Gallery | Marine animals found on rocks, in the pools or on the algal turf
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Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Sunburst Anemone
Anthopleura sola, Sunburst Anemone
To 10" (25 cm) in diameter
Found in pools, on the algal turf, in between rocks
Other names: Starburst Anemone; distinguished from A. elegantissima in 2000
Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Aggregating Anemone
Anthopleura elegantissima, Aggregating Anemone
Individuals to 3" (7.5 cm) in diameter
Found in pools, on the algal turf, in between rocks
Generally found adjacent to other Aggregating Anemone
Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Brooding Anemone
Epiactis prolifera, Brooding Anemone
To 3/4" (1.9 cm) in diameter
Found in pools, on algal turf and in between rocks
Mollusca: Polyplacophora: Spiny Chiton
Nuttalina spp., Spiny Chiton
To 1 1/2" (4 cm) long
Found in pools, on exposed rocks
Other names: Troglodyte Chiton, Nuttall's Chiton
Mollusca: Polyplacophora: Conspicuous Chiton
Stenoplax conspicua, Conspicuous Chiton
To 4" (10 cm) long
Found in depressions in the rock, in pools
Mollusca: Polyplacophora: other Chiton
Lepidozona spp., various Chiton
To 2" (5 cm) long
Found in pools
Mollusca: Gastropoda: Green Abalone
Haliotis fulgens, Green Abalone
To 10" (25 cm) long
Found under ledges
Mollusca: Gastropoda: Giant Keyhole Limpet
Megathura crenulata, Giant Keyhole Limpet
Shell to 5" (13 cm) long; body to 10" (25 cm) long
Found in pools, under ledges
Mollusca: Gastropoda: Volcano Keyhole Limpet
Fissurella volcano, Volcano Keyhole Limpet
To 1 3/8" (3.5 cm) long
Found in pools
Other name: Volcano Limpet
Mollusca: Gastropoda: Owl Limpet
Lottia gigantea, Owl Limpet
To 3 1/2" (9 cm) long
Found on exposed rocks
Other name: Giant Owl Limpet
Mollusca: Gastropoda: Mask Limpet
Tectura persona, Mask Limpet
To 1 1/2" (4 cm) long
Found on exposed, shady rocks
Other names: Speckled Limpet; Notoacmea persona
Mollusca: Gastropoda: Plate Limpet
Tectura scutum, Plate Limpet
To 2" (5 cm) long
Found in pools
Other names: Notoacmea scutum
Mollusca: Gastropoda: Rough Limpet
Lottia scabra, Rough Limpet
To 1 1/8" (3 cm) long
Found on exposed rocks
Other names: Collisella scabra, Acmaea scabra
Mollusca: Gastropoda: Fingered Limpet
Lottia digitalis, Fingered Limpet
To 1" (2.5 cm) long
Found on exposed rocks
Other names: Ribbed Limpet; Collisella digitalis
Mollusca: Gastropoda: Shield Limpet
Lottia pelta, Shield Limpet
To 2 1/8" (5.4 cm) long and 5/8" (1.5 cm) high
Found in pools, on exposed rocks
Other names: Collisella pelta
Mollusca: Gastropoda: File Limpet
Lottia limatula, File Limpet
To 1 3/4" (4.5 cm) long
Found on exposed rocks
Other names: Collisella limatula
Mollusca: Gastropoda: Scaly Tube Snail
Serpulorbis squamigerus, Scaly Tube Snail
Shell to 5" (13 cm) long and 1/2" (1.3 cm) in diameter
Found in pools, on the sides of rocks
Other names: Scaled Worm Snail
Mollusca: Gastropoda: Kellet's Whelk
Kelletia kelletii, Kellet's Whelk
To 6 1/2" (16 cm) high
Found in pools
Mollusca: Gastropoda: Wavy Turban Snail
Megastraea undosa, Wavy Turban Snail
To 4 1/2" (11 cm) in diameter
Found in pools
Other names:Astraea undosa
Mollusca: Gastropoda: Black Turban Snail
Tegula funebralis, Black Turban Snail
To 1 1/4" (3 cm) in diameter
Found in pools
Mollusca: Gastropoda: Gilded Turban Snail
Tegula aureotincta, Gilded Turban Snail
To 1 1/2" (4 cm) in diameter
Found in pools
Mollusca: Gastropoda: other Turban Snails
Tegula eiseni or gallina, Banded or Speckled Turban Snails
To 1 3/8" (3.5 cm) in diameter
Found in pools
Mollusca: Gastropoda: Periwinkle Snails
Littorina spp., Periwinkle Snails
To 3/4" (1.9 cm) high
Found on exposed rocks
Mollusca: Gastropoda: Dogwinkle Snails
Nucella spp., Dogwinkle Snail
To 1 1/2" (4 cm) high
Found on exposed rocks
Mollusca: Gastropoda: Pencil Turret Snail
Pseudomelatoma pencillata, Pencil Turret
To 1 1/2" (4 cm) long
Found in pools
Mollusca: Gastropoda: California Cone Snail
Conus californicus, California Cone Snail
To 1 5/8" (4.1 cm) high
Found in pools
Mollusca: Gastropoda: Bubble Snail
Haminoea sp., Bubble Snail
Shell to 3/4" (2 cm) long
Found in pools
Mollusca: Gastropoda: Striped Sea Slug
Navanax inermis, Navanax or Striped Sea Slug
To 8" (20 cm) long
Found in pools
Mollusca: Gastropoda: California Sea Hare
Aplysia californica, California Sea Hare
To 16" (40 cm) long and 8" (20 cm) wide
Found in pools
Mollusca: Bivalvia: California Mussel
Mytilus californianus, California Mussel
To 10" (25 cm) long
Found on exposed rocks, in cracks and crevices
Mollusca: Bivalvia: Venus Clam
Chione sp., Venus Clam
To 3" (7.5 cm) long
Found in pools
Mollusca: Cephalopoda: Two-spot Octopus
Octopus bimaculoides, Two-spot Octopus
Mantle length to 8" (20 cm)
Found in pools, hidden under rocks
Arthropoda: Crustacea: Thatched Barnacle
Tetraclita rubescens, Thatched Barnacle
To 2" (5.1 cm) in diameter, 2" (5.1 cm) high
Found on exposed rocks
Other names: Volcano Barnacle
Arthropoda: Crustacea: Acorn Barnacle
Chthamalus sp., Acorn Barnacle
To 1/4" (6 mm) in diameter, 1/8" (4 mm) high
Found on exposed rocks
Arthropoda: Crustacea: Gooseneck Barnacle
Pollicipes polymerus, Gooseneck Barnacle
To 4" (10 cm) long
Found on exposed rocks
Other names: Goose Barnacle, Leaf Barnacle
Arthropoda: Crustacea: Blue-banded Hermit Crab
Pagurus samuelis, Blue-banded Hermit Crab
To 3/4" (1.9 cm) long
Found in pools
Arthropoda: Crustacea: Juvenile Hermit Crab
Pagurus sp., Hermit Crab, juvenile
To 3/4" (1.9 cm) long
Found in pools
Arthropoda: Crustacea: Striped Shore Crab
Pachygrapsus crassipes, Striped Shore Crab
Carapace to 1 3/4" (4.7 cm) wide
Found on exposed rocks, in holes, in pools
Arthropoda: Crustacea: Southern Kelp Crab
Taliepus nuttalli, Southern Kelp Crab
Carapace to 4" (10 cm) long, normally red in color
Found among algae in pools
Other names: Globose Kelp Crab
Arthropoda: Crustacea: Red Rock Shrimp
Lysmata californica, Red Rock Shrimp
To 2 3/4" (7 cm) long
Found under ledges
Other names: Striped Rock Shrimp
Arthropoda: Crustacea: California Spiny Lobster
Panulirus interruptus, California Spiny Lobster
Normally up to 16" (41 cm) long, maximum to 36" (90 cm)
Found under ledges
Echinodermata: Asteroidea: Knobby Sea Star
Pisaster giganteus, Knobby Sea Star
To 10" (25 cm) in diameter in the intertidal; to 22" (56 cm) subtidally
Found in pools, under ledges
Other names: Giant Spined Sea Star
Echinodermata: Asteroidea: Spiny Sea Star
Astrometis sertulifera, Spiny Sea Star
To 5" (12.7 cm) in diameter
Found in pools, under rocks
Other names: Soft Starfish
Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea: Panamanian Brittle Star
Disc to 1 3/4" ( 4.5 cm) in diameter; length of arms to 10" (25 cm)
Found in pools, under rocks
Other names: Snakeskin Brittle Star, Panamanian Serpent Star
Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea: Spiny Brittle Star
Ophiothrix spiculata, Spiny Brittle Star
Disc to 3/4" ( 1.9 cm) in diameter; length of arms to 6" (15 cm)
Found in pools, under rocks
Other names: Western Spiny Brittle Star
Echinodermata: Holothuroidea: Warty Sea Cucumber
Parastichopus parvimensis, Warty Sea Cucumber
To 10" (25 cm) long
Found under ledges
Other names: Southern California Sea Cucumber
Chordata: Osteichthyes: Opaleye
Girella nigricans, Opaleye, juvenile
To 3" (7.5 cm) long in the intertidal; to 26" (65 cm) subtidally
Found in pools
Chordata: Osteichthyes: Woolly Sculpin
Clinocottus analis, Woolly Sculpin
To 7" (17.6 cm) long
Found in pools
Chordata: Osteichthyes: Tide Pool Sculpin
Oligocottus spp., Tide Pool Sculpin
To 3.5" (8.8 cm) long
Found in pools
