Seamounts of Canada's Large Offshore Pacific Area of Interest (a MLNEP guide) [2020]
A major objective of the Marine Life of the Northeast Pacific (MLNEP) project is to support the accuracy and consistency of taxonomic identification in images, as well as to promote collaboration among stake-holders working within this region (project page: ...more ↓
Synallactes challengeri
From e-Fauna(link beow):
"Synallactes challengeri can grow up to 20 cm in length. Its elongate, cylindrical body tapers toward the posterior end. The dorsal side of the body is covered with long, slender, tapering papillae. They do not appear to be in rows. The animal is grey with a tinge of pink or purple. On the ventral side, there are three series of tube feet. The middle series has ...more ↓
Apostichopus leukothele
Parastichopus leukothele can measure up to 38 cm long (preserved). The elongate cylindrical body has a blunt anterior end and a tapering tail. Small (less than 1 cm), white papillae are scattered over the dorsal surface: approximately 2 per cm². The skin is rich orange with rusty brown patches around the bases of some papillae. The tube feet are confined to the ventral surface in four bands, ...more ↓
Giant California Sea Cucumber
From "Invertebrates of the Salish Sea" (link below)
Description: Large sea cucumber ranging from 25 to 40cm in body length. Dorsal and lateral surfaces dark red, brown, or yellow. The body surface bears large, stiff, conical papillae or pseudospines. Papillae are usually paler in color than body surface and tipped with red. Tube feet are densely arranged on the ventral side and ...more ↓
Orange Sea Cucumber
Cucumaria miniata is commonly known as the orange sea cucumber or red sea cucumber due to its striking color. This northeast Pacific species is often found wedged in between rocks or crevices at the coast or on docks and can generally be identified by its orange bushy tentacles protruding above the substrate.
From Invertebrates of the Salish Sea (link ...more ↓
Asthenactis
8-9 arms in observed specimens - potentially confused with Solaster sp. https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/1250838
Pacific White Skate
The Pacific white skate (Bathyraja spinosissima) is a species of skate, family Rajidae. It is one of the deepest-living of all skates, occurring at a depth of 800 to 2,938 m on the continental slope. It is native to the southeast Pacific Ocean from the Galapagos Islands to off Waldport, Oregon; an egg case and embryo has been collected from the Farallon Islands off San ...more ↓
Predatory Tunicate
The predatory tunicate (Megalodicopia hians) is a species of tunicate which lives anchored along the deep sea canyon walls and seafloor, waiting for tiny animals to drift or swim into its hood-shaped mouth. This sea creature is said to look like a cross between a jellyfish and a Venus flytrap, its mouthlike hood is quick to close when a small animal drifts inside. Once the ...more ↓
Pyrosoma atlanticum
Pyrosoma atlanticum is a pelagic species of marine colonial tunicate in the class Thaliacea found in temperate waters worldwide. The name of the genus comes from the Greek words pyros meaning 'fire' and soma meaning 'body', referring to the bright bioluminescence sometimes emitted. The specific epithet atlanticum refers to the Atlantic Ocean, from where the ...more ↓
Hexactinellida, Branching #2 (OTU: PH16)
Hexactinellid sponges are sponges with a skeleton made of four- and/or six-pointed siliceous spicules, often referred to as glass sponges. They are usually classified along with other sponges in the phylum Porifera, but some researchers consider them sufficiently distinct to deserve their own phylum, Symplasma.
cf. Parantipathes sp. (OTU: CA46)
Black corals (Antipatharia) are a group of deep water, tree-like corals. Black corals were previously classified in the taxon Ceriantipatharia with the ceriantharians, but were later reclassified under Hexacorallia.
Fish-eating Anemone
Urticina piscivora, common names flesh-eating anemone and blood sucking urticina, is a northeast Pacific species of sea anemone in the family Actiniidae.
Paragorgia pacifica (OTU: CA18)
The Pacific bubblegum coral, recently determined to be a genetically distinct species from the morphologically similar Paragorgia arborea. Bubblegum corals are robust, tree-like colonies that can reach sizes of up to several meters in height (Sanchez, 2005). This species is often a vibrant pink or orange colour, but may also be a darker purple-grey. White or cream-coloured P. arborea have ...more ↓
Primnoa pacifica (OTU: CA16)
Branches are thinner and more tapered than Paragorgia.
Can profusely branch.
Parastenella spp. (OTU: CA10)
White, fan-shaped Primnoidae with a dark brown/black skeleton (sometimes obscured with tissue in larger colonies). Can form dense forests. Branches are fine and often hard to distinguish.
There are several Parastenella species documented in BC waters: P. doederleini, P. gymnogaster, P. pacifica, and P. ramosa. These require microscopic examination of the sclerites to confirm, and ...more ↓
Paragorgiidae, Unknown (OTU: CA39)
Small coral in the family Paragorgiidae, colour ranges from dark pink to white. Can be confused with large hydrocorals (Stylasteridae), but the branches are much thicker and more sparse, and are flexible whereas hydrocorals are hard. Additionally, it is smaller and more densely branched than pale/white Paragorgia species such as P. pacifica, P. jamesi, and P. yutlinux. Possibly a new species ...more ↓
Deep-sea Octopus
Pale to dark purple octopus; can also fully or partially change colour to white. Body is smooth except for small cartilaginous bumps, and has one row of suckers per arm. Usually found in depths of 715-1500m.
Giant Pacific Octopus
Unknown octopus observed with a mottled red and brown pattern on the mantle, and 2 fairly long white papillae also visible on the mantle. Two rows of suckers on the arms.
Bathypathes patula (OTU: CA06)
This black coral (antipatharian) resembles a feather (generally, long branches arise from a single stalk, with occasional secondary branching). Colour ranges from pink, red, and orange, to brownish, with a dark brown/black skeleton.
There are 2 species known in the North Pacific (Bathypathes patula and B. seculata), differentiated partly by the ratio of pinnule length to colony ...more ↓
Acanthogorgia sp., Yellow (OTU: CA32)
Distinct bright yellow colour; could possibly be confused with some of the yellow parasitic zoanthids from farther away, but Acanthogorgia polyps are much smaller than the zoanthids, and have fewer tentacles (8 vs ~20–33):
(https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/1230319
See page 29 in the Sur ...more ↓
Gersemia juliepackardae (OTU: CA20)
True soft coral. Pinkish or blueish translucent. Branches emanate from a thick central stalk and branch frequently in a short distance creating thin fluffy branches.
cf Gersemia juliepackardae-Julie Packard’s treasure coral at ...more ↓
Longfin Dragonfish
Tactostoma macropus, the longfin dragonfish, is a species of barbeled dragonfish found in the Pacific Ocean down to depths of 2,000 metres (6,600 ft). This species grows to a length of 34.3 centimetres (13.5 in) TL. This species is the only known species in the genus Tactostoma.
Stichopathes cf. spiessi (OTU: CA38)
Unbranched black coral, often with a characteristic spiral shape in situ. Bright orange-red to pink and white polyps on all sides of the brown/black skeleton.
There are 2 species known in the North Pacific: Stichopathes spiessi and S. paucispina, most readily differentiated by the size of the skeletal spines (0.14-0.24 in S. spiessi; up to 0.34 in S. paucispina). The sample collected ...more ↓
Desmophyllum dianthus
Cup coral with orange tentacles and a white corallum, with distinctly exsert septa (radial plate-like divisions inside the corallum, which in this case extend noticeably over the lip of the cup).
California Sun Star
From The Echinoblog1: Large sea star, reaching 45 cm (18 inches) in diameter, with a well-defined central disc and 12-21 arms. Found from 130-700m, generally on soft substrate. They are scavengers and also predate swimming prey2. May be confused with Pycnopodia helianthoides, but that species has a proportionally larger central disc and appears less stiff or "softer", as well as having ...more ↓
Unidentified Sponge #1 (OTU: PU01)
White cushion-shaped sponge with fairly large oscula grouped on the top surface. Surface of the sponge appears smooth and free of debris. Found on hard substrate.
Sponge, Bright Yellow (OTU: PH12)
Unidentified sponge, bright yellow in colour, with fairly thin body walls apparent in some imagery. Observed with a sac-like morphology and also a series of large flared tubes, often covered in brittle stars.
Resembled the provisionally-identified "Staurocalyptus sp. 2" in the 2017 Sur Ridge Dield Guide (p.12):
...more ↓
Hamigera spp. (OTU: PD15)
Thickly encrusting orange demosponge, with several oscula visible when zoomed in. These oscula appear to have raised edges, giving them a volcano-like shape. Prior epithet Demosponge, Orange (PD16).
Demosponge, ball (OTU: PD01)
A small ball-shaped sponge found on soft sediment. Long spicules projecting from the sponge are evident in closer images.
Blacktip Poacher
The blacktip poacher (Xeneretmus latifrons) is a fish in the family Agonidae (poachers). It was described by Charles Henry Gilbert in 1890. It is a marine, deep water-dwelling fish which is known from British Columbia, Canada to Baja California, Mexico, in the eastern Pacific Ocean. It dwells at a depth range of 18-400 metres, and inhabits soft benthic sediments. Males can reach ...more ↓
Twoline Eelpout
Bothrocara brunneum, the twoline eelpout, is a benthic species of fish of the Zoarcidae family. The species is the only fish of the eelpouts to have two lateral lines and short blunt-ended gill rakers. The species is found between the Bering Sea to the shores of San Francisco, and also Baja California Peninsula and Attu Island.
Pallid Eelpout
Pallid eelpouts are found in the water column, unlike the Black Eelpouts in this guide which are on or near the bottom.
Wolf Eel
The wolf eel (Anarrhichthys ocellatus) is a species of wolffish (Anarhichadidae) from the North Pacific. It is monotypic within the genus Anarrhichthys and one of only two genera in the family, the other being Anarhichas.
Northern Ronquil
The small pores visible under the eyes when zoomed-in are an identifying feature. The females often have brown and white speckling while the males have a darker cap on the head, and can be quite bright with yellow and purple colouring.
Prowfish
The prowfish (Zaprora silenus) is a species of perciform marine fish found in the northern Pacific Ocean. It is the only extant member of the family, Zaproridae. Another species, Araeosteus rothi, is known from Late Miocene marine strata in Southern California.
Red Irish Lord
Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus is a type of sculpin, primarily red but generally mottled with various colours including pink, yellow, orange, brown, and white. They can change colour to match their surroundings, and reach a maximum size of 51cm long. See the following links for more info:
Barred rockfish (OTU: CO01)
We are going to treat small, banded rockfish as a morphotype (OTU: CO01) as likely a mix of juveniles but possibly small-bodied species.
Rougheye Rockfish
The Blackspotted-Rougheye rockfish complex
Large, schooling fish. Often swimming above seafloor. Colors varying a lot, although many do have tiny black spots. Thinner than the blackgill rockfish.
From "The Cobb Seamount Species Inventory" (Du Preez et al. 2015): There is a history of confusing and misidentifying blackspotted rockfish and rougheye rockfish owing to similar ...more ↓
Pacific Ocean Perch
Adults have a deep red coloration with olive green to brown patches on the upper body. They may also have black speckling or patches.
Redbanded Rockfish
A very distinctive looking species. Body colour is white or pale pink, with four vertical orange or red bands. They also have angled red bands crossing their head; one extending backward from the eye, and the other near the upper jaw. They may have black coloration on the dorsal, anal and pectoral fins, especially on the outer margins.
Silvergray Rockfish
Slim body. Dark grey, green or brown on the back with silver or tan sides and a while belly. Can be difficult to distinguish from sides and a while belly. Can be difficult to distinguish from Bocaccio.
Greenstriped Rockfish
Sebastes elongatus is a species of fish in the rockfish family found in the northeast pacific
Widow Rockfish
Sebastes entomelas, the widow rockfish, is a type of rockfish (Sebastidae) that lives mainly off the coast of western North America from Alaska to Baja California. This fish is also commonly called widowfish and red snapper.
Yellowtail Rockfish
Body is dark brown or greenish brown above the lateral line and tan flushed with yellow below it. Fins are flushed with yellow. There are several pale or white blotches along the back below the dorsal fin.
See the following guides for additional info:
...more ↓
Rosethorn Rockfish
A small species that is pink in colour with 4-5 distinctive white spots along the back.
Quillback Rockfish
Adults are brown with yellow or orange anterior blotches. They have light-coloured dorsal saddle patches on the anterior part of the body and through the spiny part of the dorsal fin. They may also have speckling on the anterior part of the body . The spiny dorsal fin is deeply notched.
Blackgill Rockfish
Broad-bodied. Often sitting on the seafloor. Doesn't school but will often occur with other species of rockfish (e.g., rougheye-blackspotted rockfish). Gills are black (not easily observed in imagery). Body color can be highly variable but often right reds with patches of white and black. Usually >1000 m.
In contrast, the rougheye-blackspotted rockfish complex are thinner, less ...more ↓
China Rockfish
The China rockfish (Sebastes nebulosus) is a rockfish of the Pacific coast found from Kachemak Bay in the northern Gulf of Alaska to Redondo Beach and San Nicolas Island in southern California.
Tiger Rockfish
The tiger rockfish (Sebastes nigrocinctus), also called tiger seaperch, banded rockfish and black-banded rockfish, is a fish found in rocky reefs and boulder fields. It is found in the northeast Pacific Ocean off Kodiak Island, and from Prince William Sound, Alaska, south to Point Buchon, central California. This species of fish is territorial, and somewhat ...more ↓
Bocaccio
Elongated body with a lower jaw that extends well beyond the upper. Colour is pink, pink-brown, grey or red. Can have black blotches or speckles. May be hard to distinguish from Silvergray rockfish.
Canary Rockfish
Adults are primarily orange with a pale gray or white background. They have three orange diagonal stripes across their head. They have a light gray or white zone that extends along the lateral line to the caudal fin. Fins are bright orange with a white leading edge on the ventral and anal fins. Juveniles and sub adults often have a dark blotch on the posterior portion of the spiny dorsal fin ...more ↓
Redstripe Rockfish
Elongate body, red, pink or tan on the back with pink or yellowish sides and light fins. The lateral line forms a distinctive clear, light stripe.
Yellowmouth Rockfish
Coloration is mixed red with orange and yellow and a thin pink red stripe along the lateral line. May have vague dusky saddles along the back.
See the following guides for additional info:
...more ↓
Yelloweye rockfish
Large species of rockfish with a heavy red or orange body and bright yellow eyes. Can grow to 92 cm in length. Usually found between 10-550 m depth.
Juveniles and sub-adults have distinctive white lines that run the length of their body above and below the lateral line. These stripes fade as the fish matures while the body colour lightens from a darker red to orange.
Adult: ...more ↓
Pygmy Rockfish
The pygmy rockfish (Sebastes wilsoni) is a rockfish of the genus Sebastes. It is one of the smallest fish of its genus. It is reported to grow to a maximum of 23 cm (9 in) and can live up to 26 years. The rockfish lives between 30 m (98 ft) and 274 m (899 ft) of depth, and its range is in the East Pacific, for the Gulf of Alaska to Baja California, Mexico. It is colored ...more ↓
Sharpchin Rockfish
Elongated body with saddle marks along the back and blotches on the sides. Distinctive < shaped lines radiating backwards from the eyes.
See the following guides for additional info:
...more ↓
Thornyheads
Thornyhead's have broad spiny heads, big prectoral fins, thinly tapering bodies, a small tail fin. Big eyes. Nearly always on the seafloor.
If the 3rd dorsal spine is much longer than the others, it's a Longspine. If not, it's a Shortspine. There is also a depth distribution, where Longspine are deeper, but there is also significant range overlap.
Since it's nearly impossible to ...more ↓
Giant blob sculpin
The blob sculpin (Psychrolutes phrictus) is a species of deep-sea fish of the family Psychrolutidae. It feeds mainly on crustaceans, molluscs, and sea pens.
Pacific Halibut
Hippoglossus stenolepis, the Pacific halibut, is a species of righteye flounder. This very large species of flatfish is native to the North Pacific and is fished by commercial fisheries, sport fishers, and subsistence fishers.
Pacific Dover Sole
The pectoral fin is very telling, as well as the overall shape. Dover soles have short, stubby pec fins whereas Rex soles have a very long, tapered pec fins. A Dover sole is oval-shaped whereas Rex soles are elongated (kite-like shape). Plus, Dover soles have round caudal fins (tail fin) while Rex soles have a slight point in the middle of their caudal fins.
Hopefully that helps.
P.S. ...more ↓
Demosponge, Pale-yellow (OTU: PD04)
Thickly encrusting sponge that can be plate- or fan-shaped when large. Light yellow in colour. Small holes (oscula) are visible on close inspection.
Porifera sp., Orb (PO01) (OTU: PO01)
Round white sponge with an outer translucent layer of spicules visible when zoomed in. This sponge is fairly small (~15cm), and may be difficult to differentiate from other small ball-shaped sponges. It's potentially a juvenile form of a larger glass sponge.
An attempt was made to collect this sponge on the 2018 seamount survey but it failed:
...more ↓
Giant grenadier
Larger head and thicker body than the Pacific.Max length 2.2 m (vs. Pacific grenadier at 1.2 m)
Could be confused with Abyssal/Rough Abyssal Grenadiers (Coryphaenoides armatus/yaquinae), see the Davidson Seamount Taxonomic Guide p.121 for comparison:
...more ↓
Hexactinellida, Luminescent (OTU: PD08)
Bright/neon yellow sponge with abundant oscula (holes) at the ends of small projections. These specimens are very likely glass sponges, as evidenced by the dead skeletal framework visible in image #4.
Previous epithets: M. cf (Mycale) loveni
Mycale sp., luminescent (OTU: PD08)
Pacific grenadier
Smaller head and thinner body than the Giant Grenadier, and proportionally larger eye. Maximum length 1.2m (vs. 2.2m for the Giant Grenadier).
There are several taxa of Grenadier that can be challenging to separate, see the Davidson Seamount Taxonomic Guide, pp. 121-122 for more examples: ...more ↓
Demosponge, Holey (OTU: PD07)
Encrusting mat of seemingly aggregated individuals, somewhat raised around the crater-like oscula (holes).
Previous epithet: Nipple Demosponge
Longnose Skate
Beringraja rhina, the longnose skate, is a species of skate in the family Rajidae from the northeast Pacific. It is found from the Eastern Bering Sea and Alaska to Baja California and the Gulf of California. The longnose skate is found at depths of 9–1,069 m (30–3,507 ft) and often deeper than the big skate.
Cup coral, Pink/brown tentacles (OTU: CA13)
Cup coral, has a slender stony stalk with brown or pinkish tentacles. Stalk is more trumpet-shaped with a smaller basal plate than CA14 (https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/1230323)
Resembles Javania cailleti in the Davidson Seamount Taxonomic Guide (p.41):
...more ↓
Demosponge, bulbous (OTU: PD02)
Small ball-shaped sponge found on hard substrate, often covered in brittle stars. Very similar in appearance to PD01, with long spicules projecting out from the sponge (https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/1230375), but the substrate preference is significant and it is unlikely the same species.
Oregon Hairy Triton Snail
The Oregon hairy triton, Fusitriton oregonensis, is a species of large predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Ranellidae, the tritons.
Nudibranch, Unknown (OTU: MG01)
Nudibranchs (/ˈnjuːdɪbræŋk/) are a group of soft-bodied, marine gastropod molluscs which shed their shells after their larval stage. They are noted for their often extraordinary colours and striking forms, and they have been given colourful nicknames to match, such as "Clown", "Marigold", "Splendid", "Dancer" and "Dragon". Currently, about 2,300 valid species of nudibranchs are ...more ↓
Spotted Ratfish
The spotted ratfish (Hydrolagus colliei) is a chimaera found in the north-eastern Pacific Ocean. Often seen by divers at night in the Pacific Northwest, this cartilaginous fish gets its characteristic name from a pointed rat-like tail. The ratfish lays leathery egg cases on the bottom of muddy or sandy areas which are often mistaken by divers as something inanimate. While mainly ...more ↓
Primnoidae, White (OTU:CA42)
White uniplanar primnoid coral. Polyps appear to be arranged in alternate biserial positions, perpendicular or inclined slightly upward, but will require a sample to confirm. They can be very abundant in certain areas, forming fields. These corals have been observed attached to hard substrate with a basal plate, but have been observed in areas where the hard substrate is apparently covered in ...more ↓
White-lined Dirona
Dirona albolineata is a species of sea slug, an Eastern Pacific Ocean nudibranch, a marine, opisthobranch gastropod mollusk in the family Dironidae.
Triton Seaslugs
Pink nudibranch found on corals and rocks, often exceeding 10cm in length. Possibly T. diomedea or sp. nov., see the Davidson Seamount Taxonomic Guide p.57 (Burton & Lundsten 2008)
Yellow-edged Cadlina
Cadlina luteomarginata, common name the yellow-edged cadlina, is a species of colorful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cadlinidae.
Grooved Tanner Crab
There are a couple tanner crab species in the area but this one has a narrow groove in the centre of the carapace. Next most common is Chionoecetes bairdi (no groove).
Sternostylus iaspis (OTU: AM02)
Spider squat lobster. Long-legged pale squat lobster with long pincers.
Small (~5cm), usually pinkish body with long (~10 cm) skinny arms outstretched from body. Most frequently observed perched on top of corals or sponges
Keratoisis sp., bush (OTU: CA05)
White bamboo coral with fairly long, wiry branches. Polyps distinctly visible on closer inspection. Branches arise from the internodes, excluding the previous identification of Acanella sp. (recorded as such in the 2017 version).
MLNP activity: doctocoral suggested an ID, Genus Keratoisis, A member of the Order Alcyonacea
"A very intruiging picture. Because of the geographic ...more ↓
Paralithodes rathbuni
Paralithodes rathbuni, the spiny king crab, is a species of hermit crab in the family Lithodidae. It is found in the East Pacific Ocean off California.
Golden King Crab
Lithodes aequispinus, the golden king crab, also known as the brown king crab, is a king crab species native to the North Pacific. Golden king crabs are primarily found in the Aleutian Islands and waters nearer to Alaska and British Columbia; their range also extends to the Russian far east and Japan, albeit with a less dense population. Golden king crabs are the ...more ↓
Brown Box Crab
The brown box crab, Lopholithodes foraminatus, is a king crab that lives from Kodiak Island, Alaska to San Diego, California. at depths of 0–547 metres (0–1,795 ft). It reaches a carapace length of 150 millimetres (5.9 in), and feeds on bivalves and detritus. It often lies buried in the sediment, and two foramens in the chelipeds allow water into the gill chamber for ...more ↓
Munida quadrispina
Small squat lobster, carapace longer/less broad than Munidopsis sp. (https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/1250832), with thinner chelipeds (claws). White and red spots may be visible on close-up images. Occasionally found in very high numbers on flat gravelly substrate.
Munidopsis sp. (OTU: AM01)
Small squat lobster, pale colour morph possibly a different taxa. Carapace is more broad/stout than Munida quadrispina (https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/1290429), with more robust chelipeds (claws).
Ranging from bright yellow/orange in colour to pale, with arms longer than body length that bow ...more ↓
Cup coral, red tentacles (OTU: CA14)
Large cup coral in the family Flabellidae. Has deep red cup tentacles and a distinct basal plate where they adhere to hard substrate, which is often as wide as the corallum (cup part). Can be distinguished from sea anemones by their stony stalks.
