bgregoire's Favorites
Photos / Sounds
What
Northern Cerianthid (Pachycerianthus borealis)Observer
alex_shureDescription
Photos were captured by Robert Landy (dive buddy of mine, not on inat). These tube anemones seem different than what we've historically called "Pachycerianthus borealis" in my area though perhaps this is just informed by the specific attributes of the dive site. Generally I'll find similar looking individuals, burrowed in mud/muddy sand. The top of the tube is almost always flush with the substrate and I rarely observe the tentacle diameter any larger than ≈7cm (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/58284007) .
By comparison, these are monsters. There was a small group in the same spot for several years. Unlike my typical "P. borealis" observations the tubes of these would extend considerably above the substrate, maybe ≈25cm and the tentacles/oral disc much larger, ≈15cm.
These were observed in fine, silty mud, 43m depth - very difficult to get to during the course of a recreational dive. They were burrowed a long swim from the mooring line and you may only have a couple moments to observe before having to turn back. The few times I've observed these, I was quite narc'd from the depth so take that into consideration when assessing my estimated size of the organism.
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Atlantic Deep-sea Scallop (Placopecten magellanicus)Observer
alex_shureDescription
≈20m depth
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Red Hake (Urophycis chuss)Observer
alex_shureDescription
I'm pretty sure these are red hake though I might be incorrect. It's hard to see where the mouth terminates relative to eye, but the pelvic fin ray seems to terminate a little after anterior start of anal fin. Mottled brownish (with dive lights). These were schooling by the thousands at the Patriot shipwreck ≈30m depth. A couple sculpin in the mix too.
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Red Algae (Phylum Rhodophyta)Observer
algaebarnacleDescription
Need to key out
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Observer
bobhardingDescription
Holdfast is a mass of rhizoids. https://seaweedcanada.wordpress.com/furcellaria-lumbricalis-hudson-lamouroux-a/
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Observer
alex_shureDescription
Dasysiphonia japonica maybe. 1:1 macro shot. The floating reddish orange bits in the second image.
https://www.unh.edu/unhtoday/2017/05/ocean-invasives
https://www.aphotomarine.com/red_seaweed_dasysiphonia_japonica.html
Specimen is slightly damaged as I tucked it into my dive glove to collect.
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West Atlantic Surfclam (Spisula solidissima)Observer
alex_shureDescription
shot shows the iridescent siphon lining you can observe from certain angles
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Genus OphrydiumObserver
alex_shureDescription
Inat recommendation - Looks very similar to Colpomenia but observed in freshwater lake, dispersed among the quillworts
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Arctic Hiatella (Hiatella arctica)Observer
claudenDescription
Saxicave (boring bivalves) in a rock, sampled from a DFO Quebec Region scallop survey.
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Arctic Surfclam (Mactromeris polynyma)Observer
claudenDescription
Collected and kept 4 in tanks for several days. Natural habitat is sand, but photos were taken in the tank, so only siphons are tagged here. Location and date refer to the collection. Last photo shows a complete specimen.
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Genus ClymenellaObserver
alex_shureDescription
Worm castings? (underwater, <3m depth)
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Landlady's Wig (Ahnfeltia plicata)Observer
dmpetersonDescription
Winthrop Beach, Winthrop, MA
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Spiral Tube Worms (Subfamily Spirorbinae)Observer
bgregoireDescription
NdGV31_049
depth of 1.8m
Large quantity present on Fucus specimen. Low resolution renders ID difficult.
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Twelve-tentacled Burrowing Anemone (Halcampa duodecimcirrata)Observer
claudenDescription
Pair of burrowing anemones (with sand dollars below, included for scale), as observed on a towed camera benthic sled biodiversity survey by DFO Quebec Region. Copyright: DFO-MPO.
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Red Algae (Phylum Rhodophyta)Observer
mkkennedyDescription
attached to a mussel shell
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Landlady's Wig (Ahnfeltia plicata)Observer
carol-in-maineDescription
Tangled with random branching. Branches not tapering at tip and not tapering at stem. Round, not flattened. Twigs not organized like Iris Moss. Not slimy. Tossed onto beach near high tide line with wrack. Identification help will be appreciated. This is reported in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and we have had storms from that direction recently.
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Plumose Anemone (Metridium senile)Observer
alex_shureDescription
Growth on the Patriot shipwreck. Approx 30m depth.
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Order GigartinalesObserver
mkkennedyDescription
Huge piles of seaweed on the shore today along this section of the beach.
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Observer
mkkennedyDescription
Huge piles of seaweed on the shore today along this section of the beach.
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Observer
bclarkstonDescription
Drift specimen.
Cystocarpic.
Project collection # VAN.158
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Elachista fucicolaObserver
christineyoungDescription
Fluffy, brown tufts growing on seaweed. Not sure what they are, but I assume they are some kind of brown seaweed/algae.
Habitat: Tidal pool during low tide
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Family BangiaceaeObserver
dejaymDescription
The Bangiaceae - Porphyra, Pyropia, Nori, 海苔 and Laver are more or less, the same thing. Often brownish but can be pink, green, red, olive, purple or in-between colours. They come in different forms (shapes) but are usually one cell thick. like clingfilm or Saran food wrap. It is often difficult to photograph definitively. Best collected and laid on a white board or light table and teased out with a fine watercolour brush. Some species are best photographed in water, say in a transparent tub.
It is notoriously difficult to get to species and almost always requires microscopic examination of the simple cell structure. It is unwise to offer, or agree to, a species unless accompanied by a micrograph.
It is widely eaten or used in food products. Washed and crisp-dried it can be sprinkled into sea-food dishes or, when dampened, used as a wrap.
It occurs across the oceanic globe but is absent, or not well recorded, in some specific areas https://www.gbif.org/species/2653483
and https://www.gbif.org/species/4908866
Clearly then, the two genera (Porphyra & Pyropia), overlap their records, which seem, on the face of it interchangeable.
This is a cautionary tale then, for those who post either Genus, without supporting evidence, preferably cell micrographs, then the very best that can be proposed may be the FAMILY Bangiaceae.
Edited Aug 2018
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Genus RivulariaObserver
rosemarycurleyDescription
black marine algae on rocky shore
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Pylaiella littoralisObserver
dejaymDescription
Sea Felt may best be identified from its overall morphology. It appears most often as a brown cloud attached to Fucus but can occur washed in unattached.
It is incredibly fine close-to and cannot be identified with just close up photos. It is JUST possible to see, via a x10 glass, the woven filaments which appear to make very fine 'ropes' - if you can see those, then you're on a good bet - Picture 11. Beyond that you will have to spend quite a time at the microscope to get photos of the minute features that ID it positively - the general cell structure and the specific presence of intercalary sporangia, mid-length of those microscopic filaments will thus conform the ID - Picture 12.
In short BOTH views are normally required for ID, one general view of its overall morphology and one of the 'rope' structure or the mid-filament reproductive cells.
See http://www.outerhebridesalgae.uk/marine/marine-species.php?id=40
and
http://www.seaweedsofalaska.com/species.asp?SeaweedID=49
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Bryozoans (Phylum Bryozoa)Observer
miapippinDescription
This was on the bottom of the fenders
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Green Algae (Phylum Chlorophyta)Observer
s_papageorgesDescription
Very soft translucent spheres, attached to the muddy substrate. Solitary individuals or clusters of individuals. No siphon. Found from 0.5 to 4.5m deep in a lagoon (salt water). I don't even know if it is a plant or animal organism. What can it be?
Sphères translucides très molles, attachées au substrat vaseux. Individus solitaires ou grappes d'individus. Aucun siphon. Situé de 0,5 à 4,5m de profondeur dans une lagune (eau salée). Je ne sais même pas s'il s'agit d'un organisme du règne végétal ou animal. De quoi peut-il s'agir?
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Chameleon Shrimp (Praunus flexuosus)Observer
alex_shureDescription
Might be wishful thinking narrowing down to genus. I did my best to get clear images from every perspective I could. 2.5 meters deep, Likely close to 2.5 cm in length. This was one of the most difficult things I've ever photographed underwater. It was so fast and unpredictable, held many positions in the water column.
