Uncommon Sightings and Creatures in the Kelp - Redondo Beach

[Merry]

We got VERY lucky again on Golf Ball Reef last weekend. Thordisa rubescens mating and laying eggs.







From the measurements we took of the egg ribbon, Dr. Jeff Goddard concluded that the embryos are 110-125 microns (relatively small), which is consistent with planktotrophic development. This means the hatching veligers swim off into the water column where they remain and develop for some period of time.

Felimare californiensis, just recently found on the mainland.






Felimida macfarlandi duo.



Keep an eye out for the Spirorbid polychaete worms that blanket the kelp fronds now.



Spirorbid worms



Pea-size Norris top snail



There's no limit to how small animals can be in the kelp. Check out the juvenile crab under the snail.


Dr. Jeff Goddard suggested that these are juvenile slipper snails, Crepidula norrisiarum, later to be found on Norris top snails.



Polycera atra



A ridiculous number of Polycera atra were mating and laying eggs at 20 feet in the kelp.


Barely visible to the naked eye, amphipods scuttle around the kelp fronds.




Yes, there's even MORE happening on kelp. Amphissa versicolor snail eggs.


Ancula gibbosa


Cadlina limbaughorum

 

[drbill]

Merry's focus on the critters living on giant kelp blades is very cool. In the past I've often spent a number of dives just under the canopy at 10-20 ft looking at the critter community there. Makes for long duration dives, too, at such "extreme" maximum depths.