Bat ray (Myliobatis californicus) on a brittle star reef off Santa Barbara Island, California. Bat rays are ovoviviparous. They mate annually, in the spring or summer, and have a gestation period of nine to twelve months. Litter sizes range from two to ten.
Like many wrasse species, sheephead are protogynous. All are born female, and the largest individuals become male due to hormonal changes triggered by social cues. The two sexes have extremely different appearances. Male sheephead are larger than females, with black head and tail and red mid-section, red eyes, and fleshy forehead bumps. Female sheephead are dull pink with white undersides.
Two sea lions play on the surface above a California kelp forest.
A kelp rockfish (Sebastes atrovirens) swims out of a crevice in kelp forest covered by a blanket of greenwater.
Angelsharks (Squatina squatina) bury themselves in sand or mud lying in wait for prey, which includes fish, crustaceans and various types of mollusks.
California sea lion plays in the distant kelp.
Blackeye gobies build nests of up to 4000 eggs that hatch after 10-33 days. The larvae measure about 3 mm at hatching. Larvae then drift in the plankton for 40-76 days (Block 2011) before settling to suitable reef habitat.
A juvenile treefish (Sebastes serriceps) among anemones.
Kelp fronds often grow straight up to the surface, where they spread across the top of the water to form a dense canopy.
Giant sea bass (Stereolepis gigas) swims above a deep kelp forest reef covered in brittle stars.
Hermissenda opalescens nudibranch in the Channel Islands.
Ocean whitefish (Caulolatilus princeps) are important food fish. Catches increase two-three times after El Nino years supporting the theory that this species has greater reproductive success in warmer waters.
Blacksmith (Chromis punctipinnis) schooling among kelp forest fronds. Channel Islands, California
Painted greenlings (Oxylebius pictus) have a symbiotic relationship the venomous tentacles of the anemone, Urticina piscivora and the white-spotted anemone, Cribrinopsis albopunctata, to avoid being preyed on. They lay bright orange egg clusters that are guarded by the male.
Senoritas (Oxyjulis californic) feed on invertebrates that live on kelp. They also act as "cleaner fish", removing dead skin and parasites from other fishes. Unlike most wrasses, this species apparently does not change sex.
Juvenile California sheephead. Like most wrasses, sheephead are protogynous hermaphrodites. They spawn in the spring and summer in California. The planktonic larval duration varies from 37 to 78 days.
Flabellina iodinea - a common nudibranch in the Channel Islands.
A kelp rockfish (Sebastes atrovirens) in a kelp forest covered in greenwater.
Spiny brittle stars (Ophiothrix spiculata) became dominant on deeper California kelp beds after the 1998 El Nino and may cover nearly 100% of the bottom in some areas. They are filter feeders and require clean, oxygen-rich water, which makes them a good indicator species for a healthy ecosystem.
Embrace the green! Visibility was less than 20 feet.
Horn sharks (Heterodontus francisci) lay up to 24 spiral shaped eggs at a time. The eggs attached to crevices and hatch in 6–10 months. The young are able to feed on yolk reserves for up to a month after hatching.
New kelp fronds can grow up to 2 feet per day.
A California sea lion bursts out of the green water on a deep reef in the Channel Islands, California.
Kelp frond motion blur
Male and female sheephead surround a gorgonian on a deep kelp reef covered in brittle stars. Male sheephead are larger than females, with black head and tail and red mid section, red eyes, and fleshy forehead bumps. Female sheephead are dull pink with white undersides.
Juvenile painted greenling (Oxylebius pictus). Juvenile greenlings gain protection from larger predators by living among the tentacles of Cribrinopsis albopunctata or Urticina piscivora sea anemones.
Copper rockfish (Sebastes caurinus). Rockfishes belong to the famly Sebastidae, which are closely related to scorpionfishes.
Sarcastic fringeheads (Neoclinus blachardi) can often be found in old, abandoned turban shells with just their heads sticking out.
Juvenile sea lions play in the shore break at a rookery on Santa Barbara Island, California.
Giant sea bass (Stereolepis gigas) swims above a deep kelp forest reef covered in brittle stars.
Juvenile, female and male orangethroat pikeblenny (Chaenopsis alepidota) off Anacapa Island, California. Males are colorful and can puff up their throat in a spectacular display.
Jewel anemone (Corynactis virids).
Zebra goby (Lythrypnus zebra) in a crevice.
A curious harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) swims out from the kelp forest.
California mussel and purple sea urchins in the lower intertidal zone of Santa Cruz island, California. Purple urchins usually feed on plant matter, such as kelp, but, in tough times when algae is depleted, can also use their heavy-duty teeth to grind through barnacle and mussel shells. With their ability to withstand a wide range of ocean temperatures. purple sea urchins may well be among the ocean’s ultimate survivors. Areas dominated by purple urchins are increasing throughout the Channel Islands.
