Role model?

  

Two Henricia pumila sea stars in a shallow pool in the low intertidal zone.  The one on the left is likely older than the one on the right, but growth rates in juvenile sea stars are highly variable, so it's hard to say for sure without knowing more about these individuals.  Photographed in Mendocino County on 9 June 2024.

Little Henry

  

Eric's sharp eyes spotted this juvenile Dwarf Mottled Henricia (Henricia pumila) yesterday, 12 June 2021.  We were excited to see it because this species of sea star has been absent from Bodega Head (local populations were likely impacted by a harmful algal bloom back in 2011).  [We've observed Henricia at sites to the north and south, but not in Sonoma County in quite a few years.]  This individual was only ~5-7 mm across.  We hope there are more out there!  

P.S.  Our nickname for Henricia is "Henry," hence the title of this post.

Exploring stars and waterfalls

 

Whew!  It's been a busy spring with lots of field work.  Today we were working farther north in Mendocino County.  It was nice to see this mottled sea star, Henricia sp.

I can't help showing a few more images.  We were a little salty by the time we finished several hours of work in the rocky intertidal zone.  In the photo below, can you see Eric's solution? 

 

While walking back, we noticed a little waterfall at a small pocket beach.  After some discussion, Eric decided to take a quick shower!

 

P.S.  Do you think Helly Hansen will see this and offer us a free set of rain gear?  One can only hope!  ;)