shaun-lee's Favorites
Photos / Sounds
What
Violet Sweep (Scorpis violacea)Observer
raewynaDescription
Fish in the foreground. A large school of mixed Scorpis violacea and Girella tricuspidata feeding at the surface.
Photos / Sounds
What
Oceanic Manta Ray (Mobula birostris)Observer
clintonPlace
Missing LocationDescription
One of three rays observed feeding at this spot by Corbin Paterson and the crew of the Spirit of New Zealand.
Estimated size 3 m DW.
Observation courtesy of Corbin Paterson and the Spirit of Adventure Trust.
Image copyright Corbin Paterson.
Photos / Sounds
What
Oceanic Manta Ray (Mobula birostris)Observer
clintonPlace
Missing LocationDescription
Two to three rays observed feeding in close proximity to each other.
Depth 41.2 m, SST 22.3 Celsius.
Observation and images courtesy of Auckland Whale & Dolphin Safari (AWADS).
Photos / Sounds
What
Thecate Hydroids (Order Leptothecata)Observer
simonf7532Description
The white feathery plumes, about 10-15mm. Thecate hydroids? Seems a strange place to be growing.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
raewynaDescription
The large sand scarab grub appears to be being attacked by the wasp.
Photos / Sounds
What
New Zealand Green-lipped Mussel (Perna canaliculus)Observer
glinksDescription
With smaller mussels and mussel spat in the attached mussel's beard
Photos / Sounds
What
New Zealand Green-lipped Mussel (Perna canaliculus)Observer
glinksDescription
Mussel spat on mussel beard on another large green lipped mussel shell
Photos / Sounds
What
Long-nosed Fur Seal (Arctocephalus forsteri)Observer
clintonDescription
Feeding
Observed from Auckland Whale and Dolphin Safari (AWADS).
Photos / Sounds
What
Southern Rock Lobster (Jasus edwardsii)Observer
luca_dtDescription
Feels like I'm being watched...
Photos / Sounds
What
Molluscs (Phylum Mollusca)Observer
simonf7532Description
The sand was covered with these, 4-5 clusters in a hand space. Some sort of egg mass?
Photos / Sounds
What
New Zealand Green-lipped Mussel (Perna canaliculus)Observer
predomalphaDescription
At 2-4m depth.
Photos / Sounds
What
Knobbed Triton Snail (Charonia lampas)Observer
simonf7532Description
Predation on a starfish. Charonia are really fast, the starfish escaped with the loss of an arm
Photos / Sounds
What
New Zealand Morepork (Ninox novaeseelandiae ssp. novaeseelandiae)Observer
jacqui-nzDescription
Ruru calling from a mamaku. Short video in the video link field.
Photos / Sounds
What
Reef Sea Star (Stichaster australis)Observer
dave_hollandDescription
spring tide today so a good time to go looking;)
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus PallenopsisObserver
tangatawhenuaDescription
Initially thought this was a plant of some kind, until it moved. Out on the open coast, very exposed, but under a ledge mid intertidal.
Photos / Sounds
What
New Zealand Hermit Crab (Pagurus novizealandiae)Observer
kelvinperrieDescription
The one in the cat's eye snail shell banged itself against the other one until the second crab left it's shell. Then first crab tried the other shell out for size before going back to it's original shell
Photos / Sounds
What
Red-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae ssp. scopulinus)Observer
jacqui-nz
Photos / Sounds
What
Camouflage Crabs (Genus Notomithrax)Observer
kelvinperrieDescription
smallest one of these I've seen
Photos / Sounds
What
New Zealand Green-lipped Mussel (Perna canaliculus)Observer
pjd1Description
Green-lipped mussel spat on the branches of washed up Landsburgia quercifolia and Melanthalia abscissa, lying in bales of seaweed* exposed along sandy beach at low tide mark.
*Dominated by Carpophyllum maschalocarpum, Landsburgia quercifolia, Vidalia colensoi and Ecklonia radiata.
Photos / Sounds
What
Southeastern Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus ssp. melanotus)Observer
obscurusDescription
Killing a duckling. Took off and carried it away as I approached
Photos / Sounds
What
Red-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae ssp. scopulinus)Observer
jacqui-nzDescription
It's business time!
Photos / Sounds
What
Insect-Parasitising Nematodes (Family Mermithidae)Observer
jtweedDescription
~32 cm long parasitic worm that emerged from a Mecodema sculptuartum. The beetle was found wandering around during the day and then overnight the worm emerged from it. The beetle was still alive and active despite the damage to it's abdomen (visible in the 2nd and 3rd photos).
Photos / Sounds
Observer
erincpowDescription
F. pureora for North island locality, U-shaped orange-cream mark on carapace, orange median dorsal stripe, denticulation of prosoma restricted to a cluster at the anterior of ocularium (eyes).
Extreme size and shape variation found within this species (and many other neopilionids) in adult males (confirmed by inspecting genital operculum). Tooth pattern of chelicera segment III remains consistent.
