Hitchin’ a ride.
My two favorite photos from this week’s black water dive involve critters hitching a ride. In the photo on the left a Oxycephalus Amphipod is riding on a Hydromedusa. The entire ensemble sans tentacles was smaller than a dime. In the second photo two Jack sp. larva are riding in a Pelagic Salp. This is a somewhat symbiotic relationship. The Jacks get a free ride, protection and some free food. The Salp gets a good cleaning. The salp is also smaller than a dime.
For those that like the statistics: We started over 705’ of water
and ended over 660’ after drifting for 7 miles.
Water is key to activity in August. We have had a couple of heavy rains, so the retention ponds at the local park have water in them. This means birds, close to home, early in the morning before the sun heats the ‘hood to unbearable temperatures. Click to vie an image full screen.
