The Closer You Look, the Busier It Gets

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Merry

Contributor
Messages
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Location
Torrance, California
# of dives
1000 - 2499
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
Pentidotea%20resecata%20POTW%20DSC_1198_zps17ujevhe.jpg




Seldom seen amphipod, Podocerus cristatus
Podocerus%20cristatus%20cropped%20DSC_1331_zpsygvanh7k.jpg




What a swarm of caprellid amphipods on a Distaplia tunicate!
Caprellids%20on%20tunicate%20DSC_1438_zpshd0elkxn.jpg




Munnid isopods gleaning bits from the same species of tunicate.
Munnids%20on%20Distaplia%20DSC_1532_zpskqovplc5.jpg




Munnids%20on%20Distaplia%20DSC_1531_zps7woznl3b.jpg




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 interesting below.
Distaplia%20occidentalis%20or%20sp.%20DSC_1548_zpsrk1hjed8.jpg




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.
Distaplia%20budding%202%20DSC_1540_zpso6xj5rsy.jpg





Distaplia%20budding%204%20DSC_1566_zps0apyid5d.jpg




More of looking-closely-at-kelp produced this "Where's Waldo?" shrimp.
Waldo%20shrimp%20DSC_1509_zpsantpn0h8.jpg




Demonstrating that even fishing line can be home to something, after the hydroid Obelia colonized the line, Doto form A set up housekeeping.
Doto%20on%20fishing%20line%20DSC_1574_zps8xmsupte.jpg
 
You guys are either much younger than I am, or you're taking a magnifying glass underwater with you!

LOVE the little purple amphipod. I think I could dive a steady decade in Southern California and not have seen the variety of animals you two have introduced me to.
 

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