Category Archives: Invertebrate

Eudistylia vancouveri: feather duster tubeworm –The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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The Feather Duster Tube worm is often associated with floating docks on the southern part of Vancouver Island. At Race Rocks, there are no floating docks but Eudistylia inhabits the protected rock crevasses of the lower intertidal zone. It can not withstand drying out too long so being in this tidal level will provide a maximum of an hour exposure at the lowest tides. While exposed in the air, their feather like gills are retracted, and the leathery parchment -like tubes are pinched closed at the opening. Underwater, the gills when released, are often banded a deep red and purple colour.

 

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Annelida
Class Polychaeta
Order Canalipalpata
Suborder Sabellida
Family Sabellidae
Genus Eudistylia
Species vancouveri
Common Name: Northern Feather Duster Wor

GF photo, 2007

Other Members of the Phylum Annelida at Race Rocks 
taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams.

 June 2002  Garry Fletcher (PC)

a pod of 5 Orcas spotted about 1-2km south of Race Rocks.

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Sunday, June 02, 2002
Good Morning
WEATHER: Sky Clear  Vis. 15 Miles  Wind West 15 Knots Sea 1 Foot Chop
Good Evening TEMPERATURE: Max. 13.5C  Min. 8.5C  Reset 12.0
MARINE LIFE: We were treated to a brilliant spectacle today with a pod of 5 Orcas spotted about 1-2km south of Race Rocks. The Sea lions were either unconcerned or unaware of their presence. The Divers found a large bed of sea anemones, urchins and coral while diving amongst the Bull Kelp in front of the docks. The Oystercatchers were quite agressively chasing the Crows away from their nests in what looked like an aerial dogfight.
HUMAN ACTIVITY: Again, we had fishermen within the reserve, using lures just off West Race. They moved off only after a repeated radio announcement notifying their breach of MPA regulations. The Orcas brought out a large number of eco-tourism boats, 10 moved throughout the reserve during the day. 5 recreational boats also cruised through the park, often not adhering to the no wake rule through Race Passage
posted by at 5:41 AM

Albinism in The California Sea Cucumber

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The Sea Cucumber Parastichopus californicus is normally a reddish-orange to brown color, although there is also a beige color phase with dark brown spots.( leucistic).  In the past year, 2 of these white variants have shown up near Race Rocks

Hydractinia armata: The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Hydrozoa
Order Anthoathecata
Family Hydractitinidae
Genus Hydractinia
Species armata (Fraser,1940)

This file is provided as part of a collaborative effort by Lester B. Pearson College and local scientists. Copyrighted 1999–All Images on this page are the property of: Dr. Anita Brinckmann- Voss. They can not be used or modified without her written permission.

Hybocodon prolifera : Race Rocks Taxonomy: Photomicrography of Dr. Anita Brinckmann-Voss

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hybocodon_prolifer_hydroidMedusa of Hybocodon prolifer. Although this medusa was collected elsewhere (off Malcolm Island, B.C.) the hydroid ofHybocodon prolifer is common in Race Rocks in deep tidal pools and subtidal. Medusa production is in Winter until March in Race Rocks water temperatures. The medusa buds hydroids from its one tentacle and eggs from the manubrium. (see picture below with medusa budding )

2_4hybocodon_prolifer_hydThis hydroid grows in low tide pools, and subtidal on various substrates as large barnacles and rock scallops. The medusae bud in late winter. Without medusae, they are difficult to distinguish from Ectopleura (former Tubularia) hydroids.

54_15hybocodon_prolifer_med

The medusa of Hybocodon sp.

This file is provided as part of a collaborative effort by Lester B. Pearson College and local scientists. Copyrighted 1999–All Images on this page are the property of: Dr. Anita Brinckmann- Voss. .They can not be used or modified without her written permission.

See this link for other hydroids:  https://www.racerocks.ca/tag/hydroid/

Tubularia regalis: Race Rocks Taxonomy

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tubularia_wholeTubularia regalis Boeck, 1860 (family Tubulariidae).
This large Tubularia with a stem up to 20 cm was originally described from Northern Norway. It was later found to be a circumpolar species, with records from Greenland , Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk. The present record from Swordfish Island, Juan de Fuca Strait, is the most southern record of this species, and the first from the Canadian Pacific coast.The stems of this species are often host to other hydroid species.

 

This clip profiles the Pearson College Divers and the invertebrates of a cave on an island a kilometer from Race Rocks. The hydroid species, Tubularia sp. shown near the end of the video is a rare species, which according to Dr. Anita Brinckmann-Voss has so far been found in only two locations; here and in Norway. Note it is growing in association with colonial ascidians. We have observed this species here over the last twenty years. It is very limited in distribution, with no more than one or two polyps appearing at any one time. It’s height is 15 cm. Video taken by Pearson College Divers, edited by GF.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Hydrozoa
 Order Anthoathecatae
Family Tubulariidae
Genus Tubularia
species regalis, Brook 1860

This file is provided as part of a collaborative effort by Lester B. Pearson College and local scientists. Copyrighted 1999–All Images on this page are the property of: Dr. Anita Brinckmann- Voss. . They can not be used or modified without her written permission.

Rhysia fletcheri: Race Rocks Taxonomy: Photomicrography of Dr. Anita Brinckmann-Voss

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Rhysia fletcheri is a new species of colonial atheccate hydroid described by Dr. Anita Brinckmann-Voss from samples collected at Race Rocks and Friday harbour.

Rhysia fletcheri(female polyps above) is a new species of colonial atheccate hydroid described by Dr. Anita Brinckmann-Voss from samples collected at Race Rocks and Friday harbour.

rhysiamale

rhysiafletcheri Rhysia fletcheri male polyps

Rhysia fletcheri differs from Rhysia autumnalis and Rhysia halecii in the gastrozooid having distinctive cnidocyst clusters on its hypostome and few, thick tentacles. Most of its female gonozooids have no tentacles. Colonies of R. fletcheri are without dactylozooids. The majority of R. fletcheri colonies are found growing on large barnacles or among the hydrorhiza of large thecate hydrozoans. Rhysia fletcheri occurs in relatively sheltered waters of the San Juan Islands and on the exposed rocky coast of southern Vancouver Island.

For the  COMPLETE TEXT OF THE PAPER DESCRIBING THIS SPECIES see:BRINCKMANN-VOSS, A., LICKEY, D. M., and MILLS C. E. 1993. Rhysia,fletcheri(Cnidaria, Hydrozoa, Rhysiidae), a new species of colonial hydroid from Vancouver Island (British Columbia, Canada) and the San Juan Archipelago (Washington, U.S.A.). Can. J. Zool. 71: 401-406.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Hydrozoa
Subclass Leptolida
Order Anthoathecatae
Family Rhysiidae
Genus Rhysia
Species fletcheri

This file is provided as part of a collaborative effort by Lester B. Pearson College and local scientists. Copyrighted 1999–All Images on this page are the property of: Dr. Anita Brinckmann- Voss..They can not be used or modified without her written permission.

See this link for other hydroids:  https://www.racerocks.ca/tag/hydroid/

Rhizogeton nematophorum– Photomicrography of Dr. Anita Brinckmann-Voss : The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Hydrozoa
Order Anthomedusae
Family Clavidae
Genus Rhizogeton
Species nematophorum
Common Name:

This file is provided as part of a collaborative effort by Lester B. Pearson College and local scientists. Copyrighted 1999-All Images on this page are the property of: Dr. Anita Brinckmann- Voss..They can not be used or modified without her written permission.

Sarsia sp. :Photomicrography of Dr. Anita Brinckmann-Voss : The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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61_19sarsia_eximia_hyd

Single Polyp

Colony

Colony

 

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Hydrozoa
Family Anthoathecatae
Genus Sarsia
Species sp.

This file is provided as part of a collaborative effort by Lester B. Pearson College and local scientists. Copyrighted 1999–All Images on this page are the property of:Dr. Anita Brinckmann- Voss. . They can not be used or modified without her written permission.

See this link for other hydroids:  https://www.racerocks.ca/tag/hydroid/

Garveia annulata : Hydroid Photomicrography of Dr. Anita Brinckmann-Voss–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Garveia annulata (Hydrozoa, Anthoathecatae,Bougainvilliidae)

garv

Garveia annulata Nutting, 1901


All pictures are protected by copyright : December, 2001, Dr. Anita Brinckmann-Voss..
and /or Lester B. Pearson College. for consideration of permission to use for educational purposes only.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Hydrozoa
Order Anthoathecatae
Family Bouagainvilliidae
Genus Garveia
Species annulata
Nutting, 1901

This file is provided as part of a collaborative effort by Lester B. Pearson College and local scientists. Copyrighted 1999–All Images on this page are the property of:Dr. Anita Brinckmann- Voss. . They can not be used or modified without her written permission.
See this link for other hydroids:  https://www.racerocks.ca/tag/hydroid/