For some brilliant color, ocean sparkle and pop, look no further than the sand-rose sea anemone or Urticina columbiana. This beauty lights up the sandy ocean floor in depths of 40 to 150 feet and lives as far north as British Columbia to as far south as Baja California. The diameter of a sand-rose anemone’s… [read more]
Update on Easy Reader column
It all started with the California sea lion and ended with the black crowned night heron…or did it? Many people reading this website first found me through my Wild Things column in the Easy Reader, which launched in June of 2009. Having the chance to write Wild Things was an awesome opportunity for me and… [read more]
Sea jellies have quite the life cycle
Sea jellies (aka jellyfish) have a very interesting life cycle. The first part is somewhat old-fashioned, adult male sea jellies release sperm into the water and adult female sea jellies release eggs and the eggs and sperm meet up and join together Biology 101 style. But the details on how eggs and sperm find each… [read more]
Jellyfish are now sea jellies
Starfish are now known as sea stars and jellyfish are now known as sea jellies. Sometimes jellyfish are referred to as just jellies, but I prefer sea jellies, this name better orients the mind. Why the switch? Jellyfish aren’t fish, making the name sea jellies more accurate, but the new term is having a tougher… [read more]
Black jellyfish what’s your story?
This is a photo of a black jellyfish that appeared close to shore near the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro, California. Excited staff members trapped it in the hopes of better understanding this mysterious creature. Apparently, little is know about the black jellyfish and they are rarely seen by humans. According to Programs Director… [read more]