Ruffled?

An intriguing scaleworm on a Giant Sea Star (Pisaster giganteus):

 

I think the worm might be a Ruffled Scaleworm (Arctonoe fragilis).  This species of scaleworm is often associated with sea stars.  

I was struck by how closely it matched the colors and patterns of the sea star — especially how the white spots along the sides of the worm matched the white tubercles (short rounded spines) of the sea star.

When the worm turned sideways along the side of an arm, you could see it if you knew where to look, but it was amazingly well camouflaged (see below).

 

Here are two more close-ups of the worm.  I'm not sure if the "ruffles" visible in the next picture led to the common name, Ruffled Scaleworm?

 

Below, the worm's white head with its pointed, transparent appendages is facing left.  It was fun to think about the scaleworm crawling among the sea star's spines like a maze.

 

Reds and purples

Sometimes there seems to be a color scheme for the day.  Today I helped Eric with field work at Van Damme State Park in Mendocino County.  Between tasks I took a few photos, where reds and purples kept appearing.

 

Red Urchin (Strongylocentrotus franciscanus) among Purple Urchins (S. purpuratus)

Close-up of a Gumboot Chiton (Cryptochiton stelleri)

 

A very small (~1 cm across) Ochre Seastar (Pisaster ochraceus)

 An elegant scale worm in a shallow pool (not certain of the species)

 

The day started with an intense squall line approaching from the horizon.  It moved very quickly across the ocean towards land.  I barely had time to take this picture before it started to pour!