shaun-lee's Favorites
Photos / Sounds
What
Genus CandelabrumObserver
fiestykakapoDescription
No idea what this is. Not even a clue where to start.
@luca_dt @cliton @predomalpha ?
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Striped Clingfish (Trachelochismus melobesia)Observer
fiestykakapoDescription
You'll have to believe me. Saw many many nests and many many adults.
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Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans)Observer
otteremmaDescription
UPDATE: we’re pretty sure it’s a pellet from a harrier 🦅
Anyone know what this would be from? About 8cm long. Very compacted, feathers and grass is all we can identify in it.. then a webbed foot, assuming duckling.
Best guess at the office is currently hairball type thing from a feral cat
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Aitanga Pepeke (Insects) (Class Insecta)Observer
mike68luskDescription
width about 5mm, sand raised up as though something is burrowing along just below the surface
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Violet Sweep (Scorpis violacea)Observer
raewynaDescription
Fish in the foreground. A large school of mixed Scorpis violacea and Girella tricuspidata feeding at the surface.
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Oceanic Manta Ray (Mobula birostris)Observer
clintonPlace
Missing LocationDescription
One of three rays observed feeding at this spot by Corbin Paterson and the crew of the Spirit of New Zealand.
Estimated size 3 m DW.
Observation courtesy of Corbin Paterson and the Spirit of Adventure Trust.
Image copyright Corbin Paterson.
Photos / Sounds
What
Oceanic Manta Ray (Mobula birostris)Observer
clintonPlace
Missing LocationDescription
Two to three rays observed feeding in close proximity to each other.
Depth 41.2 m, SST 22.3 Celsius.
Observation and images courtesy of Auckland Whale & Dolphin Safari (AWADS).
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Thecate Hydroids (Order Leptothecata)Observer
simonf7532Description
The white feathery plumes, about 10-15mm. Thecate hydroids? Seems a strange place to be growing.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
raewynaDescription
The large sand scarab grub appears to be being attacked by the wasp.
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Kuku (New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel) (Perna canaliculus)Observer
glinksDescription
With smaller mussels and mussel spat in the attached mussel's beard
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Kuku (New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel) (Perna canaliculus)Observer
glinksDescription
Mussel spat on mussel beard on another large green lipped mussel shell
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Kekeno (New Zealand Fur Seal) (Arctocephalus forsteri)Observer
clintonDescription
Feeding
Observed from Auckland Whale and Dolphin Safari (AWADS).
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Red Rock Lobster (Jasus edwardsii)Observer
luca_dtDescription
Feels like I'm being watched...
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Molluscs (Phylum Mollusca)Observer
simonf7532Description
The sand was covered with these, 4-5 clusters in a hand space. Some sort of egg mass?
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Kuku (New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel) (Perna canaliculus)Observer
predomalphaDescription
At 2-4m depth.
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Knobbed Triton Snail (Charonia lampas)Observer
simonf7532Description
Predation on a starfish. Charonia are really fast, the starfish escaped with the loss of an arm
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Ruru (Morepork) (Ninox novaeseelandiae ssp. novaeseelandiae)Observer
jacqui-nzDescription
Ruru calling from a mamaku. Short video in the video link field.
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Reef Sea Star (Stichaster australis)Observer
dave_hollandDescription
spring tide today so a good time to go looking;)
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Genus PallenopsisObserver
tangatawhenuaDescription
Initially thought this was a plant of some kind, until it moved. Out on the open coast, very exposed, but under a ledge mid intertidal.
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New Zealand Hermit Crab (Pagurus novizealandiae)Observer
kelvinperrieDescription
The one in the cat's eye snail shell banged itself against the other one until the second crab left it's shell. Then first crab tried the other shell out for size before going back to it's original shell
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Red-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae ssp. scopulinus)Observer
jacqui-nz
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Camouflage Crabs (Genus Notomithrax)Observer
kelvinperrieDescription
smallest one of these I've seen
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Kuku (New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel) (Perna canaliculus)Observer
pjd1Description
Green-lipped mussel spat on the branches of washed up Landsburgia quercifolia and Melanthalia abscissa, lying in bales of seaweed* exposed along sandy beach at low tide mark.
*Dominated by Carpophyllum maschalocarpum, Landsburgia quercifolia, Vidalia colensoi and Ecklonia radiata.
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Pūkeko (Porphyrio melanotus ssp. melanotus)Observer
obscurusDescription
Killing a duckling. Took off and carried it away as I approached
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Red-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae ssp. scopulinus)Observer
jacqui-nzDescription
It's business time!
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Insect-Parasitising Nematodes (Family Mermithidae)Observer
jtweedDescription
~32 cm long parasitic worm that emerged from a Mecodema sculptuartum. The beetle was found wandering around during the day and then overnight the worm emerged from it. The beetle was still alive and active despite the damage to it's abdomen (visible in the 2nd and 3rd photos).
Photos / Sounds
Observer
erincpowDescription
F. pureora for North island locality, U-shaped orange-cream mark on carapace, orange median dorsal stripe, denticulation of prosoma restricted to a cluster at the anterior of ocularium (eyes).
Extreme size and shape variation found within this species (and many other neopilionids) in adult males (confirmed by inspecting genital operculum). Tooth pattern of chelicera segment III remains consistent.
