Christmas bell

  

We had our Christmas dinner and celebration mid-day, so we couldn't resist a late afternoon trip to the coast including some tidepooling on the extreme low tide.

One of the most exciting finds during our exploring was a beautiful staurozoan, Manania gwilliami.  This individual was ~2 cm tall.

Staurozoans are also known as stalked jellyfish because their body plan resembles the bell of a jellyfish attached to the rock with a stalk.  The edge of the bell is armed with clusters of stinging tentacles used to capture prey including small crustaceans:

 

 

Although this staurozoan was in a channel with water surging back and forth, Eric managed one photo from below showing the swirling red and white color pattern on the inner surface of the bell:

 

 

 

Manania gwilliami photographed in the low intertidal zone in Sonoma County on 25 December 2022.  (With many thanks to Eric for spotting and photographing this beautiful staurozoan!)

 

P.S.  To learn a little bit more about this species, see the post called "Twinkle, twinkle little stauro" on 12 November 2012.
 

Sandy claws

  

A few days ago Eric and I were walking along the beach during the Yuletide when we came across these sandy claws.  :)

Happy holidays to all!

P.S.  The claws belong to a Spiny Mole Crab (Blepharipoda occidentalis).

Orchestra pit?

  

We were tidepooling on 22 December 2022 when I noticed this interesting orange fish among the rocks.  When I looked more closely, I realized it didn't look like a fish I'd ever seen before.

It was "bumpy" everywhere — there were bumps covering the head and running down the tail:

 

 

Speaking of the mouth, it had very unusual rough edges and coloring:

 

 

 

  I also appreciated the variety of colors and patterns in its fins:

 

 

 

 

But what was most peculiar was the deep pit on the top of its head:

 

 

 

At first we thought this fish had an injury — perhaps a wound that was healing?  But later after doing some research into what type of fish this is, I discovered that the dramatic "cranial pit" is a normal feature of this species!

 

This is a Rockhead (Bothragonus swanii), sometimes called a Deep-pitted Poacher. 

 

An older paper hypothesized that the pit might serve as camouflage, mimicking the openings of sponges or sea squirts.  However, more recently researchers have uncovered hints that the pit might have an auditory function.  Research is underway to study how sound sources might be received in this "orchestra pit", so perhaps we'll learn more in the years ahead!

 

P.S.  Many thanks to Peter Wainwright, Adam Summers, and Daniel Geldof for sharing information with us about this intriguing fish!

Blue highlights

  

How lucky!  Eric found an octopus for my birthday!

Here's the entire animal from the other side.  Always amazing to see how well they blend in with the surrounding rocks and algae:

 

 

Cinnamon belly

 

 
Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya) and lichens, 21 December 2022

Silver seas

  

Ocean reflections at sunset on 20 December 2022.

Happy Winter Solstice!

Blending in

 

 

During an afternoon walk in Humarock, MA, we came across a large flock (>100) of Snow Buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis).  We saw them in different settings — resting among cobbles, feeding in the wrack line, flying over the salt marsh.  I'm still sorting through photos, but here are some my favorites so far: