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Ocean Wild Things

The California spiny lobster’s role in the ecosystem

October 30, 2010 by Carolyn Kraft 1 Comment

Everyone has their role to play and the California spiny lobster is no exception. And since sea otter’s were hunted to local extinction along California’s southern coast in the late 1800’s, the spiny lobster’s role has become even more important. Anytime a top predator is removed from an ecosystem there are consequences. The sea otter… [read more]

Filed Under: Lobster, shrimp, crab(s) Tagged With: crustacean

Writing about the California spiny lobster

October 19, 2010 by Carolyn Kraft Leave a Comment

Last week, I wrote a cover story for Easy Reader on Dive N’ Surf’s Lobster Mobster contest and lobster fishing in California. This turned into a much bigger story than I originally had planned, but that’s how the writing process often goes. One of the most challenging decisions every writer must face is what information… [read more]

Filed Under: Lobster, shrimp, crab(s) Tagged With: crustacean, fishing

A lobster love story

August 27, 2010 by Carolyn Kraft 1 Comment

Many apologies for the oddly lit photo, but this is the best I could do since I don’t own photoshop, much less know how to use it. So this photo will have to serve as the introduction to Tank, the California spiny lobster that lives at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. The first spiny lobster I… [read more]

Filed Under: Lobster, shrimp, crab(s) Tagged With: crustacean

Introducing the spider crab with gold eyes

August 18, 2010 by Carolyn Kraft Leave a Comment

Meet the spider crab with the creepy, cool gold eyes. When I met the spider crab I didn’t even notice the gold eyes because I was so enthralled by its small size. Then the next day when I was going through my photos I spotted the fabulous gold eyes highlighted by the glint from the… [read more]

Filed Under: Lobster, shrimp, crab(s) Tagged With: crustacean, oil spill, pollution

Here’s looking at you kid

July 17, 2010 by Carolyn Kraft Leave a Comment

I have to admit I’m pretty obsessed with California spiny lobsters, they are just so cool! Here’s another great photo of one staring with it’s beady eyes. And don’t be fooled by the yellow coloring with the black spots, those aren’t eyes. The eyes are directly above the yellow areas, the tiny round black marbles… [read more]

Filed Under: Lobster, shrimp, crab(s) Tagged With: crustacean

Me and the rock crab

June 28, 2010 by Carolyn Kraft 1 Comment

This is my new friend Rockie the rock crab or to be more specific the Pacific rock crab or you could call him by his scientific name Cancer antennarius. He was picked up by a trap set by the Cabrillo Aquarium on their “See the Sea” trip on Saturday. The rock crab is in the… [read more]

Filed Under: Lobster, shrimp, crab(s) Tagged With: crustacean

California spiny lobster carting her eggs

June 25, 2010 by Carolyn Kraft Leave a Comment

Now that I have graphic photos of a female California spiny lobster carrying her eggs, I thought it was the perfect time to do a quick recap of her fascinating role in the cycle of life. Okay, so the photos aren’t exactly graphic, but you get to see her glorious fluorescent orange eggs. That orange… [read more]

Filed Under: Lobster, shrimp, crab(s) Tagged With: crustacean, molting, sex

A blue shark, Risso’s dolphins and much more

June 15, 2010 by Carolyn Kraft 2 Comments

On Saturday, I went on the coolest ocean adventure. It was the Cabrillo Aquarium‘s annual “Catalina Above and Below” trip. After waking up at 4:15 in the morning, I managed to arrive in San Pedro by 5:30 to board the First String, which left at 6:00. Getting up early and mornings in general are not… [read more]

Filed Under: Dolphins, Fishes, Lobster, shrimp, crab(s), Marine mammals, Whales Tagged With: blue shark, bottlenose dolphin, cetacean, common dolphin, dolphin, risso's dolphin, whale, whale watching

California Spiny Lobster: fully-armored all-terrain vehicle

October 8, 2009 by Carolyn Kraft 4 Comments

There he was, the California Spiny Lobster, and I swear he was staring at me. No matter which way I walked those black beady eyes followed me, he was the Crustacean Mona Lisa, only better. His long antennae wavered about feeling the water acting as sensors. But the most impressive characteristic of this particular lobster… [read more]

Filed Under: Easy Reader columns, Lobster, shrimp, crab(s) Tagged With: crustacean, lobster, molting, sex

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