A Fringehead, Neoclinus uninotatus, emerging from his burrow to see who's in his territory. These diminutive fishes are very aggressive and defend their territory against other Fringeheads or even other species which may be disturbing their home.
		A Gray Moon Sponge, Spheciospongia confoederata, on the rocky face of the Lower Intertidal Zone. The Moon Sponge belongs Class Demospongiae which contains about 90% of all sponges, including some of the largest and most brightly colored forms.
		A close-up of the Garibaldi's nest shows the eggs and their developing embryos. The male Garibaldi guards the nest which he has cultivated over an extended period by removing any potential grazer. The nest is based upon a layer of algae.
		An elegant eolid or Spanish Shawl. Flabellina iodina is a common sea slug on rocky reefs. Feeding on Hydroids gives them protection from predation but if that's not enough this nudibranch can try swimming.
			The Scorpionfish is so named for the venomous dorsal spines sits and waits for it's prey to come to him. This fish is very popular with fishermen and restuarants due to the firm white flesh which isn't toxic. It's often sold as a "Rockfish" and is very similar to the Rockfish. Scorpaena guttata
		Three Navanax inermis, prior to mating. Navanax is a voracious predator of other sea slugs and it feeds upon Hermissenda, Aplysia, and other Navanax. This sea slug often swallows other slugs whole, even if the prey is twice as large.
			Blacksmith (Chromis punctipinnis) and a Senorita (Oxyjulis californica) mobbing an unguarded nest of eggs laid by the California State Fish, the Garibaldi, Hypsypops rubicundus.
			A Rockpool Blenny, Hypsoblennius gilberti, pops up out a burrow (probably excavated by a boring clam) to see what's going on around. Note how he uses his pelvic fins to brace himself against the side of the burrow. Most likely this will allow him to retreat quickly down inside the burrow should he be threatened.
	The Sunburst Anemone, Anthopleura sola, contains symbiotic algae which augment its diet and gives the animal its green color. Some anemones living in shade do not have zooxanthellae and primarily white in color.
	The Swell Shark's Egg Case commonly called a Mermaid's Purse. These sharks have a low reproductive rate which isn't helped by the high number of eggs which are eaten by octopus and other predators. Most of the eggs I've seen have already been eaten and this one must be just a few days old if not a few hours old. Whelks eat them as well and a neat hole gets drilled into the case just above the yolk.
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