3 minute read
Sealife abounds in our local waters
By JOSH PERSSON
Vancouver Island’s waters are home to some of the most unique and interesting sea creatures on Earth.
Here are some of the critters you can find in our local waters.
Sea Snails Have you ever found a rubber-like collar in the ocean?
You might be surprised to find that this isn’t discarded plastic garbage, but instead the egg casing of a moon snail.
These snails burrow under the sand and excrete a mucus that sticks to the sand, forming a ring around their shells where they then lay eggs. These casings stay buried in the sand, camouflaged by their sandy exterior.
Starfish Ocher starfish come in a variety of colours, from pink, purple, brown, orange and yellow. Recently the population of starfish has fallen rapidly due to a disease, but their numbers are slowly recovering. Ocher starfish have been known to live up to 20 years and can grow about 20 centimetres in length!
Barnacles Barnacles aren’t just spiky growths; they serve an important purpose in the ocean’s ecosystem by filtering the water and feeding on the micro-organisms inside. Even the simplest of sea creatures can serve an important role. Did you know that barnacles are closely related to crabs and lobsters as well?
Sculpin Tidepool sculpin are small spiny fish that often like to hide in tidal pools. You’ve likely caught a few if you’ve spent some time at the beach. These fish will try to eat nearly anything, making them a particularly easy catch. You may know these
fish as bullhead, which is a very similar fish species often found in rivers and lakes. The two fish are mistaken for their similar appearance and attitude.
Jellyfish come in many different varieties, but two are the most common. First is the moon jellyfish, which come in a see-through or misty white colour variation. These jellyfish are mostly harmless; their stings being incredibly tiny and almost unnoticeable to humans.
The red jellyfish, also known as the lion’s mane jellyfish , vary in species across our coastlines. These are NOT safe to touch! They can cause immense pain and leave lasting issues, such as infection. If you see a red jellyfish, observe it from a healthy distance.
Octopus Why do we find octopuses so fascinating? Octopuses show lots of interesting features: they have a funnel for jet propulsion, adaptive skin for camouflage, an ink sack to fend off predators, three hearts and pulsating veins, big eyes that are very similar to our human eyes, an elaborate brain and prehensile arms with some mind of their own.
Enjoy exploring the coastline.
