Chillin' on the Reefs

Please register or login

Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.

Benefits of registering include

  • Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
  • A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
  • You can make this box go away

Joining is quick and easy. Log in or Register now!

Merry

Contributor
Messages
335
Reaction score
864
Location
Torrance, California
# of dives
1000 - 2499
Water temp around Palos Verdes has been 52 - 56 degrees, with intermittent plankton blooms. Nudibranch egg clusters of countless different species dominate the landscape this month. I've never seen so many eggs at one time, even considered spending an entire dive documenting all the different types of egg masses.

Photos from three of our favorite local dive sites:

GOLF BALL REEF

Norris%20topsnail%202%20DSC_0856_zpsadweol17.jpg




Norris%20topsnail%20DSC_0850_zpsmnnldecs.jpg




The kelp amphipod, Peramphithoe humeralis
Amphipod%202%20DSC_0986_zps1uz6omog.jpg




Chestnut cowry tending eggs.
Chestnut%20cowrie%20DSC_0823_zpsj9sadeb5.jpg




Doriopsilla fulva
Doriopsilla%20fulva%20DSC_0992_zpssrtar4et.jpg




Berthella californica laying eggs.
Berthella%20californica%20amp%20eggs%20DSC_0829_zpslhjsoaja.jpg




LITTLE REEF

Sargo
DSC_0886_zpsf6yfdwtk.jpg




Black croakers
DSC_0893_zpszyjjivcg.jpg




Here's an example of an adult black croaker adult that spontaneously changed its colors to the juvenile striped pattern. (See Milton Love, 2011).
DSC_0895_zpsgqetshnl.jpg




The exceedingly small eggs of the snail, Amphissa versicolor. ID thanks to Dr. Jeff Goddard.
Amphissa%20versicolor%20eggs%20POTW%20DSC_0734_zpsjt14xkl7.jpg




It's fun to watch the black dorid, Polycera atra, laying eggs and feeding on Bugula neritina.
Polycera%20atra%20trio%20amp%20eggs%202%20DSC_1008_zpsk6jsqkdk.jpg




Polycera tricolor
Polycera%20tricolor%202%20DSC_1028_zpsj9oxhmpb.jpg




Polycera tricolor
Polycera%20tricolor%20DSC_1021_zpsagrhdhxn.jpg




On this dive, Kevin found a third representative from the genus Polycera that is not often seen here.
Polycera hedgpethi.
Polycera%20hedgpethi%20DSC_1049_zpsxtkbjymf.jpg




Kevin also found this nearly transparent, 2mm wisp of a nudi laying eggs.
Ancula gibbosa
Ancula%20gibbosa%20with%20eggs%202%20DSC_0908_zpsmlol8upq.jpg




GARDEN SPOT

Examples of the light color variation of the black dorid, Polycera atra:
A juvenile
Polycera%20atra%20juvie%20DSC_1051_zpsgcvtfpn8.jpg




An adult Polycera atra
Polycera%20atra%20light%20vari%20DSC_1053_zpsccsv1dgx.jpg




An adult Polycera atra laying eggs
Polycera%20atra%20laying%20eggs%20DSC_1088_zpsuw6vjrjg.jpg




Kevin found this grain-of-rice-size Diaphorodoris lirulatocauda.
Diaphorodoris%20lirulatocauda%20DSC_1077_zps00gsnykq.jpg




Austraeolis stearnsi It's interesting that we only find these neon-orange fellas on Garden Spot, the nearby Marineland platform, and the distant Star of Scotland wreck.
Austraeolis%20stearnsi%202%20DSC_1058_zpsraslgmlq.jpg




Phil handed me this Aegiris albopunctatus; they always remind me of a nubby rug.
Aegires%20albopunctatus%20DSC_1062_zps98ishfis.jpg
 
I always enjoy photos from you and phil. seems to say, if you don't see anything new diving, look closer. thanks for posting.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/peregrine/

Back
Top Bottom