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Post by SeaRat on Nov 25, 2019 13:18:25 GMT -8
I thought since the year is running down, I"d put together a thread about showing recent photos and videos we've made. My first contributions is photos of crawdads (crayfish) in the Clackamas River.  IMG_2475 by John Ratliff, on Flickr I really like this photo, as it shows the commensal worms on the claws of this crawdad. Look at the one in the lower claw, reaching over and munching off the rock nearby (actually, looking at this photo, there are four of these worms feeding off the rock).  IMG_2742 by John Ratliff, on Flickr This little crawdad is in the defensive position, probably because of my hand.  IMG_2716 by John Ratliff, on Flickr This crawdad is very close to his escape hole.  Version 2 by John Ratliff, on Flickr Here is a closeup of the crawdad's front, clearly showing its mouth parts and that first set of small claws which are constantly exploring the bottom near its mouth for edible "stuff." This rummaging around by these two claws is apparently independent of any other motions or actions by the crawdad. Enjoy, John |
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Post by nikeajax on Nov 25, 2019 14:33:24 GMT -8
John, great photos: sorry I have nothing to share!
Yeah, I really like the first image too: that green is nice and I'm not used to seeing these fresh water lobsters in that color.
Before we were married my wife and I were in the Smokey Mountains: I was sitting in the creek filtering some water so we could have something to drink, minding my own business, and a gray crawdad, about the size of my finger decided that I was something he needed to eat! Persistent little cuss, I finally got out while being laughed at...
JB
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Post by cnotthoff on Nov 25, 2019 17:06:24 GMT -8
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Post by cnotthoff on Nov 25, 2019 17:10:39 GMT -8
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Post by tomcatpc on Nov 26, 2019 9:49:46 GMT -8
One of my favourite things about the limited diving locations I have been to so far is seeing the crayfish. I don't see many crayfish in the open, but I see their "cave shelters" in the face of the rock wall, between rocks, on the floor, etc. I see where they have "bulldozed" material out and cleaned out a niche to live in. Sometimes I see them "in action" pushing slit and dirt out with their claws. I can spot a crayfish lair far away from the colour of the silt that has fallen out of the opening.
Love the Zebra Shark! Before I got my current job and had the time I was starting to do volunteer dives at a local zoo aquarium. One of the tanks had a pair of Zebra Sharks, also Black Tip Reef Sharks. Hoping to find time and return to do volunteer dives in the future!
Mark
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Post by nikeajax on Nov 26, 2019 10:24:11 GMT -8
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Post by tomcatpc on Nov 26, 2019 12:11:32 GMT -8
Yes! The Leopard Shark!!! A California icon!! The local zoo aquarium has a Leopard Shark, alone with a Swell and I think a Horn Shark? Seeing them really make me miss So Cal!
Mark
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Post by tomcatpc on Nov 26, 2019 12:12:47 GMT -8
I have seen a handful of Molas. From the flight deck of the USS Nimitz off the So Cal/Nor Mex. coast. Quite the interesting and large fish.
Mark
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Post by SeaRat on Nov 26, 2019 17:48:29 GMT -8
Here's a new subject, which I think I've identified as the mountain sucker (Catostomus platyrhynchus (Cope)). It's a little guy, being only about four inches long. (From page 547 of Scott and Crossman's Freshwater Fishes of Canada.)  IMG_2659 by John Ratliff, on Flickr Here's another shot of this fish.  IMG_2660 by John Ratliff, on Flickr These little guys are very difficult to get close to, and the double hose regulator works well. I found out that my Mossback Mk 3 with my La Spiro Professional Mouthpiece, which is made of metal, seems to work best in being able to get close to these little fish without disturbing them. With a single hose regulator, forget it. Here's a few more photos of this little fish.  IMG_2661 by John Ratliff, on Flickr I finally caught one in a very nice pose.  IMG_2714 by John Ratliff, on Flickr Now, to show you just how effective the coloring is in camoflauging these fish, take a look at this photo. By the way, did you see both fish in the top two photos in this series post?  IMG_2712 by John Ratliff, on Flickr What I'm trying to do here is show how our use of the double hose regulator can help underwater photographers get up close to these very tiny subjects, and get a decent photograph of them. John |
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Post by nikeajax on Nov 27, 2019 8:26:15 GMT -8
John, very fun! Most people don't think about fresh water ecosystems unless it for sports fishing, just as most people don't think about chaparral and oak grass lands: but most things have a lot to offer, you just need to take the time to look a bit closer!
JB
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Post by broxton coalition on Nov 27, 2019 15:06:53 GMT -8
Yeah, what the Jaxman said!  Very nice pictures guys! Happy turkey day everyone!  BC |
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Post by SeaRat on Nov 27, 2019 18:37:39 GMT -8
My fish above is not a mountain sucker; I confirmed that through photos of those fish. I had thought I found this fish on a naturalist website, but no, it's not that one either. So I still have not IDed this fish. We are gearing up for Thanksgiving, and I also want to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving day, and enjoy your family. We have been priveleged to see things that no one on land can see, then sometimes photograph them to bring it to others, like the trail in the freshwater sponge that was eaten by an unknown preditor (probably a snail). The sponge itself had half-way transformed from its summer form to the winter form, with what looks like reproductive units in clusters, and that was what the snails wanted (if it was snails who snacked on them). These provide the glimpses into our natural world that is invisible from the surface, but shows the complexity of these aquatic and oceanic systems.  IMG_2879 by John Ratliff, on Flickr Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!John |
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Post by SeaRat on Dec 15, 2019 17:19:43 GMT -8
Okay, I have a few minutes, so here are some of my collected fish photos:  IMG_0009 by John Ratliff, on Flickr This curious smallmouth bass was watching me during a dive last summer. It is a natural light photo, as my Canon camera flooded, and I lost the strobe on it. I hope te replace it soon.  IMG_0007 by John Ratliff, on Flickr Here's another photo of the same fish as above. He's using that submerged log as a refuge to hide under.  Winchester Dam029 by John Ratliff, on Flickr I took this photo of a steelhead in the North Umpqua River when I was doing some work with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife on the Winchester Dam Hydroelectric Project. This was taken using a Nikonos II underwater camera and electronic strobe (SubSea 150) in the 1990s.  IMG_2667 by John Ratliff, on Flickr Another smallmouth bass photo, this time with electronic flash. Note the difference between this one and the natural light ones above.  IMG_2437 by John Ratliff, on Flickr Freshwater sculpin, about four inches long. John |
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Post by crabbyjim on Dec 22, 2019 10:11:11 GMT -8
I will take you to see leopard sharks in the wild anytime you like. They are all over the place in Monterey. |
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Post by crabbyjim on Dec 22, 2019 10:12:50 GMT -8
John, do you know why the first crawdad is green instead of the usual red/orange?
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