Posted by Merry on January 07, 2015 at 14:07:20:
Head for the Underwater Arch (Lunada Bay) if you want to photograph yellowfin fringeheads. There are 4 of them (3 different colors) within 20 feet of each other.
Phil found 2 Trapania velox at the base of the arch. Uncommon!
Kevin miraculaously found a village of Trinchesia lagunae on the White Point outfall pipe. This active sewer pipe extends a couple miles along the seafloor; we like to drop anchor at ~65 feet. Rocks that buttress the pipe provide generous habitat. There's even giant kelp, which seems to have more than it's share of interesting invertebrates.
I can't blame you for being tired of my posting Eubranchus rustyus. They just keep popping up and I can't resist the challenge. We've found them on all sides of PV.
Part of the appeal of nudibranchs is their ephemeral nature and the occasional mystery surrounding their reproduction. At White Point sewer pipe, kelp fronds were loaded with nudi eggs. By-catch in other photos confirms that these eggs belong to the tiny Doto amyra and E. rustyus.
These egg masses are larger than the above; wish I'd looked harder for adults.
|