What
Southern Stiff-stiped Kelp (Laminaria setchellii)Observer
setiowensDescription
Only specimens sighted were in too rough of a splash zone to get close pictures, and my camera's resolution and focus kept resetting, so I was unable to get a perfect picture. Organisms appeared quite durable despite repeated waves hitting them. Each stipe had between 1 and 5 blades on the end.
What
Fingered Limpet (Lottia digitalis)Observer
setiowensDescription
Light tannish in color. Overall smooth shell, with waviness at the edges. A Rough Limpet and two smaller Owl Limpets can also be seen.
What
Succulent Seaweed (Sarcodiotheca gaudichaudii)Observer
setiowensDescription
Lots and lots of cylindrical branches, all slimming into a point at the end.
Photos / Sounds
What
Pacific Purple Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus)Observer
setiowensDescription
Bright purple spines, much shorter than body width, resembled "koosh" balls. Most observed were hiding inside burrows dug into the rock. Most around 2" across the Test.
Photos / Sounds
What
Brooding Anemone (Epiactis prolifera)Observer
setiowensDescription
Organism was missing a bunch of spines off the top. Spines were longer and more reddish than other Sea Urchins in the vicinity.
What
Torrey's Surfgrass (Phyllospadix torreyi)Observer
setiowensDescription
Grew attached to rocky surfaces. Blades very thin, 1/8" about.
What
Order CeramialesObserver
setiowensDescription
Most resembles this species, though it closely resembles other Pterosiphonia as well, so I am not certain of the ID.
What
Splendid Iridescent Seaweed (Mazzaella splendens)Observer
setiowensDescription
Very shiny, many colors visible at different angles.
Observer
setiowensDescription
Found in large mats along wave-swept rocks. Branches and blades are all cylindrical, resembling cucumbers. Overall color is olive to dark brown.
What
Spotted Unicorn (Acanthinucella punctulata)Observer
setiowensDescription
Could be an Acanthina punctulata. Overgrowth of coralline encrusting makes identity difficult to ascertain.
What
Olive's Aeolid (Anteaeolidiella oliviae)Observer
setiowensDescription
A tiny, 3/4" long nudibranch, with a pale body and a thick covering of rich orange papillae. Large prominent "horns" on the front end.
Photos / Sounds
What
East Pacific Red Octopus (Octopus rubescens)Observer
setiowensDescription
A tiny red octopus, found crawling across surf-grass. No species-identifying features noted besides red color, small size, and proximity to extremely shallow water.
Photos / Sounds
What
Surfgrasses (Genus Phyllospadix)Observer
setiowensDescription
4" - 8" long tube-shaped growth, with many branching "root" growths that split into feathery divisions. Very firmly attached to rock surfaces, I assume it is the holdfast portion of the organism. Multiple examples found within a foot of each other, all appeared broken off at one end. Could potentially be [i]Cystoseira osmundacea[/i].
What
Animals (Kingdom Animalia)Observer
setiowensDescription
1mm - 3mm long, transparent, with visible black "spine" inside it along one side. Appears oval in shape. Wiggles its body to move up to 1/8" distance when poked. Was found on accident while attempting to photograph an unidentified 1/2" long black tadpole-shaped fish and an unidentified 1/4" long worm.
What
Eubrachyuran Crabs (Zoosection Eubrachyura)Observer
setiowensDescription
Little fellow would NOT let go of this plant, so I took a picture of him instead. Has the classic indented "D" shape as well as the triangular white spots.
What
Coralline Algae (Order Corallinales)Observer
setiowensDescription
My guidebook says these are [i]Clathromorphum parcum[/i] but iNaturalist does not list that species. Also shown in my picture, a couple specimens of [i]Nassarius fossatus[/i], the Giant Western Nassa snail.
Photos / Sounds
What
Sea Laurel (Osmundea spectabilis)Observer
setiowensDescription
Unable to identify species at this time, most probably a cryptopleura or mazzaella of some kind.
What
Genus LithothamnionObserver
setiowensDescription
Several examples of this pinkish organism/genus, growing on a rock amidst other colored coralline growths I cannot identify.
What
Red Algae (Phylum Rhodophyta)Observer
setiowensDescription
The smooth, waveswept form of this organism, I think.
What
Black Tegula (Tegula funebralis)Observer
setiowensDescription
Black, rounded "classic" looking snail, with white worn patches on the oldest parts of the shell. Very common, almost impossible to move without stepping on them out at the lower tidal zone.
What
Rockweed (Fucus distichus)Observer
setiowensDescription
Flat deflated blades, usually in pairs at the tips, with a prominently visible spine and a bumpy surface.
Photos / Sounds
What
Bottlebrush Seaweed (Analipus japonicus)Observer
setiowensDescription
Main thread branches are between 1/16" and 1/8" diameter, with many small "cucumber shaped" protrusions, and occasional longer blades up to 2" in length. Difficult to identify. Light olive color does not match the expected brown to purple description, but other than that it fits the stereotype.
What
Genus AeolidiaObserver
setiowensDescription
2" long "fluffy" looking sea slug, covered in white/transparent papillae, vaguely resembling a small handful of cooked white rice. Found in mid-tide area.