Category Archives: Species

Flabellina verrucosa The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Flabellina verrucosa grazing on the hydroid Garveia. Photo by Ryan Murphy

In this image is Flabellina verrucosa the “Three-lined” aeolid which is seasonally abundant from Baja to Alaska (Behrens, 1991). Aeolids are opisthobranch gastropods known as sea slugs because they have lost their shells. This photo shows the nudibranch’s “oral tentacles” (bottom), ridged sensory antennae called “rhinophores”, “cerata” which contain stolen stinging cells for defense, and a “propodial tentacle”. This aeolid is common year-round at the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve where it is often observed feeding on hydroids such as Tubularia. To the left of it is thesmall Granulina m.
Macro images by Ryan Murphy

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Class Gastropoda
Order Nudibranchia
Family Flabellinidae
Genus Flabellina
Species verrucosa
Common Name:nudibranch
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.

Garry Fletcher

Dendronotus subramosus : Race Rocks Taxonomy

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An 8mm long nudibranch

Thanks to Karin Fletcher on iNaturalist for identifying this for us.  She indicated that D. subramosus lack lateral papillae on their rhinophore sheaths and can have brown lines along from their rhinophores along their dorsolateral processes

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/68751217

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum
Order 		 Mollusca
Nudibranchia
Class Gastropoda
Clade Dendronotida?
Suborder Dendronotacea?
Family Dendronotidae?
Genus Dendronotus
Species subramosus
Common Name:Stubby-fronted Dendronotus
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.

 October 2004-  (PC) Garry Fletcher

Unidentified “Clear” Shrimp? The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Malacostraca
Order Decapoda
Family
Genus
Species
Common Name: Clear Shrimp
Unidentified
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.

 

Classification of Isodictya rigida by H.M. Reiswig

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Identification of sponge fragment provided by G. Yahel, 15 June 2004, H. M. Reiswig, 26 July 2004 Label: “Iophon? 04.06.03 Race Rocks; Formalin 4%” First conclusion was tentative: Dictyonella sp., and unsatisfying since no species of this genus was known in B.C. waters; structure and body was more like Isodictya, but the rare isochelae spicules of that genus were not found in preliminary analysis.  After discussion with Bill Austin on Barkley Sound Cruise, I made a thorough examination of thick sections and found the rare isochela spicules, mainly in the atrial walls (older tissues).  I then made new spicule preparations of that region and was able to easily find 50 of the ‘rare’ spicules for measurement.

Revised conclusion (now with high confidence): Isodictya rigida (Lambe, 1893) [Originally Neoesperiopsis rigida; the same in Austin & Ott, 1997 (Kozlov)] Class: Demospongiae; Order: Poecilosclerida; Suborder: Mycalina;  Family: Isodictyidae; Genus: Isodictya Bowerbank, 1864

 

Isodictya rigida: finger sponge– Race Rocks Taxonomy

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isodictya

This image, taken by Russel Wyeth,assistant to Dr. Gitai Yahel  off the docks at Race Rocks, shows the intricate associations of other invertebrates sharing the same habitat.

juancarlosponge

Juan Carlos took these images while doing a video of the path for the tidal generator cable.

The biodiversity in locations which receive heavy current is considerable. Depth 12 meters.

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Porifera Class: Demospongiae Order: Poecilosclerida Suborder: Mycalina Family: Isodictyidae Genus: Isodictya Bowerbank, 1864 Species: rigida ( Lambe, 1893)

This file is provided as part of a collaborative effort by the students, faculty,volunteers,staff and researchers of Lester B. Pearson College
 Date: 2005 Dr. Gitai Yahel

Passer domesticus: House Sparrow- The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Sub-Phylum Vertebrata
Class Aves
Order Passerifomes
Family Passeridae

Genus Passer
Species domesticus
Common Name: House Sparrow,  Passer domesticus

One of the worst introduced European species in North America because of their habit of preying on other nests in the area they are frequenting , 

Given that house sparrows are so common everywhere else, it is surprizing that they are rarely seen on Race Rocks. 

Normally this species can be quite damaging to other nesting birds but there are few other small birds that nest here other than the occasional barn swallow.

This bird was the subject of the Classic Paper by Bumpus on Limiting Factors 

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. Somealea Phoung PC year 34

 

Gammarus sp. : Scud–The Race Rocks taxonomy

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From Wikkipedias: Gammarus is an amphipod crustacean genus in the family Gammaridae. It contains more than 200 described species, making it one of the most speciose genera of crustaceans.[2] Different species have different optimal conditions, particularly in terms of salinity, and different tolerances; Gammarus pulex, for instance, is a purely freshwater species, while Gammarus locusta is estuarine, only living where the salinity is greater than 25‰.[3] Species of Gammarus are the typical “scuds” of North America and range widely throughout the Holarctic. A considerable number are also found southwards into the Northern Hemisphere tropics, particularly in Southeast Asia.[4]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Amphipoda
Suborder: Senticaudata
Family: Gammaridae
Genus: Gammarus Fabricius, 1775
Type species
Gammarus pulex Linnaeus, 1758 [1]
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.

Mopalia mucosa: Mossy chiton

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chitonmossy-1

Mopalia mucosa Mossy Chiton

Size: Can range between 5 cm to 9 cm in width.

Description: Oval shaped and low and dome shaped shell. It is covered by small interlacing plates which are covered by stiff mossy dark brown hairs. The inside of the shells are of a turquoise colour. Chitons have a broad flat foot” which it uses to move and to stick to its rocky homes.

Habitat: They are usually found on rocks and in tidepools located in the middle to low intertidal zones where they are protected from heavy wave action. They can be found from the Queen Charlotte Islands in British Columbia down to California.


Diet: Red or Green algae

Activity: They can usually be found clinging to rocks. If they are somehow displaced from these, they roll into balls in order to protect their soft insides. Their foot can secrete small amounts of mucous which, along with muscular contractions, allows it to move. However, it prefers to move as little as possible and will only do so at night and when it is covered by water.

Predators: Mostly glaucous-winged gulls and black oystercatchers

Websites Consulted:
http://www.manandmollusc.net/advanced_introduction/moll101polyplacophora.html [Sep 22, 05]
http://faculty.northseattle.edu/ecauldwell/bio125/intertidal_lecture4.htm [Sep 22, 05]

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:SUFBplz0MToJ:www.dohenystatebeach.org/pdffiles/tdplpack.pdf
+Mossy+Chiton+predators&hl=en [AccessedSep 22, 05]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. Original by Raisa Mirza, 2004

 

 

Coscinodiscus radiatus, Centric Diatom

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coscinpattern1

Pictures taken in lab by PC students from a water sample from Race Rocks

 

coscino Scientific classification
Kingdom: Chromalveolata
Phylum: Heterokontophyta
Subphylum: Bacillariophyceae
Class: Coscinodiscophyceae
Order: Coscinodiscales

Family: Coscinodiscaceae Kützing, 1844
Genus: Coscinodiscus Ehrenberg, 1839
Species: radiatus?

Coscinodiscus radiatus

coscinpattern

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

 

Armeria maritima: Thrift–The Race Rocks taxonomy

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Thrift, Armeria near Race Rocks Jetty. Photo by Garry Fletcher

 

gfjun2011thrift-1024x816

Thrift is a native plant which grows in the salt spray zone at Race Rocks .

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Core eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Plumbaginaceae
Genus: Armeria
Species: A. maritima

Armeria maritima (Mill.) Willd.

Other Members of the Angiosperms 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