Category Archives: Class Actinopterygii

Sebastes nigrocinctus: Tiger rockfish– The Race Rocks taxonomy

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Characteristics:

Sebastes nigrocinctus, the tiger rockfish is striped like a tiger, feature shades of pink, grey or rose, with five black or red bars radiating backwards from the eyes. Bony ridges on the head may also distinguish them from other species. In younger individuals, tips of the ventral and anal fins are darkened. Tiger rockfish reach lengths of 35 cm by 17 years of age; their maximum size is reportedly 61 cm.

 

Distribution and Habitat:
Since the establishment of the Rock Fish Protection area around Race Rcoks after 2002, these fish are now protected.

They occur from shallow water to 305 m. They are generally found in waters less than 30 m in Puget Sound. Off Oregon, the species is usually found at depths of 64-305 m. In the northeastern Strait of Georgia, tiger rockfish are generally captured in 21-140 m of water.
Juveniles of the species are pelagic, while adults are semi-demersal to demersal. Tiger rockfish are commonly found in caves along undersea cliffs or on the sea floor, generally in high relief areas with strong currents. It was noted that tiger rockfish are often associated with “wall” habitat. Young have been noted resting among gooseneck barnacles near Triangle Island, British Columbia. Off southeast Alaska, habitat requirements for tiger rockfish are similar to those of Yellow Eye and China rockfishes. Juvenile tiger rockfish were observed around rocky reefs, as shallow as 9 m.

Trophic interactions:

Tiger rockfish are solitary, sometimes territorial, and are known to prey upon caridean shrimp, crabs (particularly rock crabs), amphipods and small fishes like herring and juvenile rockfish in the Gulf of Alaska . This species is a generalized feeder that depends on currents bringing food items near its home territory.

Classification based on:
Hart J.L., Pacific Fishes Of Canada, Bulletin 180, Ottawa 1973, page 433
Racerocks reference:

Further References:

1) Hart J.L., Pacific Fishes Of Canada, Bulletin 180, Ottawa 1973
2) http://www.homestead.com/FishStalker/Rockfish.html

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Scorpaeniformes
Family Scorpaenidae
Genus Sebastes
Species nigrocinctus
COMMON NAME:Tiger Rockfish

 

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. March 15 2009-

Acipenser transmontanus: white sturgeon

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In this amazing picture, Ryan captured the spray of blood from the sturgeon as the northern sealion takes a bite. This is a first record we have for sturgeon in the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve. These images were taken by Ryan Murphy on the evening of March 2, 2009.

See Ryan’s Flickr site:

For confirmation of the identity of this fish, we contacted Lisa Spaven of DFO in Nanaimo and she helped us get in touch with a number of Canadian and American specialists in Sturgeon. There were some initial considerations that it may be a Green Sturgeoon but as the following conversation indicates, they have settled on the White Sturgeon:

Mar 06,2009,
From Chris Wood:
Conservation Biology Section
Science Branch, Fisheries and Oceans Canada Pacific Biological Station:
Hi Troy
White or green?

——————————–

Mar 08,2009
From Troy Nelson: Director of Science
Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society
” I have looked at the pics of the sturgeon at Race Rocks and think it
may indeed be a white. Although darker/tinted coloration is present, I think this may be partially caused by the low sun and color of the sunset (see the pinks in the water behind the fish in the last pic).Most notable is the lack of a dark stripe on the bottom side of the sturgeon, anterior of the pectoral fins.  There is one shot of the bottom of the sturgeon and this section looks devoid of any dark stripe.I have attached pics of a confrimed green sturgeon (from the Albion Test Fishery); note the dark stipe that ends in an “arrowhead” shape on underside of the upper body. I have copied Olaf Langness (WA DFW) who works with green sturgeon; he may be able to confirm if the Race Rocks sturgeon is a green (or white) in 10 seconds or less”.

——————————————

March 9, 2009
From Chris Wood

“Thanks Troy, I was expecting it to be a green sturgeon in that location, but in one
picture, there seemed to be a (too?)close spacing of lateral scutes
between the pelvic and anal fin. We’ll see what Olaf says”…

——————————————

March 9, 2009
Olaf Langness Fisheries Biologist (Washigton State Department of Fish and Wildlife)
“Thanks Troy for sending this to me.
I would say your assessment is correct.  I think the Race Rock sturgeon was a white sturgeon.  Besides your comments about the lack of a belly stripe, I also think the lateral scutes look small and plentiful, more that of white sturgeon than green sturgeon.  As to the pink coloration, I agree that some of that may be the result of time of day when the photo was taken, but also would not be unusual for a sturgeon under stress to pink up on the lighter belly area, and even to darken slightly on top.  Furthermore, there are way more white sturgeon identified in the surrounding waters of Race Rocks (off southern tip of Vancouver Island, in the Straits of Juan de Fuca) than green sturgeon, based on tagging studies and commercial or recreational landing reports. As you know, white sturgeon are being attacked this time of year, just below Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River.  Many of these fish are mature adults, taken by large Steller  (Northern)  Sea Lions.  The more prevalent California Sea Lions are smaller than the Stellers, so they tend to go after salmon and mostly leave the sturgeon alone. While we have been authorized to kill up to 85 California Sea Lions a year, the Steller Sea Lion is listed under our Endangered Species Act. So our marine mammal hazement program is  focused on reducing predation on spring chinook salmon, and limited on what can be done to control the predation on sturgeon.  This is of great concern to sturgeon managers in Washington and Oregon, especially due to the sea lions targeting of the spawning broodstock .”

———————————–

March 9,2009
Chris C. Wood


Species transmontanus
Common Name: White sturgeon
Pacific White Sturgeon

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Acipenseriformes
Suborder Acipenseroidei
Family Acipenseridae
Subfamily Acipenserinae
Genus Acipenser
Species transmontanus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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. March 2 2009- Ryan Murphy

Oncorhynchus keta: Chum salmon –The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Dead Chum Salmon after egg and sperm removal for the Salmon Enhancement Program at Pearson College- in the 1980s

environmental systems students at the chum salmon incubation box

Ivan from Pearson College Assisting the Volunteer members of the Sooke Salmon enhancement group

DESCRIPTION: Ocean fresh chum salmon are metallic greenish-blue on the dorsal surface (top) with fine black speckles. They are difficult to distinguish from Sockeye and Coho salmon without examining their gills or caudal fin scale patterns. Chums have fewer but larger gill rakers than other salmon. After nearing fresh water, however, the chum salmon changes colour – particularly noticeable are vertical bars of green and purple, which give them the common name, calico salmon. The males develop the typical hooked snout of Pacific salmon and very large teeth which partially account for their other name of dog salmon. The females have a dark horizontal band along the lateral line; their green and purple vertical bars are not so obvious. A mature adult chum is usually about 65 cm in length and 4.5 kg (10 pounds) in weight. The females are generally smaller than the males.
DISTRIBUTION: Chum salmon are probably the second most abundant of the Pacific salmon (behind pinks) and have the widest distribution of this group. They are found from Japan and Korea northward to the Laptev Sea (northern Siberia) and Beaufort Sea (northern Alaska) and southward to San Diego, southern California. DNA analyses indicate that there are three main population groupings: 1) Japanese, 2) Russian – Yukon River and 3) southeastern Alaska – British Columbia. These may reflect the areas of refuge for this species during the last glaciation.
Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Salmoniformes
Family Salmonidae
Genus Oncorhynchus
Species keta (Walbaum, 1792)
Common Name: chum salmon

HABITAT: Research indicates that streams, coastal wetlands and estuaries are important habitats for chum salmon. Stream quality is critical to the initial survival of the species. Eggs are laid in medium size gravel and need good water flow (to supply oxygen) to survive. Most chum mortality occurs in freshwater as a result of poor environmental conditions, like siltation, gravel disruptions and changes in water temperature. Coastal wetlands and estuaries are vital habitat for chum salmon which spend several months in residence before migrating out to sea.

FEEDING: Chum salmon feeds on squid, plankton, crustaceans, crab larvae and fish while at sea. They will stop feeding once the spawning run starts and they enter fresh water.

PREDATORS: The most important predators are: bears, birds and fishes. Gulls and other birds aggregate at river-mouths during the season of chum salmon for feeding with chum salmon.

REPRODUCTION: Chum salmon’s life cycle is a typical anadromous life cycle. Their average life span is four years but some may reach six years. Reproduction takes place in small river channels, chum salmon are typically shallow spawners. Female fish rapidly pump their tails to wash out a depression in the stream gravels. As she deposits her eggs, they are fertilized by the male. . The female salmon then uses the same tail movements to completely cover the eggs with the gravel.
On average, a female chum salmon can lay up to 4000 eggs, but only 70% or so are fertilized. After the reproduction the male and female chum salmon die in the stream, it is the cycle of their life.
ONE INTERESTING FACT:
* During ocean migration, salmon travel distances as great as 35 miles per day, and, once in their home river, may swim over 10 miles upstream each day. Chum usually spawn in their 3rd, 4th, or 5th year and is the last of the Pacific salmon to return to their natal streams. So their life cycle is they have to be born and die in the same place (stream).
* ‘Chum’ comes from a word meaning ‘variegated coloration’ in the native language and chum salmon have a different coloration (from other salmon species) that is variegated.

REFERENCE:
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
http://www.fishtrek.com/salmon/chum-salmon.htm
www.google.com
chum salmon Fishing Holidays.htm
ESPN Outdoors — Tips & Techniques.htm
Fishing & Processing.htm
M010003.htm
The Chum Salmon Great Canadian Rivers.htm
WDFW — Chum Salmon Chum Salmon Life History.htm
Wild Pacific Salmon Overview.htm
Yukon River Panel -.htm

 

Andy Lamb and Phil Edgell: “Coastal fishes of the Pacific Northwest”

                  J.L Hart: “Pacific fishes of Canada”

 

Other Members of the Class Actinopterygii 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.

Name: Cinthia Ibeth Isla Marin, Peru, Year 32 (PC)

Oncorhynchus kisutch: Coho Salmon- The Race Rocks taxonomy

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Physical Description:
At sea, they are coloured metallic blue on back, with silvery sides. Also have irregular black spots on back, upper fin and lower dorsal fin. Gums are white at base of teeth and fins are tipped with orange.
Maturing males in fresh water will have bright red sides, with their head and back coloured bright green, and often dark on their bellies. Females are less brightly coloured, with bronze to maroon coloured sides.
Fry is orange with dark spots concentrated on back and fins.
Can also be identified by their “hook-nose” jaws; their upper jaw hooks down slightly towards the lower jaw.
Coho salmon can grow to be a length of 79cm and weigh 14kg.Global Distribution:
Coho salmon spawn in coastal streams from Northern Japan to the Anadyr River in Siberia, and from Monterey Bay in California to Point Hope in Alaska. They can be found at sea from Japan and Korea to the Chukchi Sea and southeastward to Baja, California. They have a center of abundance between Oregon and southern Alaska.
Humans have introduced Coho salmon to the Great Lakes with enormous success. Attempts to introduce them to the Atlantic coast of North America between 1901 and 1948 failed miserably.

Habitat:
Coho salmon are extremely adaptable; they occur in nearly all accessible bodies of fresh water and utilize nearshore and offshore environments during lifecycle. However, they prefer to stay close to shore to avoid predators and will not be found deeper than 30m.
Coho salmon will not be found in temperatures lower than 6.5°C or higher than 21°C, and those that live off of the southern United States have been known to migrate north as the temperature rises.
Coho salmon prefer to spawn in streams with low velocity, shallow water and small gravel. Most Coho fry stay in the stream where they are born for a over a year in schools that are located in quiet areas free of current.

Reproduction:
Coho salmon, like all salmon, are anadromous fish, which means that they spend most of their life feeding at sea, but return to fresh water to breed (and always return to the same place where they were born and lived as fry). Coho salmon are also oviparous, which means that they reproduce by the female laying eggs and the male fertilizing them after they leave the female’s body.
Because of the large spread distribution, spawning occurs over a very large period (between October and March). Generally, more southern spawning occurs later during this time period. More specifically, spawning in British Columbia occurs in October and November. The closest spawning river to Race Rocks is the Goldstream river just north-west of Victoria.Spawning occurs at night. A female will dig a nest, called a redd, and deposit an average of 2 400 to 4 600 eggs (but up to 7 600). The male will fertilize the eggs as she lays them. A female can make several redds, and usually deposits all of her eggs between them.
The eggs develop during winter and hatch into larvae in early spring. The warmer the temperatures, the faster the eggs develop. After hatching, the larvae stay under the gravel for a few weeks and then emerge as fry.
The spring following this, they will start their journey towards the sea. Females and some males will return to spawn after three years. Most males (known as jacks) will return after two years to mate.
Coho salmon die 3-24 days after mating.

Feeding:
As larvae, they feed off of their yolk (which is still attached to them). They do not emerge from the gravel as fry until this source of nourishment has run out. It is then that they start eating aquatic insects, zooplankton, small fishes, and the remaining carcasses of the salmon that died after spawning.
At sea, Coho salmon feed on fishes like herrings, anchovies, sand lances and rockfishes, and invertebrates such as krill and squid.
Coho salmon only feed during the day.

Predators:
Humans are a Coho salmon’s biggest threat. They are considered prize sport fish because of the ‘memorable’ fight that they put up, and make up for half of the recreational salmon catch in British Columbia. Coho salmon have also developed a reputation for being particularly tasty, making them the perfect victim of the commercial fishing industry. It is estimated that the Coho population off of California is 6% of what it was in the 1940s due to the fishing industry. And British Columbia still ‘wins’ for the highest catch per year in North America!
In addition to humans, Coho salmon are eaten by some larger fishes, as well marine mammals like seals, orcas and white-sided dolphins.

Interesting fact:
All salmon undergo smoltification upon entry to the sea in order to live in sea water. This process works both backwards and forwards: it allows them to leave the sea for fresh water, and to leave fresh water for the sea.
However, some Coho salmon have been known to live in fresh water their whole lives, and these freaks of nature are known as residuals.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Salmoniformes
Family Salmonidae
Genus Oncorhynchus
Species kisutch
Common Name: coho salmon

Resources:

1. Coho Salmon Facts. 1996. Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. November 11, 2005. http://www.psmfc.org/habitat.edu_Coho_facts.html
2. Coho Salmon: Wildlife Notebook Series. 1994. Alaska Department of Fish & Game. November 11, 2005. http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook.fish.Coho.php
3. Deutsch, A. Coho Explained. 2005. Pacific Coast Salmon Coalition. November 11, 2005. http://www.Cohosalmon.com/Coho_explained.htm
4. Hart, J.L. Pacific Fishes of Canada. Ottawa, ON: Information Canada, 1973.
5. Love, Milton. Probably More Than You Want to Know About the Fishes of the Pacific Coast. Santa Barbara, CA: Really Big Press, 1996.

References: Andy Lamb and Phil Edgell: “Coastal fishes of the Pacific Northwest”

                  J.L Hart: “Pacific fishes of Canada”

Other Members of the Class Actimnopterygii 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.

 Name: Amanda Judd, OntarioYear 32

Sebastes melanops: Black Rockfish– The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Physical description

We frequently see schools of these rockfish hanging about when we are diivng at Race Rocks. As you can see in the video, they remain at a distance as the diver swims into the group. They are a thin bass-shaped fish with few head spines. It is black, blue and black, spotted with grey or blue and grey, with black spots on the backs and dorsal fins.


Global distribution:
It lives in the ocean from the area of Amchitka Island (Auletian Islands) southeast to S. Miguel island and S. Barbara (southern California). We can find it from central California to south eastern Alaska.
Habitat:
It usually lives in mid-water or surface, but it has been captured down to 1.200 feet.
Feeding:
Young fish eat plankton and larvae, old eat mainly fish and zooplankton.

Predators:
Their predators are ling cods, sea lions and pigeon guillemots.
Reproduction:
Females are viviparous. From September to November they store the sperm before fertilizing the eggs. They let go young from January to May, peaking in February off California. One interesting fact: They live in groups of thousand of elements. They are good swimmers, in fact they can move hundred of miles.References:
Probably more than you want to know about the fishes of the Pacific Coast, M. Love,
Really Big Press, II edition.

Andy Lamb and Phil Edgell: “Coastal fishes of the Pacific Northwest”
J.L Hart: “Pacific fishes of Canada”

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
sub phylum vertebrata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Pereciformes
Family Scorpaenidae
Genus Sebastes
Species melanops
Common Name:Black Rockfish

 

Other Members of the Class Actinopterigii  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. March 15 2005- Stefania Marchese PC, year 32 (Italy)

Name: Stefania Marchese,
PC, year 32 (Italy)

Sebastes maliger: Quillback rockfish–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Physical description: The Quillback rockfish is notable for being somewhat dumpier than normal rockfish (with a maximum recorded length of 60cm) with a large, spiny dorsal fin. Quillbacks are lighter coloured around the head and become darker progressing towards the tail. There are normally about two tan stripes running from the dorsal fin down to the belly, and orange spotting on the belly and head. Quillbacks can grow to up to 2 feet, but are not normally found larger than 20 inches.

Global distribution: Quillbacks can be found on the coast from the Gulf of Alaska all the way down to Southern California. However, their location normally ranges from the coast of South Eastern Alaska south to Northern California.

Habitat: These fish are known primarily as solitary, bottom dwellers, and inhabit rocky bottoms and reefs , never straying too far away from a possible hiding spot. Quillbacks can be found at depths between 40 and 250 feet. Generally, the larger the specimen, the deeper the depth that it is likely to be found at.

Feeding: As larvae, they feast mostly upon nauplii invertebrate eggs and copepods. As they grow up and become juveniles they eat mostly crustaceans. When they finally become adults, they become far less picky and feed on crustaceans, small fish (including other rockfish) bivalves and fish eggs.

Predators: As larvae, they are subject to the same predators as any other plankton. As juveniles, they are preyed upon by larger fish (such as rock fish and salmon) as well as marine birds. As adults, larger fish, such as sharks, feed on Quillback Rockfish, and possibly river otters. Rockfish are very popular for sport fishing and are kept alive for export to Asia.

Reproduction: Like all rockfish, Quillbacks are viviparous, and give birth to live offspring. Mating happens in late winter or early spring, and the females give birth between April and July. For the first two months of their lives, larvae are planktonic. Before settling close to shore.

Some Interesting Facts:
-The scientific name for the Quillback Rockfish stems from sabates and maliger, both greek, meaning magnificent and ‘I bear a mast’ respectively (the latter referring to the high dorsal fin notable in the Quillback species.)

-The oldest Quillback Rockfish was a Canadian, with an impressive lifespan of 76 years.

References
Nearshore Finfish Profiles http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/rockfish/quillback.html.2003.

Love, Milton. Probably More Than You Want To Know About The Fishes Of The Pacific Coast. Santa Barbara. Really Big Press.

Andy Lamb and Phil Edgell: “Coastal fishes of the Pacific Northwest”

J.L Hart: “Pacific fishes of Canada”

 

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. March 8 2005- Madeline (PC)

Oligocottus maculosus: Tidepool Sculpin–The Race Rocks taxonomy

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rmsculpinn

Sculpin image by Ryan Murphy

Sculpin have ability to blend in with their surroundings which is useful in escaping from enemies and in capturing their prey by ambush. The body is elongate, its depth about 10cm. Head somewhat depressed, its length about 6cm. The snout is blunt in profile and It is moderate in size, the upper jaw extending to mid-pupil.
The species is very abundant in tide pools around rocky the rocky shores of Race Rocks. Tide pool sculpins show a definite tendency to return to their home pool if moved. These are very abundant in the tidepools on the north east corner of Great Race Rock. A piece of edible tissue dropped into a pool usually causes a feeding frenzy.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Class Actinopterigii
Order Scorpaeniformes
Sub Order Cottoidei
Family Cottidae
Genus Oligocottus
Species maculosus
Common Name: Tidepool Sculpin

 

 

 

 

 

Ryan Murphy took the following  photos of Sculpins when he was stationed at Race Rocks as the Ecoguardian . He was able to dive frequently while there and developed an excellence in underwater photography. 

His photographs can be viewed on his Flickr site:

We have not been able to identify all the following yet so are including them all with the tidepool sculpin: Oligocottus maculosus

Other Members of the Class Actinopterigii 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. original file : Dec 2002, by  Abdul Mobin.(PC)

 

Apodichtys flavidus: The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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These images were taken on the remote camera 5 shows a Pigeon Guillemot prior to feeding a Penpoint gunnel to chicks.During the months of May and June, the Pigeon Guillemots (Cepphus columba) are constantly diving off the north side of Great Race Rock and bringing up penpoint gunnels for their young. They nest under loose rock on several locations arounf the island. They are very cautious about going to their nest burrow where they may be seen by predators,

PUGET SOUND/ Strait of Juan de Fuca SPECIES

Apodichthys flavidus Penpoint Gunnel

Pholis clemensi Longfin Gunnel

Pholis laeta Crescent Gunnel

Pholis ornata Saddleback Gunnel

Pholis schultzi Red Gunnel

Xererpes fucorum Rockweed Gunnel

PENPOINT GUNNEL

This is a family of littoral fishes of the northern Pacific and northern Atlantic.They are typically found hiding under rocks and logs or in tidepools at low tide.The longest gunnel , at maximum of 46 cm,is the Penpoint Gunnel.Most gunnels feed on small crustaceans and molluscs.There are about 14 species, six are found here. Although secretive , this family is common in Puget Sound. This fish is not important commercially and is not considered threatened.This species can breath air when out of water.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Body elongate and compressed (eel-like body with no pelvic fins). Contains only flexible spines ,may have a dark streak that runs through the eye from top of head downward . Eye round, its diameter about one fifth the into length length of head. It may have small dark spots along the sides.Distance from snout to anal origin greater than half of body length.Maximum length is 1.5 feet.10 large melanophores along dorsal surface of gut and anus, melanophores can be also along postanal and dorsal near caudal region,ventral surface of gut has a row of small melanophores.Colour very variable depending upon diet as well as environment, from green through brown to red, the green colour from pigments dispersed through skin, the red in special pigment cells, the brown in combination (Hart 1973).Teeth are sharp,pointed, apparent in post-larvae.

Dorsal fin KC-XCIV (Miller and Lea 1972).

Anal fin I,36-42 (Miller and Lea 1972); I,38-42 (Hart 1973).

Pectoral fin 15-16 (Hart 1973).

Mouth Terminal,small,with thick lips (Hart 1973).

Verebrae 96-101 (Miller and Lea 1972)

DISTRIBUTION: Southern California to southeast Alaska and Kodiak Island.In British Columbia on both coasts of Vancouver Island, the Strait of Georgia .Common in Burrard Inlet in September.Queen Charlotte Islands (Hart 1973). In costal or bay water blending with vegetation such as Sargassum spp.,Ulva spp., and Zostera spp.,settling on the bottom at ca. mm TL (Wilkie 1966).Pelagic,along coastal waters and bays. Horseshoe Cove and vicinity of Portero Power Plant on San Francisco Bay,Marconi Cove of Tomales Bay.

REPRODUCTION: Spawing occurs from January to March.The egg mass is coiled around by one or both parents.The incubation period is about two and two a half months.Newly hatched larvae average about 13mm, and the body is transparent and positively phototactic (Wilkie 1966).The age of maturity of the penpoint gunnel has not be documented in the literature.Growth appears to be rapid during the first year from 20 to 40 milimeters in April and May to 100 to 120 millimeters by the end of summer.

REFERENCES: J.L.Hart- Pacific Fishes of Canada(1973),Wilkie (1966)

 

 

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.

March 8 2003- Miroslav Lestanin

 

Hexagrammos decagrammus : Kelp Greenling –The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Kelp Greenling (Hexagrammas decagrammus) are one of the most abundant bottom or demersal fish in the shallow benthic community at Race Rocks.


All demersal fish such as this are protected in the  ecological reserve with the Rockfish Protection zone.
Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Scorpaeniformes
Family Hexagrammidae
Subfamily Hexagramminae
Genus Hexagrammos
Species decagrammus
COMMON NAME: greenling sea trout; speckled sea trout; tommy cod
The Kelp Greenling is one of the few fish that has 5 lateral lines on each side. Males and females are sexually dimorphic, the females being a distinct orange color, while the males are bluish in color. Females are profusely covered with orange-reddish spots. Males are brown or gray in colour with a few blue spots on the front part of their body. Each of these spots is surrounded by a ring of reddish brown. We frequently see these fish dodging in under the canopy of the brown algae Pterophyga.

male kelp greenling

The Kelp Greenling is a rocky reef fish, found on the bottom of the ocean, often in dense macroalgae.They are abundant all along the front cliff off the docks at Race Rocks.

female kelp greenling

Between Alaska and Central California, most of them live from lower intertidal waters to about 50 feet, with females tending to live in shallower water than males.

The typical Kelp Greenling is about ten inches long, but the largest in record was 21 inches.

female kelp greenling

Females grow faster than males. Some females mature at 4 years. The greenling has been aged to 12 years, but few probably live longer.

Females are oviparous and these fish are fall spawners with nesting noted in October- November off Washington and British Columbia. Females migrate down to the males, lay their blue eggs in nests which the males guard until they hatch. Feeding occurs during the day and they are inactive at night, with their preferred menu being : shrimps, crabs, worms, octopi, brittlestars, snails and small fish.

 

 

 

 

References:
Probably more than you want to know about the fishes of the Pacific Coast, Milton Love, Really Big Press, California, 1996

Coastal Fishes of the Pacific Northwest, Andy Lamb and Phil Edgell, Harbour publishing, BC, 1986

Other members of the Class Actinopterygii 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.
Dec. 2001 Jill Scherenke Dec 2001 (PC) Germany

 

Anarrhichthys ocellatus: Wolf Eel –The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Anarrhichthys ocellatus

wolfjas

This video shows Pearson College Diver Jason Reid with a wolf eel and was broadcast live in the Underwater Safari Program in October 1992

Description: Although the behaviors of the wolf eel are relatively limited at this moment, they still deem to be one of the most interesting species found in the waters. Its name originates from the greek word Anarhichas-– a fish in which the wolf eel resembles– and the latin word ocellatus which means eye-like spots. In general, Wolf-eels are easily to identify. There name suggests that they resemble eel like structures which range in colour from grey to brown or green. Starting from a young age, their coloration starts with a burnt orange spotted look graduallty changing into a dominant grey for males and brown for females. The males and females both have a dorsal fin that stretches from head to the end of their body. On average, a Wolf-eel is seen to possess a body of 2 meters long and characterized by a unique pattern of spots that appear to be individualized both in males and in females. In addition, the Wolf-eel possesses a large square head coupled with powerful jaws and canine teeth allowing for easier mastication– a beneficial adaptation to its environment of hard-shelled animals.
Classification:
Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
SuperOrder Acanthoptergygii
Order Perciformes
SubOrder Zoarcoide
Family Anarhichadidae
Genus Anarrhichthys
Species ocellatus
Common Name: Wolf-eel

Habitat and Range: Wolf-eels can most abundantly be found from the sea of Japan and the Aleutian islands continuing southwards to imperial beach, Southern California. Wolf-eels live from barely subtidal waters to 740 feet (Love, 1996). The island of Racerocks is one of the sites in the Pacific Northwest in which the Wolf-eel can be found. Exploring the island, the most common places would be near the Rosedale reef and along the cliff near the docks. The rocky reefs and stony bottom shelves at shallow and moderate depths serve to be the abodes of the Wolf-eel. They will usually stake out a territory in a crevice, den or lair in the rocks. In addition, the Wolf-eel possesses a long, slender body which allows them to squeeze into their rocky homes. During the juveniles years of the Wolf-eel, they can most commonly be found in the upper part of the water, residing there for about two years. As the Wolf-eel ages, it will slowly migrate to the ocean floor and maintain an active lifestyle. Eventually, the Wolf-eel will find a rock shelter and “vegetate” for the remainder of its lifespan.

Diet: The adaptation of the Wolf-eel’s jaw to crush hard objects, as mentioned, deems to be beneficial for eating other organisms around its environment. The gourment delicacies that the Wolf-eel feeds upon are crustaceans, sea urchins, mussels, clams, snails some other fishes.

Mating and Other Interesting Facts: In aquaria, males and females form pairs at about 4 years of age and produce eggs at 7 years old. Spawning usually occurs from October into late winter. A male will butt his head against the female’s abdomen then wrap himself around her as a sign for a mating call. It has been found that the male fertilizes the eggs as they are laid and up to 10 000 eggs can be released at a single time. The father and mother will then wrap themselves around the egg masses and will guard the eggs for about 13-16 weeks when the eggs will then hatch. Possible predators that prey on the eggs include Benthic rockfishes and kelp greenlings. This process will continue periodically and repetitively for the lifespan of a Wolf-eel as it has been found that Wolf-eel’s mate for life.

Conservation Notes: At the moment, many fishers use rockhopper trawls to fish rough, rocky sea floors. This method causes the destruction of the rocky reefs in which the Wolf-eel resides. At the current moment, scientists are calling for a halt in the use of rockhopper trawls and an alternative method of using longline traps which don’t harm the rocky reefs.

References: Love, Milton, Probably more than you want to know about the fishes of the Pacific Coast: A humorous guide to Pacific fishes, California, Really Big Press, 1996, pg. 298
Lamb, Andy and Edgell, Phil, Coastal Fishes of the Pacific Northwest, BC Canada, Harbour Publishing, 1986, pg. 94.
Other members of the  Class Actinopterygii 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.
Dec. 2001 Zaheer Kanji, (PC) Edmonton Alberta