invertebrates

phylum Echinodermata

• Pacific purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus)

• leather sea star (Dermasterias imbricata)

• six-rayed star (Leptasterias hexactis)*

• bat star (Patiria miniata)

• ochre sea star (Pisaster ochraceus)

phylum Cnidaria

• moonglow anemone (Anthopleura artemisia)

• aggregating anemone (Anthopleura elegantissima)

• sunburst anemone (Anthopleura sola)

• giant green anemone (Anthopleura xanthogrammica)

• proliferating anemone (Epiactis prolifera)

• Epiactis anemones (Epiactis spp.)

phylum Arthropoda

• purple shore crab (Hemigrapsus nudus) - carapace

• grainy hermit crab (Pagurus granosimanus)

• hermit crabs (Pagurus spp.)

• Pacific rock crab (Romaleon antennarium) - carapace

• Pacific acorn barnacle (Balanus glandula)

• giant acorn barnacle (Balanus nubilus)

• buckshot barnacles (Chthamalus spp.)

• gooseneck barnacle (Pollicipes polymerus)

• pink volcano barnacle (Tetraclita rubescens)

phylum Mollusca

• Monterey sea lemon (Doris montereyensis)*

• Heath's dorid (Geitodoris heathi)

• spotted dorid (Triopha maculata)

• sea lemon (Peltodoris nobilis)*

• angular unicorn (Acanthinucella spirata)

• blue-ringed top snail (Calliostoma ligatum)

• leafy hornmouth (Ceratostoma foliatum)

• owl limpet (Lottia gigantea)

• rough limpet (Lottia scabra)

• plate limpet (Lottia scutum)

• limpets (Lottia spp.)

• brown tegula (Tegula brunnea)

• black tegula (Tegula funebralis)

• gumboot chiton (Cryptochiton stelleri)

• hairy chiton (Mopalia ciliata)*

• Hind's chiton (Mopalia hindsii)*

• mossy chiton (Mopalia muscosa)

• wart-necked piddock (Chaceia ovoidea)

• little neck clam (Leukoma staminea)

• California mussel (Mytilus californianus)

phylum Annelida

• red-trumpet calcareous tubeworm (Serpula columbiana)

birds

• great blue heron (Ardea herodias)

• snowy egret (Egretta thula)

* = first identified species encounter

Such a great day at the tides. Saw so many unexpected and new species, including new species of nudibranchs and chitons, and a bunch of bat stars! A fantastic start to my 2025 tide pooling!