Understanding, enjoying and caring for our oceans
In 2011, this Common Weedfish, Heteroclinus perspicillatus, was stalking a Rockpool shrimp, Palaemon serenus, which it later consumed. (As posted at https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/10002537#activity_comment_948643c9-28f5-4479-b730-e7f9dd2e9a28 ) Both these weedfishes and shrimps are very common in these particular tide pools and channels at Haycock Point, Carrickalinga. The weedfishes and shrimps often appear at peace […]
Whilst diving at the old Rapid Bay Jetty on 25th October I saw the first decent aggregation of the Great Spider Crab, Leptomithrax gaimardii that I’ve seen for some years now. There were probably more than 200 crabs seen by us today, and there would have been more outside our […]
I now have a copy of Edgar Waite and Herbert Hale’s “Review of the Lophobranchiate Fishes (Pipefishes and Seahorses) of South Australia”, thanks to the generosity of Robert Browne. The review is an ‘Authors’ Reprint’ “From Records of the South Australian Museum, Vol.1, No.4, January 29th, 1921”. Edgar R. Waite […]
I was assisting the Estuary Care Foundation to check their oyster baskets at Outer Harbor during October, when I was asked if I had seen a particular crab before. My response may have been something like, “Holy cow, what is that?”. I quickly grabbed my phone and took a couple […]
Recent Return to Rapid by Steve Reynolds I returned to Rapid Bay jetties, for the first time in two months, for a dive on 5th June. My dive was particularly enjoyable for a number of reasons. Apart from seeing the moonlighter with the unusual colour pattern on its right side, […]
River to Reef is an exhibition of new marine-themed artworks by South Australian artists, documentary filmmakers and amateur naturalists, Dan and Emma Monceaux. Presented by Onkaparinga Arts, the ambitious show includes fifty-five new works and can be viewed online, or in-person at the Arts Centre, Port Noarlunga, South Australia. The […]
“Hyperiid amphipod commensalism with Jellyfish” by Steve Reynolds The cover for the March 2019 issue of Dive Log magazine featured a photo of a nautilus perched on top of a jellyfish (or sea jelly). It was taken by Mike Bartick (ending with a ‘k’) from the USA. Details can be […]
I was first inspired to pay more attention to this often overlooked ecosystem by the discovery of the upside-down jellyfish, Cassiopea sp. there in 2016 by MLSSA president and area resident, Steve Reynolds. My personal explorations soon followed, beginning at Garden Island. There, a snorkeller can easily step into the […]
I helped Reef Watch & Experiencing Marine Sanctuaries out at this year’s Science Alive! at the Showgrounds. On the Friday morning, I helped out on the EMS stand, alongside Dr Rob Lewis, former Director of Fisheries. I hadn’t had the opportunity to speak to Rob much in recent years, possibly […]
Shrimps, Seadragons and Siphonognathus argyrophanes (As told to Steve by David Muirhead) The fish Tubemouth, Siphonognathus argyrophanes, looks very pipefish-like, and many veteran divers incorrectly think that they are true pipefish. They are, however, in the same family as wrasses (Labridae), which includes the ‘rock cod’ or ‘parrotfish’, plus weed […]