Living, blue paint chips

[Mr.X]

During the summers here in the NE United States you can sometimes see little tiny specks in the water which resemble vibrant blue paint chips. I often see these little guys when I am hanging on a deco. line. I saw tons when I was deco'ing off the Andrea Doria and deeper wrecks.

Again, they resemble cobalt blue paint chips. When you try to grab-em' they turn a different color. I suspect they must be an copepod of some type, but since I haven't grabbed any I don't know.

Has anyone (who's done some plankton netting during the summer) know who these little guys are? I'd say the size is 1-2mm.

Thanks.

X

 

[letterboy]

When you try to grab-em'

It's not nice to harass sea life

 

[Mr.X]

It's not nice to harass sea life

LOL! Those little guys are so fast and small they make me look like the land-lubbering biped I am!

X

 

[LeslieH]

Should be copepods. There are some species of Labidocera and members of the family Pontellidae which are bright cobalt blue and can be extremely abundant in some areas. Not many good pictures show up in a google search. The best is at http://weblog.greenpeace.org/deepsea/archives/2004/06/ scroll down to June 5, 2004.

 

[Mr.X]

Should be copepods. There are some species of Labidocera and members of the family Pontellidae which are bright cobalt blue and can be extremely abundant in some areas. Not many good pictures show up in a google search. The best is at http://weblog.greenpeace.org/deepsea/archives/2004/06/ scroll down to June 5, 2004.

Thank you Leslie. I appreciate the web log too as a former Greenpeacer!

I think I might try to bring a small mesh net with me this summer. The little guys are always fun to watch on a dive.

X

 

[LeslieH]

My pleasure You should try some night light netting as well. All sorts of swarmers will show up to a bright light especially close to the full moon. They're great fun to watch.

 

[munromh]

Hey Mr.X,

Back in 1997 I grabbed one off the back of the boat and brought it to UCONN Avery Point to find out what it was. The guy I talked to sent it to a friend at the Smithsonian, here's his reply:

 

[perdidochas]

It's not nice to harass sea life

People dive and leave sea life alone? I thought we were down there to harass sea life?