Species Gallery - All
SIZE: max. 12 in.
Palenose Parrotfish
Scarus psittacusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Pale area on nose.
DESCRIPTION:
Blue-green with lavender shades, terminal phase often has dark blue cap on the forehead. Initial phase is gray-brown with no distinguishing marks.
SIZE: max. 16 in.
Bullethead Parrotfish
Chlorurus sordidusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Symmetrical bullet-shaped head.
DESCRIPTION:
Terminal is variable in color, but generally blue/green with orange wash on sides. Initial phase is dark brown with red around head, double row of white spots, large dark spot on tail.
SIZE: max. 4 in.
Scarface Blenny
Cirripectes vanderbiltiDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Bright red spots and lines on face and head.
DESCRIPTION:
Dark brown with red spots on face. Fringe of cirri behind each eye and on back of head.
SIZE: max. 5 1/2 in.
Arc-Eye Hawkfish
Paracirrhites arcatusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. U-shaped mark behind eye.
DESCRIPTION:
Two color phases, the one pictured is dark brown to red with a white stripe on second half of body. The other is dark brown with darker brown stripes.
SIZE: 1 1/2-2 1/2 ft. max. 3 ft.
Trumpetfish
Aulostomus chinensisDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Long, thin body. 1. Trumpet-like mouth.
DESCRIPTION:
Adept at color change. Most common phase is brown to reddish brown; can be blue-gray, bright yellow or many shades between. Have pale lines, scattered small black spots, and a black streak on upper jaw.
SIZE: max. 6 in.
Spotted Boxfish
Ostracion meleagrisDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Numerous white spots on black, box-like body.
DESCRIPTION:
A boxfish with a body outer skeleton. Black body and white spots, males have bright blue sides.
SIZE: max. 3 1/2 in.
Hawaiian Whitespotted Toby
Canthigaster jactatorDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. White spots on brownish body. 2. No spots on fins.
DESCRIPTION:
Yellowish brown to dark brown with numerous white spots on head and body, no spots on fins. Bright green eyes.
SIZE: max. 13.4 in.
Pinktail Durgon
Melichthys viduaDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Prominent pink and white tail. 2. White dorsal and anal fins.
DESCRIPTION:
Dark body with a yellowish cast. Clear white dorsal, anal and tail fins.
SIZE: max. 11 in.
Manybar Goatfish
Parupeneus multifasciatusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. Three to four wide body bars. 2. Dark streak at eye. 3. Two barbels under tip of chin.
DESCRIPTION:
Pale body with three to four body bars, bars tend to disappear at night. Dark streak at eye distinguishes it from similar looking doublebar goatfish.
SIZE:
Green Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydasDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: 1. One pair of plates between eyes. 2. Olive to dark brown shell with plates that do not overlap.
DESCRIPTION:
Known as honu in Hawaiian. Green sea turtles are the only commonly sighted turtle in Hawaiian waters. Many populations have been inflicted with fibropapillomatosis (FP) tumors.
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SIZE: max. 1.75 in.
Candy Stripe Shrimp
Lebbeus grandimanusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Brilliant yellow, blue and red bands.
DESCRIPTION:
Small transparent body. Often seen under anemone tentacles.
SIZE: max. 5.5 in.
Coonstripe Shrimp
Pandalus danae/P. gurneyiDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Legs and antennae have obvious dark bands.
DESCRIPTION:
Large translucent brown to green body with dark brown, red or black markings. Sometimes has thin blue lines or fine white spots. The most common shrimp seen by Pacific Northwest divers.
SIZE: max. 10 in. carapace width
Dungeness Crab
Cancer magisterDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Smooth tan-colored carapace, or outer skeleton. Widest point of carapace is at last (10th) tooth.
DESCRIPTION:
10 small, pointy “teeth” on either side of carapace. Claws are yellow, white-tipped and serrated. Similar sp. Slender Cancer Crab has a white margin on its carapace and purple legs.
SIZE: max. 4.25 in. in diameter and 3 in. in height
Giant Barnacle
Balanus nubilusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Rough, large whitish body plates that lack striations or grooves.
DESCRIPTION:
Very large, unstalked barnacle with a large aperture or opening. Often found in clusters.
SIZE: max. 3.1 in. carapace width
Green Crab
Carcinus maenasDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Multicolored or mottled dark green to orange carapace.
DESCRIPTION:
5 large teeth behind each eye. Fifth pair of legs is slightly flattened. Non-native species. Found in upper intertidal, not likely to be seen by divers.
SIZE: max. 3.5 in. carapace width
Northern Kelp Crab
Pugettia productaDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Tips of claws do not have white or red tips.
DESCRIPTION:
Relatively smooth brown to reddish, shield-shaped carapace, long thin pincers. Walking legs end in sharp points.
SIZE: max. 8 in. carapace width
Red Rock Crab
Cancer productusDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Brick red fan-shaped carapace with black-tipped pincers and rounded teeth. Carapace widest at 2nd to last tooth.
DESCRIPTION:
9 rounded “teeth” on either side of carapace. (Similar sp. Dungeness crab has 10.) Teeth are also less pointy than those of the Dungeness crab.
SIZE: max. 10 in.
Spot Prawn
Pandalus platycerosDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: White spots on the first and fifth body segment abdomen.
DESCRIPTION:
Large light to dark translucent orange body. Carapace has white stripes down its entire length.
SIZE: colony to 2.5 in. high and 8.5 in. across
Lacy Bryozoan
Phidolopora labiataDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: White, pink to orange lace-like colonies.
DESCRIPTION:
Delicate, stiff, and brittle lattice formation. On surveys, count each separate colony as an individual.
SIZE: max. 10 in. high and 8 in. in diameter
Fish-eating Anemone
Urticina piscivoraDISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Smooth red column without spots (similar sp. white-spotted anemone).
DESCRIPTION:
Short, slender, white tentacles can be tipped with red or pink. Tall, smooth, maroon or red column.