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Branchiostoma - a cephalochordate length around 8mm. Just before fish on the evolutionary scale, thus the strong resemblance. Photo Credit: R. Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 1.4MB). |
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Army ostracod (likely Codonocera) - a clam-shrimp. True name being checked. About 4mm in length they are scavengers and detritous feeders. Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 713K). |
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Neocalanus robustior - a copepod (dominant zooplankter) length ignoring spines 4mm. Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 709K). |
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Cavolinia uncinata - a pteropod or pelagic "wing-footed" snail 7-10mm shell length. These feed by secreeting large feeding nets or bubbles to which foods sticks as they sink throught the water. They then suck in the net along with the food stuck to it. Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 1.4MB). |
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Candacia ethiopica - a predatory copepod 2mm in length. There are large claws on big mouth parts hidden below animal. Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 592K). |
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Carinaria lemarcki - a heteropod (a pelagic predatory snail) ~3cm. These are visual predators and the spherical lenses and dark retina in the eyes are obvious. A fragile shell worn like a hat on the back
covers the vital parts, including the gills we can see hanging out. Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 950K). |
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Creseis virgula - curved-needle pteropod - shell length 8-10mm. Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 1.3MB). |
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Curvierina columnella - another pteropod (they are just so photogenic!) shell 7-9mm. Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 1.0MB). |
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Diphyes dispar - a siphonophore a special type of colonial jellyfish. The string coming out are the feeding individuals in the colony. It's like long-line fishing when they are fully deployed out over a distance ~10x-30x, as long as the swimming bell (17mm) you see here. Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 2.3MB). |
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Duck siphonophore - Waiting on an ID for this, the colony here is 24mm long (could be rare). Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 832K). |
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Euchaeta marina- another predatory copepod 3.6mm long -this one is carrying a clutch of sapphire colored eggs. Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 1.1MB). |
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Leptocephalus - this is an eel larva. They are flat like a ribbon with transparent bodies reaching up to 30cm long bfore they move to the seafloor. Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 1.2MB). |
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Gymnosome - this is a "naked" pteropod. it preys on the other shelled forms. Inside that cute head are tentacles and/or suckers with which it grabs its prey's shell while chain-saw like teeth extract the flesh of the prey. They get up to 20mm length. Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 1.5MB). |
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Haloptilis plumosa - this is a very plumose copepod, the frills keep it from sinking while it hangs quietly in the water. It is likely a predator, possibly a scavenger. Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 1.3MB). |
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Hippopodius hippopus - another colonial siphonophore. We can see several swimming bells surrounding the red and yellow feeding tentacles (size upto 1.5 cm). Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 1.7MB). |
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Cephelapod - baby octopus ~7-8mm Total length. They live and hunt in plankton initially then settle to the sea-floor, appear to be family Octopodidae. Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 1.3MB). |
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Limacina bulimoides - Tiny pteropods, shell ~1mm. Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 1.4MB). |
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Limacina helicina, from Gulf of Alaska. This subpolar/polar species of shelled pteropod can reach upto 1cm. Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 2.1MB). |
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Porpita porpita - the blue button jelly. This colonial jelly floats on the film at the oceans surface, the dark blue proving protection to the sun's UV light (this one 3-4mm but upto 1-2cm). Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 1.1MB). |
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Phronema - This amphipod is sticking its head of its house, the hollowed out living body of a salp, where it will eventually lay its eggs and raise its family. You thought the movie Alien was a wild idea, see any resemblance? size upto 2 cm. Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 2.1MB). |
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Pterosoma planum - a heteropod (yet another group of predatory pelagic snail) with its body expanded out into a disk, a thin shell surround the dark visrla mass in center, and a mouth with hooked teath hangs below (upto 3cm). Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 1.9MB). |
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Pterotrachea hippocampus - another heteropod without the disk. The pink snout holds a viscous set of hooked teeth. A sucker on the ventral fin helps it hold its prey (often shelled pteropods) while it feeds. This species can get up to 7-8cm long. Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 1.2MB). |
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Pyrosomella verticilliata - a type of colonial tunicate (sea-squirt) related to the salps 1-3cm. Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 2.0MB). |
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Salpa cylindica - herbivorous salps move by jet propulsion usingte bands of muscles surrounding the body. This specimen is about 3cm long. Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 1.7MB). |
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Scypho - waiting for ID on these small jellies 0.5-2 cm. Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 1.5MB). |
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Leachia sp. The eyes on this 4 cm para-larval squid are out on stalks, perhaps to provide a cmore complete view of predators and prey, or to make it less visible. Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 2.0MB). |
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Rhabdosoma brevicaudatum - this amphipod (sea flea) was pulled from the salp above where it was likely a commensal (like clown fish and anenomes). It stretched the full length of the salp. Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 1.4MB). |
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Linuche unguiculata - thimble jelly - ~1cm - This species was packed with commensal algae that provide the color, and probably much of its nutrition. Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 2.9MB). |
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Undinula vulgaris - a common tropical "herbivous" copepods (total length ~2.5 mm). Photo Credit, Russ Hopcroft, University of Alaska Fairbanks ©2006. Download hi-res version (zip file 837K). |
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