Dr Rachel Hale Marine Biologist
@seafloorscience.bsky.social
Dr of small crawly things that live on the ocean floor.
I study what they do, how they do it, and how they respond to disturbance, including climate change.
Marine Biologist, Ocean Optimist, Invert Advocate, "Worm Girl"
Opinions mine. She/her
I study what they do, how they do it, and how they respond to disturbance, including climate change.
Marine Biologist, Ocean Optimist, Invert Advocate, "Worm Girl"
Opinions mine. She/her
It would be my absolute pleasure to recommend you The Lives of Octopuses and Their Relatives: A Natural History of Cephalopods by my friend @dannastaaf.bsky.social. Thank you for asking and happy learning! Octopuses and cephalopods in general are awesome!
January 6, 2026 at 6:19 PM
It would be my absolute pleasure to recommend you The Lives of Octopuses and Their Relatives: A Natural History of Cephalopods by my friend @dannastaaf.bsky.social. Thank you for asking and happy learning! Octopuses and cephalopods in general are awesome!
Their blood uses copper-based hemocyanin (not iron-based like us), making it blue and more efficient in cold, low-oxygen water.
January 6, 2026 at 7:30 AM
Their blood uses copper-based hemocyanin (not iron-based like us), making it blue and more efficient in cold, low-oxygen water.
They have one central brain and eight smaller "mini-brains" (ganglia) in their arms. These allow the arms to act semi-independently for multitasking.
The main brain is also doughnut shaped.
The main brain is also doughnut shaped.
January 6, 2026 at 7:30 AM
They have one central brain and eight smaller "mini-brains" (ganglia) in their arms. These allow the arms to act semi-independently for multitasking.
The main brain is also doughnut shaped.
The main brain is also doughnut shaped.
Did you know octopuses have three hearts, nine brains, and blue blood.
Two hearts pump blood to the gills; one pumps to the rest of the body.
The one systemic heart actually stops when they swim, meaning they prefer crawling.
🌊🐙🦑🧪
Two hearts pump blood to the gills; one pumps to the rest of the body.
The one systemic heart actually stops when they swim, meaning they prefer crawling.
🌊🐙🦑🧪
January 6, 2026 at 7:30 AM
Did you know octopuses have three hearts, nine brains, and blue blood.
Two hearts pump blood to the gills; one pumps to the rest of the body.
The one systemic heart actually stops when they swim, meaning they prefer crawling.
🌊🐙🦑🧪
Two hearts pump blood to the gills; one pumps to the rest of the body.
The one systemic heart actually stops when they swim, meaning they prefer crawling.
🌊🐙🦑🧪
Can't really see it too well in the vid but we just saw a baby tornado/water spout off the boulder bank (we think). Was more spouty while I was fumbling for the camera. Scary!
December 29, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Can't really see it too well in the vid but we just saw a baby tornado/water spout off the boulder bank (we think). Was more spouty while I was fumbling for the camera. Scary!
The Seasquare 😂
📸 Prof Michael Sweet
📸 Prof Michael Sweet
December 23, 2025 at 3:52 AM
The Seasquare 😂
📸 Prof Michael Sweet
📸 Prof Michael Sweet
Probs not quite going to finish in time for Christmas gifting but just the rug backing and ribbon edging (to hide the cut) to do now.
Definitely the longest I've ever spent hand making a gift (nearly a year of intermittent evening stitching).
Definitely the longest I've ever spent hand making a gift (nearly a year of intermittent evening stitching).
December 23, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Probs not quite going to finish in time for Christmas gifting but just the rug backing and ribbon edging (to hide the cut) to do now.
Definitely the longest I've ever spent hand making a gift (nearly a year of intermittent evening stitching).
Definitely the longest I've ever spent hand making a gift (nearly a year of intermittent evening stitching).
🚨Save the date!
The Sixth International Ocean in a High CO2 World Symposium will be held in Te Whanganui-A-Tara Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand from 13-16 October 2026.
Learn more and submit your proposals for sessions and side-activities here: www.highco2-vi.org
The Sixth International Ocean in a High CO2 World Symposium will be held in Te Whanganui-A-Tara Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand from 13-16 October 2026.
Learn more and submit your proposals for sessions and side-activities here: www.highco2-vi.org
December 4, 2025 at 12:28 AM
🚨Save the date!
The Sixth International Ocean in a High CO2 World Symposium will be held in Te Whanganui-A-Tara Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand from 13-16 October 2026.
Learn more and submit your proposals for sessions and side-activities here: www.highco2-vi.org
The Sixth International Ocean in a High CO2 World Symposium will be held in Te Whanganui-A-Tara Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand from 13-16 October 2026.
Learn more and submit your proposals for sessions and side-activities here: www.highco2-vi.org
Bit late for #SundayFishSketch (and not a sketch, and not finished), but it is (or will be, eventually) an Opah! But boy is it taking forever.
October 27, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Bit late for #SundayFishSketch (and not a sketch, and not finished), but it is (or will be, eventually) an Opah! But boy is it taking forever.
Can just about make out some antennae/tentacles as it retreats.
Tube looks...fleshy?
Tube looks...fleshy?
October 14, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Can just about make out some antennae/tentacles as it retreats.
Tube looks...fleshy?
Tube looks...fleshy?
An abundance of eels at the bottom of my road!
October 6, 2025 at 10:36 PM
An abundance of eels at the bottom of my road!
Science needs this kind of sponsorship. I am 100% open to posing with cheese or really most foods in exchange for social media posts, large logos on conferences presentations, and copiously talking about said food.
Call me anytime. DMs are open.
Call me anytime. DMs are open.
September 15, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Science needs this kind of sponsorship. I am 100% open to posing with cheese or really most foods in exchange for social media posts, large logos on conferences presentations, and copiously talking about said food.
Call me anytime. DMs are open.
Call me anytime. DMs are open.
These worm reefs can be large (over 2 m wide). Look for them in the lower intertidal area.
📸 r_rombach, Parque Natural do Litoral Norte via @inaturalist.bsky.social
📸 r_rombach, Parque Natural do Litoral Norte via @inaturalist.bsky.social
September 13, 2025 at 7:59 PM
These worm reefs can be large (over 2 m wide). Look for them in the lower intertidal area.
📸 r_rombach, Parque Natural do Litoral Norte via @inaturalist.bsky.social
📸 r_rombach, Parque Natural do Litoral Norte via @inaturalist.bsky.social
Ok, back to the worms!
Meet Sabellaria alveolata. This beautiful polychaete worm has a golden crown.
This worm is also know as the honeycomb worm for the honeycomb like tubes they create in aggregations.
📸Auguste La Roux, Catherine Boyen
Meet Sabellaria alveolata. This beautiful polychaete worm has a golden crown.
This worm is also know as the honeycomb worm for the honeycomb like tubes they create in aggregations.
📸Auguste La Roux, Catherine Boyen
September 13, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Ok, back to the worms!
Meet Sabellaria alveolata. This beautiful polychaete worm has a golden crown.
This worm is also know as the honeycomb worm for the honeycomb like tubes they create in aggregations.
📸Auguste La Roux, Catherine Boyen
Meet Sabellaria alveolata. This beautiful polychaete worm has a golden crown.
This worm is also know as the honeycomb worm for the honeycomb like tubes they create in aggregations.
📸Auguste La Roux, Catherine Boyen
And I made a new friend
September 9, 2025 at 8:08 AM
And I made a new friend
Was frosty in the morning though!
September 3, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Was frosty in the morning though!
This anemone is doing the most. Looking fabulous.
September 2, 2025 at 4:21 AM
This anemone is doing the most. Looking fabulous.
Spring is springing in Christchurch. And there's a worm (definitely a worm and not a snake) wrapped around a lamppost!
September 1, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Spring is springing in Christchurch. And there's a worm (definitely a worm and not a snake) wrapped around a lamppost!
😂 yeah he's hard to see. I didn't see him (just his burrows) for a long time. The filtered pic is easier to see!
August 31, 2025 at 6:24 PM
😂 yeah he's hard to see. I didn't see him (just his burrows) for a long time. The filtered pic is easier to see!
Hello fren! My experimental companion these last 3 months 🦀
August 31, 2025 at 5:14 AM
Hello fren! My experimental companion these last 3 months 🦀
I dunno...!
August 30, 2025 at 6:49 AM
I dunno...!
Stupid fish is taking ages. Fish are the worst. It was a mistake to do a vertebrate.
(It's a present for a friend)
(It's a present for a friend)
August 29, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Stupid fish is taking ages. Fish are the worst. It was a mistake to do a vertebrate.
(It's a present for a friend)
(It's a present for a friend)
3 years to get the funding
2 years of prep before the experiment
3 months experimental incubation
2 weeks intensive sampling
Followed by months/years of sample and data analysis
Then writing papers and presentations to disseminate.
Science is a long game.
🧪
2 years of prep before the experiment
3 months experimental incubation
2 weeks intensive sampling
Followed by months/years of sample and data analysis
Then writing papers and presentations to disseminate.
Science is a long game.
🧪
August 28, 2025 at 12:02 AM
3 years to get the funding
2 years of prep before the experiment
3 months experimental incubation
2 weeks intensive sampling
Followed by months/years of sample and data analysis
Then writing papers and presentations to disseminate.
Science is a long game.
🧪
2 years of prep before the experiment
3 months experimental incubation
2 weeks intensive sampling
Followed by months/years of sample and data analysis
Then writing papers and presentations to disseminate.
Science is a long game.
🧪
I want many
August 26, 2025 at 12:22 AM
I want many