Category Archives: Species

Gavia pacifica: Pacific Loon– The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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pacloonraisanov182010

Pacific Loon , Gavia pacifica photo by Raisa Mirza-Nov. 18 2010

pacificloon2raisanov182010

Pacific loon following a Common murre–Photo by Raisa Mirza

pacloonraisanov1820109

Pacific Loon photo by Raisa Mirza, Nov 2010

RM_loonScientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Gaviiformes
Family: Gaviidae
Genus: Gavia
Species: G. pacifica

Gavia pacifica (Lawrence, 1858)

Other Loons ( members of the order Gaviformes)  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. —–——- PC yr 31

 

Zonotricha atricapilla: Golden-crowned sparrow–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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This is the first winter plumage of a young Golden -crowned sparrow.

These sparrows are common fall transients throughout southern Vancouver Island although this is the first one photographed at Race Rocks in November 2010. Images by Raisa Mirza

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Sub-Phylum: Vertebrata
Class Aves
Order Passeriformes
Family Emberizidae
Genus Zonotricha
Species atricapilla (Gmelin 1789)
Common Name: Golden-crowned sparrow

Other Members of the Class Aves 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 October 2003-  Rahilla (PC)

Pugettia gracilis: Graceful kelp crab–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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rm241010crab

Pugettia gracilis, Graceful kelp crab– Photo by Ryan Murphy

We see this small crab occasionally at Race Rocks.  Ryan caught this one as it nestled in between white anemone.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Infraorder: Brachyura
Family: Epialtidae
Genus: Pugettia
Species: P. gracilis
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.

 

Cackling Goose, Branta hutchinsii—Race Rocks Taxonomy

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raisaoct22201cackling

Branta hutchinsii, Cackling goose

Domain
Eukarya
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Subphylum
Vertebrata
Class
Aves
Order
Anseriformes
Family
Anatidae
Subfamily
 Anserinae
Genus
Branta
Species
hutchinsii
Common Name:
Cackling Goose

This is the first observation and photos we have of cackling geese at  Race Rocks. Ecoguardian Raisa Mirza  took this photo on October 22, 2010. These geese migrate south through the area at this time of year. This is a newly recognized and smaller species of the Canada Goose. Recent work on mitochondrial DNA genetic differences found the four smallest forms to be very different. These four races are now recognized as a full species: the Cackling Goose. It breeds farther northward and westward than does the Canada Goose..Fall migration includes staging on the upper Alaska Peninsula for several weeks, then a trans-oceanic flight to Oregon and California.

This tag will bring up other examples of observations of this species at Race Rocks.

Troglodytes pacificus: Winter wren-The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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troglodytesh

Winter wren Oct 21, 2010

Our first sighting of Troglodytes pacificus-Winter wren) was made today. This very small bird is making use of the old rock walls leading up to the foundation for the original lightkeeper’s house at the base of the tower.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Sub-Phylum Vertebrata
Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Troglodytidae
Genus Troglodytes
Species pacificus
Common Name: Winter wren

Winter Wren Troglodytes pacificus

The wren was also observed in the tower in October 2019

 

 

 

 

 

Other Members of the Class Aves 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.

 

Geitidoris heathi : (Heath’s dorid)– The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Geitidoris heathi (Heath’s dorid) photo by Rayn Murphy

Geitidoris heathi (Heath’s dorid) Photo by Ryan Murphy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Opisthobranchia
Suborder: Nudibranchia
Superfamily: Doridoidea
Family: Discodorididae
Genus: Geitodoris
Species: G. heathi
Geitodoris heathi (MacFarland, 1905)
Synonyms Discodoris heathi

Other Members of the Phylum Mollusca 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.  Oct 2010 , by Ryan Murphy

 

Aldisa tara : The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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rmaldisatara

Aldisa tara photo by Ryan Murphy

 

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
Order: Nudibranchia
Suborder: Doridina
Superfamily: Doridoidea
Family: Cadlinidae
Genus: Aldisa
Species:
A. tara
Binomial name
Aldisa tara

Millen, 1984

Tentative identification only.. This is a fairly rare nudibranch, only named recently.

Other molluscs 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.

Ryan Murphy, 2010

Synoicum parfustis: peach-coloured compound tunicate–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Photo by Ryan Murphy

Photo by Ryan Murphy

The small dark spots embedded in the matrix of this Synoicum parfustis are living commensal organisms: the compound tunicate amphipod, Polycheria osborni. This amphipod lives in various compound tunicates.

 

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 2015 (PC)

Hermissenda crassicornis: Opalescent sea slug–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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rmhermissendacrassicornis3

Hermissenda crassicornis
Photo by Ryan Murphy

Ryan Murphy took these three photos of Hermissenda crassicornis, the opalescent-sea-slug while diving at Race Rocks. Note the bright stripe on the forehead between the sensory rhinophores.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Superfamily: Aeolidioidea
Family: Facelinidae
Genus: Hermissenda
Species: H. crassicornis
Hermissenda crassicornis Eschscholtz, 1831Return to the Race Rocks Taxonomy Index and gallery

This file is provided as part of a collaborative effort by the students, faculty, volunteers and staff of Lester B. Pearson College– Oct 2010 , by Ryan Murphy

Terebellid– unidentified sp. –Race Rocks taxonomy

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(They aren’t always what they first appear to be)

rmaug10longfingunl

In this photo by Ryan Murphy, the long thin, almost transparent ribbon, possibly a tentacle of a terebellid worm is shown along with a Pholus sp. gunnel and the siphons of a mollusc.

 

What we initially believed was a ribbon worm has been identified as a feeding tentacle!

We received this from Leslie Harris” I’m also pretty sure that the ribbon worm is really a terebellid feeding tentacle.  There appears to be a groove running the length of the tentacle and packets of detritus being carried in the groove back to the mouth. ”

In the following image, the tangle of tentacles are also from one of the Terebellidae.

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Tentacles of terebellid worm. Photo by Ryan Murphy

Kingdom Animalia–animals
Classification from Animal Diversity Web: See other Annelids from Race Rocks:

Return to the Race Rocks Taxonomy Index
 The Taxonomy files are the result of collaboration between students, faculty, staff and Volunteers of Lester Pearson College— Garry Fletcher, 2010