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MOLLUSKS as a phylum include snails and clams, squids and octopuses, opisthobranchs (nudibranchs), chitons, nautilus and cuttlefish. Most mollusks carry an external shell for protection, although some do not (such as the nudibranch, left below) or carry only a vestigial shell.
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| Eastern Pacific Opisthobranchs, such as Flabellina iodinea, Spanish shawl nudibranch, Image 00266 |
Squid, such as Loligo opalescens, Squid mating, Image 02548 |
Shelled mollusks, such as Delonovolva aequalis (a.k.a. Simnia vidleri), Simnia and egg cluster on gorgonian, Anacapa Island, Image 02556 |
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MARINE ARTHROPODS include crustaceans (crabs, lobsters, shrimp and krill) and barnacles.
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| Pelagic red crabs (Pleuroncodes planipes), Pelagic red tuna crab, open ocean, Image 02247 |
Hermit crab, Hermit crab in olive shell, Pagurus granosimanus, Olivella biplicata, Image 01033 |
Krill, Krill, Baja California (Pacific Ocean), Thysanoessa spinifera, Image 03117 |
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CNIDARIANS (coelenterates) include jellyfish, anemones, corals and sea fans and gorgonians. They do not have true organ structures, having evolved just enough to develop tissues. Tentacles often surround the single body opening, which serves as both mouth and anus. As a phylum, cnidarians exhibit both asexual (budding) and sexual (via gametes) reproduction. Secreted cells named nematocysts are characteristic of cnidarians. These stinging cells are found in tentacles and on the surface tissue of the animal, and are used for defense and the capture of prey.
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| Bubbing juvenile anemones, Proliferating anemone with attached juveniles, growing on kelp stipe, Epiactis prolifera, Image 00573 |
Tubastrea, Orange cup coral, Tubastrea coccinea, Isla Champion, Image 01858 |
Gelatinous zooplankton, Hydromedusa with amphipod, open ocean, Mitrocoma cellularia, Image 02491 |
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| Temperate Eastern Pacific gorgonians, colonial cnidarians, California Golden gorgonian in kelp forest, Muricea californica, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, Image 01042 |
Open ocean jellyfish, marine aliens, Purple jellyfish, open ocean, Pelagia noctiluca, Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Image 06210 |
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OTHER RIGHTEOUS AND COOL invertebrates we like to photograph include bryozoans, tunicates, hydroids and worms, genus Cypraea specimens (cowries) and genus Conus specimens.
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| Cluster of lightbulb tunicates, Clavelina huntsmani, Image 02542 |
Feather duster worm, Eudistylia polymorpha, San Miguel Island, Image 02544 |
The famous Glory of the Seas cone, Conus gloriamaris, is historically one of the most sought-after and beautiful of seashells, Glory of the Sea cone shell, gold form. The Glory of the Sea cone shell, once one of the rarest and most sought after of all seashells, remains the most famous and one of the most desireable shells for modern collectors, Image 08727 |
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