If you are about to dip a California spiny lobster in butter sauce and serve it to friends, please take time to read a recent alert issued by the California Department of Fish and Game. The release notifies consumers that “elevated levels of domoic acid toxin have been found in the viscera (internal organs) of… [read more]
The California spiny lobster’s role in the ecosystem
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]
Writing about the California spiny lobster
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]
A lobster love story
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]
Introducing the spider crab with gold eyes
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]
Here’s looking at you kid
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]
Me and the rock crab
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]
California spiny lobster carting her eggs
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]
4 main types of cetacean prey
1. The first types of prey that many cetaceans prefer are tiny critters that form large schools closer to the surface. This includes several types of crustaceans (krill) and small fish (sardines, anchovies). And ironically enough, the largest whales prefer this type of dinner and have a built-in filter system called baleen that allows them… [read more]
Bowhead whales
Bowhead whales hang out most of the year in the Arctic and don’t seem to mind dealing with sea ice at all. They have become experts at dealing with an extreme environment and are able to break through close to two feet of ice and dive up to an hour, giving them time to find… [read more]