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Project Noah Nature School
Clinocottus acuticeps
A 5 cm long, green sculpin with lighter bands.
Spotted in a tide pool at low tide with a sandy bottom at a rocky/sandy beach.
Spotted on May 19, 2019
Submitted on May 26, 2019
5 Comments
You should be a travel agent Brian. I had to check myself from booking a flight to Tongue Point and surrounding areas 😊 Again, thanks for sharing these little seen organisms.
Thank you so much Tukup. I was like a kid in a candy store. Every step I took presented a whole new set of habitat differences in the pools. There are so many factors to explain the incredible diversity and quantity in organisms, many of the factors I'm still trying to rap my mind around. One of the main factors is geographic position, which determines water temperature, salinity, climate and the amount and angle of light received from the sun. The sun light is being restricted for many of the pools by being situated on the south side of the Strait Of Juan de Fuca with a huge bluff that has tall trees on top of it. Many of the pools against the bluff will never receive direct sunlight. Another important factor is the substrates, beginning with the geology. I try to study the lay of the land as well as soil and rock type when given the opportunity. For the most part its sedimentary rock (mostly sandstone) and a nice compliment of basalt, from the last volcanic event. Sprinkle in some glacial deposits (mostly granite and other hard stones that have been rounded and smoothed) and I began to understand that these incredible variety in hardness and textures are also key to explaining the diversity in organisms. I know most of these factors seem simple or obvious (especially when looked at individually), but when put all together along with the smells and sounds - this place becomes one of the most fascinating and complicated environments I've ever witnessed.
Another great shot Brian. If you could send me one of your tide pools, I would appreciate it 😊 They have such amazing, little seen wildlife. Thanks for sharing with all of us.
Thank you so much Hema. Your right - the tide pools that I encountered this year have been so amazing, with so many different organisms. This profile picture was one of the many tide pools at Tongue Point Marine Sanctuary.
Hi Brian,I was looking at your profile picture and looks like you have found a new "Happy Place" Wow you are getting amazing ,day by day!