Creature Feature: Who is the largest tern flying over the San Francisco Bay? And where can you find
A migratory bird to the San Francisco Bay area, the Caspian tern, has a worldwide range and is also the world’s largest tern. It is...
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Creature Feature: Look for this dying giant on the beaches this fall and winter
Bull kelp is an integral part of the marine ecosystem found right off our coasts here along the San Francisco Bay area. In particular, it...
Creature Feature: Meet our local not-so-giant squid
Having a giant squid wrap its tentacles around your paddle board and hitching a ride might sound like its straight out of a sci-fi movie...
Creature Feature: MSI finds rare albino bat ray in San Francisco Bay
Anticipation and excitement gave way to utter shock and surprise last week when the instruction staff of the Marine Science Institute...
Creature Feature: What do black-necked stilts and flamingos have in common?
As seasonal changes ebb and flow here at the Marine Science Institute, so too do the birds visiting along our shoreline. One bird that...
Creature Feature: Slowpoke sea star causes speedy reactions
It may be a slowpoke among sea stars, but the leather star has its own unique traits -- namely smelling like garlic and the amazing...
Creature Feature: Decline of Small Delta Fish Predicts Health of Environment
The Delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) may be a tiny fish, but this indicator species’ lack of presence looms large in California’s...
Creature Feature: East Coast Fish Calls California Home
In ten short years after being introduced to California in 1879, this East Coast fish -- the striped bass -- has established itself in...
Creature Feature: Look Who's Wearing Red Velvet This Season
Santa isn’t the only one sporting red velvet this season. The velvety red sponge (Ophlitaspongia pennata) also sports a bright red coat...
Creature Feature: Clowns Make Life Better Even in the Sea
These clowns of the sea – the southern sea otter -- so called because of their silly antics and playfulness, are the only member of the...
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