Category Archives: Species

Dodecaceria concharum: coralline fringed tube worm–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Typically, this Terebellid tube worm appears as a slight fuzz on the surface of the pink lithothamnion or on the hydrocorals.

dodecaceria

Taken in 2009 by Ryan Murphy off the North side of Great Race Rock. Note the sculpin with cryptic colouration.

rmsculp13a

A close up view of a colony of Dodecaceria concharum emerging from Lithothamnion. On the left is the cryptically coloured sculpin that takes advantage of the background for blending in. Photo by Ryan Murphy.

dodecaceria

Photo by Dr.A. Svoboda

Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Class: Polychaeta
Subclass: Palpata
Order: Canalipalpata
Suborder: Terebellida
Family: Cirratulidae
Genus: Dodecaceria
Species: concharum (Oerstad,1851)
Common Name: coralline fringed tube worm
Other Annelids 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. Garry Fletcher, 2006

 

Anser albifrons: Greater White-fronted Goose–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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raisawhitefroint

4 white fronted geese are still in the areaa

4 white fronted geese -Oct. 2014- G. Fletcher photo

In May 15, 2007, Mike and Carol photographed this lone rare migrant above at Race Rocks. Perhaps the same one was photographed on Sept 8 2007. This may be a good indicator of migration stop-over times.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Sub-Phylum Vertebrata
Class Aves
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae
Genus Anser
Species albifrons
Common Name: Greater White-fronted Goose

This file is provided as part of a collaborative effort by the students, faculty, staff and volunteers of Lester B. Pearson College
Date: May 15, 2007  — Carol and Mike Slater

See the other entries in the log on this species

See other animals which have so far been been tagged with species

 

Lithothamnion sp.: Pink encrusting algae–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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rhodcrust

Lithothamnion sp. Photo by Ryan Murphy

Lithothamnion sp. is one of the most abundant of the red algaes at Race Rocks since it covers most of the rock surface in the subtidal zone. In the images below by Ryan Murphy this encrusting algae is the predominant substrate.

 

rmsept0310clav copy rmsculp10l
A cluster of the hydroid Clavularia sp. A sculpin exhibits cryptic colouration as it blends into the background
rmsnailcasel copy lithothamnion
Due to the high calcium carbonate content of it’s thamnion, it can only be grazed by molluscs such as this lined chiton with very hard rasping radulas above the ring of nudibranch eggs. The holdfast of a kelp spreads over the Lithothamnion surface.
rm porcelaincrab rmsculp13a copy
A porcelain crab hovers over the surface of rocks covered in Lithothamnion The small black tentacles of the annelid Dodecaceriia concharum: the coralline -fringed tube worm are dispersed evenly through the layer of Lithothamnion.

Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Protoctista
Phylum: Rhodophyta
Class: Florideophyceae
Order: Cryptonemiales
Family: Corallinaceae
Genus: Lithothamnion
Species: sp.
Common Name: Pink encrusting coralline alg
The following video was done by Victor Rakou in the week of June1 2000. We have assembled here various segments of video to illustrate the community of organisms which live on and around Lithothamnion in the subtidal area at about 5 to 8 meters off the North side of Great Race Rocks, just out from the docks. In some areas large rock surfaces are completely covered with this encrusting red algae.. See also the blue waved chiton pictures where you can see photos of Lithothamnion lining the vertical sides of some of the lower level tidepools near peg 6. It also thrives in the tidepools east of the docks (peg 14b)

Lithothamnion sp.: Pink encrusting algae–The Race Rocks Taxonomy


Other Rhodophytes or Red Algae 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. Garry Fletcher, 2007

 

Dermasterias imbricata: Leather star–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Domain Eukarya

Usually when we find leather stars at Race Rocks, a search in the grooves underneath will reveal a symbiont, the scaleworm Arctonoe vittata. The worm also associates with various other marine invertebrates, but if separated from its host, will search out another member of the same species. The main predator of this sea star is the morning sun star

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Echinodermata
Class Asteroidea
Order Valvatida
Family ASteropseidae
Genus Dermasterias
Species imbricata. (Dermasterias imbricata )(Grube, 1857)
Common Name: Leather Star

Garry Fletcher

Doris montereyensis : The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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This rather unique image of a sea slug eating a suberites sponge which houses a hermit crab was take by Adam Harding , Sept, 2010

Cyamus kessleri: Gray whale lice–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Whale lice were removed from the skin of the Gray Whale which was prepared for a skeleton at Lester B. Pearson College. They are currently in the display case beside the mounted whale skeleton.
The lice mainly eat algae that settle on the host’s body. They usually feed off the flaking skin of the whale and frequent wounds or open areas. They cause minor skin damage, which does not lead to illness.

The development of the whale louse is closely connected with the life pattern of whales. The distribution of various lice species reflects migratory patterns.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Superorder:Peracarida
Order: Amphipoda
Infraorder: Corophiida
Parvorder: Caprellidira
Superfamily: Caprelloidea
Family: Cyamidae
Genus Cyamus
Species kessleri
Common Name: Gray Whale Lice

Reference: from https://journeynorth.org/tm/gwhale/Hitchhikers.html

“Whale lice are another type of whale hitchhiker. Unlike barnacles, lice are true parasites. They feed on gray whale skin and damaged tissue. The lice gather around open wounds or scars. See Photo.

Whale lice may spread from mother whales to their calves during birth, nursing, or other bodily contact. Up to 1000 of these parasites have been found on a single gray whale.

Luckily for the lice-infested whales, other creatures go after the lice. Topsmelt are silvery fish that school in the breeding lagoons. Normally they feed on marine plants, tiny shrimps and other miniscule creatures of the lagoons. But when the whales are around, the topsmelt dine on the whales. How? Schools of these small fish pick at the barnacles and whale lice crusting up a whale’s skin. Topsmelt groom whales in the calving lagoons. By ridding the whales of some of their parasites and old, flaky skin, topsmelt may be helping to cut down the resistance, or drag, that grays create as their huge bodies move through the water. The whales have a smoother ride and the topsmelt groomers get protein-rich food.”

Other Members of the Phylum Arthropoda 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.

December 2006

Sturnus vulgaris: European Starlng-The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Starlings are of course, one of the worst introduced bird species in North America. Fortunately they are not that common at Race Rocks, as there are no nesting locations for them.
See postings referring to starlings at this link

This starling was trapped in a vent.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Sub-Phylum Vertebrata
Class Aves
Order Passerifomes
Family Sturnidaea
Genus Sturnus
Species vulgaris
Common Name: European Starling

 

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. G. Fletcher..2006

Peltodoris nobilis: Sea Lemon, The Race Rocks taxonomy

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A Sea Lemon that has just laid its eggs. Ryan took this image underwater at Race Rocks in the spring, 2009, it was formerly called Anisodoris nobilis

 

 

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Class Gastropoda
Order Opisthobranchia
Family Nudibranchia
Genus Peltodoris
Species nobilis
Common Name: Sea Lemon

 

Other molluscs at Race Rocks

taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy and Image File

Ryan Murphy

Phocoena phocoena: Harbour Porpoise–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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harbourdistrib

 

This map of distribution of the harbour porpoise is taken from the paper by Robin Baird. 1994. Status of Porpoises in the British Columbia/Washington Trans-Boundary Area: A Canadian Perspective

 

 

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cetacea
Suborder: Odontoceti
Family: Phocoenidae
Genus: Phocoena
Species: P. phocoena
PugetSoundNotes1994

Originally accessed Dec 2014 at: http://www.cascadiaresearch.org/robin/PugetSoundNotes1994.pdf

Other Members of the Class Mammalia at Race Rock

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.  Garry Fletcher 2006

 

Distaplia smithi

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This video was taken in the lab:

A general view of the habitat of this ascidian in the high current area near the tidal current turbine.

A general view of the habitat of this ascidian in the high current area near the tidal current turbine.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Sub-Phylum Urochordata
Class Ascidiacea
Order Enterogona
sub order Aplousobranchia
Family Claveliidae
Genus Distaplia
Species smithi
Common Name:Club Tunicate

II took this picture the first time I encountered this ascidian when diving at Race Rocks. I had no idea what kind of organism it was at the time .. I referred to it as a grape ascidian .. GF

Other Members of the subphylum Urochordata 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.

October 2006- Garry Fletcher