Intertidal Invertebrates of the Monterey Bay Area, California

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Compiled & photographed by Gary McDonald, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz

This is a guide to some of the invertebrates that occur in the Monterey Bay intertidal and adjacent areas. This is a “work in progress” and the coverage is far from complete, and somewhat reflects my interest in and ability to identify the species in various groups. More species will be included as I acquire them. A few of the photos are of individuals which were found outside the Monterey Bay area. Below each species photo are the location, date found, and size of the individual (when known). Identifications were made using the following general references, as well as more specialized references for various groups:

Carlton, J. T., ed. 2007. The Light & Smith manual: Intertidal invertebrates from central California to Oregon, 4th ed., xvii + 1001 pp. Univ. Calif. Press.

Lamb, A., & B. P. Hanby. 2005. Marine life of the Pacific northwest, a photographic encyclopedia of invertebrates, seaweeds and selected fishes, 398 pp. Harbour Publishing.

Morris, R. H., D. P. Abbott, & E. C. Haderlie. 1980. Intertidal invertebrates of California, ix + 690 pp., 200 pls. Stanford Univ. Press.

Images taken prior to 2007 were taken with a Nikon FTN, Nikon N8008, or Nikon F4, with 55mm, 60mm, or 105mm macro lens on Kodachrome or Fujichrome slide film; slides were scanned at 4800 dpi on an Epson V700 scanner.  Images taken in 2007 or later were taken with a Nikon D200, with 60mm, 105mm, or 200mm macro lens; or (for smaller individuals) with a Canon 40D using an MP-E 65mm macro lens.

The images and text presented on this website are copyrighted, please do not reproduce without written permission.

Protozoa Porifera Cnidaria
    Anthozoa Hydrozoa Scyphozoa
thumb_Gromia_oviformis_0003
Protozoans
Haliclona-(Haliclona)-sp-A-0001
Sponges
Anthopleura xanthogrammica 0004
Sea Anemones, Corals
Eudendrium californicum 0003
Hydroids
thumb_Haliclystus_sp_001
Stauromedusae
Platyhelminthes Nemertea Kamptozoa Echiura Sipuncula
         
thumb_Eurylepta_californica_0007
Flatworms
thumb_Tubulanus_sexlineatus_0012
Ribbon Worms
thumb_Barentsia_ramosa_slide001
Entoprocts
thumb_Urechis_caupo_001
Burrow Worms
thumb_Phascolosoma_agassizii_0010
Peanut Worms
Annelida Brachiopoda Bryozoa Arthropoda
      Cirripedia Isopoda
Nereis grubei 0028
Polychaetes
thumb_Terebratalia_transversa_slide_001
Lamp Shells
thumb_Eurystomella_bilabiata_0039
Moss Animals
thumb_Tetraclita_rubescens_0006
Barnacles
thumb_Idotea_urotoma_0003
Sea Slaters
Arthropoda
Amphipoda Pycnogonida Caridea Brachyura Anomura
thumb_Caprella_kennerlyi_0012
Skeleton Shrimp, Beach Hoppers
thumb_Pycnogonum_stearnsi_0032
Sea Spiders
thumb_Spirontocaris_prionota_0003
Shrimps
thumb_Hemigrapsus_nudus_0001
True Crabs
thumb_Pagurus_granosimanus _0004
Hermit Crabs
Mollusca
Polyplacophora Bivalvia Cephalopoda Gastropoda: Prosobranchia
thumb_Mopalia_lignosa_0005
Chitons
thumb_Mytilus_californianus_0010
Mussels, Clams, Scallops
thumb_Octopus_rubescens_slide_001
Octopuses
Lottia scabra 0016
Limpets
Chlorostoma funebralis 0011
Snails
Mollusca: Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia
Nudibranchia: Aeolidina Nudibranchia: Doridina Nudibranchia: Dendronotina Nudibranchia: Arminina Pleurobranchs
Hermissenda crassicornis 0050
Nudibranchia: Aeolidina
Peltodoris nobilis 0072
Nudibranchia: Doridina
Dendronotus frondosus 0011
Nudibranchia: Dendronotina
Dirona albolineata 0119
Nudibranchia: Arminina
Berthella californica 0001
Pleurobranchs
Echinodermata Chordata
Asteroidea Echinoidea Holothuroidea Ophiuroidea Ascidiacea
thumb_Pisaster_ochraceus_0012
Sea Stars
thumb_Strongylocentrotus_franciscanus_0004
Sea Urchins
thumb_Eupentacta_quinquesemita_0002
Sea Cucumbers
thumb_Ophiothrix_spiculata _0030
Brittle Stars
thumb_Ritterella_rubra_0002
Sea Squirts

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