[CINC] Blue whale calf with tube

[Carol Shoemaker]

The whale barnacle: <I>Xenobalanus</I> 

This barnacle lives only on whales. It is an acorn barnacle, but one living in an environment occupied by goose barnacles, subject to the same selective pressures. Risks of desiccation and predation are reduced, but there is an advantage in extending into the water a column for feeding. Whilst Xenobalanus doesn't feature a stalk like the goose barnacle, it has responded to the advantage of being further out for feeding, and has responded to this selective pressure by extending the opercular region as a stalk equivalent.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Catherine French 
  To: channel_islands_naturalist_corps at rain.org 
  Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 4:07 PM
  Subject: [CINC] Blue whale calf with tube


  See John Calambokidis' answer to the sighting report from below from the CX whale watch on July 29.


  Sincerely,

  Catherine French
  cfrench1366 at aol.com
  805.815.3523


  -----Original Message-----
  From: John Calambokidis <Calambokidis at cascadiaresearch.org>
  To: Catherine French <cfrench1366 at aol.com>
  Sent: Sat, Aug 1, 2009 12:35 am
  Subject: RE: [CINC] Wednesday July29 on the Condor Express


  This sound like a xenobalanus stalked barnacle which are quite common hanging off dorsal fins of blue whales.
  John


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  From: Catherine French [mailto:cfrench1366 at aol.com]
  Sent: Thu 7/30/2009 7:34 AM
  To: John Calambokidis
  Subject: Fwd: [CINC] Wednesday July29 on the Condor Express


  Hi John,

  Saw this posting on our volunteer list. See note about cow/calf blue whale pair and a "tube" (see in bold) attached to the calf? Is this a tag of sorts or not one of yours. Hope all is well.


  Sincerely,

  Catherine French
  cfrench1366 at aol.com
  805.815.3523


  -----Original Message-----
  From: Marilyn Dannehower <mardanne at silcom.com>
  To: channel_islands_naturalist_corps at rain.org
  Sent: Wed, Jul 29, 2009 8:34 pm
  Subject: [CINC] Wednesday July29 on the Condor Express


  A zillion common dolphins
  cow/calf Blue whales
  3 Humpbacks

  We learned early today that the CX was scheduled for a 1-5:30 trip today, so Don Gillies on PID,  Bhrian Resnik and I went out with 125 passengers in the afternoon.  

  Captain Dave told the passengers that it might be bumpy, as the winds come up in the afternoons, and that we'd probably not get a chance to visit Painted Cave because we were heading far west to find the Blue whales and Humpbacks.
  All the above happened, but the wind was not bad and Captain Dave found plenty of marine mammals to delight our full boat.

  First we saw constant Common Dolphins on the way out.  There were three larger groups, but the dolphins were spread out all along the channel crossing.  Once in front of Santa Rosa Island, we found a thin mom and much smaller Blue whale calf.  We made the assumption that this is a new calf and mom is thin due to nursing the calf.  We stayed with them for about 4 breathing cycles.  It was interesting to note that the baby was not diving with mom while she was feeding, he/she was just hanging around waiting.  The baby also had something attached to the area of the dorsal fin, shaped like a tube, black and about 12" long. (?)...
  When we left the pair, we quickly located a pair of Humpbacks.  Another Humpback joined them on the second breathing cycle.  

  John Calambokidis was in the area with some other reseachers and they were checking out the Blue whale cow/calf pair as we left the area to return home.

  Great day, thanks to Captain Dave, Jaques and Amanda!
  Marilyn Dannehower

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