Category Archives: Species

Cribriopsis fernaldi: Crimson anemone–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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cribrinopsis

This Cribrinopsis is one of the many anemones growing in the heavy current channels at Race Rocks. Photo by Dr.A.Svoboda

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Anthozoa
Subclass Hexacorallia
Order Actiniaria
Family Actiniidiae
Genus Cribrinopsis
Species fernaldi, (Siebert &Spaulding,1976)
Common Name: Crimson Anemone

It is worthy of note that this species went unnamed until just a few years ago. A.E. Siebert and J.G. Spaulding published in the Biological Bulletin 150: 128-138. ( February 1976)
The Taxonomy, Development and Brooding Behaviour of the Anemone, Cribrinopsis Fernaldi, Sp.nov.

“Cribrinopsis fernaldi is described as a new species of sea anemone from the San Juan Archipelago, Washington. This species is distinguished from the other members of the genus by the presence of approximately 96 tentacles and 96 pairs of mesenteries arranged hexamerously. The cnidom is distinctive and consists of spirocysts, basitrichs, microbasic p-mastigophores, and atrichs.
During March, freshly collected specimens of C. fernaldi spawned in the laboratory. The female anemones retained their eggs in the gastrovascular cavity and fertilization occurred internally. The embryos developed in the cavities of the tentacles and pseudospherules.
Some embryos were removed from the tentacles of the adult on day 1 (early cleavage), and day 7, day 13 (planula), and day 34. These continued their development and metamorphosed and settled at the same time as the larvae which remained in the adult until natural release. It is concluded that the brooding behavior is protective rather than nutritive in function.”

This file is provided as part of a collaborative effort by the students, faculty, staff and volunteers of Lester B. Pearson College
 Date:
2006		  Garry Fletcher

Eremophila alpestris: Horned lark–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Horned Lark (Images by Marie O’Shaunessy Sept 19 2006)

 

This horned lark was on its migration route. It has stopped to feed in the area before continuing across the Strait of Juan de Fuca

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Sub-PhylumVertebrata
Class Aves
Order Passerifomes
Family Alaudidae
Genus Eremophila
Species alpestris
Common Name:Horned Lark

Urticina grebelnyi: Painted Anemone–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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tealia-1

Ryan Murphy photo of this species.

In this video, the soft pink coral Gersemia rubiformis is highlighted. It grows at 7-10 meters over a 3 square meter area off peg #3. Other organisms shown in association in the same area are: Anemone- (both Tealia and Epiactis), hydroids, sponges and colonial ascidians .
Urticina grebelnyi
Painted Anemone
Urticina grebelnyi has previously been called ” Tealia” anemone. They are one of the most abundant large anemone at Race Rocks in the subtidal area. They use their nematocysts expelled from their stout tentacles for the immobilization of small fish, crustaceans such as krill and anything organic that drifts their way. Pieces of dead fish have been seen clinging to the tentacles. They are believed to live a very long time, as long as they are in an area well supplied with food by the current.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Anthozoa
Genus Utricina
Species grebelnyi 
Common Name  Painted Anemone

Return to the Race Rocks taxonomy Index 

This file is provided as part of a collaborative effort by the students,
faculty, staff and volunteers  of Lester B. Pearson College 2006
Garry Fletcher

 

Squalus acanthias: The Spiny Dogfish–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Dogfish are not usually seen by divers but they occur in the waters around Race Rocks. They are often caught by fishermen and released . The captured one above is the first one recorded for the reserve.gullshark1
In June of 2007 this set of photos was taken by PB of a seagull eating a live baby dogfish. The whole shark was eventually swallowed.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Elasmobranchii
Order Squaliformes
Family
 Squalidae
Genus Squalus
Species acanthias
Common Name: Spiny Dogfish
This file is provided as part of a collaborative effort by the students, Volunteers and staff of
Lester B. Pearson College,  2006  Pam Birley

 

Charadrius vociferus: Killdeer- The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Killdeer are migratory visitors to Rave Rocks Ecological Reserve. Their calls are often heard at nigth in the spring

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Sub-Phylum Vertebrata
Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Charadriidae
Subfamily Charadriinae
Genus Charadrius
Species vociferus
Common Name: Killdeer

reference link: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Killdeer_dtl.html

Other Members of the Class Aves at Race Rocks.

taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
April 2009 Garry Fletcher

Lepeophtheirus.sp: Sea Louse–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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parasite

Close up of parasitic sea lice on the head of a ling cod. Photos  by Dr. Armand Svoboda

lepeophtherius sp.

Lepeophtheirus.sp: Sea Louse-on the head of a ling cod — photo by Dr. A. Svoboda

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Suphylum Crustacea
Class Maxillopoda
Order Siphonostomatoida
Family Caliguidae
Genus Lepeophtheirus
Species sp.
Common Name: Parasitic copepod

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. Garry Fletcher

 

Pionosyllis sp. : Necklace worm– Race Rocks Taxonomy

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rm241010pionos2l

Pionosyllis sp. necklace worm , photo by Ryan Murphy

 

Pioosyllis.

This annelid has only been observed a few times at Race Rocks, this photo was taken by Johan Ashuvud (PC yr 5) in 1980.

In Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest, this species is referred to as the “mystery necklace worm” .Detailed examination of the palps, teeth, cirri and chaeta are necessary for identification.

Below is another annelid from the gallery of images taken by Ryan Murphy in 2010 when he was Ecoguardian at Race Rocks.

wormicon

Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Class: Polychaeta
Order:  Aciculata
Family:  Syllidae ?
Genus: Pionosyllis ?
Species sp:
Common Name: Necklace worm?
Other Members of the Phylum Annelida 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.

Tonicella undocaerulea: Blue-waved Chiton

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chitonblue4

Blue-waved chiton , Tonicella undocaerulea Photo by G. Fletcher


We frequently encounter this 4 cm. chiton while diving at Race Rocks. It occurs subtidal at 10 meters depth. It also occurs in the lower level tidepools as the photos above illustrate. These chitons strip off several species of calcareous encrusting algae from the rock substrate, They are equipped with a radula or rasp-ike tongue containing iron filings.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Class Polyplacophora
Order Chitonida
Family Tonicellidae
Genus Tonicella
Species undocaerulea
Common Name: Blue-waved chiton
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.

 

Chrysaora fuscescens: West Coast Sea nettle–Race Rocks Taxonomy

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In October of 2011, Ryan Murphy reported many of these at Race Rocks. This coincided with a large infestation in Puget Sound at the same time.

rmoct811

Image by Ryan Murphy

chrysaora

Two individuals of this species were observed at Race Rocks in 1980, Photo by Pearson College Divers

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Cnidaria
Sub-Phylum Medusozoa
Class Scyphozoa
Order Semaeostomeae
Family Pelagiidae
Genus Chrysaora
Species fuscescens
Common Name: West Coast Sea nettle

Link to the Race Rocks Taxonomy:

Link to other jellyfish specimens from Race Rocks:

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

 

Aechmophorus occidentalis: western Grebe__ The Race ROcks Taxonomy

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Western grebes overwinter here on Southern Vancouver Island in the protected coastal bays. Three pairs were seen in Pedder bay throughout January and February of 2006. They feed on fish at night following trails of bioluminescence as the fish swim through the water. ( see reference below)

It may surprize some to know that this is one of the few prairie pond birds which do not migrate South during the winter, but instead migrate West over the Rocks mountains to the Coastal Bays of Vancouver Island.

The Western Grebe is classified by the Alberta Government as a Species at Risk. This Field Summary gives further information on it.

Research on Foraging indicating a night-feeding pattern is presented in the research of James Clowater, See the link to his thesis at the bottom.