Divad
Whitefish
Thank you Steve, I love the info gained. I was surprised to not see trout cruising with their mouths open due to the quantity.Those shrimp-like creatures are mysids (aka opossum shrimp). There are at least 28 marine species in the PNW (and freshwater species too such as Neomysis mercedes). They are actually more closely to related to amphipods and isopods (Peracarida) than they are to shrimp and crabs (Decapoda). Peracaridian crustaceans lack a larval stage. The females retain fertilized eggs in a brood punch under their thorax, a marsupium. The fertilized young complete their development within the marsupium and emerge as juveniles = miniature adults. While at least one local mysid species, Archeomysis grebnitkii, burrows right in the surf zone along sandy beaches, other species form schools that swim using their thoracic appendages in the nearshore environment. While diving off the west side of San Juan Island, I have encountered schools so thick that you could not see the rock walls behind them. Most species are opportunistic omnivores and are capable of filter feeding on fine particles, such as diatoms.
Steve