Whidbey Island Critters

[Jan K]

Finding two huge Puget Sound King Crabs on Sunday dive at Sares Head made up for poor visibility.

[LCF]

I've just plain never SEEN a Puget Sound King crab, and you've seen one bigger than your head? Unfair!

Of all the wonderful things you do, the over-and-under photo/cartoon montages I think are the very best.

[Dashrynn]

i too agree the cartoon adds a bit of humor and enjoyment with the pictures.

Did you take the egg picture at langley that one day you met me and karl there? That looks like the same eggs that i found under the breakwater in the wide open, the papa fish was frantic about me being to close to his eggs. He wouldn't leave them alone though, despite me being nosey.

[Jan K]

Thank you guys - Above or under, it is nice here at the Pacific Northwest :biggrin:

Did you take the egg picture at langley that one day you met me and karl there? That looks like the same eggs that i found under the breakwater in the wide open, the papa fish was frantic about me being to close to his eggs. He wouldn't leave them alone though, despite me being nosey.

No the eggs are from Possession Beach. It is time of year for eggs. At least some of them. Langley Lingcod seem to be getting readying for them too, many more Lings around then usual. And big ones...

[Dusty2]

Very cool timing on the egg shots and awesome work as usual. I have been watching the ones at PT also but never get lucky enough to catch them hatching. I think that the different color eggs is a product of different females laying in the same nest. From my observation the colors do fade but remain throughout the growth cycle and the different color masses are in different stages of development and hatch at different times. I too feel that another type of fish would never be allowed to lay in the nest with daddy so close and if they did who would fertilize them? Probably a question we won't get a answer for unless someone goes out and gathers a whole nest and raises it in a home aquarium. Here is a picture of two different color masses showing that they are clearly at different stages of development

PS Love the King crab shots!

[Jan K]

Thank you,Dusty. Great shot of eyed eggs. Do you remember how many different colors were in that Port Townsend batch? I am still very much interested in this Whitespotted Greenling saga. Greg's explanation of specialized diet is the only one that makes some sense. What I find so intriguing is that if you noticed the same wide color variety, that there would be fish with identical diet preference here on Whidbey as they are across the Admiralty Inlet. Although I don't have any ideas how far the female Greenling migrate to spawn....

[Dusty2]

When I originally saw it there were 6 different egg masses now it's down to three as the others have hatched. Not near as many as the one you took. He must have been a real hunk to attract all those ladies!

I'll find out more Thursday as I'll be back up there and the weather promises to be better this time.

[Jan K]

Since we are dealing with fish eggs - here is Red Irish Lord with some..

[Dusty2]

Maybe my eyes are failing me but I don't think those are eggs. They look like transparent tunicates to me.

[cardiver]

Maybe my eyes are failing me but I don't think those are eggs. They look like transparent tunicates to me.

The eggs are under the RIL.......

[Dusty2]

Like I said I must be losing it! I didn't even notice them. Sorry I knew I shouldn't question the master.

[Jan K]

And back to the Whitespotted greenling and colored eggs.
I could not find much information about the Whitespotted greenling hatching, the closest I got is
the Kelp greenling. Well the eggs I keep an eye on have been there for at least 60 days and they
still did not hatch..


Papa is getting restless since he is tending the nest all that time, every time I visit, he is on guard.
This time he took the matters into his own fins. Or rather mouth


But the embryos still don't want to leave the comfort of their eggs. Only few Alevins appeared and
disappeared before I had a chance to introduce them to you ... Most of the eggs are still eyed and
waiting for who knows what ...

[Jan K]

Heavy load for the hermit crabs, The snails are gathering for their mating jamboree
apparently using the hermit for public transportation (just kidding )..

[Dashrynn]

Heavy load for the hermit crabs, The snails are gathering for their mating jamboree
aparently using the hermit for public transportation (just kidding )..

Wow defiantly another aspect I would have never thought of.

[LCF]

Oh, that's too funny -- a traveling snail orgy!

[Jan K]

Oh, that's too funny -- a traveling snail orgy!

When the Whelk Club throws a party on Whidbey Island, it is a big one !
Note that one of the hermits did tip over under the load of party goers ...
The column on left is a composite of pictures, they would not fit into one frame ..

[Jan K]

I don't know what this was all about ..

[Jan K]

Update on the Whitespotted Greenling. Most of the eggs still did not hatch after two months.
Now waiting for little warmer weather before going to check on them again...
The first above water shot taken at entry -
the second taken exiting the water after 62 minutes long dive ..

[Dusty2]

Betcha papa greenling is not real happy with you.

Nice photos though. Great learning opportunity!

[Jan K]

Daylight encounter with Sailfin sculpin.

[LCF]

I love sailfin sculpins -- their locomotion is so graceful!

Jan, you really need to come down to the mainland and do a Redondo dive with the lumpies. I can only IMAGINE what you could do with your artist's talents and subjects as cute as lumpsuckers!

[Tom Nic]

Jan, you really need to come down to the mainland and do a Redondo dive with the lumpies. I can only IMAGINE what you could do with your artist's talents and subjects as cute as lumpsuckers!

Ooooo.... +1 for Jan doing a Redondo dive with the lumpies!

[Jan K]

Jan, you really need to come down to the mainland and do a Redondo dive with the lumpies.

Ooooo.... +1 for Jan doing a Redondo dive with the lumpies!

Oh, I would love to see the elusive lumpies. Bob and others do such a wonderful job presenting their beauty that I don't think I can match it. But I sure would like to relinquish my presidency of the "Did Not See Pacific Lumpsucker Club".
I am leaving the Northwest for couple weeks on family reunion, so I have to wait till next year. Can you keep them in place for me? Meanwhile, here is my thanks to all of you who keep me going when I think that all this Whidbey Island Critter stuff must be getting stale. Wish you all great Happy Holiday time and see you in 2010!

[Dashrynn]

Jan your thread never gets old, It is unique and entertaining. I just wished i had the skill to make a tiny cartoon of myself or a little "other" character like ricky redondo.

[LCF]

Jan, your card is wonderful!

Have a great trip. And please consider getting in touch with me or Bob (or both of us!) for a lumpie dive when you get back!