Under the local waters.
This large Ling Cod has just captured an octopus, which is still in its mouth. You can see one of the legs
still coming out of the cod's mouth, and another coming out through the gill slit. I had heard there was an octopus nearby, and went to find it. But all I
found was this 4 ft long cod, and it wasn't until afterwards when I saw the picture that I noticed the octopus remains.
This pink sea star is in the spawning position, and respirating heavily. You can see what looks like a
translucent frill around the upper edge, and this is evidence of maximum respiration in a sea star.
A juvenile Puget Sound Crab, making no effort to hide. The yellow Boring Sponge heads are 1 to 2 cm
across, and provide a colourful backdrop.
This Red Irish Lord is very well hidden in plain sight. This fish even has pigment spots on its eyes...
Nearly a living fossil, this Ratfish is a relative of the sharks, but is lacking their notorious dental work.
They are not often seen, and they like it deep, dark and quiet.
A very pugnacious Spiny Dogfish, which came in for a closer look. In the fall, these local sharks seem to congregate
in the shallows of Whitecliffe Park at night, and also seem to loose their naturaly timid behavior. They are not attacking, we don't look like
their normal dinner to them, and they have small teeth...
A very acclimatized Wolf Fish. They are not eels, (whose dorsal fins extend all the way to their tails), but they
certainly look like an eel! They are very curious, and people-friendly, and love nothing more than a sea urchin to munch, spines and all! This makes finding
their lairs easier: just look for the pile of sea urchin leftovers!
...just a quick peek back in Australia, at this clownfish family. They look cute, but this is a very
defensive pose: stay away from our anemone! Nemo, indeed...
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