Category Archives: Species

Heptacarpus tenuissimus: The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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A very small shrimp, not often noticed but probably common at Race Rocks.
Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Malacostraca
Order Decapoda
Family
Genus Heptacarpus
Species tenuissimus
Common Name:
slender coastal shrimp

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.

 March October 2003- 

Elassochirus tenuimanus The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthroppoda
Class Malacostraca
Order Decapoda
Family Paguridae
Genus Elassochirus
Species tenuimanus
Common Name: Wide-hand hermit crab

In this video, Elassochirus has been disturbed from eating a limpet (Collisella instabilis). It recovers and returns to eating. Note the colouration of the appendages of the hermit crab. Also note that one arm is much wider than the other. The Collisella which normally has a pale shell, is encrusted with the pink algae Lithothamnion.

General Description:
Named as wide-hand, this species hermit crab has a large and flattened right side of chela, carpus and propodus more than its left side. The right cheliped has a wider carpus than it is long. The walking legs have colours of white, reddish brown and purplish-blue on its merus.

Size:
The exterior length is up to 42 mm (1.6 inches).

Natural History, Habitat and geographical and depth range:
Mud, sand, shell bottoms, and especially rocks. The depth range is intertidal (infrequently) to 388 m (1272 feet). For the geographical range, the hermit crab lives in Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, from Alaska to Washington, and the northwestern Pacific.
Ovigerous females in Washington usually appear from August to May.  Larvae produce from March to May and Planktonic are in last months of the year.

Behavior
When the animal retreats inside, the right claw is used to block the access to the shell itself. The crab bents this claw beneath the body while walking.

References:
– Pacific Coast Crab and Shrimps, Gregory C. Jensen; Sea Challengers Monterey, California, 1995.

– Marine Invertebrate of the Pacific Northwest, Eugene N. Kozloff; University of Washington Press, Seattle and London, 1996.

http://people.wwc.edu/staff/cowlda/KeyToSpecies/Arthropoda/Crustacea/Malacostraca/Eumalacostraca/
Eucarida/Decapoda/Anomura/Family_Paguridae/Elassochirus_tenuimanus.html

 

Rhodomela larix : The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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rhodosp

Rhodomela larix surrounding two species of barnacles and the Red Algae Halosaccion sp.

 

Classification:
Phylum: Rhodophyta
Class: Rhodophyceae
Order: Ceramiales
Family: Rhodmelaceae
Rhodomela larix (Turner) C. Agardh

redpool

Many Rhodophytes are represented in this photo, including Rhodomela larix

Description: This plant is erect, up to 30 cm. high, brownish black in colour, in clusters, attached to the substrate by a discoid holdfast. The plant is branched, usually with one or more major cylindrical axes. The major axes have a profusion of radially arranged cylindrical branchlets, all approximately the same length and unbranched. At the apices of the branches, evanescent trichoblasts are apparent.

Habitat: On rocks in the intertidal zone.
Pacific Coast Distribution: Bering Sea to California
Robert Scagel, 1972

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.  Ryan Murphy

 

Prionitis lanceolata : The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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prion

Prionitis lanceolate in the author’s hand. Photos by Ryan Murphy

 

 Description: This plant is erect, up to 30 cm. tall, reddish brown in colour, growing in clusters, and attached to the substrate by small discoid holdfast. The erect portion is narrowly stipitate below, tapering above to a flattened lanceolate portion. The apices of the branches taper gradually to a point. Numerous proliferous flattened short pinnately arranged branchlets occur along the margins of the main axes

Classification:
Phylum: Rhodophyta
Class: Rhodophyceae
Order: Cryptonemiales
Family: Cryptonemiaceae
Prionitis lanceolata (Harvey)
Habitat: On rocks in the lower intertidal and upper subtidal zones
Pacific Coast Distribution: Alaska to Mexico.  Robert Scagel, 1972

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. — Ryan Murphy

 

Mastocarpus cristata: (Gigartina)–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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mastocarpus-1

Mastocarpus sp.in a bed of Endocladia sp.Ryan Murphy photo

 

Phylum: Rhodophyta
Class: Rhodophyceae
Order: Gigartinales
Family: Petrocelidaceae (formerly Gigartinaceae)
Mastocarpus cristata (Setchell) Setchell and Gardner, -or- Gigartina cristata

The photos below are by Ryan Murphy:

Description: This plant is erect, up to 15 cm. high, dark reddish brown in colour, in clusters, attached to the substrate by a small discoid holdfast.   The erect branches are flattened, with branching dichotomous.  The flat dichotomies are generally narrow and often twisted. The surface of the plant is at first smooth, later developing many small papillate outgrowths.  One tetrasporangiate life stage known as petrocelis is shown in pictures below.

Habitat: On rocks in the lower intertidal zone.

Pacific Coast Distribution:  British Columbia to Mexico.

Robert Scagel, 1972

See other members of the Phylum Rhodophyta, Red Algae.

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

 

Codium setchellii: Green felt algae–The Race Rocks raxonomy

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codiumsetchelliiHabitats of Codium setchellii:
This species of Green algae lives directly out from the docks at 3 -8 metres depth. Without a light it often appears almost black as wavelength deteriorates at that depth.

codiumixIt looks and feels like a lump of green felt. Here you can see it growing in association with brooding anemone.
Classification :
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Protoctista
Division: Chlorophyta (Green Algae)
Class: Chlorophyceae
Order: Codiales
Family: Codiaceae
Genus: Codium
Species: setchellii N.L. Gardner
COMMON NAME:Green felt algae

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. Nov 2005–G.Fletcher

 

Endocladia muricata : bristle algae–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Description: This plant is erect, 4-8 cm. tall, profusely and irregularly branched, usually growing in tufts, and dark red to blackish or greenish brown in colour. The branches are cylindrical, about 0.5 mm. in diameter and covered with minute conical spines about 0.5 mm. in length.
Habitat:  On rocks in the upper intertidal zone.
Pacific Coast Distribution: Alaska to Mexico.
Robert Scagel, 1972


Phylum: Rhodophyta
Class: Rhodophyceae
Order: Cryptonemiales
Family: Endocladiaceae
Endocladia muricata (Harvey) J. Agardh

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–Ryan Murphy  PC.

 

Notoacmea scutum : Checkered Limpet -The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Physical Description:
The average size of this species is 4-6 cm in length (shell) and 3-4 cm wide, with a low profile and rounded apex found forward of its center. The shell of this species is relatively smooth, conical or oval in shape, sculptured with coarse, flat-topped ridges. The color of the surface varies, though externally brown or green with radiating with white spots or lines.Habitat:
The Notoacmea scutum are found “between the high and low-tide lines” on smooth surfaces, usually rocks, while showing a “tidal rhythm of activity” which occurs more often at night.
Reproduction:
Spawning occurs, most abundantly, from autumn to spring, but can happen throughout the entire year. Spawning results in the external fertilization via males releasing sperm into the females, who then release their fertilized eggs into the flowing water.

Range (global):
Research has been shown that the Notoacmea scutum species can be found in the Aleutian Islands and Mexico and from Alaska to Baja, California.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Class Gastropoda
Sub class Prosobranchia
Order Archaeogastropoda
Family Acmaeidae
Genus Notoacmea
Species scutum
Common Name: Checkered Limpet

Reference:

www.nmarinelife.com/htmlswimmers/n_scutum.html
www.nbl.noaa.gov/(zeajfizhdjfdsf45hn4n3k55)/itis.aspx?tsn=69716
http://academic.evergreen.edu/t/thuesene/animalia/mollusca/gastropoda/notoacmea/scutum.html
www.people.wwc.edu/staff/cowlda/keytospecies/mollusca/gastropoda/prosobranchia/order_patellogastropoda/family_lottiidae/tectura_scutum.html
¬ Intertidal Invertebrates of California
¬ Reproduction and Development of Marine Invertebrates of the Northern Pacific Coast Data and Methods for the Study of Eggs, Embryos, and Larvae

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.

Original text for this file was done by Shaterra Redd PC student year 32 . 2005

 

Falco peregrinus: Peregrine falcon –The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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ryanperegrine

This photo was taken on Race Rocks by Ryan Murphy in December of 2008.

See all the posts on this website with observations of Peregrines

Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Genus: Falco
Species: peregrinus
Common Name: Peregrine falcon

Unusual footage taken by Pam Birley using the remote camera 5 of a falcon eating a seabird. Also see similar sequence on right below..

 

The Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus, is a bird of prey (or raptor) which has captured the attention and imagination of ornithologists and bird-watchers alike for several thousand years. With a body length of 15-20 inches and a body weight of 1.25-3.75 lbs, the falcon is built specifically for travelling at high speeds (up to 180 m.p.h.) in order to catch its prey. The name Falco peregrinus is derived from the Latin falx, or sickle-shaped, and peregrinus, meaning wandering. It is unclear whether the former is derived from the shape of the bird’s silhouette in the sky or from the shape of its beak, but the latter name comes undoubtedly from its propensity to migrate great distances.In the picture of a Peregrine Falcon and Bald Eagle from his Flickr site, Ryan Murphy said
“This was amazing to witness in person, I regret not having been able to capture it better than this! Just before this the eagle rolled backwards towards the chasing falcon… awesome aerial battle!”
Predation
Two sequences of pictures from Race Rocks below have been taken by Pam Birley showing the peregrine eating a shorebird.and a sea gull. Though peregrine falcons, like other birds of prey, are considered to be near the top of the food web, they are not completely free from predators. Great horned owls and golden eagles have been known to attack them. Humans have also been known to take their eggs in hopes to raise the falcons for hunting purposes.
As top predators, peregrine falcons play an important ecosystem role in regulating the populations of their prey.
Habitat
Peregrine Falcons prefer open habitats such as grasslands, tundra, and meadows. They nest on cliff faces and crevices. They have recently begun to colonize urban areas because tall buildings are suitable for nesting in this species, and because of the abundance of pigeons as prey items.
Peregrine falcons prey almost exclusively on birds, including mourning doves, pigeons, shorebirds, (see slide shows above) waterfowl, and smaller songbirds. They will also eat small reptiles and mammals. Although peregrine falcons capture their prey with their claws, they generally kill prey with their beak.The photos for this slide show and video were taken on the remote camera 5 at Race Rocks, by Pam Birley operating the camera from Great Britain. Pam had observed the peregrine falcon on various perches around the island in the mornings for several weeks in October and November. Her persistence paid off on November 17, 2005. Pam wrote in her e-mail ….”Today we had just returned home .. I just came up to the computer, switched it on and there was Perry with his breakfast….I really caught him in the act of devouring his prey today! “You may see other pictures that Pam has taken using the remote camera at Race Rocks by clicking here to go to her photo album .
CLICK ON THE BLANK SPACE

PEREGRINE FALCONS AT RACEROCKS: OCTOBER, 2004

Pam Birley of Leicester England captured some of the pictures remotely on robotic camera 5 and Mike Slater, our reserve guardian took the pictures of the antenna perch on the towerPam was interviewed recently about her wildlife viewing on racerocks.com
ref: Anderson, Charlie, “Live Wildlife for your Living Room “,
The Province (newspaper) , Vancouver, B.C. ( Sunday, Nov.21, 2004)

Conservation Status
Peregrine falcons have suffered due to their dangerous position atop the food chain. Pesticides accumulate in small (not lethal) quantities in the tissues of small birds and mammals, but become concentrated enough in predatory birds, such as falcons, to kill them or render them incapable of producing offspring. Organochlorine pesticides (DDT and dieldrin) have been proven to reduce the birds’ ability to produce eggshells with sufficient calcium content, making the egg shells thin and more likely to break. Peregrine falcon populations dropped greatly in the middle of the 20th century, they were threatened worldwide by the increasing use of pesticides. All breeding pairs vanished in the Eastern United States. A successful captive breeding/reintroduction program, combined with restrictions in pesticide use, has been the basis of an amazing recovery by peregrine falcons. Now the use of many of the chemicals most harmful to these birds is restricted. It is not yet restricted in the areas of Central and South American where many subspecies spend the winter. After having been on the endangered list since 1969, the incredible recovery of Peregrine Falcons has become a perfect example of how effective human conservation can be. In the 1990’s they were taken off the lists of endangered species in the United States.

Jan 25, 2010 Brian Mury sent this link to a set of images he took from Camera 1 on the top of the tower. The falcon is perched on the FM antenna which is used by Environment Canada to transmit anemometer readings from the top of the tower.

 

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.

Chiara Ravetti PC yr 31

 

Lopholithodes mandtii : The Puget Sound King Crab–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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We often encounter these very large Puget Sound King Crabs in the calm backwaters of Race Rocks. Juveniles may be found among the cobble. Sea urchins and other echinoderms form their diet.

 

Paul Michaluk a fomer PC student from New Zealand, captured this picture on the left of Garry holding a  a Lopholithodes brought up by the divers who were back for a PC alumni reunion

Another former student, Barb Holman, took the picture on the right of Garry demonstrating the size of a Puget Sound King crab at Race Rocks to Trish Holman in April, 1998
Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Subphylum Crustacea
Class Malacostraca
Order Decapoda
Family Lithodidae
Genus Lopholithodes
Species mandtii
Common Name: Puget Sound King Crab

See a post by our ecoguardian Mike Robinson in 2012

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.