Embedded Files
Phylum Echinodermata
Class Echinoidea: Sea Urchins and Sand Dollars
Color varies from bright red to dark reddish-purple. Distinguished from Strongylocentrotus purpuratus by its larger test and proportionally longer spines.
Green to purple coloration. Distinguished from S. purpuratus by proportionally shorter spines. Most common urchin along the Alaska coast.
Class Asteroidea: Sea Stars
Leather Star
Dermasterias imbricata
Mottled Star
Evasterias troschelii
Distinguished from Pisaster ochraceus by distinct white madreporite on aboral side.
Blood Star
Henricia sp.
Little Six-rayed Star
Leptasterias hexactis
Most common sea star to find along the Alaska coast.
Rainbow Star
Orthasterias koehleri
Ochre Sea Star
Pisaster ochraceus
Sunflower Star
Pycnopodia helianthoides
Striped Sun Star
Solaster stimpsoni
Distinguised from other sun stars by distinct purple and orange/red pattern.
Velcro Star
Stylasterias forreri
Class Ophiuroidea: Brittle Stars
Serpent Brittle Star
Amphiodia occidentalis
Daisy Brittle Star
Ophiopholis kennerlyi
Class Holothuroidea: Sea Cucumbers
Orange Sea Cucumber
Cucumaria miniata
Burrowing Sea Cucumber
Leptosynapta clarki
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Anthozoa: Corals and Sea Anemones
Moonglow Anemone
Anthopleura artemisia
Often found somewhat buried in substrate. Color varies widely. Can be identified by pale stripes along tentacles.
Crimson Anemone
Cribrinopsis fernaldi
Epiactis Anemones
Epiactis sp.
Differentiated from other anemone genus by small white/pale lines radiating from the edge of the anemone. Particularly noticeable on retracted anemone. Vary widely in coloration.
Painted Anemone
Urticina crassicornis
Often identified by green and red coloration on retracted anemones. Also called Christmas anemone.
Class Scyphozoa: True Jellies
Water Jelly
Aequorea sp.
Moon Jelly
Aurelia labiata
Lion's Mane Jelly
Cyanea capillata
Cross Jelly
Mitrocoma cellularia
Red-eyed Medusa
Polyorchis penicillatus
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Malacostraca: Crabs, Lobsters, Amphipods
Red Pacific Hermit Crab
Elassochirus gilli
Widehand Hermit Crab
Elassochirus tenuimanus
Pygmy Rock Crab
Glebocarcinus oregonensis
Hairy Crab
Hapalogaster mertensii
Barred Shrimp
Heptacarpus sp.
Graceful Decorator Crab
Oregonia gracilis
Hairy Hermit Crab
Pagurus hirsutiusculus
Coonstripe Shrimp
Pandalus danae
Heart Crab
Phyllolithodes papillosus
Graceful Kelp Crab
Pugettia gracilis
Helmet Crab
Telmessus cheiragonus
Class Thecostraca: Barnacles
Pacific Acorn Barnacle
Balanus glandula
Thatched Barnacle
Semibalanus cariosus
[pictured: multiple generations of S. cariosus]
Phylum Mollusca
Class Bivalvia: Clams, Oysters, Mussels
Northern Horsemussel
Modiolus modiolus
Pacific Blue Mussel
Mytilus trossulus
Green Falsejingle
Pododesmus macrochisma
Class Gastropoda: Snails and Slugs
Nanaimo Dorid
Acanthodoris nanaimoensis
Hairy Spiny Dorid
Acanthodoris pilosa
Spotted Leopard Dorid
Diaulula odonoghuei
Thick-horned Nudibranch
Hermissenda crassicornis
Spotted Aglaja
Aglaja ocelligera
[pictured: laying eggs]
Whitecap Limpet
Acmaea mitra
Often found on kelps.
[pictured: shell covered in red coralline algae]
Wrinkled Dove Snail
Amphissa columbiana
Baer's Buccinum
Buccinum baerii
Aleutian Moonsnail
Cryptonatica aleutica
Rough Keyhole Limpet
Diodora aspera
Oregon Hairy Triton
Fusitriton oregonensis
Sitka Periwinkle
Littorina sitkana
Common in the high intertidal.
Fingered Limpet
Lottia digitalis
Shield Limpet
Lottia pelta
Plate Limpet
Lottia scutum
Puppet Margarite
Margarites pupillus
Channeled Dogwinkle
Nucella canaliculata
[pictured: N. canaliculata predating on a mussel (Mytilus trossulus)]
Frilled Dogwinkle
Nucella lamellosa
Leather Limpet
Onchidella carpenteri
Checkered Hairy Snail
Trichotropis cancellata
Class Polyplacophora: Chitons
Gumboot Chiton
Cryptochiton stelleri
Black Katy Chiton
Katharina tunicata
Most common chiton found along the Alaska coast.
Merten's Chiton
Lepidozona mertensii
Hairy Chiton
Mopalia ciliata
Woody Chiton
Mopalia lignosa
Long-haired Hairy Chiton
Mopalia sinuata
Adult size is relatively small compared to other Alaskan chitons.
Swan's Chiton
Mopalia swanii
Adult size is relatively small compared to other Alaskan chitons.
White-lined Chiton
Tonicella insignis
Lined Chiton
Tonicella lineata
Phylum Annelida
Class Polychaeta: Bristle Worms
Frilled Commensal Scaleworm
Arctonoe fragilis
pictured: A. fragilis on a mottled star (Evasterias troschelii)
Spiral Tubeworm
Circeis spirillum
Pile Worm
Nereis vexillosa
Red-trumpet Calcareous Tubeworm
Serpula columbiana
Phylum Platyhelminthes
Class Turbellaria: Marine (and some Freshwater) Flatworms
Giant Flatworm
Kaburakia excelsa
Phylum Nemertea
Class Hoplonemertea: Ribbon Worms
Purple Ribbon Worm
Paranemertes peregrina
Phylum Brachiopoda
Class Rhynchonellata: Biconvex Brachiopods
Northern Pacific Lampshell
Terebratalia transversa
Google Sites
Report abuse