Category Archives: Marine Invertebrates

Getting down with brown

A House Sparrow drinking in Hawaii
A House Sparrow takes a drink.

This month’s Sunday Stills color challenge is ‘Auburn or Brown.’ See more responses here. Captions on the photos.

The aftermath of a flood in Hawaii
The aftermath of floods in Kawaihae earlier this year.
The exterior of a rusty water valve in Hawaii
The exterior of a rusty water valve.
A huge puddle on a dirt road in Hawaii
Drive with care! A dirt road on the Kohala coast after rain.
Arc-eye Hawkfishes on a coral head in Hawaii
Arc-eye Hawkfishes wait in a head of coral.
Goats resting in Hawaii
Goats resting on the 1871 Trail in South Kona.

Spotted Coral Blenny

A Spotted coral blenny perches on a coral head in the waters off Hawaii

I saw this Spotted Coral Blenny perched on a small coral head, as they typically do. I snapped a quick photo an instant before the fish zipped down behind the rock. I’ve seen the same fish there a few times since, but it disappears before I can try another photo. Given its elusiveness, I was happy this photo turned out pretty well.

That’s strange

An inflatable mermaid and a glove on a beach in Hawaii
“I’m stranded here,” cried the mermaid. “Can someone give me a hand?” It did not end well.

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Oddballs, Wild and Weird.’ See more responses here. Captions on the photos.

Also posted for Becky’s Squares: Seven. See more responses here.

A hiker wears an umbrella hat on the 1871 Trail in Hawaii
It’s a hat. It’s an umbrella, It’s a fruit bowl. I want one.
A painted rock at the Hawaii Island Retreat in Hawaii
See the rock. The rock sees you.
A Clumpy Nudibranch in the waters off Hawaii
There are many strange creatures in the ocean. This Clumpy Nudibranch in one of them.
Campers at Spencer Beach Park in Hawaii
Unclear on the concept.
High heels stuck to the roof of a painted truck in Hawaii
It pays to keep them handy.
A sign at a beach park in Hawaii
I just want to say that I have never knowingly violated a dog!

Seven-eleven Crab

A Seven-eleven crab in the waters off Hawaii

The Seven-eleven Crab (Carpilius maculatus), is easier to identify than it is to see. That’s because it’s mostly active at night. This one was probably on its way to its daytime resting spot when I saw it. It gets its name from the prominent red spots on its shell, two behind each eye and three on the back, with the other four generally less visible along the rear, though two of those are clear in this photo.

Posted for Becky’s Squares: Seven. See more responses here.

Horn-eyed Ghost Crab

A Horn-eyed Ghost Crab emerging from its hole in Kawaihae Hawaii
A Horn-eyed Ghost Crab by its hole in Kawaihae Hawaii

I’m not entirely confident that this is a Horn-eyed Ghost Crab, but that’s what my usual ID source says. On the plus side, it’s clearly bigger than a Pallid Ghost Crab. But Horn-eyed Ghost Crabs are generally not seen during the day, though this was taken in the early morning. They also have points on their eye stalks, though I’ve seen photos without. Any input on identity would be appreciated.

A Horn-eyed Ghost Crab in Kawaihae Hawaii