Common Marine Invertebrates of Sonoma Coast Sites
Phylum
Species
Bodega
Head
Doran
Rocks
Shell
Beach
Porifera (Sponges)
Haliclona
Cliona celata
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Uncommon
Common
Common
Common
Uncommon
Cnidaria (Sea Anemones & Relatives)
Anthopleura elegantissima
Anthopleura xanthogrammica
Anthopleura artemisia
Epiactis prolifera
Metridium senile
Aglaophenia latirostris
Obelia spp.
Velella velella
Polyorchis montereyensis
Aurelia aurita
Pelagia colorata
Bodega
Tideflats
Bodega
Marinas
Salmon Creek
Beach
Boring sponge
"Aggregating Anemone"
"Giant Green Anemone"
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Uncommon
Uncommon
Common
Uncommon
Platyhelminthes (Flatworms)
Notoplana acticola
Trematodes
Common
Common
Common
Nemertina (Ribbon Worms)
Paranemertes peregrina
Cerebratulus californiensis
Common
Common
Common
Echiura & Sipunculida (Non-Segmented Worms)
Urechis caupo
Phascolosoma agassizii
Comments
[former names in brackets]
Uncommon
Uncommon
"Proliferating Anemone"
"Plumose Anemone"
"Ostrich-Plume Hydroid"
Colonial hydroid
"By-the-Wind-Sailor"
Hydromedusa
"Moon Jelly"; polyps on pilings, medusa cast ashore
Jellyfish sometimes cast ashore
Under boulders
Example: molluscan parasites
Uncommon
Common
Common
Annelida: Polychaeta (Marine Segmented Worms) Link to complete lists for the Polychaeta
Arenicola brasiliensis
Common
Glycera americana
Uncommon
Nephtys californiensis
Common
Pista pacifica
Uncommon
Hesperonoe adventor
Uncommon
Chone minuta
Common
Nereis grubei
Common
Common
Common
Phragmatapoma californica
Common
Common
Common
Sabella crassicornis
Uncommon Uncommon Uncommon
"Spirorbis" spp.
Common
Common
Common
Serpula "vermicularis"
Uncommon Uncommon Uncommon
In mussel beds
In soft sediments
"Fat Innkeeper Worm";U-shaped burrow
"Peanut Worm"
"Lugworm"
"Blood Worm"
"Shimmy Worm"
Tubes end in overhanging hood
"Scale Worm"; commensal with Urechis
In mussel beds
Tubes of cemented sand grains
"Plume Worm, Feather-Duster Worm"; sand-encrusted tube
Small, tightly-coiled, calcareous tubes
Large calcareous tube
Phylum
Species
Bodega
Head
Doran
Rocks
Shell
Beach
Arthropoda: Cirripedia (Barnacles)
Chthamalus dalli
Balanus glandula
Semibalanus cariosus
Pollicipes polymerus
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Arthropoda: Isopoda & Tanaidacea (Isopods and Tanaids)
Idotea montereyensis
Common
Ligia occidentalis
Common
Leptochelia dubia
Arthropoda: Amphipoda (Amphipods)
Megalorchestia californiana
Caprella californica
Ampithoe
Common
Common
Common
Salmon Creek
Beach
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Uncommon
Common
Common
Uncommon
Common
Most often found clinging on algae or surfgrass
Rip-rap, high-intertidal zone, splash zone, and above
Beach hopper
"Skeleton Shrimp"
Among plants
"Bay Shrimp"
"Bent-Back Shrimp"
"Grass Shrimp"
Common
Uncommon
Common
Common
Common
Comments
[former names in brackets]
Acorn barnacle
Acorn barnacle
Acorn barnacle
"Goose-neck Barnacle"
Common
Common
Common
Arthropoda: Macrura & Anomura (Ghost Shrimps, Hermit Crabs & Relatives)
Neotrypaea californiensis
Upogebia pugettensis
Pagurus hirsutiusculus
Common
Common
Common
Pagurus samuelis
Common
Common
Common
Pagurus granosimanus
Common
Common
Common
Petrolisthes cinctipes
Common
Common
Common
Emerita analoga
Arthropoda: Copepoda (Copepods)
Tigriopus californicus
Bodega
Marinas
Common
Arthropoda: Caridea (Shrimps)
Crangon
Heptacarpus
Hippolyte californiensis
Arthropoda: Brachyura (True Crabs)
Pugettia producta
Cancer antennarius
Cancer productus
Cancer magister
Pachygrapsus crassipes
Hemigrapsus oregonensis
Hemigrapsus nudus
Carcinus maenus
Bodega
Tideflats
"Bay/Red Ghost Shrimp"; impermanent tunnels; [Callianassa ]
"Blue Mud Shrimp, Blue Ghost Shrimp"; permanent burrow
"Hairy Hermit Crab"; mid-intertidal zone
Hermit crab; high intertidal zone
Hermit crab; low intertidal zone
"Porcelain Crab"; in mussel beds
"Sand Crab, Mole Crab"
"Kelp Crab"
"Rock Crab"
"Red Crab"
"Dungeness Crab"
"Lined Shore Crab"
"Green Shore Crab"
"Purple Shore Crab"
"Green Crab"; recent invasion in 1993
Splash or very high tidepools
Phylum
Species
Bodega
Head
Arthropoda: Pycnogonida (Sea Spiders)
Pycnogonum stearnsi
Mollusca: Gastropoda: Prosobranchia (Marine Snails)
Haliotis rufescens
Uncommon
Fissurella volcano
Diodora aspera
Lottia digitalis
Common
Maclintockia scabra
Common
Collisella pelta
Common
Collisella limatula
Collisella asmi
Uncommon
Collisella instabilis
Scurria insessa
Common
Tectura scutum
Tectura paleacea
Common
Acmaea mitra
Tegula funebralis
Common
Tegula brunnea
Common
Homalopoma lurida
Littorina keenae
Common
Littorina plena
Common
Littorina scutulata
Common
Lacuna marmorata
Common
Epitoneum tinctum
Common
Crepidula adunca
Uncommon
Euspira lewisii
Nucella emarginata
Common
Nucella canaliculata
Nassarius fossatus
Astyris carinata
Common
Olivella biplicata
Doran
Rocks
Shell
Beach
Bodega
Tideflats
Bodega
Marinas
Uncommon
Uncommon
Uncommon
Uncommon
Common
Common
Common
Uncommon
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Uncommon
Common
Common
Uncommon
Uncommon
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Uncommon
Uncommon
Common
Common
Common
Uncommon
Comments
[former names in brackets]
Under rocks or associated with hydroids, anemones, ascidians
Uncommon
Uncommon
Common
Common
Common
Salmon Creek
Beach
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
"Red Abalone"
"Keyhole Limpet"
"Rough Keyhole Limpet"
"Ribbed Limpet"; vertical surfaces; [Collisella ]
"Rough Limpet"; horizontal or gently sloping surfaces; [Collisella ]
"Shield Limpet"; Common in mussel beds
"File Limpet"
"Black Limpet"; on Tegula funebralis shells
"Unstable Seaweed Limpet"; on stipes of Laminaria or Pterygophora
"Seaweed Limpet"; on Egregia menziesii; [Notoacmea ]
"Plate Limpet"; [Notoacmea ]
"Surfgrass Limpet"; on surfgrass; [Notoacmea ]
"White-Cap Limpet"; shell often overgrown with coralline algae
"Black Turban Snail"; mid-intertidal zone
"Brown Turban Snail"; low intertidal and subtidal zones
Common under rocks or shells on mudflats or open coast
"Eroded Perwinkle"; splash zone
Sibling species to L. scutulata; mid-intertidal zone, rip-rap
"Checkered Perwinkle"; mid-intertidal zone, rip-rap
Mid- to low intertidal zone
"Tinted Wentletrap"; among Anthopleura elegantissima
"Hooked Slipper Snail"; on Tegula
"Lewis's Moon Snail"; buries in mud or sand; [Polinices]
"Emarginate Dogwinkle"; high and mid-intertidal zone
"Channeled Dogwinkle"; rip-rap
"Channeled Nasa"; buries in mud or sand
"Carinated Dove Snail"; on surfgrass or hard surfaces on mudflats
"Purple Olive"; buries in sand
Phylum
Species
Bodega
Head
Doran
Rocks
Mollusca: Gastropoda: Opithobranchia & Pulmonata (Sea Slugs)
Rictaxis punctocaelatus
Bulla gouldiana
Haminoea vesicula
Aplysia californica
Aplysiopsis smithii
Phyllaplysia taylori
Rostanga pulchra
Uncommon
Common
Anisodoris nobilis
Uncommon Uncommon
Diaulula sandiegensis
Common
Hopkinsia rosacea
Uncommon Uncommon
Melibe leonina
Coryphella trilineata
Hermissenda crassicornis
Uncommon
Aeolidia papillosa
Uncommon Uncommon
Onchidella borealis
Uncommon Uncommon
Mollusca: Bivalvia (Clams & Relatives)
Mytilus californianus
Mytilus trossulus
Mytilus galloprovincialis
Pododesmus cepio
Macoma secta
Macoma nasuta
Macoma balthica
Venerupis philippinarum
Tresus nuttallii
Saxidomus nuttalli
Clinocardium nuttallii
Mya arenaria
Gemma gemma
Nutricula confusa
Nutricula tantilla
Mollusca: Polyplacophora (Chitons)
Cryptochiton stelleri
Mopalia ciliata
Mopalia lignosa
Mopalia muscosa
Nuttallina californica
Tonicella lineata
Katherina tunicata
Common
Common
Shell
Beach
Bodega
Tideflats
Bodega
Marinas
Uncommon
Uncommon
Uncommon
Uncommon
Uncommon
Common
Uncommon
Uncommon
Common
Uncommon
Uncommon
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Uncommon
Common
Common
Common
Common
Uncommon
Uncommon
Common
Common
Uncommon
Common
Common
Common
Common
Uncommon
Common
Common
Uncommon
Salmon Creek
Beach
Comments
[former names in brackets]
"Striped Barrel Snail"; buries in sand or mud
"Cloudy Bubble Snail"; plows through mud or sandy mud
"White Bubble Snail"
"California Brown Sea Hare"
Often on Enteromorpha
"Taylor's Sea Hare"; on eelgrass
"Red Sponge Nudibranch"
"Sea Lemon"; probably feeds on sponges and organic detritus
"Ring-Spotted Dorid"; probably feeds on sponges, maybe tunicates
"Hopkin's Rose"; feeds on bryozoan
Sometimes in eelgrass
"Three-Lined Nudibranch"
Sometimes very common
"Shag-Rug Nudibranch"; feeds on sea anemones
"Leather Limpet"; often in mussel beds
"California Mussel"
"Bay Mussel"; M. edulis of earlier literature
"Bay Mussel"; M. edulis of earlier literature
"Abalone Jingle"; often attached to breakwaters
"White Sand Clam"
"Bent-Nosed Clam"
"Baltic Macoma"
"Manila Clam"; [Tapes japonica ]; from Japan
"Gaper"; calcareous plates on siphon
"Washington Clam"
"Heart Cockle"
"Soft-Shelled Clam"; from East Coast
"Gem Clam"; from Atlantic coast
Broods young; [Transennella ]
Broods young; [Transennella ]
"Gumboot Chiton"; largest chiton in the world to 33 cm long
In crevices or under rocks
Often on boulders above a course sand bottom
"Mossy Chiton"
High and mid-intertidal zones
"Lined Chiton"; eats coralline algae, often associated with urchins
"Black Chiton"; high wave energy environments
Phylum
Species
Bryozoa & Entoprocta (Moss Animals)
Membranipora tuberculata
Bugula spp.
Schizoporella unicornis
Eurystomella bilabiata
Flustrellidra corniculata
Bodega
Head
Doran
Rocks
Shell
Beach
Uncommon
Common
Uncommon
Common
Common
Uncommon
Uncommon
Uncommon
Salmon Creek
Beach
Common
Common
Common
Often dense sandy tubes, high densities unique to central California
Common
"Ochre Star"; rocky coast
Sandy or muddy bottom, mostly subtidal
"Six-Armed Star"; broods eggs
"Bat Star"; [Patiria ]
"Leather Star"
Uncommon
Common
Common
Uncommon
Uncommon
Common
Common
Uncommon
Uncommon
Common
Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea (Brittle Stars)
Amphipholis squamata
Amphiodia occidentalis
Uncommon
Uncommon
Uncommon
Echinodermata: Echinoidea (Sea Urchins)
Strongylocentrotus purpuratus
Strongylocentrotus franciscanus
Dendraster excentricus
Common
Uncommon
Common
Common
"Sun Star"; very low intertidal zone, mostly subtidal
"Sunflower Star"; largest, heavist, most active Pacific coast star
Rocky shores; in algal holdfasts, under rocks
Among roots of eelgrass
Uncommon
Echinodermata: Holothuroidea (Sea Cucumbers)
Cucumaria pseudocurata
Common
Cucumaria miniata
Parastichopus californicus
Common
Common
Uncommon
Common
Common
Uncommon
Common
Common
Uncommon
Comments
[former names in brackets]
On floating brown algae, sometimes other surfaces
Common fouling organism
Rocks and shells on open coast; wharf pilings in harbors
On shells and stones
On calcareous algae or stipes of brown algae
Uncommon
Common
Common
Uncommon
Uncommon
Urocordata (Tunicates, Sea Squirts)
Didemnum carnulentum
Clavelina huntsmani
Ascidia ceratodes
Botryllus
Botrylloides
Styela montereyensis
Bodega
Marinas
Common
Common
Common
Phoronida
Phoronopsis viridis
Echinodermata: Asteroidea (Sea Stars)
Pisaster ochraceus
Pisaster brevispinus
Leptasterias hexactis
Asterina miniata
Dermasterias imbricata
Henricia leviuscula
Solaster stimpsoni
Pycnopodia helianthoides
Bodega
Tideflats
Common
Uncommon
Uncommon
"Purple Sea Urchin"
"Red Sea Urchin"; subtidal
"Sand Dollar"; subtidal
"Tar Spot"; in mussel beds
In crevices, very low intertidal zone
Largest California sea cucumber; mostly subtidal
Common
Common
Common
Common
Colonial
Colonial clusters
Solitary
Colonial
Colonial
Solitary
Notes: This list includes some of the most frequently encountered and recognizable invertebrates in the areas listed, but it is not meant to be a comprehensive list. There are many additional species
that can be found in all of these habitats by any diligent explorer. The list was compiled primarily by Victor Chow as background material for his summer course, "Marine and Coastal Field Ecology."
List date: 22 April 2003