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Australian Winged Wētā (Genus Pterapotrechus)Observer
clintonDescription
Found drowned in the cat's water bowl.
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Bronze Whaler (Carcharhinus brachyurus)Observer
clintonDescription
Largest of five bronze whalers estimated to be between 1.5-2.5 m TL filmed from the back of the Orokawa in failing light. The female in these images was the largest of the five and has a hook in the left corner of her jaw and hook damage to the right corner of her jaw. I initially thought the pale marks on her pectoral fins were mating scars, however after reviewing the video they, the abrasions on other parts of her body and fins, and the bent pelvic fin are more consistent with being caught and released.
She was the only one showing marks like these.
Water depth was 7m. These sharks showed up very shortly after we started stray lining for snapper (no berley).
The people swimming off the launch beside us the next morning either weren't bothered by them or didn't know they were there.
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Common Remora (Remora remora)Observer
clintonDescription
Observation and images courtesy of Rebecca Connor.
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New Zealand Eagle Ray (Myliobatis tenuicaudatus)Observer
clintonDescription
Photographed from the Queen Charlotte Track, about 2 km from Anakiwa.
Observation and image courtesy of Chloe Nimes.
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Purpletop (Verbena bonariensis)Observer
clintonDescription
numerous plants growing along the side of the Whitecliffs walkway
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Bluebottle (Physalia physalis)Observer
clintonDescription
Numerous very small bluebottles cast ashore following a big west-sw blow.
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Rig (Mustelus lenticulatus)Observer
clintonDescription
Caught and released by a drone fisher. Gear set 400-500 m offshore.
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Redbait (Emmelichthys nitidus)Observer
clintonDescription
Specimens collected from a mass mortality event by Richard Kinsey, Department of Conservation.
Images courtesy of Richard Kinsey.
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Pygmy Sperm Whale (Kogia breviceps)Observer
clintonDescription
Observation and images courtesy of Harriet McKelvie.
The size of the bites and tooth punctures (just visible on the abdomen) suggest it may have been predated or scavenged by a white shark.
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Two-spined Spider (Poecilopachys australasia)Observer
clintonDescription
Chanced upon this while doing some line-trimming. The images are the best I could do with the phone.
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Kekeno (New Zealand Fur Seal) (Arctocephalus forsteri)Observer
clintonDescription
At least 12 very relaxed bulls hauled out on the sheltered side of the reef below the lighthouse walkway. The one in the first three images popped up on a rock beside us for a bit of a nosey and a scratch.
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Giant Snake Eel (Ophisurus serpens)Observer
clintonDescription
Caught on a slow jig.
Observation and images courtesy of Gail Drake.
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New Zealand Bull Kelp (Durvillaea antarctica)Observer
clintonDescription
Group of more than 11 people gathering seafood at The Blue Pool. Species harvested included seaweeds such as the small Durvillaea plant shown.
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Giant Rock Barnacle (Austromegabalanus nigrescens)Observer
clintonDescription
Finally found some attached specimens, right on the seaward end of Lion Rock, just below and among the Perna canaliculus band. Uncommon, mostly dead. Probably periodically buried by sand.