Clupea pallasii: Pacific Herring–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

An interesting side note: (Don’t try this at home) we didn’t have an underwater housing at the time so the lens of the camcorder was put in a ziplock bag and aimed downward from the surface. The camera survived (just).
This video image taken off the docks in September 1998, shows Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) feeding on krill It was a calm clear day when we were visiting the islands in orientation week. As we returned to the boat we had the impression that it was raining on the North side of Great Race Rocks. The whole passage in front of the docks was alive with herring jumping as they chased Krill. The Bonaparte and Mew Gulls were feeding in the area as well. Near the docks a swarm of krill made a pinkish cloud in the water. Krill are the semi-transparent pink shrimp-like crustaceans rarely in focus as they dart through the video. An interesting side note: (Don’t try this at home) we didn’t have an underwater housing at the time so the lens of the camcorder was put in a ziplock bag and aimed downward from the surface.  The camera survived (just).
herringkrillClassification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Clupeiformes
Family: Clupeidae
Subfamily: Clupeinae
Genus: Clupea
Species: C. pallasii
Other Other fish at Race Rocks.

–Garry Fletcher

taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy
and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams.