Large comb sea star Astropecten polyacanthus on silty bottom of Mahurangi Harbour where it is quite abundant. It spends a lot of time burrowed in sand so it’s seldom clean of it. The spines along its arms reminding of a comb give the sea star its name. Keywords: “sea star” starfish comb “comb sea star” […]

I wrote previously kelp forests of southern Pacific have their smiling face. It is Eastern Kelpfish Chironemus marmoratus. It usually hides among kelp fronds or “sits” on shaded rocks covered with algae where it is well camouflaged. What an unusual sight when it cruises in open water with kelp in the background. Keywords: fish kelpfish “kelp […]

White-tentacled anemones Actinothoe albocincta attached to a small rock from below in a place where there is a space between the rock and sand. They are protected from above and can catch their prey in the water flowing around. Keywords: anemone anemones white tentacle tentacles white-tentacled column Actinothoe albocincta “Actinothoe albocincta” invertebrate underwater undersea temperate Pacific […]

A good crop of orange golfball sponges (Tethya …) on a rock near Ti Point Wharf, in Whangateau Harbour. Keywords: sponge sponges golfball orange “golfball sponge” “golfball sponges” underwater undersea Tethya algae vegetation sea weed weeds temperate Pacific ocean filter feeder “filter feeder” feeding “filter feeding” feeders “filter feeders” “Ti Point” wharf “Ti Point Wharf” […]

Lonely purple finger sponge on silty bottom of Mahurangi Harbour, that means a solid object must be there under a thin layer of sand/mud. Keywords: sponge purple finger “finger sponge” “purple sponge” “purple finger sponge” “filter feeder” “filter feeding” filter feeder feeding silt silty bottom underwater undersea invertebrate Mahurangi harbour Pacific ocean temperate

Australasian snapper Pagrus auratus in shallow water forest of mostly Ecklonia radiata brown stalked kelp. In later winter when weather  is calm and there are not many people in water … usually nobody because it’s cold, divers can observe undisturbed big snapper in clear water around Goat Island. Keywords: snapper australasian “australasian snapper” Pagrus auratus “Pagrus […]