When sea stars do something impressive, they give each other a high-ninety-nine.
Tag Archives: Birch Aquarium – La Jolla
Sea Nettle
When zoos show off cnidaria, they often use a special blend of lights to make them more distinct to the human eye. This can make them hard to see in photographs until you reduce the saturation.
Sea Star
I was wondering why the colours evolved the way they did for a creature without eyes, so I looked it up and it turns out that they *do* have eyes!
They can’t see colour though, so that question is still open.
Crystal Jelly
Since you all liked the “jellies in space” concept so much.
Whitespotted Hermit Crab
If they picked one shell and stuck with it, we’d probably call them anchoritic crabs.
Pacific Octopus
When young octopuses are in Little League, the post-game walk-by takes longer the actual game.
Leafy Seadragon
Seadragon pondering the irony that in the 80’s spying was limited by battery tech and 30+ years later people use more powerful batteries to carry around always-on microphones.
China Rockfish
This rockfish would like to remind you that winter squash last a long time, but not forever, and you should probably plan to eat that one on your counter tonight or tomorrow.
Sea Star
You never hear it, ’cause they’re underwater, but sea stars make a “splat” noise when they find just the right rock to lay on.
Bluebanded Goby
Wikipedia says this fish lives at depths between 0 to 249 ft.
My guess is that some young goby one day was told by its parents not to go 250 ft down, and that rule has been passed along ever since.
Sea Dragon
The feeling the morning after the cool kids pressured you into voting for a tax bill that will outright murder your constituents.
Caribbean Rock Mantis Shrimp
Most people think the Caribbean rock mantis shrimp lives in the rocky shoals of the Caribbean.
Nope.
They just really like Black:Guayaba.
Banggai Cardinalfish
This cardinalfish has been informed that it’s lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with him, but has some logistical questions.
Dragonface Pipefish
Dragonface pipefish mostly just watch TV.
Anemone
This anemone was perched on some sea grass. Sea grass is a bit finer than land grass. I used my macro lens.
Crystal Jelly
It’s a lot of work to remove all the little floaty bits that the jellies eat, so I usually don’t bother.
Lobster
Waiting on the shingle.
Fried Egg Jellyfish
I’m getting better at getting shots of these guys. You can finally see where they got the name “fried egg jellyfish”.
Lined Seahorse
One half the form of a maiden fish with a jet black mare’s body.
Picturesque Dragonet
A livery he did wear
And he did comb back his hair*
And in velvet so green he did appear
But straight he did not repair
To the Curragh of Kildare
Mostly ’cause it was on land.
* Yeah, okay, but “fin” doesn’t rhyme