MARINE INVERTEBRATES:
SILICEOUS AND HORNY SPONGE CLASS:
-Gunpowder Sponge, Halichondria bowerbanki: Low-tide to 200’ deep; on stones,
wharves, pilings.
-Velvety Red Sponge, Ophlitaspongia pennata: High-tide line to 10’ deep; on rocks, in
crevices.
HYDROZOAN CLASS:
-Tubularian Hydroids, Tubularia sp. Shallow water; on pilings, floats, boat bottoms
-Ostrich Plume Hydroid, Aglaophenia struthionides: Low-tide line to 525’ deep; on
rocks, shells, seaweeds.
CORAL AND SEA ANEMONE CLASS
-Gurney’s Sea Pen, Ptilosarcus gurneyi: Low-tide line to 100’ deep; soft, muddy
bottoms.
-Rose Anemone, Urticina crassicornis: Intertidal zone to 100’ deep; anchors to rocks;
hangs limply at low tide.
-Giant Green Anemone, Anthopleura xanthogrammica: Intertidal zone to 15’ deep.
-Frilled Anemone, Metridium senile: Low-tide line to 50’ deep; on rocks, pilings.
RIBBON WORM CLASS
-Polymorphic Ribbon Worm, Tubulanus polymorphus: Intertidal zone to 25’ deep; on
rocky shores.
-Musselbed Ribbon Worm, Emplectonema gracile: Rocky shores; among barnacles, in
mussel beds.
POLYCHAETE WORM CLASS
-Eighteen-Scaled Worm, Halosydna brevisetosa; Intertidal zone to 1,450’ deep; among
mussels and algae, on rocks and pilings.
-Mussel Worm, Nereis vexillosa:Shallow bays; in mussel beds, under rocks and wood.
-Lugworm, Abarenicola pacifica: Near low-tide line to 15’ deep; muddy sand in shallow
bays.
CHITON CLASS:
-Lined Chiton Tonicella lineate: Low tide line to 180’ deep, algae-covered rocks
-Mossy Chiton, Mopalia muscosa: Intertidal zone; exposed rock, estuaries
GASTROPOD CLASS:
-Northern Abalone, Halitosis kamtschatkana: Shallow water to 50’ deep, on rocks
-Fingered Limpet, Collisella digitalis: Intertidal zone, on rocks
-Blue Top Snail, Calliostama ligatum: Intertidal zone; under rocks, among algae
-Black Turban Snail, Tegula funebralis: Intertidal zone; on rocks.
-Lewis’s Moon Snail, Polinices lewisii: Intertidal zone to 600’ deep; sandy bottoms
-Emarginate Dogwinkle, Nucella (Thais) emarginata: Intertidal zone, on rocks, among
mussels, barnacles.
-False Sea Lemon, Archidoris montereyensis: Low-tide line to 160’ deep; rocky areas.
-Orange-Tipped Nudibranch, Triopha catalinae: Low-tide line to 110’ deep; tidepools,
kelp beds, rocky bottoms.
-Maned Nudibranch, Aeolidia papillosa: Low-tide line to 2,200’ deep; rocks, pilings,
mudflats.
BIVALVE CLASS:
-Edible Mussel, Mytilus edulis: Intertidal zone, estuaries; on rocks, pilings
-Giant Pacific Oyster, Crassostrea gigas: Near low-tide line in bays, mudflats; on rocks,
shells
-Pacific Littleneck Clam, Protothaca staminea: Shallow water in bays, estuaries; sand or
mud bottoms.
-Pacific Razor Clam, Siliqua patula: Intertidal zone, sandy open beaches.
-Geoduck, Panopea generosa: Intertidal zone to 50’ deep; protected bays.
-Soft-shelled Clam, Mya arenaria: Intertidal zone to 30’ deep; also in brackish water.
CEPHALOPOD CLASS:
-Opalescent Squid, Loligo opalescens: Ocean surface to bottom; coastal waters.
-Giant Pacific Octopus, Enteroctopus dofleini: Intertidal zone to 1,650’ deep, rocky
tidepools.
CRUSTACEAN CLASS:
-Dall’s Acorn Barnacle, Chthamalus dalli: Near high-tide line; rocky shores, pilings.
-Giant Acorn Barnacle, Balanus nubilis: Low-tide line to 300’ deep; on rocks, pilings,
hard-shelled invertebrates.
-Dock Shrimp, Pandalus danae: Low-tide line to 600’ deep; bays, estuaries, Eelgrass
beds.
-Flat Porcelain Crab, Petrolisthes cintipes: Intertidal zone; among mussel beach, sponges,
under rock.
-Blue-Handed Hermit Crab, Pagurus samuelis: Intertidal zone; rocky shores.
-Dungeness Crab, Cancer magister: Low-tide line to 300’ deep; sandy bottoms.
-Red Crab, Cancer productus: Low-tide line to 260’ deep; sandy bottoms, among rocks
in tidepools, bays, estuaries.
-Purple Shore Crab, Hemigrapsus nudus: Open rocky shores, bays, estuaries, among
seaweeds.
-Shield-Backed Kelp Crab, Pugettia producta: Low-tide line to 240’ deep; kelp beds.
SEA STAR CLASS:
-Orange Sun Star, Solaster stimsoni: Low-tide line to 200’ deep; rocky and sandy
bottoms.
-Sunflower Star, Pycnopodia helianthoides: Low-tide line to 1,400’ deep; rocky shores,
soft bottoms.
-Pacific Blood Star, Henricia leviuscula: Low-tide line to 1,300’ deep; on algae-covered
rocks, sponges.
-Leather Star, Dermasterias imbricata: Low-tide line to 300’ deep; rocky shores, pilings,
seawalls.
-Bat Star, Patiria miniata: Intertidal zone to 960’ deep; rocks, sand bottoms, kelp forests,
surfgrass.
-Ochre Sea Star, Pisater ochraceus: Above low-tide line; wave washed rocky shores,
pilings.
-Burrowing Brittle Star, Amphiodia occidentalis: Low-tide line to 1,200’ deep; muddy
sand, seagrass beds, under rocks in quiet bays.
SEA URCHIN CLASS:
-Green Sea Urchin, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis: Low-tide line to 3,800’ deep;
rocky shores, kelp beds, bays.
-Purple Sea Urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus: Low-tide line to 525’ deep; rocky
shores with moderate surf.
-Eccentric Sand Dollar, Dendraster excentricus: Low-tide line to 130’ deep in bays,
coasts; sandy bottoms.
SEA CUCUMBER CLASS:
Red Sea Cucumber, Cucumaria miniata: Low-tide line to shallow water; rocks, crevices.
TUNICATE CLASS:
-Sea Vase Tunicate, Ciona intestinalis: Low-tide line to 1,650’ deep; harbors, protected
bays; on rocks, pilings.
INSECTS
-Western Red Damsel, Amphiagrion abbreviatum: Marshy ponds, sloughs.
-Common Midge, Chironomus attenuatus: Near water
FISHES
REQUIEM SHARK FAMILY
-Spiny Dogfish, Squalus acanthias: Surf zone to deep water
SKATE FAMILY
-Big Skate, Raja binoculata: Over sandy and silty bottoms to 360’
STURGEON FAMILY
-White Sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus: Soft-bottomed coastal waters, deep pools of
large rivers.
HERRING FAMILY
-American Shad, Alosa sapidissima: Bays, estuaries, rivers when spawning.
-Pacific Herring, Clupea pallasi: Inshore waters.
SMELT FAMILY
-Eulachon, Thaleichthys pacificus: Inshore ocean waters, rivers.
COD FAMILY
-Pacific Cod, Gadus macrocephalus: Deep water over soft bottoms
-Pacific Tomcod, Microgadus proximus: Shallow water over soft bottoms.
-Walleye Pollock, Theragra chalcogramma: Shallow to moderate depths over soft
bottoms.
SCORPIONFISH FAMILY
-Brown Rockfish, Sebastes auriculatus: Shallow, weedy, rocky areas; around wharves,
jetties; to 400’ deep.
-Copper Rockfish, Sebastes caurinus: Rocks and kelp beds in inlets; around pilings,
jetties; to 600’ deep.
GREENLING FAMILY
-Kelp Greenling, Hexagramos decagrammus: Rocky coastal waters to 150’ deep.
-Painted Greenling, Oxylebius pictus: Shallow rocky waters, piers.
SCULPIN FAMILY
-Scalyhead Sculpin, Artedius harringtoni: Shallow rocky waters, pilings, to 80’ deep.
-Buffalo Sculpin, Enophrys bison: Rocky and sandy coasts to 65’ deep.
-Red Irish Lord, Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus: Rocky shorelines, piers, to 160’ deep.
-Tidepool Sculpin, Oligocottus maculosus: Tidepools, surf-drenched rocky areas.
SNAILFISH FAMILY
-Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker, Eumicrotremus orbis: Tidepools, rocky shores, to 500’ deep.
TEMPERATE BASS FAMILY
-Striped Bass, Morone saxatilis: Ocean; rivers when spawning (early summer)
SURFPERCH FAMILY
-Shiner Perch, Cymatogaster aggregata: Shallow quiet waters in summer; piers, kelp
beds, coastal rivers, to 480’ deep in winter.
-Striped Seaperch, Embiotoca lateralis: Rocky shores, piers, kelp beds, to 70’
-Pile Perch, Rhacochilus vacca: Rocky shores, pilings, kelp beds, to 150’ deep.
GUNNEL FAMILY
-Rockweed Gunnel, Apodichthys focurum: Tidepools, bottoms with rocks or algae, to 30’
deep.
WOLFFISH FAMILY
-Wolf-Eel, Anarrhichthys ocellatus: Rocky bottoms, debris, to 750’ deep.
GOBY FAMILY
-Blackeye Goby, Coryphopterus nicholsi: Quiet sandy bottoms, near rocks, shallows to
350’.
RIGHTEYE FLOUNDER FAMILY
-Starry Flounder, Platichthys stellatus: Over soft bottoms, bays, to 900’ deep; also rivers
near coast
-C-O Sole, Pleuronichthys coenosus: Shallows with soft bottoms, kelp beds; also to
1,150’ deep.
TROUT FAMILY
-Pink Salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha: Ocean, coastal rivers.
-Chum Salmon, Oncorhynchus keta: Ocean, coastal rivers.
-Coho Salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch: Ocean, rivers.
-Sockeye Salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka: Ocean surface, rivers.
-Chinook Salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha: Ocean surface, rivers.
-Cutthroat Trout, Oncorhynchus clarki : Gravel-bottomed rivers and streams, lakes;
ocean near estuaries.
-Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss: Gravel-bottomed rivers and streams, lakes,
ocean.
MARINE MAMMALS
-Northern Sea Lion, Eumetopias jubatus: Deep and shallow ocean waters; enters major
rivers. Hauls out on rocks by day; feeds mainly at night.
-Harbor Seal, Phoca vitulina: Shallow ocean waters; hauls out on rocks, spits, islands.
-Minke Whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata: Inshore waters (resident in Puget Sound).
-Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae: Ocean. Sept-Nov.: migrates off NW coast;
visits Puget Sound.
-Killer Whale, Orciunus orca: Surface ocean waters, deep sounds.
BIRDS
LOON FAMILY
-Red Throated Loon, Gavia stellata: oceans and bays (Oct.-May)
-Common Loon, Gavia immer: Winter- large lakes, bays.
GREBE FAMILY
-Pied-Billed Grebe, Podilymbus podiceps: Summer- freshwater marshes, ponds. Winter:
also inner coastal waters.
-Eared Grebe, Podiceps nigricollis: Summer: ponds, marshes. Winter: bays.
CORMORANT FAMILY
-Pelagic Cormorant, Plalacrocorax pelagicus: Ocean, bays, rocky cliffs.
HERON FAMILY
-Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias: Freshwater and saltwater shorelines
-Snowy Egret, Egretta thula: Marshes, coastal bays.
-American Bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus, Sept.-May: coastal marshes.
WATERFOWL FAMILY
-Brant, Branta bernicla: Nov.-May: Coastal marshes, beaches.
-Canada Goose, Branta canadensis: Marshes, mudflats, ponds, wide lawns, fallow fields.
-Surf Scoter, Melanitta perspicillata: Winter: coastal waters. Migration: also lakes.
-Ruddy Duck, Oxyura jamaicensis: Summer: reedy lakes. Migration and winter: saltwater
bays, lakes.
HAWK AND EAGLE FAMILY
-Osprey, Pandion haliaetus: Coastal estuaries, rivers, lakes.
-Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus: Coastal bays, estuaries, rivers lakes.
-Northern Harrier, Circus cyaneus: Marshes, fields.
FALCON FAMILY
-Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrius: Coasts, marshes, cities.
RAIL FAMILY
-American Coot, Fulica Americana: Marshes, ponds, lakes, shallow coastal waters.
PLOVER FAMILY
-Black-Bellied Plover, Pluvialis squatarola: Coastal beaches, mudflats.
-Killdeer, Charadrius vociferous: Farms, fields, playgrounds, golf courses, mudflats.
-Black Oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmani: Rocky shorelines.
SANDPIPER FAMILY
-Greater Yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca: Coastal and inland mudflats, marshes.
-Lesser Yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes: Coastal mudflats, marshes.
-Marbled Godwit, Limosa fedoa: Mudflats, beaches (Aug.-May)
-Ruddy Turnstone, Arenaria interpres: Beaches, mudflats (July-May)
-Surfbird, Aphriza virgata: Rocky shores, (July- May)
-Red Knot, Calidris canutus: Coastal beaches, mudflats.
-Sanderling, Calidris alba: Sand Beaches (July-May)
-Rock Sandpiper, Calidris ptilocnemis: Rocky coasts.
GULL AND TERN FAMILY
-Bonaparte’s Gull, Larus Philadelphia: Estuaries, bays.
Heermann’s Gull, Larus heermanni: Ocean, rocky and sandy shores, protected waters
(July-October).
-Ring-Billed Gull, Larus delawarensis: Estuaries, lakes, urban parks, parking lots.
-Western Gull, Larus occidentalis: Ocean, coasts, estuaries, towns.
-Common Tern, Sterna hirundo: Beaches, coastal waters.
PUFFIN AND MURRE FAMILY
-Common Murre, Uria aalge: Ocean, seaside cliffs.
-Pigeon Guillemot, Cepphus columba: Ocean, seaside rocks.
-Marbled Murrelet, Brachyramphus marmoratus: Feeds in ocean, nests inland.
-Tufted Puffin, Fratercula cirrhata: Coast (May-Aug.)