This has been especially true lately, especially with sightings of different microcrustaceans out in force. Here are some of the animals (or things) that we've never seen before.

Kelp isopod, Pentidotea resecata

Seldom seen amphipod, Podocerus cristatus

What a swarm of caprellid amphipods on a Distaplia tunicate!

Munnid isopods gleaning bits from the same species of tunicate.

Andy Lamb kindly identified this translucent orange tunicate as either Distaplia occidentalis or Distaplia sp.. It's abundant on Little Reef near Pt. Vicente, and is doing something very interesting below.

Tunicates can reproduce via eggs and sperm or by the process of vegetative budding. These Distaplia tunicates are budding off little clones of themselves, which will be the end of the life cycle for the parent.

More of looking-closely-at-kelp produced this "Where's Waldo?" shrimp.

Demonstrating that even fishing line can be home to something, after the hydroid Obelia colonized the line, Doto form A set up housekeeping.