Yes I am resorting the old Booby Bait and Switch again. Sorry.
This is another in a long series of photo diaries meant only to provide a brief respite from the struggles of the day and as a reminder that we share this small planet with some astounding critters. These photos were all taken this past weekend. I hope you enjoy your visit here.
Westside Sunset
Pantropical Spotted Dolphins (Stenella attenuata)
Dolphins bowride the pressure wave generated at the front of a moving boat. These dolphins are the second most common cetaceans after bottlenose dolphins and are found world-wide between 40 degrees north and south. From wiki...
The Pantropical Spotted Dolphin's propensity for associating with Yellowfin Tuna, particularly in the eastern Pacific has in recent history been a very real danger. In the 1960s and 1970s fishermen would capture thousands of dolphin and tuna at once using purse seine nets. The dolphins all died. Over a period of about 25 years 75% of this region's population, and over half the world's total was wiped out. The issue has received wide public attention. Many major supermarkets have found it economically expedient to use tuna suppliers whose fisherman catch tuna by more discriminatory means, and thus advertise their tuna product as dolphin-friendly. Some such products are approved by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Trust.
Spotted Dolphins
Local fisherman call them "porpoise" and look for them when trolling for ahi. They are far too smart to take trolled lures or bait so the local trollers are not a threat to the dolphins.
Wedge-Tailed Shearwater (Puffinus pacificus)
These graceful fliers are commonly seen offshore.
Sooty Tern (Sterna fuscata oahuensis)
and of course one good tern deserves...
White Tern (Gygis alba)
These beautiful birds are often seen fluttering and diving where mahi mahi are driving bait to the surface.
Now are going to make a dive under the waves and see what we find. Let's start with some crustaceans...
Banded Spiny Lobster (Panulirus marginatus)
There are two species of commercial spiny lobster in Hawaii, the endemic banded spiny lobster seen here and the turfted spiny lobster. They are known by locals as red and green lobsters. The one shown in this photo is quite small.
Sculptured Slipper Lobster (Parribacus antarcticus)
There are several species of slipper lobsters (Family Scyllaridae) in Hawaii. They are characterized by flattened bodies, antennae that have become thin plates, and no pincers or long spines. The sculptured is the most common species. I generally am not a hunter on the reef, except with my camera, but I have tasted slipper lobster and it is definitely the most delicious shellfish on earth.
Regal Slipper Lobster (Arctides regalis Holthuis)
This is my first photo of these brightly colored species.
Now for some molluscs...
Day Octopus (Octopus cyanea)
Locals call them by the Japanese word tako or "squid".
I wish they were not considered to good to eat and to use are bait for ulua (giant trevally). I could spend a whole dive watching one of these intelligent creatures move over the reef, changing color and texture.
White-Margin Nudibranch (Glossodoris rufomarginata)
The two "horns" are rhynophores, sensory organs, and the tufts on the other end are gills.
Gold Lace Nudibranch (Halgerda terramtuentis)
This beautiful nudi is only found in the Hawaiian islands.
Desirable Nudibranch (Flabellina exopatata)
This tiny nudibranch feeds on hydroids, reef bound, stinging cousins of the jellyfish. The nudibranch recycles the stinging cells for self-protection. Clever.
Reticulated Cowry (Cypraea maculifera)
The Hawai'ian name for this cowry is leho kolea, after the kolea or Pacific Golden Plover, a migratory bird that winters in Hawai'i, probably for the spots on the birds back.
Kolea or Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialus fulva)
This is not a mollusc.
Ok.. I got sidetracked.. back underwater.. now some fish.
Commerson's Frogfish (Antennarius commerson)
This is a tiny little baby frogfish maybe an inch long. Cute huh?
Commerson's Frogfish
This large adult frogfish is swimming from right to left in this shot. They don't swim much but the paparazzi disturbed this one (me and my dive buddies). They are incredibly well camouflaged ambush hunters.
Stout Moray (Gymnothorax eurostus)
A common moray in shallow water.
Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa, Wedge-Tailed Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus rectangulus)
The State Fish, renowned in song.
How about a reptile?
Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
This is the smallest green turtle I have ever seen. As they get older the shells get dull with wear and algae but this one was clean and fresh.
The little guy was very friendly, possibly a result of the effective protection of this species in Hawai'i.
A profile of the little cutie.
Here is a shot of a large old male. You can tell the sex of adult green sea turtles because the males have long thick tails, while on females the tail barely clears the shell.
Back above the surface...
Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostis)
Unlike the spotted dolphins shown above these little beauties spend they days near shore. This one is launching into one of their patented corkscrewing leaps.
Same leap.. fractions of a second later.
Great Frigatebird (Fredata minor palmerstoni)
The Hawai'ian name for this bird is 'Iwa which means thief based on the fact that they harass other birds, shearwaters, terns and boobies, until they drop or even regurgitate their food which they then catch in midair. Their aerial dog-fighting skills are amazing.
And now, finally, I get to the bOObies....wOOt!
Red-Footed Booby (Sula sula rubripes)
Another red-footed.
I mean, who doesn't love boobies?
That brings us the end of this episode.
Thanks for visiting. Please feel free to use this as a community photo diary and as always, please be good humans.
If you have a problem with this diary I refer you to the Complaint Department....