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ITCHY FINS
Pool trainees start to get itchy fins around
this time of year. After all, there’s only one reason for all
the training, as we all know. It might be helpful to give them
some idea of what they will encounter in open water.
There are many species of Decapodia-crabs,
lobsters etc. and it not unknown to come across two of the Cephalopod family:- cuttlefish
and octopus.
Gastropods are always in evidence-mussels, whelks, barnacles etc.
(For the uninitiated, Decapod
simply means having ten feet, whilst Cephalopod means head-foot, and Gastropod means stomach-foot).
Also making it’s appearance in British waters
around Easter-time are various species of Cephalophallus. The geographical distribution appears to be mainly along the southern
shore, particularly the south-west, but have been spotted as
far north as Scotland and the Northern isles. They are more
widely distributed by May/June. They are usually found between
35m and 60m, mostly around wrecks and other artificial reefs,
and are almost exclusively males. The female of the species
tends to stay around the high-water mark, where she invariably
tends her young. It is not uncommon to see them near rock pools.
The female is a warm-water species and, in contrast to the majority
of mammals, exhibits the more colourful coat. She retains her
winter coat well into the Spring.
The behaviour of the male at this time of
year is rather frenetic, rapid ascents and descents being the
norm, whilst aggressive behaviour towards other males who enter
their territory is quite common. This behavioural pattern has
led to an increasing number requiring rescue, and even some
deaths.
Mature members of the genus come ashore to
mate, although no specific mating season has been observed The
males are voracious feeders and, although being omnivorous,
fish has been observed to form a large part of their diet-so
much so that the body mass of the male can increase substantially
during this period.
Out of the water the normally solitary male
congregates in larger groups with one or two females. The majority
of the females form their own social group, without the hierarchy
associated with the males. Vocal communication is limited to
a few distinct calls such as:-
supupitsthyround.
Onyerownaryerdarlin.
Minesapint,
Or a number of indistinct
grunts which seem to mean anything, depending on the situation.
It is unwise for the amateur oceanographer
to approach this species too closely as their unpredictability
is well documented.
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