplankton
Notes: These corals secrete a calcareous external skeleton that sheaths each individual animal. This structure allow the polyp to retreat and protect itself from predators.

SPRING IS IN THE 'SEA'

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:46:13 GMT

Today, a pair of painted greenlings (Oxylebius pictus) were exhibiting their mating colors. Normally, these fish are brightly colored with alternating bars of red and white. During the mating season, mature males turn darker, becoming nearly black with the bars harder to distinguish. The bars of the females turn a coppery hue. Once outfitted in the proper garb, the male will court the female until all is mutual and spawning ensues.

PAINTED GREENLING
Oxylebius pictus

Phylum: Chordata
Size: Up to 25cm
Range: Eastern Pacific: Kodiak Island, Alaska to Point San Carlos, central Baja California, Mexico
Diet: Crustaceans, worms, and small mollusks
Notes: The painted greenling is solitary and very territorial. These fish are found on the bottom on or near hard substrates.

WHITE CROAKER

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:43:01 GMT

A school of white croaker is the newest addiition to our Watershed Lab in the SurfScience Learning Center. White croaker are a key indicator of the health of our nearshore waters.

Genyonemus lineatus

Phylum: Chordata
Size: Up to 41cm
Range: Baja California to Vancouver Island, BC
Diet: Worms, small shrimps, crabs and mollusks
Notes: The white croaker is an abundant near shore species that prefers the sandy bottoms of bays and estuaries and the area just outside the surf zone. This fish is aptly named for its deep croaking call, thought to be associated with courtship and spawning or be a response to fear.

SUNFLOWER SEASTAR

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:41:34 GMT

On a recent collection dive, we found a sunflower seastar. While the range of the species includes Orange County, they are rarely seen this far south. In addition, this seastar is quite the voracious eater.

Pycnopodia helianthoides

Phylum: Echinodermata
Size: Up to 91cm
Range: Alaska to San Diego
Diet: Crabs, sea cucumbers, snails, chitons, sea urchins, other sea stars
Notes: The sunflower star has over 15,000 tube feet. Equipped with a disconnected skeleton, this seastar has the ability to cast off arms to escape from danger and to consume large prey.

MOSSY CHITON

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:39:25 GMT

There was a nice low tide last week, -1.8. The low tide provides a nice opportunity to see a variety of animals that would normally be covered up by the surging waves. The chitons were collected as the rocks were exposed.

Mopalia muscosa

Phylum: Mollusca
Size: Up to 7cm
Range: British Columbia to Baja California
Diet: Algae, red and green
Notes: Chitons are a unique mollusc that display 8 plates as opposed to one shell. Lacking eyes or tentacles, chitons sense light through light-sensitive organs in their shell.

FLAG ROCKFISH

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:36:05 GMT

From time to time, my colleagues have a surplus of a particular species and the Institute collection benefits from that surplus. Recently, I acquired several magnificent flag rockfish and will repay the offer in the future.

Sebastes rubrivinctus

Phylum: Chrodata
Size: Up to 44cm
Range: San Francisco, CA to Baja California, Mexico
Diet: Shrimps, fishes, krill, and small crabs
Notes: Flag rockfish are usually solitary animals, but will congregate around rubble or under kelp paddys as young-of-the-year.

TENDING THE BROOD

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 02:03:01 GMT

Many behaviors present themselves everyday in our collection. Today, many students were witness to a kelp crab tending to her new brood. These freshly extruded eggs are bright orange, as they mature to red, and greyish-purple at hatching. The female protects the eggs beneath a structure known as an abdominal flap (a handy trap door). When she tends her brood, she will often drop the flap to clean and aerate the eggs.

NORTHERN KELP CRAB
Pugettia producta

Phylum: Arthropoda
Size: Up to 9cm
Range: Alaska to Mexico
Diet: Kelp, but will feed on a wide variety of small organisms such as barnacles, hydroids, and bryozoans
Notes: The color of this crab usually matches the color of the algae on which its found. Sheds shell and creates new larger one as the animal grows. Clutch size ranges from 34,000 to 84,000 eggs. Embryonic development may require nearly a year. Planktonic larvae develop through different life stages in the water column.

GUARDING THE ROOST

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 01:43:03 GMT

Imagine the joy when I located a large clutch of bay blenny eggs. We have eggs! These eggs have been recently laid by one of our bay blennies and the male is protecting they clutch while the develop.

BAY BLENNY
Hypsoblennius gentilis

Phylum: Chordata
Size: Up to 15cm
Range: Monterey Bay, California, USA to Bahia Magdalena
Diet: Small invertebrates and algae
Notes: Eggs are demersal and adhesive, and are attached to the walls of the parent's shelter. Eggs are brooded by the male parent.

DO ANEMONES REACT TO LIGHT?

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 01:39:27 GMT

We are constantly developing and designing new displays to meet our program requirements at the Institute. With our summer camps in full swing, we have set-up a display exhibit Phototaxis in action as one of our camps focuses in on the properties of light. Phototaxis is a kind of behavioral response that occurs when a whole organism moves in response to the stimulus light. This is advantageous for phototrophic organisms as they can orient themselves most efficiently to receive light for photosynthesis.

Come see for yourself how several of our green aggregating anemones have reacted to light.

JUVENILE GIANT KELPFISH

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 01:35:23 GMT

During my daily rounds the other day, I perused the surrounding areas of the dock and spotted some small fish. These fish were seeking shelter underneath a kelp paddy that had floated by our dock. Oxymoronic as it may be, these fish are actually juvenile giant kelpfish.

Heterostichus rostratus

Phylum: Chordata
Size: Up to 61cm
Range: British Columbia to southern Baja California
Diet: Small crustaceans, fishes, molluscs
Notes: These fish have blade-shaped bodies that help them blend in with the giant kelp they live in.

EXPERIENCING A LIFE CYCLE IN ACTION

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 01:31:14 GMT

The Husbandry team's morning was welcomed by thousands and thousands of small northern kelp crab larvae. We collected some of the larvae for closer inspection and observation. Weeks ago we watched these crabs mate immediately as they were introduced into one of our aquariums and today we witnessed the new life. One never knows what activity will occur next by observing our collection

NORTHERN KELP CRAB
Pugettia producta

Notes: Clutch size ranges from 34,000 to 84,000 eggs. The larvae are grayish-green. Embryonic development may require nearly a year.

SARCASTIC FRINGEHEAD

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:18:51 GMT

I have to say, could there be a better name for a fish? Nonetheless, this fish can often be found tucked into a discarded soda bottle and now can be found at the Ocean Institute.

Neoclinus blanchardi

Phylum: Chordata
Size: Up to 30cm
Range: San Francisco, CA to Baja California, Mexico
Diet: Shrimps and small crabs
Notes: Sarcastic Fringeheads receive their name from the small tufts of flesh above their eyes.

BLACK SURFPERCH

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:00:18 GMT

We recently acquired several young-of-the-year black surfperch.

Embiotoca jacksoni

Phylum: Chordata
Size: Up to 38cm
Range: Fort Bragg, California, USA to central Baja California, Mexico
Diet: Amphipods, small shrimps, and brittle stars
Notes: The black surfperch, uses a special behavior called winnowing to separate and sort the food from debris.

THE EVENING WAS FILLED WITH PRESENTATIONS BY OUR INTERNS

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 06:06:08 GMT

This past Tuesday, we held our First Annual Ocean Institute Internship Symposium. Throughout the past year, our Marine Science Careers and InternshipAcademy students have established a blossoming legacy of independent and cooperative learning. The Symposium was a celebration of students’ ability to utilize the Academy knowledge to gain understanding of the ocean world and affect change at the Institute and their lives.

10 presentations were showcased on a variety of topics from California Marine Plankton to Octopus Enrichment.

VIDEO: KELP CRAB

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 04:29:40 GMT

Make sure to check out the new video!

http://www.ocean-institute.org/visitor/husbandry_video/husbandry_video.html

For details, read story below on Tending the Brood.

Aquarist's Blog: Julianne E. Steers

MASTERS OF TRANSPARENCY

MYSID SHRIMPAcanthomysis sculpta

AQUATIC VAGABOND

ACORN BARNACLEBalanus sp.

3RD ANNUAL INTERNSHIP SYMPOSIUM

PLEASING A PICKY EATER

SPOTTED TRIOPHA NUDIBRANCHTriopha maculata

LITTLE DEVELOPMENTS

ORANGE COUNTY HAS CORALS?

BROWN CUP CORALParacyathus stearnsii

NOT A MINIATURE PALM TREE, BUT A WORM

FEATHER DUSTER WORM Eudistylia sp.

BUBBLE COLLECTOR

NOT EXACTLY CAVIAR

GIANT AND KNOBBY

LIVIN' ON A BALLOON

LE' GO MY LEGO

AMEND ITS CARNIVOROUS HABIT

IDA'S MITER SNAILMitra idae

RONQUIL FINDS SHELTER IN OUR AQUARIA

STRIPEDFIN RONQUIL Rathbunella hypoplecta

NOT YOUR TRADITIONAL LUMP CRAB

NOT ONE LIKE THE OTHER

FRAGILE SEA STARLinckia columbiae

QUITE THE NEWBORN!

CALIFORNIA SKATERaja inornata

CASTANETS OF THE SEA!

ROCK SCALLOP Crassedoma giganteum

HOLY MACKEREL!

PACIFIC MACKERELScomber japonicus

TRICKED YOU!

RAINBOW SCORPIONFISHScorpaenodes xyris

BRAND NEW 'SHELL'

EAT WHERE YOU LIVE

MUSHROOM SIDEGILLTylodina fungina

SURFACE TENSION LOCOMOTION

OPALESCENT NUDIBRANCHHermissenda crassicornis

2ND ANNUAL INTERNSHIP SYMPOSIUM

DIME SIZED CEPHALOPODS

TINY LITTLE SUCKERS

TWO-SPOT OCTOPUSOctopus bimaculoides

GRUNION IN THE NEWS

FISH OUT OF WATER

GRUNIONLeuresthes tenuis

CAPSULES OF EGGS ON SNAIL SHELLS

KELLET'S WHELKKelletia kelletii

MASTER OF DISGUISE

RED OCTOPUSOctopus rubescens

TEEMING WITH LIFE

SPAWN OF PISASTER

KNOBBY SEA STARPisaster giganteus

RIBBONS OF EGGS

SPANISH SHAWLFlabellina iodinea

COOL AS A SEA CUCUMBER...FEEDING

KELLETII THE MOOCHER

KELLET'S WHELK Kelletia kelletii

MUTUAL BENEFITS

WARTY SEA CUCUMBER(Parastichopus parvimensis)

SCALE WORM(Arctonoe pulchra)

MMM...MORE KELP PLEASE.

BLACK SEA HAREAplysia vaccaria

DO CRABS RETIRE?

RETIRING SOUTHERNERPilumnus spinohirsutus

MOVIN' AND A SHAKIN'

SPOTTED KELPFISHGibbonsia elegans

COMMENSAL LIVING

MOTTLED PEA CRABOpisthopus transversus

RECYCLABLE?

TWO SPOT OCTOPUSOctopus bimaculatus

NOT YOUR AVERAGE COFFEE BEAN

SOLANDER'S COFFEE BEAN SNAILTrivia solandri

BOUQUET OF BIOLUMINESCENCE

SEA PANSYRenilla koellikeri

SEASTARS GROW NEW ARMS

WARDROBE CHANGE

CALIFORNIA SCORPIONFISHScorpaena guttata

ENGLISH SOLE

Parophrys vetulus

SPINY MUDSTAR

MYSID SHRIMP
Acanthomysis sculpta

ACORN BARNACLE
Balanus sp.

SPOTTED TRIOPHA NUDIBRANCH
Triopha maculata

BROWN CUP CORAL
Paracyathus stearnsii

FEATHER DUSTER WORM
Eudistylia sp.

IDA'S MITER SNAIL
Mitra idae

STRIPEDFIN RONQUIL
Rathbunella hypoplecta

FRAGILE SEA STAR
Linckia columbiae

CALIFORNIA SKATE
Raja inornata

ROCK SCALLOP
Crassedoma giganteum

PACIFIC MACKEREL
Scomber japonicus

RAINBOW SCORPIONFISH
Scorpaenodes xyris

MUSHROOM SIDEGILL
Tylodina fungina

OPALESCENT NUDIBRANCH
Hermissenda crassicornis

TWO-SPOT OCTOPUS
Octopus bimaculoides

GRUNION
Leuresthes tenuis

KELLET'S WHELK
Kelletia kelletii

RED OCTOPUS
Octopus rubescens

KNOBBY SEA STAR
Pisaster giganteus

SPANISH SHAWL
Flabellina iodinea

KELLET'S WHELK
Kelletia kelletii

WARTY SEA CUCUMBER
(Parastichopus parvimensis)

SCALE WORM
(Arctonoe pulchra)

BLACK SEA HARE
Aplysia vaccaria

RETIRING SOUTHERNER
Pilumnus spinohirsutus

SPOTTED KELPFISH
Gibbonsia elegans

MOTTLED PEA CRAB
Opisthopus transversus

TWO SPOT OCTOPUS
Octopus bimaculatus

SOLANDER'S COFFEE BEAN SNAIL
Trivia solandri

SEA PANSY
Renilla koellikeri

CALIFORNIA SCORPIONFISH
Scorpaena guttata

TWO-SPOT OCTOPUS
Octopus bimaculatus

MANTIS SHRIMP
Hemisquilla ensigera californiensis

GIANT KELP
Macrocystis pyrifera

PURPLE GLOBE CRAB
Randallia ornata

HOODED NUDIBRANCH
Melibe leonina

ELBOW CRAB
Heterocrypta occidentalis

CALIFORNIA SPINY LOBSTER
Panulirus interruptus

MOSS CRAB (aka MASKING CRAB)
Loxorhynchus crispatus

TWO-SPOT OCTOPUS
Octopus bimaculoides

PAINTED GREENLING
Oxylebius pictus

NORTHERN KELP CRAB
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BAY BLENNY
Hypsoblennius gentilis

NORTHERN KELP CRAB
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