Sometimes called the "convict fish" for its reddish-brown prison-shirt stripes, the painted greenling ( Oxylebius pictus) is a small, bottom-dwelling fish inhabiting a range from Northern Alaska to Baja California. Apart from cloning, metriduim anemones reproduce sexually by broadcast spawning, with males releasing sperm packets and females releasing eggs into the water column. A special tentacle, known as a catch tentacle, will stick to any genetically different anemone the metriduim anemone touches, stinging and sometimes damaging the tissue of the invading anemone. Colonies of metridium anemone clones have an interesting adaptation to repel invasion by others of their species. In this manner, whole colonies of cloned anemones may form. As they move along the seafloor, these anemones sometimes leave small pieces of their foot behind, which grows into a genetically identical anemone. ![]() However, metridium anemones do move, albeit very slowly. A giant anemone does not move quickly enough to reach out and attack a diver! Like all anemones, metriduim anemones have stinging cells but do not pose a danger to divers who keep their distance. These large, pale anemones can reach up to one meter in height and are often found growing in colonies. Giant metridium anemones, Metridium farcimen, sprout all along the west coast of North America. As such, they have some unusual abilities including their ability to tolerate temperatures as cold as 30° F (below freezing!). Interestingly, these cartilaginous fish are not true eels, but members of the wolffish family. Wolf eels delight divers all along the pacific northwest, and may be found as far north as the Aleutian Islands. ![]() Divers can differentiate male and female wolf eels by their colors. Inside a den, divers may often spot a mated pair of wolf eels they mate for life and work together to defend their eggs from predators. ![]() Wolf eels are known to play with divers, and will even accept treats of sea urchins and shell fish directly from a brave diver's hand (not that this is particularly recommended).ĭuring the day, wolf eels hide in their dens in rocky ledges or coral. However, experienced divers know that the appearance of these fish is deceiving. With a face like a wrinkled grandmother, an 8-foot long body, and razor-sharp teeth, wolf eels ( Anarrhichthys ocellatus) appear anything but friendly. © Lynne Flaherty (main photo), © (inset) Doing so may draw your eyes to an octopus! It can even mimic the spots and patterns of its surroundings! The easiest way to spot an octopus is to look for movement, so keep an eye out for moving rocks or coral on dives. The octopus can lighten to a whitish yellow and darken to a deep brown. The eastern pacific octopus can be difficult to spot because it can darken and lighten its skin to camouflage with its environment. Octopuses can change color by means of special skin cells known as chromophores. Like the giant pacific octopus, east pacific red octopuses can sometimes be spotted by looking for a midden pile marking a den. East pacific red octopuses average about 3 - 5 ounces in weight and slightly over 1 foot in length. ![]() This small, solitary octopus can be found along the west coast of North America from California to Alaska, and is most commonly spotted in temperate waters of bays and estuaries. The east pacific red octopus, Octopus rubescens, looks like a miniature version of the giant pacific octopus. While this may seem like great fun, having a mask or regulator pulled off could be dangerous, so divers would do well to exercise caution when interacting with a giant pacific octopus. The internet is awash with images of these playful animals suctioning onto diver's heads, arms, and even regulators. This creature is curious, and occasionally emerges from its lair to investigate and interact with divers, especially when treats are offered. Octopuses are highly intelligent creatures, and the giant pacific octopus is no exception. Divers can often locate a giant pacific octopus den by looking for discarded piles of shells, known as a midden pile, that the octopus tosses out after finishing a snack. The giant pacific octopus uses its poison to stun its prey before dragging it back to its den for a leisurely meal. Like all octopuses, the giant pacific octopus is venomous, but its venom is not dangerous to divers. These reddish-brown giants average about 60 - 80 lbs, and the largest reported specimen was an astonishing 600 lbs and 30 feet across. The giant pacific octopus, Enteroctopus dofleini, is perhaps the most beloved denizen of Puget Sound.
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