Jellyfish, egg chain, or what? - Marine invert ID needed

Reeveseye

Contributor

Messages

149

Reaction score

0

Location

Orange County, CA

• Apr 25, 2005

• #1

We were diving Eagle Reef near Two Harbors earlier today, and saw this at about 40' - 50' deep, attached to a kelp strand about a foot above the bottom. It was about an inch thick, and maybe 18 - 24 inches long. I thought maybe it was a salp chain, but it seems too internally continuous, and not compartmentalized enough to be a salp. It wasn't firmly attached, and drifted off in the current as we passed by. Any ideas on what it might be?

 

Stryker

Guest

Messages

354

Reaction score

0

Location

Indiana

# of dives

50 - 99

• Apr 25, 2005

• #2

Dr. Bill, You are the man on this one...

 

MaxBottomtime

Contributor

Scuba Instructor

Divemaster

Messages

10,417

Reaction score

12,455

Location

Torrance, CA

# of dives

2500 - 4999

• Apr 25, 2005

• #3

http://jellieszone.com/apolemia.htm

 

OP

Reeveseye

Contributor

Messages

149

Reaction score

0

Location

Orange County, CA

• Apr 25, 2005

• #4

Maxbottomtime - thanks for the link. I checked through the other siphonophores on that site, and I'm thinking what I saw was part of a Praya Sp. The bright yellow zooids were contained in a transparent stem, and looked exactly like the photo shown. I'm not ruling out Apolemia yet, but what I saw fits much better with Praya's description. Any opinions?

 

archman

ScubaBoard Supporter

ScubaBoard Supporter

Scuba Instructor

Divemaster

Messages

5,061

Reaction score

137

Location

Florida

# of dives

200 - 499

• Apr 25, 2005

• #5

I think it's very pretty.

 

MaxBottomtime

Contributor

Scuba Instructor

Divemaster

Messages

10,417

Reaction score

12,455

Location

Torrance, CA

# of dives

2500 - 4999

• Apr 25, 2005

• #6

archman:

I think it's very pretty.

Click to expand...

So do I! I saw one near the West End once that was at least fifty feet long.

 

Lexy

Guest

Messages

285

Reaction score

2

Location

Orange County, CA (Ladera Ranch)

# of dives

50 - 99

• Apr 25, 2005

• #7

My vote is Praya.

 

S

scottfiji

Contributor

Messages

1,471

Reaction score

19

Location

santa monica

# of dives

• Apr 25, 2005

• #8

Reeveseye:

Maxbottomtime - thanks for the link. I checked through the other siphonophores on that site, and I'm thinking what I saw was part of a Praya Sp. The bright yellow zooids were contained in a transparent stem, and looked exactly like the photo shown. I'm not ruling out Apolemia yet, but what I saw fits much better with Praya's description. Any opinions?

Click to expand...

Reeveseye, when I want to be sure with a specific siphonophore, I usually email Dave (author of the jelly zone and the pacific coast pelagic invertebrate book), PM me if you need his email address.

Nice find! Sean got a pic of a nice hydromedusa last week in the La Jolla Canyon.
http://www.scubapost.net/gallery/cr...2005/scaledCabezonCruiserandNWall041220050109


Scott