Santa Rosa_Navarre Beach_Seashore Life509001-2_template-Custom (for trade) 10/1/15 1:29 PM Page 1
BEACH SAFETY TIPS
Know and understand the beach warning flags.
Swim near a lifeguard station and follow lifeguard directions.
Never swim alone.
Supervise children closely, even when lifeguards are present.
Alcohol and swimming don’t mix.
During thunderstorms, move inside to a building or vehicle.
Educate yourself and family on rip currents. If caught in a rip
current, swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current.
Leaving No Trace - Protecting Sea Turtles
and Shorebirds at Navarre Beach:
• Do not leave any chairs, umbrellas, blankets, etc. on the beach
when you leave. This will allow sea turtles to move up or down
the beach freely.
• Each night, fill in any large holes dug in the sand during the day.
These holes could trap nesting females or hatchlings.
• Remove and properly dispose of any trash.
• Protect the dunes by using designated boardwalks and walkthroughs. Dunes block artificial light and provide a nesting habitat
for turtles.
• Turn off bright lights that can be seen from the beach to help sea
turtles and wildlife.
Each spring, shorebirds nest and raise their young on our beaches.
Many of these birds frequent the road and shoulders to feed on
insects. Some fly low over the road to defend their nests from
humans. To ensure their safety, please obey all posted speed limits.
Santa Rosa County
Tourist Development Office
8543 Navarre Parkway
Navarre, FL 32566
(850) 981-8900
FloridasPlayground.com
facebook.com/floridasplayground
Most illustrations show the adult male in breeding coloration. Colors and markings may
be duller or absent during different seasons. The measurements denote the length of
most species from nose/bill to tail tip. Illustrations are not to scale.
NAVARRE BEACH SEASHORE LIFE – A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Species
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A POCKET NATURALIST® GUIDE
JELLYFISH
NEARSHORE FISHES
NAVARRE BEACH
SEASHORE LIFE
A Folding Pocket Guide
to Familiar Species
NEARSHORE FISHES
Cobia
Florida Pompano
Rachycentron canadum To 7 ft. (2.1 m)
First dorsal fin consists of 8 spines.
Trachinotus carolinus
To 14 in. (35 cm)
Brevoortia patronus
To 18 in. (46 cm)
Atlantic Croaker
Micropogonias undulatus
To 2 ft. (60 cm)
Portuguese
Man-of-War
Aurelia aurita
To 16 in. (40 cm)
Commonly washed
up on beaches after
storms.
Physalia physalis
To 5 in. (13 cm) wide
Common
Comb Jellyfish
Mnemiopsis spp.
To 5 in. (13 cm)
Echeneis naucrates To 3 ft. (90 cm)
Suction disk on top of head allows it
to attach itself to other fishes, like
sharks, and feed on their food scraps.
Cyanea capillata
To 8 ft. (2.4 m)
Note large size.
Sheepshead
Tarpon
Archosargus
probatocephalus
To 3 ft. (90 cm)
Body has 5-6 dark
vertical bars.
Spadefish
Cownose Ray
Cannonball
Jellyfish
Stomolophus meleagris
To 7 in. (18 cm)
Velella velella
To 3 in. (8 cm)
Small crest on upper
surface acts as a sail.
Rhinoptera bonasus
To 3 ft. (90 cm) wide.
Pigfish
By-the-wind Sailor
Chrysaora
quinquecirrha
To 10 in. (25 cm)
Orthopristis chrysoptera
To 15 in. (38 cm)
Bluefish
Pomatomus saltatrix
To 43 in. (1.1 m)
Short first dorsal fin has 7-8 spines.
Pinfish
Lagodon rhomboides
To 16 in. (40 cm)
Lady Fish/Skip Jack
Hardhead Catfish
Arius felis To 2 ft. (60 cm)
Has four prominent chin barbels.
Elops saurus To 3 ft. (90 cm)
Silvery fish has dorsal fin originating
behind pelvic fin.
King Mackerel
Scomberomorus cavalla To 5 ft. (1.5 m)
Bonito
Blue above, silvery below.
Euthynnus alletteratus To 4 ft. (1.2 m)
Lateral line dips sharply.
Grey tuna has wavy bars on its back.
Skate Egg
Case
To 8 in. (20 cm)
Hardhead
Catfish Skull
CRUSTACEANS, ETC.
Dasyatis sabina
To 2 ft. (60 cm) wide.
Tail spine is venomous.
Atlantic
Sharpnose Shark
Rhizoprionodon terraenovae
To 4 ft. (1.2 m)
Note small size.
Ghost Crab
Ocypode quadrata
To 2 in. (5 cm)
Hermit Crab
Clibanarius vittatus
To 1.3 in. (3.6 cm)
Lives inside empty
seashells.
Bull Shark
Spanish Mackerel
Scomberomorus maculatus
To 3 ft. (90 cm)
Has large yellow side streaks.
Lateral line dips evenly downward
under second dorsal fin.
Marine Worm
Tubes
Menticirrhus littoralis
To 20 in. (50 cm)
NEARSHORE FISHES
Greater Amberjack
Chaetodipterus faber
To 3 ft. (90 cm)
Distinguished by its
long second dorsal
and anal fin.
Gulf Whiting (Gulf Kingfish)
Atlantic Stingray
Seriola dumerili To 6 ft. (1.8 m)
Note dark stripe from snout through
eye toward dorsal fin.
To 3 in. (8 cm)
White, shell-like ‘skeletons’
often wash up on shore.
To 8 ft. (2.4 m) tall.
Remora or Sharksucker
Lion’s Mane
Jellyfish
Megalops atlanticus To 8 ft. (2.4 m)
Huge fish has large scales.
Sea Nettle
Sand Dollar
Stony Corals
Carcharhinus leucas
To 11 ft. (3.3 m)
One of the only sharks to
thrive in both salt- and
freshwater habitats.
Mullet
Mugil spp. To 18 in. (45 cm)
Red Fish
Sciaenops ocellatus To 5 ft. (1.5 m)
Note black spot at base of tail fin.
Mole Crab
Emerita talpoida
To 1 in. (2.5 cm)
Blacktip Shark
Carcharhinus limbatus
To 8 ft. (2.4 m)
Pelvic fin is always blacktipped. Other fins may also
be black-tipped.
Nurse Shark
Ginglymostoma cirratum
To 18 ft. (5.4 m)
Bottom-dweller has two
dorsal fins and
prominent nostril
whiskers (barbels).
Lady Crab
Blue Crab
Persephona
mediterranea
To 3 in. (8 cm)
Callinectes sapidus
To 9 in. (23 cm)
Fiddler Crab
Uca spp.
To 1.5 in. (4 cm)
Hammerhead Shark
Sphyrna mokarran
To 20 ft. (6 m)
Made in
the USA
978-1-62005-180-1
ISBN
Black Drum
Pogonias cromis To 6 ft. (1.8 m)
Has prominent chin barbels.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Gulf Menhaden
Moon Jellyfish
Waterford Press produces reference guides that introduce novices to nature,
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Text and illustrations copyright © 2015
by Waterford Press Inc. All rights reserved.
Cover images copyright © 2015 Santa Rosa County.
To order, call 800-434-2555. For permissions,
or to share comments, e-mail editor@
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on custom-published products, call 800434-2555 or e-mail [email protected].
WASHED AHORE
509001
Gulf Flounder
Paralichthys albigutta
To 17 in. (43 cm)
Striped Burrfish
Grey Snapper
Chilomycterus schoepfi
To 10 in. (25 cm)
Lutjanus griseus To 3 ft. (90 cm)
Barnacle
Bonnethead Shark
Sphyrna tiburo To 5 ft. (1.5 m)
Has a flat, spade-like head.
Spider Crab
Libinia spp.
To 4 in. (10 cm)
To 3 in. (8 cm)
Grows in clusters
on rocks and piers.
Santa Rosa_Navarre Beach_Seashore Life509001-2_template-Custom (for trade) 10/1/15 1:30 PM Page 2
SHELLS
SHELLS
BIRDS
BIRDS
Sunray Venus
Least Tern
Macrocallista nimbosa
To 5 in. (13 cm)
Florida Rocksnail
Slipper Snail
Jingle Shell
Stramonita haemastoma
To 5 in. (13 cm)
Anomia ephippium
To 2.5 in. (6 cm)
Crepidula fornicata
To 2 in. (5 cm)
Sterna antillarum
To 10 in. (25 cm)
Note small size and
yellow bill.
Double-crested
Cormorant
Phalacrocorax auritus
To 3 ft. (90 cm)
Note orange-yellow
facial skin.
Scallop
Coquina Clam
Donax variabilis
To .75 in. (2 cm)
Color is variable.
Calico Clam
Macrocallista maculata
To 3.5 in. (9 cm)
Busycon carica
To 9 in. (23 cm)
Note prominent
knobs on spire.
Fulica americana
To 16 in. (40 cm)
Sterna sandvicensis
To 18 in. (45 cm)
Black bill has a yellow tip.
Royal Tern
Sterna maxima
To 20 in. (50 cm)
Oyster
Loggerhead
Caretta caretta To 4 ft. (1.2 m)
Shell is streamlined.
Bottlenosed Dolphin
Pelecanus occidentalis
To 50 in. (1.3 m)
Tursiops truncatus To 12 ft. (3.6 m)
Sterna hirundo
To 15 in. (38 cm)
Note black cap and
forked tail. Orange
bill is black-tipped.
Manatee
Semipalmated
Plover
Trichechus manatus
To 11.5 ft. (3.5 m)
Charadrius semipalmatus
To 8 in. (20 cm)
Note single breast band.
Snowy Plover
Charadrius nivosus
To 6 in. (15 cm)
REPTILES
Tulip Shell
Shark Eye
Oyster
Drill Snail
Fasciolaria spp.
To 10 in. (25 cm)
Urosalpinx perrugata
To 1.25 in. (3.6 cm)
Feeds primarily
on oysters.
Great Blue
Heron
Common
American Auger
Great Egret
Dosina
Crown Conch
Dosinia spp
To 3 in. (8 cm)
Nearly circular,
flattened shell.
Melongena corona
To 5 in. (13 cm)
Long-billed
Dowitcher
Ardea herodias
To 4.5 ft. (1.4 m)
Ardea alba
To 38 in. (95 cm)
Note yellow bill
and black feet.
Terebra dislocata
To 2 in. (5 cm)
Laughing Gull
Leucophaeus atricilla
To 18 in. (45 cm)
Note black head. Very
common coastal species.
Green Heron
Butorides virescens
To 22 in. (55 cm)
Limnodromus scolopaceus
To 12 in. (30 cm)
Feeds along shorelines
by poking its bill in and
out of the sand in a
sewing machine motion.
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
To 12 in. (30 cm)
Note two breast bands.
Diamond-backed Terrapin
Gopher Tortoise
Malaclemys terrapin To 9 in. (23 cm)
Shell segments are deeply ridged.
Gopherus polyphemus To 14 in. (35 cm)
Domed shell has deep ridges.
Scotch Bonnet
Phalium granulatum
To 4 in. (10 cm)
Fighting Conch
Common
Egg Cockle
Strombus alatus
To 4 in. (10 cm)
Laevicardium laevigatum
To 3 in. (8 cm)
Imperial Venus
Quahog
Chione latilirata
To 1.5 in. (4 cm)
Shell has large
concentric ridges.
Mercenaria mercenaria
To 5 in. (13 cm)
Found in mud
near low tide mark.
Winter
Reddish Egret
Egretta rufescens
To 30 in. (75 cm)
American Alligator
Summer
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
To 26 in. (65 cm)
Note black bill
and yellow feet.
Lepidochelys kempi
To 30 in. (75 cm)
Hawksbill
To 7 in. (18 cm)
Neverita duplicata
To 3 in. (8 cm) high
Dome-shaped shell is
bluish- to brownishgrey. Feeds on
bivalves.
Green Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas To 5 ft. (1.5 m)
Heart-shaped shell is brown, grey,
greenish or black.
Leatherback
Kemp’s Ridley
Eretmochelys imbricata
To 3 ft. (90 cm)
Willet
Catoptrophorus
semipalmatus
To 17 in. (43 cm)
Wings flash blackand-white in flight.
Brown Pelican
Cairina moschata
To 32 in. (80 cm)
Note ‘warty’ facial skin.
Non-native.
MARINE MAMMALS
Charadrius melodus
To 7 in. (18 cm)
Pluvialis squatarola
To 14 in. (35 cm)
Common Tern
Surf Clam
Crassostrea virginica
To 10 in. (25 cm)
Piping Plover
Black-bellied Plover
Lettered Olive
Oliva sayana
To 2.5 in. (6 cm)
Marks on shell
resemble lettering.
Green-winged Teal
Anas crecca To 15 in. (38 cm)
Muscovy Duck
Sandwich Tern
Anadara spp.
To 3 in. (8 cm)
Lightning Whelk
Pandion haliaetus
To 2 ft. (60 cm)
Fish-eating raptor.
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
To 28 in. (70 cm)
American Coot
Ark Shells
Chione elevata
To 2 in. (5 cm)
Thick-shelled clam has
prominent raised
concentric ridges.
Calidris alba
To 8 in. (20 cm)
Runs in and out with
waves along shorelines.
Rynchops niger
To 20 in. (50 cm)
Feeds by skimming
over water with its
lower bill cutting
the water’s surface
to spear fish.
Argopecten irradians
To 3 in. (8 cm)
Cross-barred Venus
Sanderling
Osprey
Black Skimmer
Giant Cockle
Dinocardium robustum
To 5 in. (13 cm)
SEA TURTLES
BIRDS
Northern
Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
To 11 in. (28 cm)
Alligator mississippiensis
To 20 ft. (6 m)
Common Loon
Gavia immer To 3 ft. (90 cm)
Haunting call sounds like –
yodel-ha-oo-oo.
Box Turtle
Terrapene carolina bauri
To 9 in. (23 cm)
BEACH WARNING FLAGS
Dermochelys coriacea
To 7 ft. (2.1 m)