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Critter of the Month Archives - 2008

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2008

April 2008


photo © 2008 Janna Nichols

Whitespotted Anemone
Urticina lofotensis
Phylum Cnidaria

Description and color: Squat scarlet column with vertical rows of white spots and long yellow tentacles with pink tips.
Range: SE Alaska to Southern California AND Northern Atlantic coast
Size: Up to 6 inches high and wide
Hangouts: Usually found on exposed rocky coast.
Depth: Intertidal - up to 50 feet
Behavior: The anemone is able to extend its column and tentacles and carry captured food to its mouth. When threatened the anemone will pull in all of it’s tentacles resulting in a blob like appearance.
ID Clues: May appear like other anemones but the white spots arranged in vertical lines are a dead give-away! Don't confuse with the bumpy or protruding white spots on the Columbia Sand Anemone, or on the Painted Anemone.
Comments: The juvenile painted greenling is often associated with this anemone and when larger often sleeps at it’s base at night.

- contributed by Sarah Hillebrand, REEF Level 3

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March 2008


photo © 2008 Janna Nichols

Juvenile Yelloweye Rockfish
Sebastes ruberrimus
Scorpionfish Family

Description and color: Red, with white stripes. Fins edged in white. Younger ones are darker, and turn more reddish orange as they get older. (and lose their stripes too)
Range: Alaska to Northern Baja
Size: Juveniles are usually up to about 8 inches long.
Hangouts: Deep! Love rocky reef areas with cracks and overhangs and places to hide.
Depth: You won't usually see them unless you're below about 80 feet.
Behavior: Shy, but will hang around if you're stealthy and sneaky and just observe non-threateningly.
ID Clues: Bright to dark red with beautiful white stripes! Nothing else like 'em!
Comments: The Adult Yelloweye Rockfish usually dwells well below recreational diving limits, so chances of you seeing one of them are slim. Juveniles are very cool to find!

- contributed by Janna Nichols, REEF Level 5

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February 2008


photo © 2008 Janna Nichols

Giant Barnacle
Balanus nubilus
Arthropod Phylum

Description: Looks just like a regular barnacle - on steroids! Often covered with other marine growth, like sponges, hydroids or algae.
Color: White, unless covered with other things
Range: Alaska to Southern California
Size: Up to about 5" high and 4" wide, often found in clusters
Hangouts: Need something hard to attach to, so rocky or artificial reef areas. Love high current areas (more food drifts by that way)
Depth: Intertidal - 300 ft.
Behavior: Watch next time you see one and observe its feeding appendages (which are actually its legs!) go in and out, grabbing little bits of yummy things to eat that are drifting by.
ID Clues: Nothing else down there looks like these - they're giant barnacles!
Comments: Empty giant barnacle shells sometimes have Grunt or Scalyhead Sculpins, Mosshead Warbonnets, or eggs hiding inside.

- contributed by Janna Nichols, REEF Level 5

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January 2008


photo © 2008 Janna Nichols

Longfin Gunnel
Pholis clemensi
Gunnel Family

Description: Long slender fish with regular markings on back
Color: Bright red, orange, or brownish
Range: SE Alaska to N. California
Size: 3-5 inches.
Hangouts: Rocky reef areas
Depth: 25 - 200 ft.
Behavior: Can be approached, but when alarmed will dart off a short distance away and settle down again. Sometimes will retreat into a rocky crack.
ID Clues: Vertical markings that look something like a chain - often meeting with a horizontal line
Comments: Not seen as often as the other gunnels, these are fun to spot!

- contributed by Janna Nichols, REEF Level 5

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