Category Archives: Species

Passerculus sandwichensis: Savannah Sparrow–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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A Savannah sparrow shows up well against the guano-covered rock.These photos in the slide show were taken by PB Sept 3, 2007

Savannah Sparrow. photo by Jillian Brown April 2023

Pam Birley took a series of photos which I have made into a slide show here

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Sub-Phylum Vertebrata
Class Aves
Order Passerifomes
Family Passeridae
Genus Passerculus
Species sandwichensis
Common Name: Savannah Sparrow

Savannah sparrows often show up in the Christmas Bird Count

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.

Garry Fletcher

Calcarius lapponicus: Lapland longspur–The Race Rocks taxonomy

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This rare visitor to the islands was photographed in October 2007 on the Friends of Ecological Reserve Field trip.Calcarius lapponicus
Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Sub-Phylum Vertebrata
Class Aves
Order Passeriformes
Family Calcariidae
Genus Calcarius
Species lapponicus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common Name: lapland Longspur

 

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.

Garry Fletcher

Phalaropus lobatus: red-necked phalarope–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Ryan Murphy  took these images in November 2009

In August, 2007, these pictures were taken by Barry Herring at Race Rocks . The bird was feeding near the docks. This is not a common visitor to Race Rocks, although it has been recorded on several Christmas bird counts

 

 

Phalaropes feeding in the kelp beds. Photo by PB, Sept 2008.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Sub-Phylum Vertebrata
Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Scolopacidae
Genus Phalaropus
Species lobatus
Common Name: Red-necked Phalarope

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.

Garry Fletcher

Fucus gardneri: rockweed– The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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0708fucus1l

This image shows the reproductive receptacles which are swollen areas at the tips of fronds that have many flask-shaped cavities called conceptacles. These house the male and female reproductive structures known as antheridia (borne on antheridiophores) and oogonia (containing 8 eggs). The eggs and sperm are liberated onto the surface of the receptacles and a pheromone (sex-attracting substance) is released by the eggs that attracts the sperm. Fertilization results in a zygote that forms a new Fucus adult.

Historically physicians used this seaweed for goiter (swelling of the tissue or cells of the thyroid) and for obesity. Published commentary by a turn of the century physician (Dr. J. Herbert Knapp) indicated that he had found this plant to be a specific remedy for both exophthalmic and uncomplicated goiter. Earle Claxton referred to medicinal uses by the First Nations in this video.

Description: Fucus gardneri is attached by a small, strongly attached disc which gives rise to a short stipe.

Distribution: This species is common on the mid inter-tidal rocks of all the islands at Race Rocks.

Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Protoctista
Division: Chromophycota
Class: Phaeophyceae
Order: Fucales
Family :Fucaceae
Genus :Fucus
Species: gardneri
Common Name: Rock Weed
Other Members of the Brown Algae or  Phaeophyta 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.

 

Larus spp. (hybrid) A Hybrid Gull ?? The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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On October 27, 2007, we received from Pam Birley from Great Britain these pictures of an unidentified gull which she had just photographed using the remote camera 5 at Race Rocks.

David Allinson has helped us with the identification:” In short, the bird is not identifiable to species…most likely a hybrid gull also with partial hypermelanism (high melanism – darker than normal plumage and/or an example of some other complex colour abnormality which has caused its legs and bill to be darker (carotenism) — caused by either genetic defect, environmental factors, and/or stress during development or moult). This bird is most likely a Glaucous-winged with Western Gull genes (or a Western Gull with Glaucous-winged genes!). However, the head seems proportionately small which suggests possibility of some other lineage (Thayer’s or perhaps Herring).

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Sub-Phylum Vertebrata
Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Laridae
Genus Larus
Species spp.? (hybrid)
Common Name: Western Gull-type hybrid ?

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. October 2007-Pam Birley and David Allinson

Larus heermanni: Heermann’s Gull–The Race RocksTaxonomy

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ASHeermans-Gull-Heermann’s Gulls , (Larus heermanni) start turning up at Race Rocks in July.  On July 6 of this year a record number , 574 Heermann’s gulls were observed. This  was a notable increase from the 21 recorded a few days earlier The winter plumage is quite dark compared to the summer breeding plumage. They migrate here up from the breeding grounds in Mexico.

 

rmfall2010heermann

 

Ryan Murphy took this photo in 2010 showing features of the flight feathers.

On 574 Heermann’s gulls today which is a notable increase from the 21 recorded on Friday.

 

 

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Sub-Phylum Vertebrata
Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Laridae
Genus Larus
Species heermanni
Common Name: Heermann’s Gull,

See other posts on this website tagged with Heermann’s Gull

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