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Critter of the Month

(Skip down to the Archives)

August 2010


photo© 2010 Todd Cliff

 

Think you know what it is? Click here for the answer and more ID tips!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER!

If you guessed Pink Hydrocoral, you're right!
Stylaster verrilli
Cnidarian Phylum

Other Names: Pink Branching Hydrocoral
Description: Pink Hydrocoral is an upright branching colony.
Color: Orange to pink
Range: Alaska to Oregon
Size: Colonies up to 3 inches high and carpeted up to 4" wide or more.
Hangouts/Habitat: High current swept areas on rocks.
Depth: Shallow subtidal to over 30 feet in depth.
ID Clues: Pink Hydrocoral is easy to identify from its pink coloration and antler like branches.
Other Cool Facts: Hydrocorals are formed by a calcareous skeleton and should not be confused with true corals. It takes 20 or more years for a colony to grow to heights of 30 cm.

- Contributed by Todd Cliff, REEF PNW AAT, level 5

Critter of the Month Archives

2010

  • January - Blue Sided vs. Blue Blotched Rockfish
  • February - Northern Feather Duster Worm
  • March - China Rockfish
  • April - Opalescent Nudibranch
  • May - Starry Flounder
  • June - Eccentric Sand Dollar
  • July - Great Sculpin

2009

  • January - Fish Eating Anemone
  • February - Pile Perch
  • March - Orange Cup Coral
  • April - Saddleback Gunnel
  • May - Spot Prawn
  • June - Yellowtail Rockfish
  • July - Strawberry Anemone
  • August - Speckled Sanddab
  • September - Green Sea Urchin
  • October - Mosshead Warbonnet
  • November - China Rockfish
  • December - Cloud Sponge

2008

  • January - Longfin Gunnel
  • February - Giant Barnacle
  • March - Yelloweye Rockfish
  • April - White Spotted Anemone
  • May - Decorated Warbonnet
  • June - Orange Sea Pen
  • July - Snake Prickleback
  • August - Red Sea Urchin
  • September - Sailfin Sculpin
  • October - Rock Scallop
  • November - Candy Striped Shrimp
  • December - Red Irish Lord

2007

  • December - Spiny Pink Star
  • November - YOY Rockfish
  • October - Coonstripe Shrimp
  • September - Striped Perch
  • August - Red Rock Crab
  • July - Lewis's Moonsnail
  • June - Shiner Perch
  • May - Longfin Sculpin
  • April - Moon Jelly
  • March - Black Rockfish
  • February-Tube Dwelling Anemone
  • January - Cabezon

2006

  • December - Sunflower Star
  • November - Vermilion Rockfish
  • September/October Plumose Anemone
  • August - Grunt Sculpin
  • March - July - Giant Nudibranch
  • January/February - Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker

 

2005

  • December - Penpoint Gunnel
  • November - White Lined Dirona
  • October - Kelp Greenling
  • September - Leather Star
  • August - Tube Snout
  • July - Lion's Mane Jelly and Egg Yolk Jelly
  • May - Buffalo Sculpin
  • April - Northern Kelp Crab
  • March - Brown Rockfish
  • February - GPO vs. Red Octopus
  • January - C-O Sole

2004

  • December - Orange Social Ascidians
  • November - Scalyhead Sculpin
  • October - Yellow Margin Dorid
  • September - Roughback Sculpin
  • August - Fringed Tube Worm
  • July - Pacific Sandlance
  • June - Leafy Hornmouth
  • May - There isn't one! Ooops!
  • April - Oregon Triton
  • March - Painted Greenling vs. Tiger Rockfish
  • February - Dungeness Crab
  • January - Ling Cod

2003

  • December - Slender Legs or Graceful Crab
  • November - Copper Rockfish
  • October - Lacy Bryozoan
  • September - Rock Sole
  • August - Orange Sea Cucumber
  • July - Blackeye Goby
  • June - California Sea Cucumber
  • May - Whitespotted Greenling
  • April - Gumboot Chiton
  • March - Quillback Rockfish
  • February - Shiny Orange Sea Squirt
  • January - English Sole

2002

  • December - Crescent Gunnel