Sunday, January 1, 2017

Extreme Minus Tide in Mission Bay, San Diego

In mid-December we had some extremely low tides in San Diego. December 13th brought an approximately minus 1.7 foot tide to Mission Bay! I explored the western side of Vacation Isle to see what the low tide might reveal.

Dallocardia quadragenaria, among the eelgrass.

Pteropurpura festiva, on the exposed rocks. Many of them had layed eggs, as shown below.



Crassispira semiinflata, found on the sand past the rocks.
Dialula sandiegensis, found clinging to the rocks after being stranded by the tide. 
I think this is Lepidonotus spiculus, a type of polychaete, but not 100% certain at this point.
Paraxanthias taylori, a Lumpy Crab, a creature I have never encountered before!