Marine Life of Yaquina Head
By Ed White
December 1995
Minor Updates June 1998
Revised and Updated by Terry Morse, January 2003
Last Revised: 10 November 2004
Introduction
The following is a partial list of animals and algae found at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural
Area. It is divided into lists of Algae, Invertebrates, Fish, and Marine Mammals. For information
on birds, please look at one of the excellent lists by Range Bayer. A more complete list of
invertebrates was completed by Dr. Sylvia Yamada.
Yaquina Head is a rocky headland located just north of Newport, Oregon. It has nearly two miles
of rocky intertidal habitat at low tide. It is protected from collecting, which provides a refuge for
many animals. In 1994, a new intertidal habitat was completed at Yaquina Head, created from a
former rock quarry. Called Quarry Cove, this handicapped accessible area is unique in being a
man-made environment.
The lists were compiled over a period of six months from March to September 1995. This list
should not be considered complete. It probably holds many inaccuracies, as there was not
enough time to identify everything positively. Many species included in the list were either
personally observed and identified, or were listed in archaeological reports from digs at Yaquina
Head. Species listed in archaeological reports were identified as “historical” or “archaeological.”
One species (Gnathostomula karlingi) was listed in Kozloff's Marine Invertebrates of the Pacific
Northwest as being first described at Yaquina Head in 1971. Unfortunately, I have not found this
tiny elusive worm.
Each list contains information as to where each species would probably be found. The Spray
Zone consists of areas that typically only get water from waves on the highest tides or during
storms. Here some small snails and limpets can be found. The High Tide Zone is below this. It is
the area within a few feet of the average high tide line. The Mid Tide Zone comes next; it often
has mussels and Gooseneck Barnacles. The Low Tide Zone is the part that is covered with water
most of the time. It is populated by such creatures as the Sunflower Star and the Gumboot
Chiton. Another environment I have listed is the pelagic, the waters surrounding Yaquina Head.
Deep waters can be defined as waters more than sixty feet deep. Tidepools are areas of water left
behind by a receding tide.
I have broken up Yaquina Head into several different parts. Quarry Cove (QC) is the newly
constructed habitat and the areas immediately around it. The Marine Gardens (MG) is the
tidepools accessible from the staircase near the lighthouse. Fisherman's Path (FP) is on the south
1
side of the headland with a difficult path leading to this exposed location. This area should be
avoided by the general public due to the danger of sneaker waves. I have been hit twice by
waves there.
When tidepooling at Yaquina Head please remember that the environment here is very fragile.
Watch your step. It is against the law to take animals. It is also a good idea to watch the waves
and the tides. There are several places at Yaquina Head where you could get stranded.
Reviser's Note: Only a few species have been added to Ed White's 1995 list. Most of the
revision involves updating the scientific names of the species and adding higher-level
classification information to show relationships between species, particularly among the bony
fishes. All scientific names and higher-level groupings have been checked against the Integrated
Taxonomic Information System of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(http://www.itis.usda.gov/), except for the subkingdoms of plants, which were gleaned from ITIS
and from other sources on the web. The only species I was not able to locate in the ITIS
database is Gnathostomula karlingi (Phylum Gnathostomulida), mentioned above by Ed. – TM
Contents
Location Key
Marine Mammals
Fish
Marine Plant List for Yaquina Head
Invertebrate List for Yaquina Head
References
Location Key
QC = Quarry Cove
MG = Marine Gardens (Cobble
Beach)
Subtidal = below lowest
tides
Pelagic = open ocean
2
FP = Fisherman's Path
Marine Mammals
Whales, Porpoises: Order Cetacea
Common Name
Gray Whale
Humpback Whale
Scientific
Name
Eschrichtius
robustus
Megaptera
novaeangliae
Eubalaena
glacialis
Right Whale
Orca (Killer Whale)
Harbor Porpoise
Dall's Porpoise
Orcinus orca
Phocoena
phocoena
Phocoenoides
dalli
Balaenoptera
acutorostrata
Minke Whale
Status
Location(s)
Notes
Migratory, Summer
Resident
Pelagic
Migratory
Pelagic
Possible
Migratory
Pelagic
Possible
historical
wintering areas in
Oregon
Transient
Pelagic
Transient
Pelagic
Transient
Pelagic
Resident
Pelagic
Common
offshore; less
conspicuous than
Gray Whales,
hence probably
under-reported
Seals, Sea Lions: Order Carnivora
Common Name
Steller Sea Lion
California Sea Lion
Northern Fur Seal
Northern Elephant
Seal
Scientific
Name
Eumetopias
jubatus
Zalophus
californianus
Callorhinus
ursinus
Mirounga
angustirostris
Status
Location(s)
Notes
Pelagic,
Seal Island
Pelagic,
Seal Island
Historical haul
out
Historical
Pelagic
Archaeological
Transient
Pelagic,
injured pup
on beach
June 1998
Transient
Transient
3
Common Name
Harbor Seal
Scientific
Name
Phoca vitulina
Status
Resident
Location(s)
Notes
Seal Island,
MG, QC
Other Marine Mammals
Common Name
Scientific
Name
Status
Sea Otter
Enhydra lutris
Historical
Steller's Sea Cow
Hydrodamalis
gigas
Possible historical
4
Location(s)
Pelagic
Notes
Locally extinct
since 1906
Extinct
Fish
Common Name
Sharks, Skates
Scientific Name
Class Chondrichthyes
Big Skate
Raja binoculata
Deep waters
Long-nosed Skate
Spotted Ratfish
Raja rhina
Hydrolagus collieli
Deep waters
Ray-finned Fish
Superclass
Osteichthyes: Class
Actinopterygii
Herrings, Sardines,
Anchovies
Herring, Smelt
Pacific Herring
Smoothheads,
Smelts
Smelts
Surf Smelt
Pikes, Salmon,
Trout
Salmon, Trout
Steelhead
Coho salmon
Cods, Rattails,
Eelpouts
Codfishes
Area(s) Found
Notes
Egg cases wash up on
beach
Washed up
Caught at QC 1997
Order Clupeiformes
Family Clupeidae
Clupea harengus
Seasonal shallow
water
Archaeological
Shallow water,
tidepools
QC
Order Osmeriformes
Family Osmeridae
Hypomesus pretiosus
Order Salmoniformes
Family Salmonidae
Oncorhynchus
gairdneri
Oncorhynchus kisutch
Accidental tidepool QC
Accidental tidepool QC
Order Gadiformes
Family Gadidae
Hake
Merluccius productus
Deep water
Pacific Tomcod
Microgadus proximus
QC
5
Archaeological,
nocturnal
Archaeological,
nocturnal
Common Name
Sticklebacks,
Seahorses
Sticklebacks
Threespine
Stickleback
Scientific Name
Order
Gasterosteiformes
Family Gasterosteidae
Scorpionfishes,
Rockfishes
Rockfish
Order
Scorpaeniformes
Family Scorpaenidae
Copper Rockfish
Sebastes caurinus
Black Rockfish
Sebastes melanops
Greenlings
Family
Hexagrammidae
Lingcod
Ophiodon elongatus
Kelp Greenling
Rock Greenling
Whitespotted
Greenling
Sculpins
Buffalo Sculpin
Brown Irish Lord
Area(s) Found
Gasterosteus aculeatus Tidepools
Shallow water,
deep water
Hexagrammos
decagrammus
Hexagrammos
lagocephalus
Hexagrammos stelleri
Shallow water
MG
Shallow water
QC
Shallow water
Staghorn Sculpin
Tidepool Sculpin
Rosylip Sculpin
Fluffy Sculpin
Mosshead Sculpin
Snailfish
Tidepool Snailfish
Family Cyclopteridae
Liparis florae
Shallow water
Cabezon
QC
Shallow water,
deep water
Shallow water,
deep water
Family Cottidae
Enophrys bison
Hemilepidotus spinosus
Hemilepidotus
hemilepidotus
Scorpaenicthys
marmoratus
Leptocottus armatus
Oligocottus maculosus
Ascelichthys rhodorus
Oligocottus snyderi
Clinocottus globiceps
Red Irish Lord
Notes
Shallow water
Shallow water
Archaeological
Shallow water
FP
Shallow water
QC, MG
Tidepools
Tidepools
Tidepools
Tidepools
Tidepools
QC
QC, MG
QC, MG
QC, MG
MG
6
QC, MG
Common Name
Perch-like Fishes
Sandlances
Scientific Name
Order Perciformes
Family Ammodytidae
Sandlance
Ammodytes hexapterus
Surfperch
Redtail Surfperch
Striped Surfperch
Family Embiotocidae
Amphisticus rhodoterus Shallow water
Embiotoca lateralis
Shallow water
Pricklebacks
Family Stichaeidae
Anoplarchus
purpurescens
High Cockscomb
Snake Prickleback
Lumpenus sagitta
Rock Prickleback
Xiphister mucosus
Gunnels
Family Pholidae
Penpoint Gunnel
Apodichthys flavidus
Clingfish
Family Gobiesocidae
Northern Clingfish
Gobiesox maeandricus
Flatfishes
Left-eyed, Righteyed Flounders
Speckled Sanddab
Pacific Halibut
Sand Sole
Starry Flounder
English Sole
Butter Sole
Order
Pleuronectiformes
Families Bothidae,
Pleuronectidae
Citharichthys
stigmaeus
Hippoglossus
stenolepis
Psettichthys
melanostictus
Platichthys stellatus
Parophrys vetulus
Isopsetta isolepis
Area(s) Found
Notes
Shallow water,
tidepools
Tidepools, under
rocks
Tidepools, under
rocks
Tidepools, under
rocks
QC, MG
MG
QC
Tidepools, under
rocks
QC, MG
Tidepools, under
rocks
QC, MG
Shallow water
QC
Deep water
Shallow water
QC
Shallow water
Shallow water
Shallow water
QC
7
Common Name
C-O Sole
Sunfishes,
Pufferfishes
Ocean Sunfishes
Ocean Sunfish
Scientific Name
Pleuronichthys
coenosus
Order
Tetraodontiformes
Family Molidae
Mola mola
Area(s) Found
Notes
Shallow water
QC
Pelagic
Seasonal visitor
8
Marine Plant List for Yaquina Head
(See Footnote)
Kingdom Plantae: Subkingdom Chromista
Nonvascular Plants
Common Name
Diatoms
Colonial diatoms
Scientific Name
Division
Bacillariophyta
Habitat
Fragilia sp.
Everywhere
Notes
First to settle in Quarry
Cove
Subkingdom Algae
Algae
Common Name
Green Algae
Sea Hair Enteromorpha
Enteromorpha
Sea Lettuce
Green Sea Moss
Sea Rope
Dead Man's Finger
Black Sponge
Green Epiphyte
Scientific Name
Class
Chlorophycaeae
Enteromorpha
intestinalis
Enteromorpha linza
Ulva fenestrata
Cladophora sp.
Acrosiphonia
mertensi
Codium fragile
Codium setchellii
?
Brown Algae
Class
Phaeophycaeae
Tar Spot
Ralfsia pacifica
Whip Tube
Whip tube
Fir Needle
Sargassum
Little Rockweed
Rockweed
Habitat
Everywhere
Quarry Cove
Everywhere
High, mid zone
Low tide zone
Low tide zone
Caves, shade
On surfgrass
High, mid tide
zones
Scytosiphon
lomentaria
Scytosiphon dotyi
Analipus japonicus
Sargassum muticum
Pelvetiopsis limitata
Fucus gardneri
Low tide zone
High tide zone
High, mid tide zone
Quarry Cove
High tide zone
High tide zone
9
Notes
Common Name
Sea Brain
Wide Desmarentia
Petalonia
Small Leaf Kelp
Scientific Name
Leathesia difformis
Desmerestia ligulata
Petalonia fascia
Postelsia
palmaeformis
Hedophyllum sessile
Pterygophora
californica
Costaria costata
Alaria marginata
Egregia menziesii
Laminaria setchellii
Laminaria
saccharina
Laminaria sinclairii
Perennial Kelp
Macrocystis sp.
Bull Kelp
Nereocystis
luetkeanus
Sea Palm
Sea Cabbage
Pom-pon
Seersucker
Wing Kelp
Feather Boa Kelp
Split Kelp
Sugar Kelp
Red Algae
Polysiphona
Callithamnion
Microcladia
Odonthalia
Sea Sack
Plocamium
Dulse
Black Pine
Nail Brush
Sea Tongue
Turkish Towel
Iodine Kelp
Mermaid's Cup
Fall/Winter Nori
Habitat
Mid tide zone
Mid, low tide zone
Low zone
High wave
exposure
Low zone
Notes
Low zone
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Washed up on beach
often
Offshore
Class
Rhodophycaeae
Polysiphonia sp.
Callithamnion sp.
Microcladia borealis
Odonthalia floccosa
Halosaccion
glandiforme
Plocamium
cartilagineum
Palmaria palmata
mollis
Rhodemela larix
Endocladia muricata
Mastocarpus
papillatus
Gigartina exasperata
Prionitis lanceolata
Consantinea simplex
Porphyra sp.
Low zone
Low zone
Low zone
Low zone
Mid, low zone
Low zone
Low zone
Low zone
Mid zone
Mid, high zones
Mid, low zone
Mid zone
Low zone
High zone
10
Has “sea tar” phase
Common Name
Spring/Summer Nori
Epiphytic Nori
Iridescent Seaweed
Iridescent Seaweed
Scientific Name
Porphyra sp.
Porphyra sp.
Iridaea splendens
Iridaea cornucopiae
Woody Kelp
Gymnogongrus sp.
Coralline Algae
Branched Coralline
Algae
Bead Coral
Surfgrass coralline algae
Lithothamnium sp.
Habitat
High zone
On surfgrass
Low zone
High zone
Low zone, with
sand.
Mid, low zone
Corallina sp.
Mid, low zone
Calliarthron sp.
Mid, low zone
Melobesia mediocris Low zone
Notes
Epiphyte on surfgrass
Subkingdom Tracheobionta
Vascular Plants
Common Name
Sea Grasses
Scientific Name
Habitat
Family Zosteraceae
Notes
True vascular plants
(i.e., not algae), but not
true grasses
Eelgrass
Zostera marina
Sand bottoms
Surfgrass
Phyllospadix scouleri Low zone, on rocks
Surfgrass
Phyllospadix torreyi Surge channels
* The higher level taxonomy of the plant kingdom is not well-resolved
(http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/sci/A0860417.html). Names for the subkingdoms vary, and
there is doubtless disagreement as to the number and arrangement of subkingdoms.
Subkingdom designations are included to indicate the broad, general relationships of the lower
groupings. – TM
This is only a partial list of marine plants at Yaquina Head. Many more species were seen
but not identified due to lack of time. There are over 400 species of algae on the Oregon
Coast.
11
Invertebrate List for Yaquina Head
Phylum Porifera
Sponges
Common Name
Scientific Name
Environment
Locations
Zone
Spongin
Sponges
Class
Demospongiae
Purple, Pink
Sponge
Haliclona permollis
Shade, caves
All, QC
Low,
Mid
Yellow Boring
Sponge
Cliona celata
Shade, caves
All
Low
Crumb of Bread
Sponge
Halichondria
panicea
Shade, caves
All
Low
Red Sponge
Ophlitaspongia
pennata
Shade, caves
All
Low
Tan Sponge
Geodia mesotriaena
Calcareous
Sponges
Class Pharetronida
Vase Sponge
Leucilla nuttingi
Low
Shade, caves
All
Notes
Washed
up
Subtidal
Phylum Cnidaria
Cnidarians Common Name
Scientific Name
Environment
Locations
Zone
Hydroids
Class Hydrozoa
Ostrich Plume
Aglaophenia sp.
Caves
FP
Low
Sertularia
Sertularia sp.
Caves
FP
Low
12
Notes
Washed
up
Common Name
Scientific Name
Environment
Locations
Zone
Pelagic
MG, QC
Open
ocean
By-The-Wind
Sailor
Velella velella
Jellyfish
Class Scyphozoa
Moon Jellyfish
Aurelia aurita
Pelagic
All
Open
ocean
Lion's Mane
Jelly
Cyanea capillata
Pelagic
All
Open
ocean
Unid.
Scyphozoan
?
Algae
QC
Low
Bell Jelly
?
Pelagic
QC
Low
Anemones
Class Anthozoa
Proliferating
Anemone
Epiactis prolifera
Surfgrass,
rocks
MG, QC
Low,
mid
Aggregating
Anemone
Anthopleura
elegantissima
Rocks
All
Mid
Giant Green
Anemone
Anthopleura
xanthogrammica
Rocks,
crevices
All, QC
Mid,
low
Red and Green
Anemone
Urticina felina
Under rocks,
caves
QC, FP
Low
Sea Raspberry
Alcyonium sp.
Caves
FP
Low
Scarlet
Anemone
Tealia coriacea
Under rocks,
caves
QC, FP
Low
Burrowing
Anemone
Anthopleura
artemisia
In deep pools
MG
Low
13
Notes
Phylum Gnathostomulida
Jaw Worms
Common Name
Gnathostomula
Scientific Name
Gnathostomula
karlingi
Environment
Surfgrass
rhizoids
Locations
MG
Zone
Low
Notes
Species
first
described
at
Yaquina
Head
1971
(Riedl,
1971)
Phylum Platyhelminthes
Flatworms
Common Name
Brown Flatworm
Scientific Name
Notoplana sp.
Environment
Locations
Under rocks
MG, QC,
FP
Zone
Notes
Low
Phylum Nemertea
Nemerteans
Common Name
Ribbon Worms
Orange Ribbon
Worm
Grey Ribbon
Worm
Brown Ribbon
Worm
Two-spotted
Ribbon Worm
Scientific Name
Tubulanus
polymorphus
Amphiporus
formidabilis
Paranemertes
peregrina
Environment
Locations
Mussel beds
MG, FP
Low
Mussel beds
All
Mid
Mussel beds
All
Mid
Amphiporus
bimaculatus
MG
14
Zone
Low
Notes
Photographed
29 March
2003
Phylum Annelida
Segmented Worms
Common Name
Polychaete
Worms
Calcareous Tube
Worm
Small Tube
Worms
Feather Duster
Worm
Parchment tubes
Hairy Gilled
Worm
Basket-top Tube
Worm
Scientific Name
Environment
Locations
Zone
Serpula vermicularis
On rocks
All
Mid
Spirorbis sp.
On rocks,
shells
?
Low
Caves
FP
Low
Rocks
Rocks, sand,
gravel
QC
Pista elongata
Rocks
MG
Scaleworm
Harmothoe imbricata
Mussel beds
MG
Low
Mid,
low
Mid to
Subtidal
Mid,
low
Commensal
Scaleworm
Arctonoe vittata
Mussel Worm
Nereis vexillosa
Sand Worm
Neanthes brandti
Lugworm
Abarenicola sp.
Notes
Class Polychaeta
Schizobronchia
insignis
Eudistylia sp.
Thelepus crispus
Limpets,
Chitons
Mussel beds,
rocks
Sand, under
rocks
In sand
QC
All
Low
All
Mid
QC
QC, MG
Mid,
low
Low
Phylum Sipuncula
Peanut Worms
Common Name
Scientific Name
Environment
Peanut Worm
Golfingia procera
Crevices
Sea Pear
Themiste pyroides
Crevices,
holes
15
Locations
QC, MG,
FP
MG, FP
Zone
Low
Low
Notes
Phylum Ectoprocta
Bryozoans
Common Name
Hairy bryozoan
Coral bryozoan
Leafy bryozoan
White
Encrusting
Bryozoan
Brown
Encrusting
Bryozoan
Scientific Name
Flustrellidra
corniculata
Heteropora magna?
Dendrobeania
lichenoides?
Environment
Eelgrass,
algae
Rock
Locations
Zone
MG
Subtidal
FP
Low
Rock
FP
Low
Membranipora
membranacea
Algae,
eelgrass,
surfgrass
All
Low
?
Rock
All
Low
Notes
Phylum Mollusca
Molluscs
Common Name
Bivalves
California
Mussel
Bay Mussel
Rock Scallop
Cockle
Scientific Name
Class Bivalvia
Environment
Locations
Mytilus californianus
Rock
All
Mid
Mytilus trossulus
Hinnites giganteus
Clinocardium nuttali
Rock
Rock
Sand
QC
MG
MG, QC
Mid
Subtidal
Low
Sea Bottle Clam
Mytilimeria nuttali
MG
Subtidal
Northwest Ugly
Clam
Entodesma saxicola
Rocks
MG
Low
Piddock
Penitiella penita
Rocks
All
Mid,
low
Razor Clam
Siliqua patula
Sand
Butter Clam
Littleneck Clam
Japanese
Littleneck Clam
Sand Clam
Saxidomus giganteus
Protothaca staminea
Sand, rocks
Rocks
QC,
beaches
MG
MG, QC
Tapes philippinarum
Rocks
MG
Low
Macoma sp.
Sand
QC
Low
16
Zone
Low
Low
Low
Notes
Washed
up
Common Name
Scientific Name
Class
Polyplacophora
Environment
Mossy Chiton
Mopalia muscosa
Rocks
Hairy Chiton
Mopalia lignosa
Rocks
Lined Chiton
Tonicella lineata
Rocks
Gumboot Chiton
Black Leather
Chiton
“Tall” Chiton
Cryptochiton stelleri
Rocks
Katharina tunicata
Rocks
Ischnochiton sp. ?
Rocks
Octopus, Squid
Class Cephalopoda
Giant Pacific
Octopus
Enteroctopus dofIeini
Chitons
Snails, Slugs
All but
QC
All but
QC
All but
QC
MG
All but
QC
FP
Zone
Order
Archaeogastropoda
Keyhole Limpet
Diodora aspera
Limpets
Order
Patellogastropoda
Mid
Low
Low
Mid
Low
Deep water,
tidepools,
subtidal
Uncom­
mon in
tidepools
Crevices,
caves
All
Low
Acmaea mitra
Rocks
MG
Low
Lottia pelta
Tectura scutum
Lottia digitalis
Notoacmaea persona
Rocks
Rocks
Rocks
Rocks
All
All
All
All
Lottia strigatella
Rocks
All
Mid
Mid
High
Mid
Mid,
high
17
Notes
Mid
Class Gastropoda
Subclass
Prosobranchia
Abalones,
Keyhole
Limpets
White Cap
Limpet
Shield Limpet
Plate Limpet
Finger Limpet
Masked Limpet
“Small fingerlimpet like”
Locations
Common Name
Leafy
Hornmouth
Scientific Name
Order
Neogastropoda
Ceratostoma
foliatum
Purple Whelk
Nucella lamellosa
Rocks
All
Ribbed Whelk
Channeled
Whelk
Nucella emarginata
Rocks
Mussel beds,
rocks
All
Mid,
low
Mid
All
Mid
Dire Whelk
Searlesia dira
Rocks
MG
Mid,
low
Wrinkled Dove
Snail
Purple Olive
Snail
Amphissa
columbiana
Mussel beds,
rocks
All
Low
Olivella biplicata
Sand
Beaches
Low
Wentletrap
Opalia chacei
MG
Mid
Slipper Shell
Crepidula sp.
MG
Low
Snails
Black Turban
Snail
Blue Top Snail
Checkered
Periwinkle
Chink Snail
Nudibranchs
Monterey Sea
Lemon
Sea Lemon
Sea Clown
Frosted
Nudibranch
Opalescent
Nudibranch
Nucella canaliculata
Environment
Locations
Rocks
All
Bases of
anemones
On snails,
limpets
Zone
Low
Tegula funebralis
Rocks
All
Mid
Calliostoma ligatum
Rocks
All
Low
Littorina scutulata
Rocks
All
High
Lacuna marmorata
Algae
All
Low
Rocks
All
Low
Rocks
Rocks
All
All
Low
Low
Dirona albolineata
Sand
QC, MG
Low
Hermissenda
crassicornis
Sand, rocks,
algae
All
Low
Subclass
Opisthobranchia
Order
Nudibranchia
Archidoris
montereyensis
Anisodoris nobllis
Triopha catalinae
18
Notes
Common Name
Sea Mouse
Ringed Doris
Red Sponge
Nudibranch
Yellow Edged
Cadlina
Barnacle-eating
Nudibranch
Scientific Name
Aeolidea papillosa
Diaulula
sandiegensis
Environment
Rocks
Locations
MG
Zone
Low
Rocks
All
Low
Rostanga pulchra
Red sponge
MG
Low
Rocks
QC, MG
Low
Rocks
QC
Low
Cadlina
luteomarginata
Onchidoris
bilamellata
Notes
Phylum Arthropoda
Joint-footed Animals
Common Name
Crustaceans
Barnacles
Gray Barnacle
Acorn Barnacle
Thatched
Barnacle
Giant Barnacle
Gooseneck
Barnacle
“Subtidal”
Barnacle
Amphipods,
Isopods
Copepod
Kelp Flea
Green amphipod
Black amphipod
Rockweed
Isopod
Scientific Name
Subphylum
Crustacea
Subclass Cirripedia
Chthamalus dalli
Balanus glandula
Semibalanus
cariosus
Balanus nubilus
Environment
Locations
Rocks
Rocks
All
All
Rocks
All
Rocks
FP
Spray
High
Mid,
low
Subtidal
Pollicipes polymerus
Rocks
All
Mid
Balanus crenatus
Rocks
All
Subtidal
Class Malacostraca:
Orders Amphipoda,
Isopoda
?
?
?
?
Small pools
Beach
Algae
Algae
All
All
All
All
Idotea wosnesenskii
Algae, rocks
All
Spray
Spray
Mid
Mid
High,
mid
Green Isopod
Idotea montereyensis
Isopod
Idotea urotoma
Rocks Louse
Gribble
Ligia pallasii
Limnoria sp.
Eelgrass,
algae
Eelgrass,
algae
Rocks
Wood
19
Zone
All
Low
All
Low
All
MG
Spray
Low
Notes
Common Name
Multicolored
Pill Bug
Parasitic Isopod
Scientific Name
Exosphaeroma
amplicauda
Gnorimosphaeroma
oregonense
?
Mysids
Unid. Mysid
Order Mysida
?
Shrimp, Crabs
Shrimp
Broken Back
Shrimp
Opossum
Shrimp
Order Decapoda
Infraorder Caridea
Heptacarpus
pugettensis
Lissocrangon
stylirostris
Hermit Crabs,
King Crabs
Infraorder
Anomura
Neotrypaea
californiensis
Emerita analoga
Pagurus
hirsutiusculus
Pagurus
granosimanus
Pill Bug
Ghost Shrimp
Mole Crab
Hairy Hermit
Crab
Grainyhand
Hermit Crab
Blue-Clawed
Hermit Crab
Flat Porcelain
Crab
Flattop Porcelain
Crab
Thick Clawed
Porcelain Crab
Yellow-Bellied
Crab
Environment
Locations
Mussel beds
MG
Mid
In crevices
QC
Mid
Flatfish
QC
Subtidal
All pools
QC
Low
All pools,
algae
All
Low
Sand
QC
Low
Sand, mud
QC
Low
Sand
QC
Low
Rocks, algae
All
Mid
Rocks, algae
All
Mid
Pagurus samuelis
Rocks, algae
MG
Low
Petrolisthes cinctipes
Mussel beds
All
Mid
Petrolisthes
eriomerus
Mussel beds
All
Mid
Pachycheles rudis
Mussel beds
FP
Mid
Oedignathus intermis
Crevices
FP
Low
20
Zone
Notes
Common Name
Environment
Locations
Crevices
MG
Low
Scyra acutifrons
Algae
QC
Low
Pugettia gracilis
Algae
All
Low
Pugettia producta
Algae
All
Low
Hemigrapsus nudus
Under rocks
All
Under rocks
QC
Under rocks
All
High
Cancer magister
Sand
All
Mid.
Low
Cancer branneri
Kelp
QC
Subtidal
Cancer antennarius
Rock
All
Low
Hairy Rock Crab
Cancer oregonensis
Rock
All
Red Rock Crab
Cancer productus
Rock
All
Insects and
Their Allies
Springtails
Subphylum
Hexapoda
Order Collembola
Seashore
Springtail
Anurida maritima
Tidepool
surface film,
under rocks
MG
Insects
Class Insecta
Flies
Order Diptera
Crane Fly
Limonia marmorata
Algae, rocks
All
Spray
Kelp Fly
Coelopa vanduzeei
Dead algae
All
Spray
“True” Crabs
Blue Clawed
Crab
Sharp Nosed
Crab
Graceful Kelp
Crab
Northern Kelp
Crab
Purple Shore
Crab
Yellow Shore
Crab
Lined Shore
Crab
Dungeness Crab
Subtidal Rock
Crab
Pacific Rock
Crab
Scientific Name
Infraorder
Brachyura
Lophopanopeus
bellus
Hemigrapsus
oregonensis
Pachygrapsus
crassipes
21
Zone
Mid,
high
Mid,
high
Mid,
low
Low
Notes
Common Name
Scientific Name
Mites
Class Arachnida:
Subclass Acarina
Red Mite
Neomolgus littoralis
Environment
Locations
Rocks
All
Zone
Notes
Spray
Phylum Echinodermata
Spiny-skinned Animals
Common Name
Scientific Name
Environment
Locations
Zone
Sea Urchins
Class Echinoidea
Purple Sea
Urchin
Strongylocentrotus
purpuratus
Rocks
All
Mid,
low
Red Sea Urchin
Strongylocentrotus
franciscanus
Rocks
MG
Low,
subtidal
Green Sea
Urchin
Strongylocentrotus
droebachiensis
Under rocks
FP
Low,
subtidal
Mussel beds
All
Low,
mid
Cucumaria miniata
Crevices
MG, FP
Low
Parastichopus
californicus
Pools
MG
Low,
subtidal
Sea Cucumbers
White Sea
Cucumber
Red Sea
Cucumber
California Sea
Cucumber
Stars
Brittle Stars
Class
Holothuroidea
Eupentacta
quinquesemita
Class Stelleroidea
Subclass
Ophiuroidea
Daisy Brittle
Star
Ophiopholus aculata
Sand, kelp
All
Low
Brittle Star
Amphipholis
squamata
Sand, kelp
All
Low
22
Notes
Common Name
Sea Stars
Six-Armed Star
Pink Sea Star
Common Sea
Star
Scientific Name
Subclass Asteroidea
Order
Forcipulatida
Leptasterias hexactis
Pisaster brevispinus
Environment
Locations
Rock
Sand
All
QC
Mid
Low
Pisaster ochraceus
Rocks
All
Mid
Sand, rocks
All
Low
Rocks
FP
Mid
Sand, rocks
Rocks,
sponge
MG
All but
QC
Subtidal
Rocks
MG
Low
Sun Star
Pycnopodia
helianthoides
Evasterias troschelli
Order Spinulosida
Solaster stimpsoni
Blood Star
Henricia sp. A
Blood Star
Henricia sp. B
Sunflower Star
Mottled Sea Star
Zone
Notes
Low
Lambert
200 0, plate
C-25
Phylum Chordata
Chordates
(Humans are chordates)
Common Name
Tunicates
Stalked Sea
Squirt
Sea Pork
“Clam Sea
Squirt”
“Small red sea
squirts”
Scientific Name
Subphyllum
Tunicata
Environment
Locations
Styela montereyensis
Rocks
All
Low
Aplidium sp.
Archidistoma
psammion
Rocks
Sea bottle
clam
Crevices,
caves
All
Low
MG
Subtidal
FP
Low
?
Zone
Notes
References
Kozloff, Eugene. 1996. Marine Invertebrates of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle: University of
Washington Press.
Lambert, Philip. 2000. Sea Stars of British Columbia, Southeast Alaska, and Puget Sound.
Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press.
23