Re: Sea pens [1]
March 15, 2010
From: Leanne and David Atkinson
Concerning message #23276:
Hi Bill,
You asked for photos of Sea Pens. They are something we see in the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park regularly over all of the dive sites. Here are a series of photos. One shows a pair of Sea Pens that are slightly different shades and the lower one shows one almost compleely buried. Both of these were taken at The Pipeline, Nelson Bay Port Stephens. The upper one was taken at Little Beach, Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park, Port Stephens, NSW Australia in 8metres of water.
Locality: The Pipeline, Nelson Bay, Port Stephens, approximately 8metres, New South Wales, Australia, Pacific Ocean, 07 February 2009, Sandy bottom sponges, bryozoans, gorgonias, soft corals, hydroids and ascidians. Length: 30 mm plus. Photographer: Leanne and David Atkinson.
We get several types of Sea Pen here so I will send some more messages showing the different varieties.[see messages #23327, #23328, #23329]
Hope these are of interest.
Yours sincerely,
Leanne & David Atkinson
atk@hunterlink.net.au
Dear Leanne and David,
Thanks very much for your messages. It is valuable when looking for nudibranchs to have an idea of what their prey looks like, because often that is where they are to be found. It will also be interesting to discover whether species of Armina restrict themselves to one species of sea pen or have a broader diet. Apart from studies on some northern hemisphere species, we know little about their biology.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman
Related messages
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Re: Sea pens [2]
From: Leanne and David Atkinson, March 15, 2010 -
Armstrong Beach, Queensland. What is it?
From: Sharyn Reen, February 22, 2010 -
Sea Pens from Western Australia
From: Beth Turnbull, July 25, 2006
