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GOLDEN GUIDES
NATURE
BIRDS BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS CACTI CATS
EXOTIC PLANTS FOR HOUSE AND GARDEN FISHES
FLOWERS FOSSILS GAMEBIRDS HALLUCINOGENIC PLANTS
HERBS AND SPICES INSECT PESTS INSECTS
NON-FLOWERING PLANTS ORCHIDS POND LIFE
REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS ROCKS AND MINERALS
THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS SEASHELLS OF THE WORLD SEASHORES
SKY OBSERVER'S GUIDE SPIDERS AND THEIR KIN STARS
TREES TROPICAL FISH WEEDS YOSEMITE ZOO ANIMALS
SCIENCE
BOTANY ECOLOGY EVOLUTION FAMILIES OF BIRDS
GEOLOGY HEART LANDFORMS LIGHT AND COLOR
OCEANOGRAPHY WEATHER ZOOLOGY
HOBBIES
AMERICAN ANTIQUE GLASS ANTIQUES
CASINO GAMES FISHING
INDIAN ARTS KITES WINES
GOLDEN FIELD GUIDES
BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA MINERALS OF THE WORLD
SEASHELLS OF NORTH AMERICA TREES OF NORTH AMERICA
Golden, A Golden Guide, and Golden Press
are trademarks of Western Publishing Company, Inc.
458 SPECIES IN FULL COLOR
SHORES
A GUIDE TO ANIMALS AND PLANTS ALONG THE BEACHES
by
HERBERT S. ZI M, Ph. D.
and
LESTER INGLE, Ph. D.
Professor of Zool ogy, University of I l l i noi s
ILLUSTRATED BY DOROTHEA AND SY BARLOWE
@ GOLDEN PRESS NEW YORK
Western Publi s hi ng Company
, I nc.
Raci ne, Wi sconsi n
FOREWORD
Where l and and ocean meet at the shore, a mysteri ous
worl d begi ns. Here the drama of the sea and its l ife comes
to a focus. Thi s book-a seashore pri mer-wi l l hel p you
understand and enjoy thi s uni que zone.
Many persons hel ped to make our book possi bl e. Fi rst
to be thanked ore the artists, Sy and Dorothea Barl owe,
for thei r excel l ent work. Val ued suggesti ons and criticisms
came from several experts; E. J. Al exander, Frederick M.
Boyer, Wi l l i am D. Cl arke, John E. Fitch, I ra N. Gabri el son,
Howard R. Hi l l , Al exander C. Marti n, Harol d A. Rehder,
Pau l C. Si l va, and Al exander Sprunt I V. Donal d F. Hof
meister, Natal i e and Mi l ton Zi m, Fronk C. McKeever,
Rosal i e Wei kert, Donald P. Rogers, and S. A. Fori n hel ped
with source materia The New York Botani cal Gorden,
Ameri can Museum of Natural Hi story, Smi thsoni an I nsti
tuti on, Phi l adel phi a Academy of Natural Sciences, Los
Angel es County Museum, and University of I l l i noi s Natural
Hi story Museum al so gave generous assistance.
H.S. Z.
L.l.
Copyright 1955 by Western Publishing Company, Inc. All rights reserved,
including rights of reproduction and use in any form or by any means, in
cluding the making of copies by any photo process, or by any electronic or
mechanical device, printed or written or oral, or recording for sound or
vis1al reproduction or for use in any knowledge retrieval system or device,
unless permission in writing is obtained from the copyright proprietor. Pro
duced in the U.S.A. by Western Publishing Company, Inc. Published by
Golden Press, N.ew York, N.Y. library of Congress Catalog Card Number:
61-8318.
HOW TO USE
TH IS B OOK
The United States has about
bb,00 mi l es of ti dal shore
l i ne, and nearl y every mi l e
i s a place of potential i nter
est. Everythi ng on the shore
i s worth your attenti on,
from the magni fcent sweep
of the sea and sky to the
forms of l ife that dwel l on
the beach or are cast up
Rai nbow Jel l y-a Comb Jel l y
there. Hunti ng for shel l s has
l ong been a favorite pasti me. Thi s book wi l l hel p i n i den
tifcati on, but i t is more than a gui de to shel l s. I t attempts,
i n a si mpl e way, to give a pi cture of l ife at the shore, from
soari ng gul l s to worms and cl ams.
You can use thi s book best if you begi n before you go
t o t he shore. Read these i ntroductory pages. Thumb
through t he book to get acquai nted wi t h mari ne pl ant
and ani mal l i fe. Remember t hat shel l s and seaweeds cast
up on the beach may l ook quite diferent from the l i vi ng
pl ants and ani mal s. Remember al so that, yard for yard,
some shore areas are much ri cher i n pl ant and ani mal l i fe
than any ot her areas. Don't expect to i dentify everythi ng
you fnd. Use the key on the next two pages as a starter.
With i ts hel p, you can pl ace most thi ngs withi n a maj or
group. Then l ook further to see if your speci men or one
l i ke i t i s i l l ust rated. I l l ustrati ons show onl y the most com
mon of thousands of speci es. Yours may be si mi l ar to, but
not i dentical wi th, the one i l l ustrated. Si zes given are
average; al l ow for vari ati on. For more detai l ed identi fca
ti on use sci entifc names (pp. 1 54- 1 57), the books l i sted on
p. 1 54, and museum study col l ecti ons.
3
PLANTS
ANIMALS
4
A PICTURED KEY
ALGAE-non-fowering plants, of varied
form-seaweeds. PAGES 18-35
Blue-green Algae ( 1 ,500 speciesl
threa
d
-like or branched flaments;
some slimy. 20
Green Algae (5,000 species)-some
sheet-like; most are branched or un
branched threads. 21-24
Brown Algae (1 ,000 species)-main
ly large, cold-water plants; often with
air bladders and "ieaves." 25-30
Red Algae (2,500 speciesl-smaller,
more
d
elicate than brown; live in
deeper, warmer water. 31-35
FLOWERING PLANTS-a great group
(250,000 species), with roots, stems, leaves,
fowers. Only common
d
une and shore spe
cies are included. 141-146
SPONGES (3,000 species)-simple, many
celled animals with numerous pores; vary
ing form and kinds of skeleton. 41-43
CORALS and KIN (5,000 species)-soft,
cup-like, with tentacles, stinging cells. Some
have limy skeletons. 44-52
COMB JELLIES-jellyfsh-like; no stinging
cells; some with paired tentacles. 53
WORMS-four to twelve groups (phyla),
with distinct characteristics; some round,
some fat, some segmented. 54-57
TO SEASHORE LIFE
MOSS ANIMALS and LAMP SHELLS
a small,
d
iverse, an
d
ancient group. Shell,
dosal and ventral valves. 58-59
STARFISH and KIN (6,000 species)-with
radial bodies (fve divisions). 60-66
ARTHROPODS-jointed-legged, with ex
ternal skeleton; a vast group. 67-79
Crustacea (25,000 species)-jointed
legs and segmented abdomens; in-
clude barnacles, crabs, lobsters,
shrimp. 68-79
MOLLUSKS or SHELLFISH (80,000 spe
cies)-soft-bodied, shelled. 80-140
Chitons -primitive mollusks with 8-
plated shell. 81
Bivalves (Pelecypods)-animals with
shell in two lateral halves. 82-11 0
Univalves (Gastropo
d
s) - animals
with single coiled shell, or no visible
shell. 111-137
Squid, Octopus, and Kin -well
d
eveloped head with tentacles; usually
no external shell. 138-139
Tusk Shells-a small group with tusk
like shells. 140
BIRDS-of the 70,000 species of verte
brates, including sharks and fish, whales,
and other marine mammals, only shore
birds are covered in this book. 147-153
5

ACTIVITIES FOR AMATEURS

OBSERVATION is the key to sci ence and to enjoying
shore l ife. Watch careful l y; detai l s of form and movement
cannot be seen otherwi se. Observe at the beach. Take
l ive speci mens home for study. Make a salt-water aquar
i um and keep smal l speci mens al ive. The practi ce of
keepi ng notes and records wi l l make your observati ons
sharper, your understandi ng broader.
CLOTHING is i mportant i n your ventures-warm cl othi ng
and rubber boots i n col der months, a bathi ng suit or the
equi val ent at other ti mes. Wear sneakers to protect feet.
Goggl es and snorkel wi l l gi ve experi enced swi mmers
entree i nto a new worl d. Begi nners be careful !
EQ UIPMENT can be si mpl e. Use bi nocul ars for bi rds, a
pai l and other wi de-mouthed contai ners for al gae and
smal l ani mal s. A trowel , a spadi ng fork, and a ki tchen
or putty knife are handy. later you may fi nd l andi ng and
dredgi ng nets a hel p; wi th them, col l ecti ng from a smal l
boat i s rewardi ng fun. A good magni fyi ng gl ass or, better
sti l l , a l ow-power mi croscope wi l l give you a chance to
study smal l i nvertebrates whi l e they sport i n a few tabl e
spoons of sea water. For preservi ng sea ani mal s, use rub
bi ng al cohol , sl i ghtl y di l uted. Mol l usks can be cl eaned by
boi l i ng. Starfsh and ki n can be dri ed i n the sun.
LOOK al l around you. Try di ferent types of shores, as
pl ants and ani mal s vary greatl y on mud fats and rocky
and sandy beaches. look under rocks. Di g i nto sand and
mud. Wade out, especi al l y at l ow ti de, t o fnd speci mens
you may mi ss otherwi se. Don't overl ook the al gae and
shel l s washed ashore after storms. Some smal l er creatures
are the most attractive.
GET HELP i n i dentifyi ng your speci mens. Besides thi s
book, try the more advanced ones l i sted on p. 1 54. Ex
perts at museums and uni versi ti es are often gl ad to hel p.
Most mari ne bi ol ogi cal research stati ons wel come vi sitors.
The U. S. Fi sh and Wi l dl i fe Servi ce, Washi ngton 25, D. C. ,
has techni cal publ i cati ons on mari ne speci es of economi c
val ue. Deal ers in shel l s may hel p you in i denti fcati on and
can suppl y speci mens f or your col l ecti on.
CONSERVATION of t he r i ch resources of our shores i s
your responsi bi l ity. Everyone who enjoys t he wi nd and
ti de, t he terns, and t he shel l s underfoot has a stake i n
preservi ng our shores i n thei r natural state. Pol l uti on of
shore waters by s hi ps, ci ti es, and factori es i s a seri ous
probl em. Ani mal s are harmed by chemi cal wastes or l ow
ered oxygen content of water. Support groups worki ng to
protect our seashores and thei r natural resources.
7
8
THE SEAS AND THE SHORES
Greatest depth of sea
THE SEAS cover about 72% of the earth' s surface-61 %
of t he northern and 8 1 % of t he southern hemi sphere.
The average hei ght of al l the l and i s about Y2 mi l e. I f the
surface of the earth were smooth, an ocean 2 mi l es deep
woul d cover it. The wei ght of the seas i n tons is esti mated
at the fgure 12 fol l owed by 1 7 zeros. This water, a great
reservoi r of heat, profoundl y afects cl i mate. I n it oxygen,
carbon di ox1de, and other gases are dissol ved; so are
many sol ids, whi ch make up about 3]% of the wei ght
of the seas. These sol i ds i ncl ude more gol d than has ever
been mi ned and enough i ron to l ast man thousands of
years. The United States al one has 88,600 mi l es of coast
l i ne; the worl d, probabl y over a mi l l ion. Shores are ri ch
i n pl ant and ani mal l i fe, and here i mportant geol ogi c
changes are taki ng pl ace.
Seas cover nearl y% of the earth's surface.
Shal l ow-water l ife about 40 mi l l ion years ago
LI FE went on i n the seas for mi l l i ons of years before pl ants
and ani mal s ventured on to l and. The transi ti on was a sl ow
one, and in it the s hore zone was a cri ti cal area. Some
anci ent sea ani mal s have survived and have changed so
l i ttl e they cl osel y resembl e their fossi l ancestors; others
changed greatl y. But l and ani mal s sti l l show traces of thei r
ori gi ns. The l i qui d portion of your bl ood, and that of other
l and ani mal s, contai ns i n sol uti on many of the same chem
ical s as sea water.
9
1 0
SEASHORES, the battl el i ne between l and and sea, are of
two mai n types. Where shorel i nes are si nki ng, the sea
carves the l and i nto sea cl i fs, terraces, arches, caves, and
rocky beaches. These dramati c shores and headl ands
may encompass shal l ow bays where sand and pebbl es
form protected beaches. A weal th of pl ant and ani mal
l ife i s often f ound on rocks between t he ti demarks. Ti de
pool s are uni que pl aces to study shore l ife-both pl ant
and ani mal .
Large areas of sl opi ng sea bottom ar e often exposed
al ong nsmg shorel i nes where l and is upl ifted. Sand,
moved by waves and currents, bui l ds up an ofshore bar
or barri er beach between a protected l agoon and the
breakers. Bars and spits al so devel op. Wi nd moves dry
sand i nto shifti ng dunes. Brackish ti dal marshes may form
with abundant pl ants, bi rds, and smal l er ani mal s. li fe
al ong sandy beaches i s often di sti nct from l i fe on rocky
ones. Di ferent ki nds of shel l fsh, worms, and crustacea
l i ve on each. Some sandy beaches may be quite barren,
except for thi ngs washed up.
ll
1 2
SPRI NG TI DE
Moon .
t
TIDES
NEAP TI DE
The range of the ti de de
pends on the shape of
the c oast . On open
coasts, i t i s us ual l y l ess
than 8 ft. , but in funnel
s haped bays, l i ke the
Bay of F undy, t he t i de
may ri se 30 to 40 ft .
TIDES resul t from the gravi tati onal pul l of moon and sun.
The moon, much nearer the earth, has a stronger pul l than
the sun. When sun and moon are i n l i ne wi th earth and pul l
together, hi gh ti de i s hi ghest, l ow ti de l owest. When they
pul l at a ri ght angl e, ti des are l ess extreme. As the moon
revol ves and the earth turns, the ti dal bul ge moves around
the earth. Ti des on the Atl anti c and Paci fc coasts come
about an hour l ater each day. Shapes of the ocean basi n
and of the coasts afect ti des. The Gul f of Mexi co has l
or 2-ft. tides; el sewhere they are 4 to 8 ft. or more.
WAVES are caused by the wi nds. The steady push of
wi nd gi ves the wafer its rol l i ng, ri si ng and fal l i ng moti on.
As the water moves up and down, the wave itsel f moves
forward. Waves have l ittl e efect a hundred feet down,
but as they move i nto shal l ow water near the shore, the
fri cti on of the bottom causes them to rise hi gher unti l they
ti p forward i n an arc and break. The breaker, l i ke a mi ni
ature waterfal l , rushes up the beach ti l l i t s energy i s ex
hausted. Currents and undertows al ong the shores may
be set up by wave acti on.
SHORE LIFE difers"on rocky and sandy beaches, and on
exposed and protected ones. Each bit of beach shows how
plants and ani mal s l ive together i n certai n broad l ife
zones. Fi rst and hi ghest is the dry beach or dune area.
The uppermost beach is reached onl y by the hi ghest ti des,
storm waves, and ocean spray. The upper beach gets wet
by ti des twi ce dai l y, but the pl ants and ani mal s are more
adapted to l and and ai r than to water. I n the mi ddl e
beach, whi ch i s covered with water most of the ti me, pl ants
and ani mal s are normal l y l ess exposed to ai r and are
1 4
more harmed by dryi ng. The l ower beach is al most al
ways submerged except duri ng the very l owest ti des and
so i s exposed no more t han twi ce monthl y-duri ng t he
"spri ng" ti des.
Pl ant and ani mal l ife form characteri sti c communiti es
wi thi n these broad zones. Each i s adapted to a particul ar
mari ne envi ronment and i ts food suppl y. Water temper
ature due to l ati tude or ofshore currents, sal i nity as
afected by streams, and pol l uti on from shi ps and ci ti es
modify the shore l ife of a regi on.
Forami ni fera Diatoms ( top) Copepods
PLANKTON is to the sea what grass is to the l and-the
basi c food. Al l forms of pl ankton are very smal l , often
microscopi c. Bi l l i ons upon bi l l i ons l ive i n the sea. Most
common are the di atoms, pl ants of col der waters whi ch
furnish al most ni ne-tenths of the food i n the ocean. Di a
toms and other microscopi c pl ants are more common than
di nofagel l ates and the pl ankton ani mal s. Among the
l atter are i ncl uded si ngl e-cel l ed ani mal s, smal l j el l yfsh,
and copepods-ti ny rel atives of l obsters and crabs. Pl ank-
Di nofagel l ates Radi ol ari ans
ton serves as food for smal l fsh and other sea animal s
whi ch, i n t urn, are eaten by l arger speci es. One authority
fgures about 0,000 l b. of di atoms are eaten to make
,000 l b. of copepods, and ,000 l b. of copepods pro
duce Dl b. of smel ts. The 00 l b. of smel ts, when eaten,
give 0 l b. of mackerel which, as food, make l b. of
tuna. Caught, canned, and eaten, l b. of t una i ncreases
man's body wei ght by onl y 0. l b. Such food chai ns i l l us
trate the i nterdependence of sea l ife.
MARINE ALGAE
Seaweeds, or mari ne al gae, are easy to col l ect, preserve,
and study. Of about 1 8,000 kinds of al gae, some l i ve on
l and, more i n fresh water, but most are mari ne. These
grow attached to rocks, pi l es, and even boats. Storms
wash up deep-water speci es. Any rocky beach or wharf is
good col l ecti ng ground. Take a pai l , spoon, knife, and
putty knife al ong. Wear appropri ate cl othi ng. Scrape
al gae free and drop them i nto your pai l of sea water.
Later, at home, foat one pl ant at a ti me i n a l arge tray or
di shpan. As it foats, arrange, tri m, and spread it. Sl i p a
sheet of heavy white paper under it. Raise s l owl y, letti ng
pl ant settl e and water drai n of. Most s mal l er speci mens
wi l l adhere and dry i n pl ace. Larger seaweeds can be
photographed, or preserved i n al cohol or 6% formal de
hyde. More i nteresti ng than preservi ng speci mens is de
tai l ed study of them when al ive. For thi s; a hi gh-powered
mi croscope and hi gh- powered pati ence are needed.
Fl oot specimen i n
pon of sea water.
Slide heavy paper
beneath.
2. F l oot speci men i nto
posi ti on. Roi se poper ond
remove sl owl y.
3. Cover wi th cheese
cl oth. Dry between
bl otters, mount,
and label .
r . ,
..
7
BLUE-GREEN ALGAE are a wi despread group of some
1 ,500 i nconspi cuous species, both mari ne and fresh-water.
They form dark scums on mud, rocks, and pi l es, or appear
as a vel vety fuzz on boat bottoms. Most are dark bl ui sh
green i n col or and can thri ve i n pol l uted waters unsuited
for other al gae and ani mal l ife. Some species l ive i n hot
spri ngs; others gi ve the Red Sea its col or. I denti fcati on i s
di fcul t wi thout microscopi c exami nati on of the thread
l i ke, often gel ati nous pl ants. Mermai d's Hai r l i ves on mud,
rocks, and pi l i ng i n shal l ow water of both coasts. The
si mpl e, unbranched fl aments are curl ed and matted.
20
GREEN ALGAE, i ncl udi ng over 5,000 species, are more
common i n fresh water and on moist soi l than i n the sea.
Mari ne speci es are found al ong al l shores but are more
abundant i n warmer waters. These are s mal l er and more
del icate than the great kel ps, and prefer more s hal l ow
water. Some green al gae are si ngl e cel l s. Better-known
mari ne speci es grow as fl aments, irregul ar sheets, or
branchi ng fronds. Some tropi cal speci es take l i me from
sea water and hel p bui l d "coral" reefs. No al gae have
roots, stems, or l eave
s
l i ke hi gher pl ants. Bl ue-green al
gae have no speci al i zed sex cel l s; reproducti on is veg
etative, cel l s spl itti ng of to form new pl ants. I n the green
al gae, sex cel l s are formed, though vegetative reproduc
ti on al so i s common i n nearl y al l speci es.
Codi um, a very common and wi del y di stri buted mari ne
green al ga, occurs al ong the southern Atl antic, Gul f, and
Paci fc coasts. Someti mes cal l ed Sponge Seaweed be
cause of its soft, sponge-l i ke texture, Codi um has many
branchi ng stal ks. I t i s cl osel y rel ated to Bryopsis (p. 23).
21
22
CLADOPHORA i s a group ot var
i abl e species, quite common on
the north Atl anti c Coast. Pl ants
vary from si l ky, compact, green
tufts to coarser fl aments 3 to 12
i n. l ong.
SEA LETTUCE i s common on both
coasts. Largest of the green al
gae, up to 3 ft. l ong, it i s sheet
or ri bbon-l ike. A number of spe
cies, typi cal of shal l ow water,
grow on rocks or i n mudfats.
3a
ENTEROMORPHA, 4 i n. to 2 ft.
l ong, often cal l ed "grass," is a
common green al ga of piers and
boat bottoms. Some speci es are
stri ngy or ribbon-l i ke, others fat
tened, thi ckened, or with i nfated
branches.
1. Caul erpa
CAULERPA is common on sandy and muddy bottoms in warm
water and on coral reefs. It spreads by horizontal stems, cover
ing large areas. Fronds, 2 to 4 in. long, are eaten by sea turtles.
Plants are variable, some with simple fronds, some branched.
E
SEA MOSS or BRYOPSIS includes some 20 species which
branch and rebranch, giving the plant a delicate, feathery ap
pearance. Sea moss is abundant along the entire Atlantic and
Pacifc coasts, growing on rocks and piers, occasionally in mud.
Plants are 2 to 8 in. long and are a darker green than other
green algae. Species are marked by diferences in branching
and fneness of the flaments.
23
1 . Hal i meda
3. Merman' s
Shavi ng Brush
2. Mermai d's Cup
TROPICAL GREEN ALGAE are
more common than col d-water spe
cies. Al ong the warmer parts of the
Atl anti c and Gul f coasts are several
speci es, smal l in si ze and unusual i n
form. Oddest is Merman' s Shavi ng
Brush (Peni ci l l us), 2 to 5 i n. l ong,
shaped true to i ts name. Several
speci es of Hal i meda al l have unus
ual thi n, roundi sh, branchi ng seg
ments wi th cactus- l i ke growth. Mer
mai d's Cup (Acetabul ari a), 1 to 3 i n.
tal l , i s l i ke a smal l , greeni sh-white
mushroom. Patches of these three
al gae car pet s hal l ow areas.
BROWN ALGAE i ncl ude, in t he ,000 or so ki nds known,
some of the l argest and most i nteresti ng al gae. Brown
al gae are di verse i n form and structure; some have i n
vol ved l ife hi stori es. They reproduce vegetati vel y and by
the union of mal e and femal e cel l s, whi ch swi m out i nto
the water. Al l brown al gae contai n a greeni sh-brown pi g
ment whi ch absorbs l i ght l i ke the green pi gment of green
al gae. Thi s pi gment i s efective at medi um depths, so
brown al gae may grow as much as 75 ft. down. Tremen
dous beds of brown al gae stretch al ong temperate and
cool er shores. These al gae are used f or ferti l i zer and as a
source of i odi ne and potash. The chemical al gi n, made
from them, is used to make puddi ngs smoother, to fnish
paper, t o appl y dyes and i nks, and i n medi ci ne.
Sargassum, most famous of the brown al gae, foats
over mi l e after mi l e i n the "Sargasso Sea" of the Atl anti c.
Over 150 species, usual l y 3 ft. or more l ong, occur
wi del y i n war mer waters,
but some are found wel l to
the north on our Atl antic
and Pacifc coasts. Fronds
outwardl y resembl e stems
and l eaves; ai r bl adders of
varyi ng si ze are common.
1 b Sargassum
25
1. Al ari c
26
2. Padin
a 3. Chordaria
ALARI A is a northern al ga used for
food on north European coasts. The fat
tened frond is divided and may have sev
eral branches below it. It is 1 to 10 ft.
l ong (branches 3 to 10 in. long) .
PADI NA or Peacock Tai l is a worm
water al ga and an attractive one wi th iis
al ternati ng bands of l i ght and darker
color. I t i s a smal l , tough, l eathery spe
ci es found f rom the Carol i nas southward.
CHORDARIA, a dark, stri ngy al ga 1 to
2 ft. long, has occasional sl i ghtl y curved
branches. Smal l er than Chorda, it grows
attached to rocks on the North Atl anti c
Coast.
1. Ectocarpus ( enlarged)
2. Desmarestoa
ECTOCARPUS i ncl udes many species di f
cul t to di sti ngui sh. Most have fne fl aments
i n l oose or dense tufts. Some are feathery or
spongy. Ectocarpus grows 6 to 12 in. l ong on
rocks, wharves, or l arger al gae.
DESMARESTIA al so i ncl udes varied species.
The most common has thi n cyl i ndri cal fronds
wi th stif hai ry or spi ny branches. A Paci fc
Coast species has fattened, branched fronds
2 to 6 ft. l ong.
CHORDA grows as sl ender, whi p-l i ke fronds
3 to 12 ft. l ong, some bare, some hai ry. Cam
man i n northern waters, they grow si ngl y
from a di sc-shaped hol dfast. Pl ants grow
anew each spri ng.
27
28
KELPS, the great brown al gae of northern waters, are
harvested on the Paci fic Coast, and thousands of tons are
used yearl y in chemi cal i ndustries. I n Asi an waters, these
al gae are "farmed" for food. East Coast kel ps i ncl ude
Al ari a (p. 26), lami nari a, and Agarum. West Coast kel ps
are l arger and more i mposi ng; some grow to l engths of
over 1 00 ft. A tough hol dfast anchors the kel ps to the
rocky bottom

ai r bl adders foat the pl ant to the surface.
Kel ps grow from the l ow-tide mark to depths of 1 00 ft.
or more. Nereocystis and Macrocystis i ncl ude the l argest
and best-known Paci fc speci es. Sea Pal m (Postel si a) i s
one of the most unusual of al l mari ne al gae.
1.
M
acroc
ys
ti s
2.
Sea
Pa
l m
3.
Ne
re
oc
ysti s
29
FUCUS (or Rockweed), one of
the most wi del y di stri buted
seaweeds, abounds on al l
cool , rocky shores. A number
of speci es are si mi l ar i n struc
ture and habit. Al l have swol
l en ai r bl adders al ong the
mi d-ri b. The wel l-known l ife
history of Fucus i s an exampl e
of how seaweeds grow and
reproduce. Parts of Fucus, torn
l oose by waves, conti nue to
grow and may become estab
l ished as new pl ants; other
wi se, they reproduce by spe
ci al i zed cel l s. Other brown al
gae have si mi l ar l ife histori es.
RED ALGAE are admi rabl e for del i cate col or and form.
Most of the 2,500 ki nds prefer cool er, deeper waters than
other al gae. Thei r red pi gment absorbs more bl ue and
vi ol et l ight, whi ch penetrates deepest i n t he ocean, s o red
al gae can manufacture food at depths of 1 00 to 200 ft

Speci es l ivi ng cl oser to shore are i mportant in ti de-pool
pl ant l ife. Some l ack the typical del icate branchi ng pat
tern and are coarse, fattened, or cl ub- l i ke.
Several species when boi l ed yiel d agar-agar, val uabl e
i n medi ci ne and bacteri ol ogy. I n the Ori ent, Bri ti sh I sl es,
and Scandinavi a, other red al gae-I ri sh moss, dul se,
l aver, sl ack-are widel y used as food or for chemi cal s.
Fi el d i denti fcati on of most red al gae is di fcul t.
Dasya i s found from Fl ori da to Cape Cod. The del icate
orange-brown to red-purpl e fronds, with many thi n, hai ry
branches, are 6 i n. to 3 ft. l ong. look on shel l s and rocks
i n quiet, protected areas bel ow the l ow-ti de mark. When
taken from the water, the fra
gi l e, del icate fronds col l apse
i nto a red or purpl e j el l y-l i ke
mass. Dasya i s a l arge and
wel l -known genus. A number
of speci es are found al so on
rocks al ong the Pacifc Coast.
Dasya
31
GIGARTINA, odd red algae, are
often thi ck, stri ngy, l eathery,
rough, and spi ny. More common,
more diversifed, on Pacifc. Grow
6 in. to 3 ft. long on rocks. Har
vested commercial l y for chemi cal s.
32
I RISH MOSS or Chondrus i s
found as dense purpl e or purple
green moues i n tide pools and
shal lows al ong cooler, rocky
shores. Gathered for food and as
a sou rce of i ndustri al chemical s.
GELIDIUM grows 3 to 6 i n. l ong
on rocks al ong N. Atl antic. Paci
fc species grow much l arger, wi th
fat, horny branches. Species
vary: some stringy, some fnely
3a di vi ded. I dentifcation di fcul t.
GRINNELLI A is a del icate Atl an
tic species common i n spri ng and
summer, on rocks, pi l es, and
shel l s. Wavy fronds 4 to 12 i n.
l ong. Si mi l ar forms on Pacifc,
some with conspi cuous mi dvei ns.
i s a compl ex
group of many speci es not com
pl etely i dentifabl e wi thout a
mi croscope. Fi nel y branched, less
than 1 ft. long. On rocks and
other al gae; Atl anti c and Paci fc.
CALLITHAMNION (ond Sper
mothamni on) form a l arge group
of del icate, variabl e species wi th
fl aments of al most si l ky fneness,
1 to 6 in. long, pi nk to red. from
Fl orida northward.
33
34
PLUMARIA (Ptilota) or Feather
weed is common on North Atlantic
and all along Pacifc shores. The
dense, fern-li ke tufts give the
plant its name. Prefers deeper
wafer but i s often washed ashore.
3a
CERAMI UM is also a group of
small red algae (2 to 6 i n. ), Use
a hand lens to see the ti ps of the
flaments, curved l i ke min ute
claws. Found on other algae and
debris, especi ally on t he Atlanti c.
Detail '
oftp
LAVER or Porphyra is often gath
ered as a food plant and makes
an excellent soup. If sometimes
looks like a thin, delicate red Sea
Lefluce (p. 22), but species are
variable in form and color.
Detai l
af frond
CORALLI NA i ncl udes tropi
cal speci es and those whi ch
extend far north i nto Cana
di an waters. The pl ant i s hard
and covered wi th a crust of
l i me. When i t i s washed up on
beaches, the sun bl eaches i t
compl etel y white. The br anch
i ng of Corol l i na i s al ways op
posi te. The segments of t he
pl an t ar e f l at t e n ed a n d
wedge-shaped. Other coral
l i ne al gae are found al ong
the Paci fc. The abi l ity to de
posit l i me from sea water is
al so shared by green a l gae
( p

24). Such acti on ai ds ma
teri al l y i n the bui l di ng up of
"coral " reefs.
35
0' 1 0' 20' 30' 40' SO' 60'
70' 80'
ANI MAL LIFE AND PLANT LI FE i n the sea are not dis
tri buted at random. They fol l ow patterns as complex, i n
thei r own way as l and societies. One factor i s the tre
mendous range i n size of ocean organisms. Pl ants range
from bacteri a /25,000 i n. l ong to gi ant kel ps (p. 28) that
grow to over 100 ft. The range i n l ength i n the mari ne
ani mal s i s about the same, but the much greater range i n
wei ght i s hard to i magi ne. Mari ne protozoa wei gh as l ittle
as
1
/6,000,000,000,000 oz. The great bl ue whale wei ghs
up to 150 tons-or 21 ,800,000,000,000,000,000 ti mes as
much.
large and smal l , these pl ants and ani mal s are bound
together by thei r water envi ronment, and even more ti ght
l y i nto l ivi ng communities wi thi n the seas. Such commu
nities of pl ant and ani mal l i fe are very evi dent al ong the
shore. Anyone who begi ns to study shore l i fe wi l l fi nd ob
vi ous si gns of them. The i ntensive study of such communi
ties may yi el d more knowledge of i nterdependence and
greater satisfaction than the accumul ati on of many shel l s.
MI CROSCOPI C SEA LI FE
9(
SEASHORE COMMUNITIES are determi ned by such
thi ngs as the nat ure of the shore-rocky, sandy, or mud
dy. The depth of water or the range in ti des is another
factor; so are currents, the temperature of the water, and
di l uti on f r om fresh-water streams. These factors, worki ng
together, enabl e certai n pl ants and ani mal s to survive
and devel op i nto communities. Watch for them. Food
i s suppl i ed by the pl ant l ife. larger ani mal s feed on smal l
er ones and on pl ants. Some sea ani mal s can exist i n a
wi de range of surroundi ngs and are found al ong most
shores. Others are sel ective and exist onl y when condi
ti ons are exactl y favorabl e. These condi ti ons make the
diference between a Paci fc Coast protected ti de pool
and the cl am-ri ch mud fl ats of long I sl and Sound.
38
are one.
maj or group of animal s i ncludes ki nds that
to sea l ife. Al l the ani mal s i n each
40
1. Ciano 2. Sea Grapes
FAMILY TREE OF ANIMAL LIFE
At the base of the fami l y tree of ani mal l ife are si ngle
cel l ed ani mal s (Protozoa), whi ch sti l l l ive i n warm, shal
l ow seas as t hey di d many mi l l i ons of years ago. Some
bui l d i ntri cate, ti ny shel l s of si l ica or l i me. Sponges are
si mpl e or col oni al ani mal s. Some ki nds, of anci ent ori gi n,
have "skel etons" of si l i ca; many have the fbrous (spongi n)
skel etons we al l know. Jel l yfsh and hydroi ds are a l arge,
compl ex, and di verse group-some-sol itary, some col onial .
Coral ani mal s bui l d hard, l i my wal l s whi ch gr adual l y
make coral r ock. The worms, though t hey l ook somewhat
si mi l ar, differ greatl y i nternal l y and hence are put i nto
several di sti nct but rel ated groups. Starfsh have a pecu
l i ar radi al pattern of growth and odd adaptati ons for
feedi ng and movi ng.
Best known of shore ani mal s are the mol l usks. Col l ec
tors seek thei r many, vari ed shel l s. The l ivi ng ani mal s
(some of which l ack shel l s) are i nteresti ng, too. Detai l ed
i dentificati on of shel l s may requi re more advanced books
( p. 1 54) or the hel p of an expert. The j oi nted- l egged ani
mal s i ncl ude such mari ne groups as crabs, l obsters, and
barnacl es. Al ong t he shores we sti l l fnd s i mpl e chordates
-creatures rel ated to ancestors of backboned animal s.
We see al so shore bi rds (pp. 1 47 -1 53) and fs hes.
are the
si mpl est s ponges. Some are
si ngl e "urns"; others grow
i n col oni es. Between the
two cel l wal l s are scattered .. ____ .. ... ._ ,_ __ ..
needl es (spi cul es) of l i me, which support the sponge and
give t he group its name. Water enters through pores i n
the si des and l eaves through the openi ng at the top. The
yel l owi sh or gray Grantia (
1
i n. l ong) i s found si ngl y or
i n cl usters on shel l s, rocks, or pi l i ngs. Some leucosol eni a
are si mi l ar but smal l er, grow
ing in soft, yel l owi sh mats.
Other branching forms may
grow to be an inch or so l ong.
HORNY SPONGES, the best
known ki nds, i ncl ude over
2, 000 speci es. A few l i ve in
ponds but most are mari ne,
and common i n warmer wa
ters. A bori ng sponge, Cl i ona
ri ddl es shel l fsh wi th ti ny hol es.
Suberi tes, the Sul fur Sponge,
al so attaches i tsel f to shel l s
and rocks, where it grows 2 to
Sponge di ver
3 i n. l ong. Both are shal l ow-
water speci es. Mi croci ona, or Redbeard'Sponge, encrusts
shel l s and pi l i ngs. Si mi l ar orange and yel l ow s peci e
occur on Atl anti c and Paci fc coasts. One, Deadman's
Fi ngers (Chal i na), is common l y washed up on beaches.
1 Redbeard Sponge
Vase Sponge
several kinds. The gl ove
sponges, horse sponges,
and sheep' s wool sponges
are gathered by di vers.
They are dri ed, cl eaned,
and bl eached before they
are sol d. Tarpon Springs,
Fl ori da, is the center for
American sponge fshing.
The once-i mportant indus
try has given way to arti
fci al sponges made of cel
l ul ose. Other s ponges-vase
sponges, grass sponges,
and dozens more - are
found in Gul f waters, grow
ing on the ocean bottom
and feeding on smal l water
animal s. Sponges can re
grow l ost or inj ured parts.
3. Sheep's Wool Sponge
4. Glove Sponge
43
FEEDING POLYP OF OBELI A
(Internal Structure)
Enl arged
detai l
of a
stinging cell
Ready Discharged
POLYP and JELLYFISH ANIMALS (Coelenterates), a
di verse group, have a central di gestive cavity. Its opening
is ringed by stinging tentacl es, whi ch stun or ki l l smal l
prey. Many have both a free-swimming (medusae or j el l y
fsh) and a more fxed (pol yp or hydroi d) stage. Some are
col oni al . Coel enterates incl ude Hydrozoa ( pol yps and
medusae, usual l y smal l ); Scyphozoa (medusae onl y, fai rl y
l arge); and Anthozoa (pol yps onl y, usual l y fai rl y l arge).
1 . Moon Jel l yfsh 3" -9" 2. Pi nk Jel l yfsh 1 "8
JELLYFISH The moon j el l yfsh, very common, wi th col or
varying from white to pink and orange, is washed up
on al l our beaches. I ts mi l ky disc, 3 to 9 in. across, has
radiating canal s and a thin indented fringe. Tentacl es
are very s hort. Pi nk j el l yfsh, of col der waters, i s l arger-1
ft. or more wi de, wi th l ong, trai l ing tentacl es. Specimens
8 ft. across wi th tentacl es over 1 00 ft. l ong are reported.
It swims by opening and cl osing i ts di sc.
45
COELENTERATES are of many ki nds. The Obel i as are
smal l col oni es (1 to 8 i n. ) growi ng on rocks, pi l es, or sea
weeds. Common al ong the Atl antic Coast, they are found
the wor l d over. Note t he branchi ng stems whi ch under
magnifcati on show both feedi ng and reproductive pol yps.
The smal l , free-swimmi ng medusae have 8 to 24 tentacles.
Most Tubul ari a, unbranched or i n smal l col onies, are com
mon in northern waters. Some are found as far south as
Fl ori da. Each hydroi d (about " i n. or l ess i n diameter) has
46
about two dozen short tenta
cl es. Goni onemus, a New Eng
l and species, is typical of many
free-swimmi ng j el l yfsh. I t is
about an inch i n di ameter, with
60 to 80 tentacl es, each l ess
V
than an inch l ong. Best known of al l
j el l yfsh i s the Portuguese Man-of-war,
with its speci al ized purpl e, pi nk, or
( red infated foat, 3 to 1 2 in. long. A
ti ght mass of pol yps cl uster beneath
the foat. These are of three types
sensitive, feeding, and reproductive.
From the feeding polyps extend l ong
(3 to 30 ft. ) tentacl es which expand
and contract. Swi mmers in warmer
waters may be badl y hurt by the sting-
Man-of-war
47
SEA ANEMONES l ook l i ke fowers, as they grow at
tached to rocks and pi l es. The tentacl es around the mouth
cavity open l i ke feshy petal s, and contract whenever
danger threatens. Sea anemones usual l y do not have a
free-swimming j el l yfsh stage. The ferti l ized egg grows
into a l arva, whi ch soon settles down to a fxed existence.
Metri di um, sometimes 3 in. hi gh, with many white ten
tacl es, is common in northern waters, both Atl antic and
Pacifc. Several species of Sagartia, about in. hi gh and
48
del icatel y col ored, are al so
found on both coasts, grow
i ng on rocks or in sand near
the l ow-tide mark. The
Pacifc s pecies, bel ieved to
have been i ntroduced with
oysters from Japan, is smal l
(Y i n.), dark green with
orange stripes. Adamsia,
an unusual anemone, may
grow 3 in. hi gh. I t ataches
itsel f to a Hermit Crab' s
adopted shel l (p. 73) and
so gets free transportation.
INTERNAL VIEW OF ANEMONE
I t is most common al ong the South Atl anti c Coast. Green
Anemone, or Cri bri na, occurs abundantl y i n western tide
pool s. The col or is due to al gae, whi ch actual l y l ive in
the anemone's tissues. Both pl ant and animal beneft
from this odd partnership.
Green Anemone
__ _..
Polyp expanded
Top view of stony cup
Polyps 0. 4" diam.
Astrangia skeleton
50
CORALS, cl osel y rel ated to
sea anemones, ore of several
groups. One has bits of l ime
imbedded in the body wal l s
but does not produce the typi
cal coral "skel eton. " Another
(p. 52) makes horny skel etons.
The stony coral s ore best
known. These ore the coral s
whi ch form great reefs, atol l s,
and i sl ands. Cel l s at the bose
of each pol yp toke l ime from
sea water to build up their
skel etons. A few of these coral s
grow singl y; most ore col oni al ,
thriving i n worm, fai rl y shal
l ow water. Northern species
ore washed up on New Eng
l and beaches, but most coral s
you wi l l see come from south
3. Eyed Coral skeleton
Atl anti c and Gul f waters. Two
eastern, cool er-water coral s
are Astrangi a and Ocu l i na,
both wi th white skel etons. The
three Paci fc ki nds i ncl ude
Bal anophyl l a, a sol i tary or
ange coral , and another As
trangi a. Precious Coral comes
from the Mediterranean. Si mi
l ar speci es have recentl y been
found i n deep waters of Cal i
forni a. About a dozen coral s
are common i n Fl ori da and
West I ndi an reefs. Al l have
white skel etons. Best known are
Brai n, Star, and Staghorn.
3. Staghorn Coral
4. Star Coral
5. Brain Coral
1 . Sea Pen 4"
2. Sea Fan 2
'
SEA FANS and SEA PENS The
former are horny coral s incl uding
those cal l ed Sea Pl umes or Sea
Whi ps. Sea Fan is common in warmer
waters on both coasts. Pol yps are
smal l , with ei ght tentacl es. The fex
i ble, brightl y col ored dri ed skel etons
are often seen in curi o shops. Sea
Pens are related ani mal s, named
from thei r odd shape. Found in both
Atlantic and Paci fc, they grow from
4 i n. to over a foot l ong. Muddy bot
toms of some Paci fc bays are cov
ered with a common green species of
Pennatul a. These ani mal s contract
when di sturbed and seem to di sap
pear.
3. Sea Whip 2
'
- 4'
COMB JELLI ES were once cl assifed
r as Coel enterates. Cl oser study shows
that they possess many characteris
tics whi ch are not common to thi s
l arge group. They l ack sti ngi ng cel l s
and typical l y have onl y a si ngl e pai r
of tentacl es.
They swi m by movement
of ei ght fri nged combpl ates, usi ng
bal anci ng organs to keep them up
ri ght in the water. Some Comb Jel l ies
are round or egg-shaped. One, with
the l ong name of Pl eurobrachi a, has
worl d-wi de di stri buti on. Even better
known is Venus' Gi rdl e, a ri bbon-l i ke
form about i n. l ong, whi ch is some
times abundant al ong the Atl antic
Coast.
RI BBON WORMS, mostl y marine, 1 in. to
about 90 ft. , are more advanced than the fat
worms, less advanced than the segmented
worms. They feed on smal l marine animal s,
capturing thei r food with a probosci s-a con
tracting tube with a pointed end. Cerebratul us
incl udes the l argest Ameri can ri bbon worms
-some up to 20 ft. long. They live in mud and
under rocks by day, swimming at ni ght. Col or
vari es from cream or browni sh to pi nk. Ri bbon
worms are cyl indrical or fat; some are red,
orange, and purpl e.
Exposed Withdrawn
SANDWORMS bel ong to the group of
segmented worms (pp. 56-57), the most
advanced of the worm-l i ke ani mal s. Be
sides the segments, group characteristics
i ncl ude bri stl ed appendages and internal
organs arranged symmetri cal l y. Sand
worms are found i n sand and under rocks
al ong Atl antic and Paci fc shorel ines. They
swi m freel y at ni ght, especi al l y during the
breeding season. Other worms and smal l sea
animal s are sei zed by the
sharp, horny j aws and
eaten. Some species
grow several feet in
l ength. However, these
are not as common. The
Cl am Worm, i l l ustrated
here, i s the best-known
speci es, found on both
eastern and western
sides of the north Atl an
ti c. Lives i n a thi n tube in
sand or mud; 12 to 18
in. l ong.
orange and red.
Clam Worm or Sandworm
55
56
Fan Worm
SEGMENTED WORMS, a
group of some 8,000 species,
incl ude sandworms, l eeches,
and earthworms. The marine
forms are varied, unusual , and
may be bri ghtl y col ored.
Sea Mouse is a broad worm
(3 to 6 i n. l ong) , covered wi th
l ong, gray, i ri descent "hai r. "
I t l ives on sandy bcttoms in shal l ow water on both si des of
the north Atlantic. A rel ated species has more prominent
feeding appendages around the mouth.
Lugworm is a burrowing ani mal l i ke the earthworm. I t
l ives wel l bel ow the surface and feeds by extracting
organic matter from the fne sand and debri s it takes in
as it burrows al ong. Length: 6 to 8 in.
Parchment Worm l i ves in U-shaped tubes on muddy
bottoms. Water is sucked in at one end, bringing oxygen
and pl ankton food. Wastes are discharged at the other.
The tube i s buil t of a tough membrane, hence the com
mon name of thi s worm. Tube openings can be seen dot
ting the bottom of shal l ow water at low ti de.
Trumpet Worms are smal l (2 in.}, segmented worms,
whi ch bui l d their own coni cal tubes out of grains of sand
neatl y and attractivel y cemented together. These seden
tary ani mals use pl ume-l i ke appendages for respi ration
and in gathering food, and curved ones to hel p them dig.
Fringed Worms are unusual - l ooking creatures about
6 in. l ong. They are earthworm-l i ke i n appearance, ex
cept for many l ong, thin, feshy appendages growing
from most segments. These are exposed and hel p obtain
oxygen for the worm, whi ch l ives buried in the mud.
2. Trumpet Worm
1 "-2"
3. Fringed Worm 6"
5. Lugworm 6"-8"
57
2. Spiral-tufted Bryozoan
on Mussel
MOSS ANIMALS and lamp
Shells, though very diferent i n
appearance, bel ong t o t he same
very anci ent group of sea ani
mal s. Many fossi l s of both are
found i n rocks 250 to 500 mi l l i on
years ol d. Moss ani mal s or Bry
ozoans are col oni al . Individual
animal s ar e so smal l that a l ens
is needed to study them. Some
bui l d horny sheaths; some secrete
l i me like the coral s. In each case
the col ony devel ops a disti nctive
pattern. Moss ani mal s feed on
pl ankton. They are found i n both
shal l ow and deep water, on rocks,
shel l s, debris, and seaweeds.
2. Southern Lomp Shel l 0.5"
LAP SHELLS, or Brachi opods,
though not common now, were
once so common that thousands
of fossi l speci es hove been found.
living species often prefer deep
water, but a few ore found be
tween the ti des, attached to rocks
by stal k- l i ke body projecti ons.
The ani mal s hove on upper and
l ower shel l , whi l e shel l s of bival ve
mol l usks ore ri ght and l eft. I n
ternal structures show thei r cl ose
rel ati onshi p to the moss ani mal s.
Brachi opods feed on pl ankton,
which they catch on fri nge- l i ke
appendages. Thei r si ze is smal l
from Y2 to 2 i n.
60
ECHI NODERMS are mari ne ani mal s that have l i my
pl ates, often wi th spi nes, for "skel etons. " The pl ates may
be connected at movabl e j oi nts, as i n some Starfsh. They
may form a conti nuous shel l , as i n the Sea Urchins, or
they are not connected at al l , as i n Sea Cucumbers. Adul t
Echi noderms exhi bit a star- l i ke pattern, some wi th radiat
ing arms. Smal l tube feet on these arms gri p surfaces,
hel pi ng the ani mal to move and obtai n food. They con
nect to a system of internal tubes through whi ch sea water
ci rcul ates.
3. Green Brittle Star
to 6"
BRI TTLE and BASKET STARS are
a l esser group of Starfsh. The thi n,
fl exi bl e arms of Brittl e Stars (2 to 6
i n. l ong) are at a broad angl e to the
disc. They l ack functional tube feet
but can wal k with thei r muscul ar
arms. Brittl e Stars, mai nl y deep-water
species, are occasi onal l y found i n
tide pool s and on rocky shores. Bas
ket Stars have branchi ng arms up to
24 in. l ong. These coil around rocks
or anchor the ani mal to seaweeds.
3. Purple
Star
- Warty Sea
' Star 4"-5"
ATLANTI C STARFI SH
STARFI SH, the best-known Echi noderms, i ncl ude Bri tl e
and Basket Stars (p. 61 ) and Starfsh or Sea Stars. Com
mon Starfsh have arms at a sharp angl e to the central
disc, whi ch has, on top, a sieve pl ate through whi ch
water enters and then moves through tubes to the tube
feet, I i ng i n grooves on t he under si de of t he arms.
6. Common or Eastern Star 6" -1 1 "
Arms, 5 to 1 0 or more, vary with
species; most are spi ny, with very
ti ny pi ncers ami d the spi nes. Under
neath the disc is a mouth. Wrap
pi ng its arms over a cl am, the star
fsh uses sustai ned sucti on of the tube
feet to force it open. Then it extends
i ts stomach through i ts mouth i nto the
c lam shel f and di gests the cl am there.
Starfsh destroy mi l l ions of dol l ars'
worth .of shel lfsh yearl y.
Regeneration of arms
Starfsh feedi ng
on oyster
'
63
64
to 2. 5"
SEA URCHI NS and SAND DOLLARS
are Echi noderms i n which the pl ates are
j oi ned to form a frm shel l . A fve-rayed
pattern of pores for the tube feet shows
the cl ose rel ati onshi p to Starfsh. Many
Sea Ur chi ns l i ve on rocks i n shal l ow water.
Those that l ive i n deeper water occur i n groups, whi ch
someti mes carpet a l arge area of sea bottom. li ve Sea
Urchi ns are covered wi th movabl e spi nes-l ong, short,
del icate, or heavy, dependi ng on the speci es. Those of
some tropi cal speci es have around the base of the spi nes
structures whi ch extrude poi son. Sea Urchi n eggs are
eaten i n Europe and the West I ndi es. Sea Urchi ns range
from Y to 0 i n. i n di ameter.
Sand Dol l ars, sometimes cal l ed Sea Biscuits, are fat
tened relatives of the Sea Urchi ns, with the movabl e spi nes
greatl y reduced i n si ze. The ani mal s l ive i n deeper water,
hal f- buried i n sand, feedi ng on organi c materi al and
pl ankton. Ci l i a on t he spi nes move these food p<rti cl es ti l l
they are trapped by mucus around t he spi nes and are
pushed i nto the mouth of the ani mal . A l arge Pacifc
starfsh feeds on Sand Dol l ars. Sand Dol l ar and Sea
Urchi n "skel etons" are found washed up on beaches.
2. Purpl e Seo Urchi n 1 . 5" -3"
6. Eccentric
Sand Dol l ar
. Atl anti c Sand Dol l ar
65
SEA CUCUMBERS are soft or l eathery Echi noderms i n
whi ch t he radi al pattern is often har d t o see. Some are
worm-l i ke; some have l ost thei r tube feet. They l ive buried
i n sand or under rocks bel ow the l ow-ti de mark and in
deeper water. A ri ng of short-branched tentacl es enci rcl es
the mouth. Sea Cucumbers range from 2 to 1 8 i n. l ong
and from Y2 to 6 i n. thi ck. Some throw out thei r i nternal
organs when di sturbed and regrow them l ater. Sea
Cucumbers are fairly common on both Atl antic and Paci fc
shores, usual ly i n cool er water.
4. Northern 9"
Barnacl es
lsopods
"
z
:
u


u
ARTHROPODS
Amphi pods
Shri mps, Crabs,
lobsters
MARI NE ARTHROPODS bel ong al most enti rel y to the
crustaceans, a group of some 25,000 speci es whi ch,
though l arge, pal es besi de the i nsects, a group of over
600,000. Mari ne crustaceans vary from al most micro
scopi c forms to gi ants wi th l egs 5 ft. l ong. Most are smal l
ani mal s. Speci es of crabs, shri mp, and l obsters are of
commerci al val ue. Smal l er crustaceans are i mportant
foods for many ki nds of mari ne l i fe. Al l crustaceans have
segmented bodi es and an external skel eton. Growth i n
vol ves sheddi ng the ol d coveri ng and growi ng a new one.
less conspi cuous arthropods, as the copepods, i sopods,
and amphi pods, are i mportant foods for l arger mari ne
l i fe and have complex l ife hi stori es.
1 . Gooseneck
Barnacl es 2"
2. Rock Barnacl es
to 2"
BARNACLES, shri mp- l i ke i n struc
ture, do not l ook or act like other
crustaceans. Eggs hatch i nto free
swimming l arvae, which feed and
molt, changi ng i n form as they grow.
The new form attaches itsel f to rocks
or ti mber where, after a resti ng
stage, it becomes a shel l ed adul t.
The shel l i s i n divi si ons which over
lap and, when shut, are protective.
Modifed, feathery feet brush pl ank
ton and organic matter i nto the
mouth. Some species resist dryi ng and
ar e found wel l above t he l ow-tide
mark. Ship hul l s are treated to pre
vent drag due to barnacl e growths.
SAND HOPPERS (BEACH
FLEAS) and their ki n form
a group of crustaceans whi ch
numbers over a thousand spe
ci es. Most are onl y a fracti on
of an i nch i n l ength. Some l i ve
on the dry beaches, i n sand
and decayi ng seaweeds. More
ki nds l ive i n sand and mud i n
1 . Gammarus 1 "-2"
shal l ow water. Others are free-swi mmi ng. The name of
the group-the Amphi pods-refers to modi fed l egs for
both wal ki ng and j umpi ng. These thi n, l ateral l y compressed
ani mal s have gi l l s at the base of appendages for breath
i ng. Some ki nds are so numerous duri ng certai n seasons
that they form a maj or part of the pl ankton. The i denti f
cati on of speci es i s di fcul t for the amateur. Larger, sand
dwel l i ng speci es are often dug for bait. The pl ankton
speci es serve as food for
many l arger ki nds of ocean
l ife.
3. Cal i fornia Sand Hopper
About 1 "
Eastern Sand Hopper
to 0. 5"
69
70
S HR I MP S, l o b s t e r s , a n d
crabs, al l with fve pairs of
j oi nted l egs on the thorax pl us
abdomi nal appendages, are
cl osel y rel ated. The carapace
that covers the head and the
thorax is fused. Shri mps or
Prawns grow up to 7 i n.. l ong;
most are smal l er, and some
species are mi nute. They swim
backward with qui ck strokes
of thei r fan-l i ke tai l s. The l arg
er shri mps are netted i n the
Atlantic and Paci fc. An i mpor
tant edi bl e species comes from
the South Atl antic and Gul f.
The Paci fc Bl ack-tai l ed Shri mp
al so i s eaten. Some smal l
shri mp l ive buri ed i n t he mud.
2. Edible Shri mp 4"-6"
LOBSTERS, a sea-food favorite, l ive i nshore in summer,
i n deeper water duri ng the wi nter. Most caught wei gh 1
to 3 l b. , though ol der l obsters get much l arger. It takes
about 5 years for them to grow to edi bl e si ze. Lobsters,
captured i n wooden traps baited with dead fsh, are now
protected as the basi s of an i mportant i ndustry. The Spi ny
Lobster of southern waters and of the Paci fc i s not a
cl ose rel ati ve. Al so edi ble, and more col orful , it l acks the
l arge pi ncers and has a spi ny shel l .
SANDBUGS, s omet i mes ca l l e d
Mol e Crabs, are known to everyone
who has waded i n t he surf. These
common crustaceans l i ve i n the sand,
movi ng i n and out wi th the ti de.
Thei r heavy, curved carapace dis
guises thei r rel ati onshi p to other
crabs. Legs are adapted for di ggi ng.
Pl ume-l i ke antennae, hel d j ust above
the sand, catch organic matter on
which these active creatures feed.
Al l movements-swi mmi ng, crawl i ng,
or di ggi ng-are made backward.
Femal es, much l arger than mal es,
carry thei r orange eggs several
months before they hatch.
HERMI T CRABS make up a smal l
but very common group, found i n
tide pool s and shal l ow water al l
around the worl d. These odd crus
taceans can be kept al ive in sal t
water aquari a. An obvi ous fea
ture of Hermi t Crabs is the soft,
curved abdomen with a hook-l i ke
tai l . Smal l er Hermi t Crabs seek
out shel l s of Peri wi nkl es and
Mudsnai l s t o use as a "house";
l arger Hermi t Crabs use Whel k,
Tul i p, and Moon shel l s. The crabs
use onl y empty shel l s, searchi ng
for bi gger ones as they grow.
Hermit Crabs are common beach
scavengers.
73
1 o Blue Crab 6"
SWIMMI NG CRABS are a fami l y in which the l ast pai r
of l egs i s fl attened and adapted for swi mmi ng. Best
known i n thi s group i s the Bl ue Crab, pri zed as sea food
al l al ong the Atl anti c and Gul f coasts, especi al l y i n
Chesapeake Bay, whi ch i s noted for them. Eggs, l ai d i n
summer, r emai n attached t o t he body of the femal e. They
hatch i n about two weeks as l arvae, whi ch are very un l i ke
the adul ts. The young crabs mol t and shed thei r shel l s as
they grow, and soon assume adul t form. They are mature
i n about a year. After mol ti ng, the shel l i s soft, and crabs
caught at thi s ti me are sol d as soft-shel l ed crabs, but they
are not a di ferent species, as some Peopl e may thi nk.
Bl ue Crabs are scavengers
whi ch prefer bracki sh water near
mouths of rivers, movi ng i nto
deeper water in wi nter. Thei r
number may vary consi derabl y
from year t o year. Other mem
bers of the swi mmi ng crab group
are smal l er and have l ess val ue,
are active, attra ani-
mal s, al ert and aggressive. The
Green Crab does not have its
legs modifed as much for swi m
mi ng. The Cal ico or lady Crab
has a vari ed, speckl ed pattern,
wi th a shel l about as l ong as it i s
broad. I t prefers sandy beaches and is someti mes caught
for food i n the South. Portunus Crabs, whi ch are found on
both Atl antic and Paci fc coasts, i ncl ude some smal l er
speci es which are usual l y found on seaweeds.
2. Cal i co Crab
About 3"
ROCK CRABS, despite their
name, live on sandy bottoms
as well as on rocky beaches.
On the Pacifc Coast, one crab
of this group-the Bi g Crab
grows over a foot across and
i s caught for market. The
crabs prefer cooler waters;
they grow l arger al ong the
northern shores of both coasts.
On the Atlantic Coast are sev
eral small er rel ated species
(3 to 4 in. ). Young are often
found in tide pool s. larger
crabs prefer deeper water.
Species difer i n markings. Al l
have an oval carapace with
teeth along the edge.
FI DDLER and SAND CRABS are both burrowi ng crabs,
preferri ng the dri er parts of sandy beaches and sal t
marshes. Both run rapi dl y with a si dewi se moti on. The
Fi ddl er Crab is named after the mal e's huge si ngl e cl aw,
whi ch is sel dom used except i n mati ng-season . battl es.
These l i ttl e crabs di g burrows up to 3 ft. l ong. They feed
on organic material i n the sand. The Sand or Ghost Crab
l ives i n even dri er sand than the Fi ddl er. I ts protective
col ori ng and qui ck movements make it seem to di sappear
ri ght before your eyes. 2. Sand Crabs
SPI DER and KELP CRABS
are cl osel y rel ated. Both have
l ong, thi n l egs, and a shel l
more rounded than i n swi m
mi ng crabs. Spi der Crabs,
which are sl uggish, have a
carapace usual l y covered with
al gae, barnacl es, and occa
sional l y a Sea Anemone. A
number of species are found
i n shal l ow water on both At
l antic and Paci fc shores. The
Kel p Crabs of the Paci fc, with
cl eaner carapace than other
Spider Crabs, are found i n
kel p beds and i n tide pool s.
Wi th thei r l ong, agi l e l egs they
easi l y ni p an unwary col l ector.
HORSESHOE or KI NG CRABS
are not crabs at al l but may be
descendants of anci ent Euryp
terids which fourished some 400
mi l l ion years ago. Thei r nearest
l i vi ng rel atives are the spiders.
These awkward animals, found
al ong Atl antic beaches, may be
very common there. None occur
al ong the West Coast. Though
bathers are sometimes frightened
by them, Horseshoe Crabs are
harml ess. The femal e (up to 20
i n. ) is l arger than the mal e. Eggs
are deposited i n sand cl ose to
shore. The young l ive out i n deep
er water, mol ti ng periodical l y as
they grow.
1 Eurypterid
2. Horseshoe Crab
to 20"
80
SEA SNAI LS
pp. 1 1 1 - 1 37
TUSK SHELLS
p. 1 40
MOLLUSKS
ol dest and
I
are one of the
ani mal s F
argest groups of
. or over half b
years species of
a i l l ion
been comm
.
mol l usks have
k" d
on m the se S
m s l ive in fresh
as. ore
on l and. I n al l
water, a few
speci es of mol l

r
er
100,000
rangi ng f
us s are known
rom sea I
,
sea snai l s to
.
rce y vi si bl e
50 ft. l ong F
gi ant squi d over
l usks are

il
I Ve cl asses of mol
Th
I ustrated t h
-
ese ani mal s f
.
a t e l eft.
buttons, orna
urmsh pearl s
f
ments d
'
or man, fsh
, an food
ani mal s
, and other sea
CHITONS are the most si mpl e mol l usks. Thei r ei ght
overl appi ng pl ates wi l l i dentify them. The margi n of the
ani mal may be smooth, hairy, or spi ny. A powerful mus
cul ar foot hol ds the Chiton to rocks in ti de pool s or i n
shal l ow water. Most prefer darkness and stay on t he
undersi de of the rocks, where they feed on di atoms and
other smal l al gae. Over a hundred speci es are found
al ong the Pacifi c Coast; fewer al ong the Atl antic, gener
al l y i n cool er water. Si zes: Y to 1 V i n. and l onger.
1 . Common Eastern
Chi ton 0. 3" -0. 8"
2. Hai ry
Mopal i o
1 "- 1 . 5 "
8 1
82
OYSTER
NUT CLAM MUSSEL
BIVALVES or PELECYPODS ore to-shel l ed mol l usks
whi ch total about 1 5,000 speci es, i n about 70 fami l i es.
Most ore mari ne, though about one-fifth l i ve in fresh
water. The two hal ves of a bi val ve ore joined at a hi nge.
One or two powerful muscl es hol d the val ves together,
rel axi ng to al l ow the si phons to extend. Water enters
through one of these pai red tubes, bri ngi ng oxygen and
food t o the ani mal . Water leaves through t he other si phon,
carryi ng out waste products.
Bi val ves ore di verse in form. Some can swi m. Some
bore i n rock. Most l ive i n sand or mud. These may move
by means of a muscul ar "foot," whi ch i s thrust forward
and anchored. The ani mal pul l s itself forward as the
"foot" i s contracted. The ani mal itself i s wel l devel oped,
wi th gi l l s for breathi ng and a heart, l i ver, ki dney, and
di gestive and reproductive systems. The mantl e, a soft
membrane around the ani mal , bui l ds the shel l s out of l i me.
NUT CLAMS are a l arge
group of smal l shel l s. They are
actual l y three rel ated groups
-Aci l a, Nucul a, and Nucul ana
-found on both coasts with a
number of wi del y distri buted
arctic speci es. Several are so
common that they can be
pi cked up by the handful . A
few others are rarel y washed
as hor e. Fi s hes a n d di vi ng
ducks feed on these bi val ves.
ARK SHELLS are wi del y distri b
uted, heavy-shel l ed ani mal s, more
common al ong the Atl antic than on
t he Paci fc. One, t he Bl ood Ar k, of
shal l ow sandy bottoms, i s the onl y
common mol l usk with r ed bl ood. I ts shel l i s marked by
strong radi ati ng ri bs. Another species wi th promi nent ri bs
is the Eared Ark of the south Cal iforni a shores. Turkey
Wing or Noah's Ark, found on the south Atl antic and Gul f
shores, is bri ghtl y col ored when fresh. Ark Shel l s al so i n
cl ude a number of mi niature species. Al l Arks have a l ong,
narrow, toothed hi nge l i ne.
I . Mossy Ark 1 . 5" -2. 5"
Bl ood Ark 1 . 5"-2. 4"
84
4. Eared Ark 3"-4"
5. Bai l y' s Mi ni ature Ark 0. 3"
Bl ue Mussels
on pi l i ng
2. Atl anti c
Ri bbed Mussel 2" -4"
3. Norther
Horse Mussel 2" -6"
MUSSELS, wi despread in cool er
seas, are a favorite food i n Europe,
but they are not pri zed here as such.
Over a dozen species are found i n
sand or mud, or attached to rocks
and pi l i ngs by strong threads (bys
sus). The Bl ue Mussel (3 in.) i s very
common. The Hooked Mussel , smal l
er ( 1 Y2 i n. ), is found farther 'outh.
The Horse Mussel (2 to 6 i n. ) is a
deep-water species. Si mi l ar ki nds
are found al ong the Paci fc Coast.
These may be poi sonous when they
feed on certai n di nofagel lates.
4. Hooked Mussel l "-2. 5"
85
SCALLOPS or PECTENS-common,
col orful , and appeal i ng in design
del i ght col
l
ectors. Rows of ti ny eyes
al ong the edge of the mantl e make
them uni que among bi val ves. They
ore jet-propel l ed. As thei r val ve
opens, the space f l i s wi th water. The
1 . Cal ico Scal l op 1 "-2"
powerful muscl e contracts and the
val ves pul l shut, shooti ng the water
out behi nd and sendi ng the scal l op
forward. Thi s l arge muscl e is edi bl e.
Most scal l ops prefer shal l ow water.
Shel l s are washed up on beaches by
storms. Detai l ed i denti fcation i n
vol ves counti ng ribs, noti ng si ze, col
or, and the wi ngs whi ch project at
the hi nge. Scal l ops are more com
mon al ong the Atl antic than on the
Paci fc shores. They vary i n si ze
from 1 to 6 i n. or more.
2. Kel p-weed Scal l op 1 "
1 . Pacifc Pi nk Scal l op 2" -2. 8"
3. Sentis Scal l op 1 "- 1 . 5"
4. Atlantic Deep-sea Scal l op 5"-8"
5. San Diego Scal l op 3"
6. Atlantic Bay Scal l op 2"
87
1 . Common Ji ngl e Shel l ! "-2"
2. Pri ckl y Ji ngl e Shel l
to 0. 8"

JI NGLE SHELLS, thi n, bright, and pearl y, are very com
mon on both coasts, mai nl y in warmer waters. The shel l s,
about 1 i n. across, are unequal , the top one bei ng deepl y
hol l owed, the bottom one smal l er and al most fl at. The ani
mal anchors itsel f permanentl y to rocks, seaweeds, or ol d
shel l s by a feshy appendage (byssus) passi ng through a
hol e in the l ower val ve. Onl y
the upper val ve i s usual l y
washed ashore.
OYSTERS, the most val uabl e shel l
fsh, are common i n shal l ow, warmer
waters of al l oceans. The shel l s are
irregul ar in shape; the val ves, un
equal i n size. When young, oysters
are free-swi mmi ng; later they attach
themsel ves to shel l s, rocks, or roots.
Most speci es of oyster are too smal l
t o be used as food, though they are
eaten by l and and other mari ne
ani mal s.
1 . Native
Pacifc Oyster
2"-3"
DEVELOPMENT
OF THE OYSTER
Eggs e "
Fry
One
year
old
2. Ki tten' s Paw 1 " -
3. Eastern Oyster 2" -6"
89
2. Stif Pen Shel l S "-9"
PEN SHELLS or SEA PENS are l arge, wedge-shaped
shel l s. The ani mal s grow 4 i n. to al most 1 ft. l ong. Thei r
l arge muscl e, l i ke that of a scal l op, is someti mes used for _
food. Pen Shel l s prefer warmer, deeper water, where they
grow attached to rocks. They ore quite rare on the Paci
fc Coast, though three speci es are common i n the Atl an
tic. The shel l s are thi n and fragi le, dul l -col ored and rough.
The i nsi des are smooth and pearl y.
3. Amber Pen Shel l 4"-9"
1 . Atlantic Wi ng Oyster 1 . 5" -3"
WING and PEARL OYSTERS
are wi despread i n warmer
waters. The Great Pearl Oys
ter, source of most pearl and
mother-of-pearl , is a l arge ( 1 2
i n. ) tropical ani mal . Pearl s are
found i n shel l s over 5 years
ol d. Cul tured pearl s are pro
duced by pl aci ng bal l s of shel l
under t he mantl e of Pearl Oys
ters. Onl y one eastern and
one western species of the
Wi ng Oyster are found i n our
waters. The same hol ds true
for the Pearl Oysters.
2. Paci fc Pearl Oyster
1 . 5"-3"
over six common speci es found
on both the Atl antic and Paci
fc coasts. They may occur be
l ow the l ow-tide mark or are
dredged up from moderatel y
shal l ow waters. Pandoras are
smal l shel ls, rarel y over 1 Y2 i n. l ong, usual l y shorter. The
shel l s are thi n, with unequal fattened val ves. The ri ght
valve is much more fattened than the l eft. Thei r col or i s
white, sometimes chal ky, and a pearl y under-l ayer may
be reveal ed when the shel l is worn. A strong ri dge al ong
the hi nge l i ne is characteristic. The hi nge is toothed.
Goul d's Pandora, often found from North Carol i na north
ward t o labrador, has a pai r of purpl ish fri nged si phons.
The lyonsi as and Thraci as are rel ated groups, the former
somewhat smal l er and the l atter usual l y l arger than Pan
doras. Conrad's Thraci a (3 to 4 i n. ) has a rounded shel l
wi th the ridge al ong the hi nge l i ne not strongl y devel oped.
1 . Waved Astarte 1 . 3"
2. Smooth Astarte 1 "
ASTARTES, al so known as
Chestnut Cl ams, are commonl y
washed up on beaches. The
ani mal s l ive i n shal l ow or mod
eratel y deep water. Thei r tis
sues are of a red or orange
col or. Astartes are smal l (from
Y2 to 2 i n. ) , roughl y tri angu
l ar, wi th a heavy shel l . The
concentric grooves and ri dges
are strong i n some species.
These ani mal s l ive i n cool er
waters, north to the Arcti c, but
two ki nds occur as far south as
Fl ori da.
3. Striate Astarte 0. 5"
4. Al aska Astarte 1 "
5. Esqui mal t Astarte 0. 5"
93
94
1 . Florida luci na 1 . 5"
2. Western Ri nged luci na 2"-2. 5"
3. Tiger lucina 2. 5"-3. 5"
4. Pennsylvani a luci na 1 "-2"
LUCI NA or WHI TE SHELLS are members of a tropi cal
fami l y common in warmer waters al ong both Atl anti c and
Paci fc shores. They l ive on sandy or muddy bottoms i n
shal l ow water or moderate depths. Shel l s are rough, V2 t o
3Y i n. across, usual l y white. The surface may be ri dged,
and some speci es have a deep fol d runni ng from the ti p
of the shel l to the margi n. Eggs are someti mes retai ned
withi n the gi l l chamber whi l e they devel op.
COCKLE or HEART SHELLS are
cl ose rel atives of the edi bl e
Cockl e of Europe. Al l the shel l s
are heart-shaped, wi th strong ra
diating ribs. Val ves are of equal
si ze. The ani mal s l ive in sand and
mud. They prefer shal l ow water,
often in bracki sh i nl ets. The I ce
l and Cockl e (2Vz i n. ) i s found i n
cool er waters of both oceans. The
Yel l ow Cockl e (2 i n. ), yel l owi sh
with brown, has 30 to 40 ri bs. I t
occurs south from the Carol i nas.
Nuttal l 's Cockl e (3 to 6 i n. ) i s an
abundant Paci fc speci es; white
or yel l ow with strong squari sh
ri bs. The Gi ant Atl antic Cockl e (3
to 5 i n. ) has 30 to 36 ri bs, and the
margi ns of its val ves are toothed.
I t is a common ani mal al ong the
south Atl antic and Gul f coasts.
3. Nuttal l ' s Cockl e 3" -6"
1 . Iceland Cockl e 2. 5"
2. Yel l ow Cockl e 2"
QUAHOGS or HARD-SHELL CLAMS are a smal l but
i mportant group of bi val ves. Rel ated tropi cal forms are
beautiful l y shaped and marked. The typical Atl antic
Coast speci es (3 to 5 i n. ), cal l ed Quahog by the I ndi ans
and al so littl eneck or Cherrystone Cl ams ( for smal l si zes),
is l ess attracti ve but more appeti zi ng. I t was used as food
by the I ndi ans and has been eaten ever si nce, fresh and
i n chowders. The Southern Quahog i s l arger, wi th a
heavi er shel l . Both are found in sand or mud near the l ow
tide mark. The coastal I ndi ans made wampum from the
2. Northern Quahog with foot and si phons extended
Northern Quahog
white and purpl e parts of the
Quahog shel l . Purpl e wampum
was hi ghl y pri zed. The shel l s
were broken, dri l l ed, and rubbed
down to make beads about v in.
l ong. These were strung i n short
strands or woven i nto bel ts. Wam
pum bel ts served to bi nd treaties;
shorter stri ngs were used i n trade.
Wampum beads
( enl arged)
97
ROCK VENUS SHELLS, or
LI TTLENECKS, are
species that i ncl ude the com
monest cl ams of the Paci fc
Coast. Common Paci fc littl e
neck ( 1 Y to 2 i n. ) is the hard
shel l cl am of sandy bottoms,
most common north of San
Franci sco. I t occurs i n several
2. Common Paci fc Litleneck
forms or varieties. One of
1 . 5" -2" -two forms
these, the Rough-si ded Littl eneck ( up to 3 i n. ), more com
mon to the south, i s marked by promi nent l i nes on the
shel l . The Thi n-shel l ed li ttl eneck i s a l arge speci es (about
4 i n. ), rel ativel y fatter, wi th fewer marki ngs and l i ght
3.
98
grayi sh brown i n col or.
1 . Cal i co Cl am 1 . 5"-2. 5"
CALICO CLAMS are attractive, cl am- l i ke ani mal s of the
south Atl antic and Gul f coasts. The Sunray Venus or Sun
ray Shel l , best known i n thi s group (up to 5 i n. l ong), i s
pi nk, gray, and l avender. I nteri or is pi nk. The ani mal l i ves
i n sand jusr bel ow the ti de mark. The smal l er Cal ico Cl am
(1 Y2 t o 2Y i n. ) i s known al so as t he Checkerboard, from
the square, browni sh spots on the thick, smooth val ves. The
i nteri or is white. Thi s speci es occurs south of the Carol i nas
and i s especi al l y common on Fl ori da west-coast shores.
2. Sunray Venus 4" -5"
-- -
-
1 . Elegant Doslni a 2"-3"
2. DiiC Doslnia 2" -3"
AMETHYST GEM CLAM and DOSI NI A are both At
l antic Coast shel l s. The frst i s a s mal l (1 in.), pea-sized,
smooth shel l found commonl y on northern beaches. Ex
terior, l avender to purpl e; i n
terior, pal er. Common from
New Jersey south. Thi s smal l
cl am has been i ntroduced
with oysters i nto Puget Sound.
Cl osel y rel ated are two speci es
of Dosi ni a. Both have thi n,
3. Amethyst Gem Cl am 0 3"
shi ny, white, ci rcul ar shel l s 2 to
3 i n. l ong. The more common
ki nd has a fne, yel l owish ski n
over the white shel l . Dosi ni as
l ive i n sand i n shal l ow south
ern waters.
PISMO CLAMS, famous for thei r fa
vor, are found on open, sandy beaches
from mi d-Cal i forni a south. Commerci al
di ggi ng has so reduced the Jumber of
Pi smo Cl ams that the l aw permits a per
son to di g onl y 1 5 cl ams dai l y. Even so,
there i s danger of thei r di sappeari ng
from Cal iforni a beaches. The thi ck,
smooth, gray to brown shel l s are a l
most tri angul"ar. Pi smo Cl ams take 4 to
7 years to grow 5 i n. ( present l egal
mi ni mum for di ggi ng), but they may
conti nue t o grow more sl owl y f or an
other 1 0 years.
u
2. Carpenter's Tel l i n 0. 4"
4. Sal mon Tel l i n 0. 5''
S. Modest Tel l i n O. B"- 1 "
6. Speckled Tel l i n 2. 5"-3. 5''
7. Rose Petal Tel l i n 1 . 5"
1 02
3. Sunri se Tel l i n 2" -4"
TELLI N SHELLS bel ong to a
fami l y whi ch is often consi dered
the ari stocracy of the bi val ves.
Of several hundred species, a
score and more are found al ong
our coasts, especi al l y i n the
warmer waters of the Atl antic
and Gul f. Tel l i n Shel l s are
diverse i n si ze (\ to 4 i n. ), but
al l are rel ativel y thi n and com
pressed. The hi nge is not strong,
and shel l s washed up on the
beach ore often broken apart.
The shel l s are del icatel y col
ored-white, yel l ow, pi nk, and
purpl e-varyi ng with t he i ndi vi d
ual s and species. On the Paci fc
Coast l ook for the Modest, Sal m
on, and Carpenter' s Tel l i ns. The
South Atl anti c Coast has a great
er variety and i ncl udes such wel l -
' known ki nds as the Sunrise Tel l i n,
Dwarf Tel l i n, Tampa Tel l i n, and
Rose Petal Tel l i n.
1 . Tenta Macoma 0. 5" -0. 8"
2.
4. White Sand Macoma 2"-4"
MACOMA SHELLS are another wi despread group,
l arger t han the Tel l i ns and not as attracti ve. These thi n,
gl ossy shel l s are usual l y white, but are someti mes covered
with a thi n, browni sh membrane. Whi l e some s peci es l i ve
i n cool er water, others extend far i nto the tropics. They
tend to favor muddy bottoms i n protected waters.
5. I ndented Macoma 1 . 5" 6. Bent-nose Macoma 2" -3. 5"
1 . Denti cul ate Donax 1 "
/
2. Fossor Donax
to 0. 5"
3. Cal i forni a Donax
to 1 "
" 4. Goul d' s Donax 0. 8"
COQUI NA, DONAX, or WEDGE SHELLS l i ve i n sand
cl ose to shore i n warm waters of the Atl antic, Paci fc, and
Gul f. Some ki nds are so abundant that, despite thei r smal l
si ze, they ar e dug t o make chowder. Al ong the South
Atl anti c the Coqui na is al so cal l ed Pompano Shel l and
Butterfy Shel l . The l ast name refers t o t he fact that val ves,
washed ashore, often remai n attached but spread open
l i ke butterfy wi ngs. Al l Donax shel l s show great vari ati on
i n col or and marki ngs. A handful pi cked up at random
wi l l i l l ustrate thi s.
5. Coqui na 0. 5"-0. 8"
1 o Rosy Razor 1 "3
3o Green
Razor 2"
RAZOR (Jacknife) AND SAN
QUI N CLAMS are widespread
in sand bars and i n shal l ow
sand banks between ti de marks.
Four groups of Razor Cl ams
have been cl assi fied, but al l
are general l y si mi l ar. Razor
Cl ams are prized for thei r
fl avor and are dug l ocal l y
and even commerci al l y. They
l ive in a vertical positi on
i n the sand and feed wi th part
of the shel l sti cki ng out. The
Razor Cl ams are wel l repre
sented on the Pacific.
2. Atl anti c
Razor
to 1 0"
1 05
106
1 . Fragi l e Atl anti c Mactra 2" -2. 5"
2. Atl anti c Surf Cl am
SURF CLAMS i ncl ude several rel ated groups, al l prefer
ring a surf envi ronment on sandy shores. These cl ams bur
row a few i nches i nto the sand, feedi ng on mi nute pl ant
and ani mal l ife washed back and forth by the waves. The
Atl antic Surf Cl am, wi th a coarse whi te shel l , grows up to
7 i n. l ong. I t is often gathered for food. After severe
storms, beaches are someti mes covered wi th mi l l ions of
1 Dwar Sur Cl am 0. 3"-0. 5"
2. Smooth Duck Cl am 2" -3"
these cl ams. Two species are found al ong the Atl antic
shores; fve speci es occur al ong the Paci fc. The Dwarf
Surf Cl am, usual l y Y i n. l ong or l ess, is very common i n
war m, shal l ow waters of t he Atl anti c and Gul f. The Fragi l e
Atl anti c Mactra and Cal iforni a Mactra are speci es with
both ends of the shel l rounded. Onl y the eastern form
has a fragi l e shel l . The Duck Cl ams are si mi l ar eastern
cl ams wi th thin shel l s. They show a greater preference
for mud than do the Mactras.
SOFT-SHELL CLAMS prefer shal l ow, muddy bottoms. At
low ti de, cl am di ggers l ocate them as they squi rt. Known
al so as Steamer Cl ams and long Cl ams, they are edi bl e,
tasty, and popul ar. The shel l i s dul l chal ky white, wi th un
equal val ves that do not cl ose compl etel y. Maxi mum size
i s about 6 in. Abundant al ong the Atl anti c Coast, they
have been i ntroduced i nto the San Franci sco Bay regi on.
1 . Truncate Soft-shel l Cl am 1 "3
are speci es
burrow i n mud, cl ay, or peat, and cannot be col l ected
wi thout hard, careful di ggi ng. The Angel Wi ng l i ves about
a foot bel ow the surface. These speci es l i ve a l ong the
At l anti c, general l y preferri ng warmer water. A number
of si mi l ar but l ess attracti ve speci es l i ve al ong the Pacifc.
Shel l s of al l are t hi n, somewhat fragi l e, and often pi nki sh.
1 1 0
SHI PWORMS (Teredo) are
not worms at al l but are one
of the few destructive bival ves.
These ani mal s, with a greatl y
reduced shel l , enter wood as
l arvae. They remai n and grow,
di ggi ng a ci rcul ar, twisti ng
burrow wi th the edge of thei r
shel l s through pi l i ng. Before
the days of steel shi ps, hul l s
were sheathed with copper t o
keep out Shi pworms. Chemi
cal s deter them, but control is
sti l l a maj or probl em. Over
1 2 speci es are known. Speci
mens of bored wood may be
found on nearl y every beach.
Damage to pi l i ng
LI MPET
GASTROPODS, often cal l ed Sea Snai l s, are the second
l arge group of mol l usks. I t i ncl udes many fresh-water and
l and speci es; t he l atter ar e most common i n t he tropi cs.
Though a few Gastropods have no shel l at al l , most have
a si ngl e spi ral shel l . The ani mal has a di sti nct head wi th
eyes and feel ers (tentacl es). I nternal body structures
shown above are modi fed to ft the spi ral pattern, evi dent
even i n the young, free-swi mmi ng l arvae. A horny cover
or opercul um, coveri ng the shel l openi ng, protects the
ani mal when it wi thdraws.
1 1 1
2. Rough Li mpet
1 . 3"
1 . Great Keyhole Li mpet 2. 5" -4"
3. Anti l l ean
Li mpet 0. 8" -1 "
4. Li ster's
Keyhol e Li mpet
1 "-2"
LI MPETS have spi ral shel l s as l arvae but soon settl e down
and grow thei r fattened coni cal shel l s. A number of
speci es have a hol e at the peak of the spi ral ; others do
not. Most Li mpets prefer cool er waters of the Atl anti c and
Pacifc. Most grow attached t o rocks and may be col l ected
at l ow ti des. Some prefer deeper water, and a few l i ve
on l arger al gae. The Great
Keyhol e Li mpet of the Paci fc
i s our l argest species, up to 4
i n. l ong. Ani mal 's mantl e cov
ers most of shel l .
5 . Atl anti c Plate li mpet 1 " 1 o 5
Opercul um
TOP SHELLS and those on the
next page poi nt out the wi de con
fusi on i n common names. Over 50
Ameri can speci es are cal l ed Top
Shel l s, i ncl udi ng those i l l ustrated.
These shel l s vary from Y2 t o 4 i n.
hi gh. Some have a thi ck, heavy
opercul um whi ch covers the ani
mal when i nsi de the shel l . larger
speci es are gathered for food,
especi al l y on the Asi an si de of
the Paci fc. Found i n shal l ow to
moderatel y deep water.
2. Ri bbed Top Shel l 0. 8"- 1 "
4. Tompa Top Shel l O. S"- 1 . 3"
3. Greenland Marga rite
o.s"
S. Channel ed Tap Shel l 1 "- l . S"
1 1 3
( 3 views)
1 1 4
TEGULA SHELLS, formerl y
known as Turban Shel l s be
cause of thei r shape, are pl ant
eati ng snai l s of warmer wa
ters. Nearl y a dozen speci es
l ive al ong the Paci fc, but onl y
two occur i n shal l ow waters of
southern Fl ori da. West I ndi es
speci es are more common. Al l
have smooth, i ri descent shel l s;
there i s a thi n, horny, sheet
l i ke coveri ng on the shel l s of
l ivi ng ani mal s. Most Tegul a are
from 1 to 2 i n. hi gh (Atl anti c
speci es, a bi t smal l er). The
Bl ack Tegul a i s abundant on
Paci fc shores between the ti de
marks. The top of the shel l i s
usual l y worn, discl osi ng the
pearl y l ayer beneath the dark
ski n.
3. Smooth Atl anti c Tegul a
0. 5"-0. 8" (2 vi ews)
1 . Red Abal one 1 0" - 1 2" 2. Japanese Abal one 4" -6"
li ve Red Abal one 3. Green Abal one 7"-8"
ABALONES, l argest and most attracti ve Paci fc Coast
shel l s (4 to 1 2 i n. across), are most common i n warmer
parts of the Paci fc. The shel l s, pri zed by I ndi ans and
traded f ar i nl and, ar e sti l l used i n attracti ve jewel ry. The
l arge muscl e i s edi bl e and tasty. Abal ones caught and
canned i n l ower Cal i forni a are regul ar l y s hi pped t o the
Or ient. On our coasts they are protected by conserva
ti on l aws.
4. Black Abal one 6"
1 . Brown-banded Wentletrap 0. 5" - 1 "
WENTLETRAPS are Staircase or
ladder Shel l s. The frst name,
Wentl etrap, i s Dutch; it i s appl i ed
to ol d spi ral staircases. Del icate,
symmetri cal , and attracti ve-rare
forms of these shel l s bri ng hi gh
pri ces from col l ectors. The ani
mal s are carni vorous and l ive i n
deep water. They ar e an i mpor
tant food of l arger fsh. The shel l
i s a ti ght, hi gh-spi ral ed whorl
wi th as many as ten spi ral s ( l to
1 Y2 i n. hi gh). The l i p of the shel l
thi ckens, formi ng an i sol ated
ridge duri ng the next growth
peri od.
2. Greenl and
Wentletrap 1 "
1 1 6
4. Crowded Wentl etrap 0. 5"
MOON SHELLS and the cl osel y
rel ated Nati ca i ncl ude about a
dozen wi del y di stri buted speci es.
Their shel l s are found on al l At
l antic and Paci fc beaches. These
carnivores feed on other shel l fsh,
which they engul f and smother
with the ai d of an unusual l y l arge
foot. Moon Shel l s bui l d a ci rcul ar
"sand col l ar, " cementi ng the sand
grai ns wi th a gl ue they produce.
Eggs are deposited i nsi de thi s
protective ri ng.
3. Shark Eye 1 "-2. 5"
1 . Arctic Nati ca 1 " 1 o 3
2. Colorful
Atlantic Nati ca 1 "-2"
\
1 1 7
1 e Onyx Sl i pper 1 "-2"
2. Spi ny Sl i pper 0. 5" - 1 "
4. Common Atl antic Sl i pper 0. 8"-2"
S. Convex Sl i pper 0. 3 -0. 5' '
6. Eastern White Sl i pper 0. 5' ' - 1 . S"
SLI PPER or BOAT SHELLS are odd ani mal s Y4 to 2 i n.
l ong. They l ead a fxed existence somewhat l i ke t hat of
li mpets. Al l the shel l s have, i nternal l y, a smal l horizontal
pl atform or deck somewhat l i ke that of an ol d sai l i ng shi p.
Thi s and the shape of the shel l give these speci es thei r
name. Col l ectors fnd these common shel l s washed up on
every beach. The ani mal s l i ve i n shal l ow water attached
to rocks or other shel l s. Sl i ppers occur i n al l the temperate
and tropi cal seas. There are about ni ne Ameri can speci es.
1 1 8
PERI WI NKLES are probabl y better
known than any other mol l usks. The
common species has come from Eu
rope, where it i s a favored sea food.
Duri ng the past century it has spread
rapi dl y al ong the Atl anti c Coast.
They are sel dom eaten in this coun
try. About 1 2 speci es of Periwi nkl e
are equal l y distri buted on rocky
beaches of both our coasts. length is
Y to sl i ghtl y over 1 in. Al l are drab
col ored, though some are spotted or
mottl ed. Periwi nkl es feed on al gae.
Common Peri wi nkles
on seaweed
1 . Checkered
Peri wi nkl e 0. 5"
2. Eroded
Peri wi nkl e
0. 5"-0. 8"
3. Northern Rough
Peri wi nkl e 0. 3"-0. 5"
5. Common Peri wi nkl e 0. 8"- 1 "
6. Angul ate Peri wi nkl e 1 "
3. Fl orida
Fi ghti ng Conch 3" -4"
CONCH and HELMET SHELLS are found on sandy bot
toms of shal l ow tropical waters. Speci es of these wide
spread groups occur from the Carol i nas south. Shel l s are
often for sal e in stores and roadsi de stands. Al l are l arge
(2 to 1 2 i n
.
l ong). Hel met Shel l s are carni vorous. Conchs
Li vi ng Queen Conch
feed on al gae. The Queen
Conch, one of the l argest gas-
tropods, is commonl y eaten i n
the form of chowder. The
heavy, tri angul ar, thi ck- l i pped
Hel met Shel l s are used i n mak
i ng cameos. The thi ck shel l and
variabl e col ors suit them espe
cial l y wel l for this purpose.
3. Emperor Hel met
4
"-
1 4
"
Queen
Conch
6"- 1 2"
1 . Alternate Bi tti um 0. 2"-0. 3"
HORNSHELLS and their
ki n are smal l ( l to 1 h i n.
l ong) ani mal s common on
mud, seaweeds, and i n ti de
pool s al ong both coasts. Most
prefer shal l ow water and are
common i n the ti dal zone. Al l
feed on sea pl ants, especi al l y
on eel grass. Several groups,
total i ng about 1 00 speci es,
are embraced by the common
name. Atl anti c speci es are
more common on Fl ori da and
other southern beaches. Some
Paci fc speci es prefer col der
water. Al l these ani mal s have
sharpl y spi red shel l s wi th from
1 0 to 1 5 or more spi ral s.
Cal iforni a Hornshel l 1 "-1 . 3"
4. Fl ori da Cerith 1 "- 1 . 5"
3. False Cerith 0. 5" -0. 8"
2. Partridge Tun 2" -5"
TUN or CASK SHELLS are l arge, thi n-wal l ed, rounded
shel l s, mostl y tropi cal . A few speci es occur on our south
ern Atl anti c Coast-none of Cal i for ni a. These shel l s are
2 to 1 0 i n. l ong. The movi ng ani mal i s much l arger and,
l i ke some other gastropods, seems t oo bi g for i t s shel l .
Members of t hi s fami l y prefer deeper water. Fi g Shel l ,
shown here wi t h the l ive ani mal protrudi ng from i ts shel l ,
i s a cl ose rel ati ve.
3. Common Fig Shel l 3"-4"
COWRI ES are perhaps better
known than any other group
of mol l usks. Peopl e the worl d
over have been attracted by
thei r beauty. Smal l er ki nds
have been made i nto orna
ments, and a yel l ow speci es
was l ong traded and used as
money i n Afri ca and other re
gi ons. The spi ral shel l of cow
ri es can be seen onl y in young
ani mal s. As the ani mal grows,
the l i me deposited in the l arge
body spi ral gradual l y engul fs
the remai ni ng twists of the
shel l . I n mature cowries, al l
trace of the spi ral shel l i s l ost.
Al l cowri es have hi ghl y pol i shed shel l s; a few are pl ai n,
but many are mottl ed and bri ghtl y col ored. Al l are
tropical speci es, and onl y a l i mited number occur i n our
warmer waters-one on the Paci fi c Coast and about a
dozen on the Atl anti c. Most cowri es are from 1 to 4 i n.
l ong. The Cofee Bean Shel l s, smal l er rel atives of cow
ries, are al l l ess than 1 in. A cl osel y rel ated group is
found al ong the Pacifc. Most cowri es prefer moderatel y
deep water.
Li ve Chestnut Cowry
1 .
5 . Sol ander' s Cofee
Bean 0. 8"
7. Four-spotted
Cofee Bean
0. 1 "-0. 3"
6. Cal iforni a
3. Atl anti c
Gray Cawry
0. 8"- 1 . 5"
Cofee Bean 0. 3"-0. 5"
8. Atl anti c
Cofee
Bean 0. 5"
Appl e Murex
2"-4. 5"
2.
3. Thi ck-l i pped Dri l l 0. 5" -1 " 4. Gem M
urex 1 "- 1 . 3"
MUREX SHELLS and thei r ki n i ncl ude over a thousand
species, counti ng t he Dri l l s (p. 1 28), whi ch have become
seri ous pests i n oyster beds. Al l of thi s group are carni
vores, feedi ng mai nl y on bi val ves. Shel l s are about 1 i n.
to 6 i n. hi gh; heavy, ri dged, and usual l y spi ny. Most
showy speci es are tropi cal , though some are al so found in
temperate waters. Typi cal and best known is the Murex
group, a wi despread genus, found on our south Atl antic
and Gul f coasts, and farther south. The West I ndi an
Murex, l arge (6 i n. ) and showy, i s a rare speci es. Fewer
ki nds, and a number of rel ated speci es, l i ve on our Paci fc
shores. Murex snai l s l i ve i n moderatel y deep water. Shel l s
are often washed up on beaches. The Dri l l s and other
shal l ow-water speci es can be col lected at l ow ti des.
1 26
1 . Festi ve Mur ex
1 . 5"-2"
3. Cabri t' s Murex
1 "-3"
4. Carpenter' s Dwarf Triton
0. 5"-0. 8"
2. Western
Three-wi nged
Murex 2"-3"
5. Ci rcl ed Dwarf Tri ton
0. 8"- 1 "
1 27
OYSTER DRI LLS, DOGWI NKLES and PURPURAS
are rel ated to Murex. These smal l er speci es ( Y2 to 3Y2 i n.
l ong) l ook l i ke mi ni ature, l ess showy forms. Oyster Dri l l s
use a tongue-l i ke fl e to dri l l a hol e through bi val ve shel l s
and use a sucki ng tube to eat the ani mal withi n. Ani mal s
of thi s group ( and some other species of Murex, too) were
crushed to obtai n the famous royal purpl e dye used by
Greeks and Romans. These ani mal s are common on rocks
and i n ti de pool s on both our coasts, and i n shal l ow tem
perate waters around the wor l d.
Wi de-mouthed Purpura
2"-3. 5"
2. Atl anti c Oyster Dri l l
0. 5"- 1 "
5. Atl anti c
Dogwi nkl e
1 "- 2"
Cari nate Dove-shel l
( actual si ze)
4. Dove-shel l
0. 4 -0. 5"
DOVE-SHELLS woul d be an even mor e attractive group
of shel l s if onl y they were l arger. American speci es are
wel l under an i nch l ong-some l ess than Y i n. These smal l
ani mal s are common and c an be col l ected as they crawl
over rocks and seaweeds at l ow ti de. The spi ndl e-shaped
shel l s have a thi ckeni ng at the center of the l i p. They are
shi ny and often bri ghtl y marked. More vari eties of Dove
shel l s l ive on the East Coast than on the West. They occur
al ong the ful l l ength of each coast, but are more common
i n warmer waters.
1 29
3. Tabl ed Neptune 3"-4"
4. New a|oad
Neeae3"-4.5"
WHELKS are the l argest north
ern gastropods, 3 to 1 6 i n. l ong.
Whi l e not so attracti ve as some
southern forms, they have l i ttl e
competiti on on northern beaches.
The ani mal s dri l l bi val ve shel l s
with a raspi ng, tongue- l i ke struc
ture ( l i ke the Oyster Dri l l ) and
feed on t he ani mal i nsi de. The
Knobbed Whel k i s the l argest,
and the Channel ed Whel k al most
as bi g. Both occur from Cape
Cod south al ong Atl anti c and
Gul f shores. I n summer, stri ngs of
horny egg cases of these whel ks
are found on the beach-some
ti mes wi th hundreds of very ti ny
3. Common Northern Bucci num 2"-4"
perfect shel l s wi thi n. The Pear
Whel k, more del icatel y formed,
i s a southern whel k. Dozens of
smal l er whel ks al so occur al ong
northern shores. Al l are carni
vores and scavengers. Some of
these are wi del y used as food i n
Europe. The Knobbed and Chan
nel ed Whel ks al so are eaten and
are someti mes found i n markets. 4.
\ 3 \
0. 8"
@
1 "
3. New Engl and
4. Gi ant Western
Nassa 1 . 5" -2"
NASSAS and MUD SNAI LS are smal l species, Y to
\ i n. l ong, and much more common than the l arger
and better-known whel ks. The Mud Snai l , someti mes
cal l ed Basket Shel l , i s the most common speci es, especi al l y
in the north. Mud Snai l s may be seen by the thousands
when mud fats are exposed at l ow ti de. They are scaven
gers, but al so attack and eat bival ves. Because they are
so abundant, these ani mal s are an i mportant factor i n
shore l ife. The Nassas, whi ch al so favor mud
1 . Banded Tulip
2"
-"
TULI P SHELLS or BAND SHELLS are l arge, thi ck
shel l ed carni vorous gastropods of warmer seas. Three
speci es l ive on our south Atl anti c shores. Some smal l er
rel ated shel l s, bel ongi ng to the same fami ly, are found
2. Florida
Horse Conch
1 '-2'
al ong the Cal iforni a beaches.
Best known of thi s group i s the
l arge Fl ori da Horse Conch (1 to 2
ft. ) , l argest gastropod i.n Amer
i can waters. The l i vi ng ani mal i s
even more attractive than its
handsomel y col ored shel l .
3. True
Tul i p
3"5"
1 33
1 . lettered Ol i ve 2" -2. 5"
4. Purpl e Dwarf Ol i ve
1 " 1 . 3"
1 34
2. Variabl e Dwarf Ol i ve 0. 3"-0. 5"
3. Beatie Dwarf Ol i ve 0. 5"-0. 8"
OLI VE SHELLS are somewhat si mi
l ar to Cowries ( pp. 1 24- 1 25) i n that
the growi ng shel l engulfs much of
i ts spi re. Ol ive Shel l s are smal l ( Y to
2Y2 in. l ong), but the fami l y is a
l arge one, of many tropi cal speci es.
Our species occur on both the Atl an
t i c and Paci fc coasts-some extend
i ng i nto northern waters. The ani mal
i s quite l arge, and when i t is com
pl etel y extended the shel l is hi dden.
The bri ght gray or bl uish shel l s were
prized ornaments of I ndi ans. Ol ive
Shel l s are common i n shal l ow water
and are found on sandy beaches.
2. Mouse Cone 1 "- 1 . 5"
CONE SHELLS are a tropi cal group.
This l arge fami l y is represented by a
si ngl e speci es on our Paci fc shores
and by about a dozen Atl anti c spe
ci es, mai nl y from Fl ori da's rocks and
coral s. More common i n t he West
I ndi es. Some tropi cal speci es are poi
sonous and can gi ve a fatal sti ng.
But none of these l i ves i n our area.
Ours vary from j ust under 1 i n. to
about 3 i n. l ong. They are bri ghtl y
col ored i n yel l ows and browns and
are best i denti fed by t hei r typi cal
coni cal shape and attracti ve mark
i ngs. Cone shel l s are col l ectors' fa
vori tes. The Gl ory-of-the-Seas, most
val uabl e of al l shel l s, i s a rare Cone
Shel l from the East I ndies.
4. Florida Cone 1 . 5" - 1 . 8"
1 35
1 . Cal i forni a Bubbl e
1 . 5"- 2"
3. Brown-l i ned
Paper Bubbl e 1 "- 1 . 5"
2. Eastern Paper Bubbl e
0. 5"
4. West I ndi an Bubbl e
0. 5"- 1 "
BUBBLE SHELLS bel ong to several cl osel y rel ated fam
i l ies, whi ch di fer from other gastropods i n several ways.
The ani mal has two pai rs of tentacl es. The shel l is smal l er
than the ani mal , l oosel y curved, thi n and bri ttl e. Most
s peci es l ive i n shal l ow, warm water. They are cl osel y
rel ated to the shel l - l ess Sea Sl ugs. Nearl y al l are l ess than
Y i n. l ong. Those i l l ustrated are among the l argest and
showiest species.
1 36
SEA SLUGS are a paradox-shel l - l ess shel l fsh. However,
some l and s nai l s are wi thout shel l s al so. The embryo has
a coi l ed shel l , but thi s i s l ost soon after the Sea Sl ug
emerges. Sea Sl ugs vary consi derabl y i n si ze and col or.
The Pl umed Sea Sl ug, one of the l arger Ameri can speci es,
grows up to 4 i n. l ong. Others are much smal l er. These
odd ani mal s feed partl y on Sea Anemones and are abl e
t o use the sti ngi ng cel l s taken f r om thei r prey as part of
thei r own body defenses. Most Sea Sl ugs are col d-water
ani mal s.
1 37
SQUI D, OCTOPUS, and thei r ki n are mol l usks in whi ch
the foot i s modi fed i nto a ri ng of tentacl es, beari ng cup
l i ke sucti on di scs around the mouths. Gi ant Octopus and
Gi ant Squi d are rare, deep-water ani mal s. None i s as bi g
as the stori es tol d about them. Other speci es of both ani
mal s are common, har ml ess, and often pri zed as food.
Squi ds, common al ong both our coasts, usual l y travel i n
school s. Most speci es ar e 8 to 20 i n. l ong, though the
Gi ant Squi d measures up to 50 ft. The Squi d shel l i s
reduced to a soft i nternal pl ate, the "pen. " A muscul ar
mantl e covers the body. Squi ds ar e jet- propel l ed : they
swi m by ej ecti ng a stream of water whi ch shoots them
backward. Squi ds enci rcl e smal l fsh wi th thei r tentacl es
and eat wi th sharp horny beaks set around thei r mouths.
They protect themsel ves by emitti ng an i nky fui d, and hi de
from thei r enemi es i n thi s smoke screen.
Octopus prefers shal l ower water than the Squi d and i s
often found under rocks at l ow ti de. These unusual ani mal s
feed mostl y on crabs. The Octopus ( and al so the Squi d)
can change col or rapi dl y, especi al l y when exci ted or feed
i ng. The col ors are usual l y browns, yel l ows, and a dul l
rose. The Octopus moves al ong the bottom, usi ng its tenta
cl es, or swi ms by jet propul si on l i ke Squi ds. From eggs l ai d
i n jel l i ed cl usters on rocks, the young emerge as mi niature
adul ts. Atl anti c and Paci fc shore speci es are si mi l ar i n
appearance.
1 38
1 . Common Short-fnned Squi d 1 2" -1 8"
are
t ubul ar unival ves whi ch form a
disti nct cl ass of mol l usks. The
del icate, l i ght, and sl i ghtl y curved
shel l s range i n l ength from 1 to 5
i n. Of about H iO speci es, several
are found on both our coasts.
Shal l ow-water Paci fc speci es
were col l ected by I ndians, who
used them both for currency and
as prized ornaments. Tusk shel l s
from the Paci fc were traded far
i nl and. The ani mal s have a ri ng
of smal l fl aments but no cl earl y
defned head, as does the Squi d.
They feed on microscopic l ife on
sandy, and someti mes on muddy,
bottoms.
Beach Pl ums spot dunes from Massachusetts to Vi rgi ni a.
P L A N T S O F D U N E A N D S H O R E
I n the l ong run, al l ani mal l ife of the sea depends upon
pl ants-hence the i mportance of al gae. Seed-produci ng
aquatic speci es al so grow i n bracki sh or sal t water. less
i mportant but of special i nterest are many l and pl ants
which hcve adapted themsel ves to the seashore envi ron
ment. Some grow on beach sands or dunes, or i n crevi ces
of sea cl ifs. Shores resembl e deserts i n some ways, and
shore pl ants often show characteristics of pl ants i n ari d
regi ons. Some have deep, penetrati ng roots and smal l
l eathery, hai ry, or waxy l eaves. A number are succul ents
capabl e of stori ng water. Al l are thrifty and resistant to
wi nd, sal t spray, and drought.
Of the pl ants al ong the shore, members of the grass
and sedge fami l ies have been most successful . These are
often l ess conspi cuous and more di fcul t to i dentify. Other
foweri ng pl ants range from smal l herbaceous speci es to
shrubs and trees. The l atter i ncl ude, besides those i l l us
trated, pi nes, cedar, hol l i es, sumac, and others. The her
baceous pl ants are more numerous and so diverse that
onl y a few are shown on the fol l owi ng pages. Al so read:
A9UATI C PL ANT S OF T HE UN I TED STATES, Muenscher, Cornel l Uni v. Press
(Comstock), I thaca, New York, 1944.
FLOWERS, Zi m and Marti n, Gol den Press, New York, 1950.
TREES, Zi m and Martin, Golden Press, New York, 1 952.
\ 4 \
EASTERN
5EA-O,T5 is a common, tol l , at
tractive grass of southern and
Gul f shores. A pi oneer on new
dunes, i ts roos hel p anchor the
shifti ng sand and t hus stabi l ize
the dune. Grows 3 to 4 ft.
RAI LROAD VI NE i s a tough,
hardy morni ng-gl ory, one of sev
eral ki nds fou nd on dunes. I ts
l ong, strai ght r unners and heavy,
rounded leaves are characteristic.
EELGRASS, growing i n tidal boys
on both coasts, is a favorite food
of some ducks and geese. It is
rel ated to the pondweeds. The
West Coast ki nd has brooder
l eaves.
YAUPON is a hol l y found al ong
the East and Gul f coasts. I ts
dense fol i age provi des shel ter;
i ts red berri es, food for bi rds.
Other hol l ies al so grow on or
near dunes.
PLANTS
SANDBUR, a hardy grass, is
never forgotten when met acci
dental l y. The sharp spi nes of the
burs pri ck pai nful l y. Found al ong
Atl anti c and Gul f shores and i n
Cal i forni a, too.
GLASSWORT tol erates sal t
soaked soi l i n ti dal fats on both
coasts, where no other pl ants
grow. Turns bri ght red i n fal l .
look f or t he ti ny, al most i nvi si bl e
l eaves.
SHORE RUSH or 3-SQUARE
bel ongs to a l arge group of com
mon speci es wh i ch prefer brack
i h water. Nate the angul ar stem.
Al l rushes s pr ead by creepi ng
rootstocks.
SEASIDE GOLDENROD, a hand
same pl ant, has thick, al most
feshy l eaves and stout stems.
More attractive t han other gol d
enrods, i t grows i n sand from
Mai ne to Fl ori da. 2 to 4 ft. hi gh.
S. Seasi de
Gol denrod
\ 43
1 44
WESTERN
LUPINES vary from smal l herbs
to l arge shrubs. Several ki nds,
with spikes of bl ue or yel l ow fow
ers, grow al ong western beaches.
Tree l upi ne is the l argest of these
species.
SEA-FIG and related i ce pl ants
are unusual , thi ck-l eaved pl ants
found al ong shores i n many
warmer countries. Seafg is pro
l ifc, thri fty, and attractive. Its
frui t is edi bl e.
BEACH PEAS i ncl ude several
species. Some are hai ry; some
smooth and thi nl eaved. Fl owers
usual l y purpl e; seeds i n a thi n
pod. Rel ated to sweet and gar
den peas.
SAND STRAWBERRY is a smal l ,
short-stemmed pl ant on or near
the beaches and on open prai
ri es. Bl ooms and fruits earl y i n
spri ng. Fruit del i ci ous but smal l .
PLANTS
BEACH MORNI NG-GLORY is
one of a fami l y which i ncl udes
the common bi ndweed. Thi s spe
cies, wi th smal l , pur pl ish fowers
and thi ck l eaves, grows on sandy
beaches.
REED grows commonl y i n mi l dl y
bracki sh marshes of both coasts,
spreadi ng by a fast-growi ng root
stock. Hei ght: 10 ft. or more. One
of the l argest native grasses.
SEASIDE DAISY is a short (6 to
10 i n. ) pl ant of bl ufs and beach
es, with thick, hai ry stems and
l eaves. Showy fowers bl oom from
Apri l to J uly. Not a true dai sy but
a feabane.
SAND VERBENA, i n several
forms, grows i n the West-i n des
erts and al ong shores. All have
sticky stems; smal l , rounded
l eaves; and ei ther pi nk, yel l ow, or
white fowers.
Sand Verbena
1 . 5ow o| motto
SHORE TREES
PALMETTOS are southern trees. Some
cover mi l e after mi l e of sandy soi l
behi nd the beaches. Usual l y shrubby,
some grow 20 to 30 ft. hi gh, topped
by l arge cl usters of fan-shaped l eaves.
BAYBERRY or WAX MYRTLE, com
mon al ong dunes and beaches, pro
duces wax-covered uberries," once
used for candl es and still as a food
by many birds. Does not get as cl ose
to sal t water as Mangrove.
SEA-GRAPE i s one of the most at
tractive shore trees of the deep
South. I t grows an dunes or coral .
The l arge, l eathery l eaves are ti nged
red; the smal l purpl e frui t gives i t its
name.
MANGROVE is unmistakabl e. I ts
spreadi ng prop-roots and tol erance
of sal t water make it the most com
mon pl ant far l ong stretches of F l ori
da and Gul f coasts. Watch far awl
shaped seedl i ngs on beaches.
Brown Pelican
BI RDS of sea and shore add a sparkl e of l ife whenever
they appear. Some venture far out to sea. Others l ive and
move al ong the shore, whi ch is one of t he best pl aces t o
study bi rds, especi al l y whi l e mi grati ng. The bi rds i n thi s
book suppl ement those i n BI RDS, a Gol den Nature Gui de.
Bi rds of the shore i ncl ude sandpi pers, , terns, pel i cans,
herons, gul l s, ducks, and others adapted to l ife on water
or al ong the shore. Many l and bi rds l ive al ong the shores
al so. Seaside and Sharptai l ed Sparrows, Boat-tai l ed
Grackl es, Tree Swal l ows, and l arks are found i n or near
sal t swamps. Ospreys, eagl es, crows, and Fi sh-crows pre
fer open headl ands or more protected bays and l agoons.
I n spri ng and fal l , many mi grati ng l and bi rds fol l ow the
shorel i ne. Some shore bi rds, too, mi grate. Do more than
i dentify bi rds; watch them feed and fy. See a whol e fock
maneuver together wi th unerri ng accuracy. I l l ustrati ons
show adul t bi rds i n spri ng pl umage. Further readi ng:
BI RDS, Zi m and Gabri el son, Gol den Press, New York, 1 955.
A FI E L D GUI DE TO THE BI RDS and A FI ELD Gui DE TO WESTERN BI RDS,
Peterson, Houghton Mi fi n Co. , Boston, 1 947, 1 941 .
BI RDS OF THE PACI F I C STATES, Hofman, R., Houghton Mi fi n Co. , Boston,
1 938.
1 47
OYSTERCATCHERS are waders
of rocky s hores of both coasts.
These stocky bi rds, 16 to 18 i n. ,
wi th bl ack heads and heavy red
bi l l s are qui ckl y recogni zed. I n
fi ght t he eastern speci es shows
white wing patches. The Western
Black Oystercatcher has no wh ite.
SEMI PALMATED PLOVER, a
rather smal l (6 to 8 i n. ) bi rd wi th
a bl ack col l ar and a short bi l l . Of
ten it i s seen runni ng al ong the
sand or fyi ng l ow over s urf. Note
its short tai l and dark brown
back.
RUDDY TURNSTONE (8 to 91/
i n. ) mi grates down both coasts
al ong both sandy and rocky
shores. Look for the white head
and rusty brown back. I n fi ght
note the stri ki ng brown-and-white
wing pattern.
DOWITCHER i s a sni pe-like bi rd
(1 0'2 to 1 2 i n. ) with a l ong,
strai ght bi l l . On mudfats, sandy
beaches and sal t marshes it con
ti nual l y probes the mud for food.
Note its rusty col or, whitish back
and rump.
WI LLETS are l arge ( 14 to 17 i n. },
fai rl y drab bi rds wi th l ong,
strai ght bi l l s and l ong, dark l egs.
Seen al ong both coasts, i n marsh
es and mudfats. I n fi ght, the
bl ackand-white wi ng pattern
i denti fes them.
AVOCETS ( 1 7 to 20 i n. ) are
marked by thei r l ong, t hi n, up
turned bi l l s, and by thei r l onger,
thi n bl ack l egs. Note the pal e
brown head and neck, and the
strongl y mar ked bl ack-and-white
wings. More common on the West
Coast i n quiet l agoons and mud
fl ats.
KNOTS are ci nnamon-brown in
spring; gray and white i n wi nter.
They are smal l er ( 1 0-1 1 i n. ) than
Dowi tchers and have shorter bi l l s.
Common dur i ng spring and fal l
mi grati ons.
SANDERLI NG (7 to 8 i n . ) , com
mon i n wi nter on both coasts, is
a stocky sandpi per showi ng a
broad whi te stri pe on t he wi ngs.
feeds on smal l i nvertebrates
al ong surf or i n mud fats.
P E CTORAL SANDP I P E RS m i
grate al ong both coasts and are
parti al to coastal swamps. Note
the wh ite throat and abdomen,
crossed by a broad, streaked
band. Legs t hi n and yel l ow;
l ength : 8% to 9% i n.
SE MI PALMATED SANDP I P E R
and the al most i denti cal Western
Sandpi per of the Paci fc are very
common duri ng mi grati ons.
Streaked dark brown above wi th
dark l egs and short, dark bi l l .
Length : SV2 t o 6 V2 i n.
GULLS are common on al l shores and al ong many l akes
and ri vers. Most common i n the East is the Herri ng Gul l
(22t o 2i n. ), marked by bl ack wi ng ti ps and pi nki sh l egs.
Several other gul l s are si mi l ar. The Cal i forni a Gul l of the
West Coast (20to 23 i n. ) is sl ightl y smal l er, wi th dark l egs
and wi th a red spot near the ti p of i ts l ower bi l l . The Ri ng
bi l l ed Gul l al so is si mi l ar but smal l er ( 1 8 to \ 7 i n. ), wi th a
bl ack ri ng around i ts yel l owi sh bi l l and wi th dul l yel l ow
l egs. The Western Gul l i s l i ke the Cal i forni a Gul l , but has a
yel l ow bi l l wi th a red spot, and fesh-col ored l egs. The
Laughi ng Gul l i s 1 5 to 1 7 i n. I t i s bl ack-headed i n spri ng,
and wi th very dark wi ngs and back. The Great Bl ack
backed Gul l i s a northern bi rd seen mai nl y i n wi nter al ong
Atl anti c shores. I ts l arge si ze ( 28 to 31 i n. ) and dark back
i dentify i t
.
The Bl ack Ski mmer of the East Coast i s a stri ki ng
bi rd wi th bl ack back and wi ngs, and whi te bel ow. I t uses
its red undersl ung bi l l to scoop up smal l fsh.
\ 0
1 . Royal Tern
TERNS The Royal Tern is a handsome bird of southern
shores-Atl antic and Paci fc. Note i ts bl ack, crested crown,
the orange bi l l , and the deepl y forked tai l . Length: 7 to
21 i n. The Caspi an Tern is si mi l ar i n range, si ze, and gen
eral appearance. I t has a red bi l l , and tai l is l ess forked.
The Common Tern is easy to see and i dentify. Note its
bl ack cap, forked tai l , and bl ack-ti pped orange bi l l .
Length: 3 t o \ i n. Forster' s Tern, more common i n the
West, general l y l ighter, prefers marshes to open sandy
3. Arctic Tern
4. Forster' s Tern
5. Black Skimmer
beaches. The Arctic Tern
is grayer, wi th bi l l com
pl etel y red.
6. Great Bl ack-backed Gul l
WOOD STORK 34 to 38 i n.
Lorge focks al ong southern
shores. Note bl ock on wi ngs, gray
head. Fl i es with neck out.
DOUBLE - CRESTED CORMO
RANT Ranges farther north than
others on t hi s page. Often s uns
with wi ngs out . Lor ge (28 to 34 i n. ) .
3
WHI TE I BI S Smal l er (22 to 26
i n. ) , al most al l white. Red face.
Seen i n I orge focks over coastal
swamps.
WATER TURKEY or ANHI NGA
Prefers marshes, l agoons, coastal
ri vers. Gl ossy, greeni sh- gray bock,
wi th l ight wi ng patches.
GREAT BLUE HERON 40 to 50
i n. Common both coosts. Whi te
Heron of Fl ori da: l arger, pure
white, yel l ow bi l l and l egs.
REDDI SH EGRET 28 to 32 i n. ;
on warmer coasts of both oceans.
A whiie phase i s si mi l ar to Com
mon Egret.
LITTLE BLUE HERONS 20 to 25
i n. Young: white or bl ue.bl otched.
Green Heron smal l er; yel l ow
l egs, white on throat. Both coasts.
COMMON EGRET 34 to 40 i n.
Common on both coasts. Snowy
Egret i s 8 to 24 i n., has yel l ow
feet, bl ack bi l l and l egs.
BOOKS FOR FURTHER STUDY . Systemati c and exact
i denti fcati on i s often di fcul t. You may need the aid of
techni cal publ i cati ons, such as j ournal s of sci enti fc socie
ti es and museums. Less technical books i ncl ude:
Abbott, R. T. , AMERI CAH SEASHELLS, D. Van Nostrand Co., 1 954. A
maj or reference. Over 1 , 500 vari eties. Excel l ent bi bl i ography.
Buchsbaum, R. , ANI MALS WI THOUT BACKBON ES, Uni v. of Chi cago Press,
1 948. Readabl e, col l ege-l evel i ntroducti on. Excel l ent i l l ustrati ons.
Carson, Rachel , THE EDGE oF THE SEA, New Ameri can Li brary, N. Y.,
1 955. A very readabl e i ntroduction to the many l i vi ng thi ngs at the
sea' s edge.
MacGi nitie, G. E. and N., NATURAL HI STORY OF MARI H E ANI MALS,
McGraw- Hi l l Book Co. , 1 949. A fai rl y detai l ed, usabl e summary.
Mi ner, R. W., F I ELD BooK OF SEASHORE LI FE, G. P. Putnam' s Sons, 1 950.
A very compl ete and authenti c gui de for the Atl anti c Coast.
Ri cketts, E. f. & C. J ., BETWEEN PACI FI C TI DES, Stanford Uni v. Press, 1 952.
Al l tide-zone Paci fc i nvertebrates. Readabl e; fne photos.
MUSEUMS, AQUARIA, AND MARI NE BI OLOGI CAL
STATI ONS of i nterest to seri ous amateurs i ncl ude:
American Museum of Natural Hi story, New York, N. Y.
Chi cago Museum of Natural Hi story, Chi cago, I l l .
Shedd Aquari um, Chicago, I l l .
Mori ne Bi ol ogi cal laboratory, Woods Hol e, Moss.
Duke Univ. Mori ne laboratory, Beaufort, N. C.
I nstitute of Mori ne Science, University of Mi ami , Vi rgi ni a Key, Mi ami ,
Fl a.
Oceanographi c I nstitute of Fl ori da Stole Uni v. , Al l i gator Harbor, Fl a.
Gul f Coast Research laboratory, Ocean Spri ngs, Mi ss.
Hopki ns Mari ne Stati on, Pacifc Grove, Cal i f.
Puget Sound Mari ne Bi oi . Stati on, Univ. of Wash. , F ri day Harbor, Wash.
Scri pps I nstitution of Oceanography, Univ. of Cal if., La Jol l a, Cal i f.
SCI ENTI FI C NAMES
Fol l owi ng are the sci enti fc names of speci es i l l ustrated i n thi s book.
Heavy type i ndi cates pages where speci es appear; numbers i n l i ghter
type are capti on numbers. The genus nome is frst, then the speci es. I f
the genus name is abbreviated, i t is the same as the genus name men
ti oned j ust before i t.
3 Mnemi opsi s l ei dyi .
20 Lyngbyo maj uscu l e.
21 Codi um fragi l e.
22 1 . Cl adophora gtoci l i s ; 2. Ul vo
l actuca; 3o. Enteromorpha i nt est i
nal i s; 3b. E. compressa.
23 1 . Caul erpa prol i fera; 2. Bry
opsi s pl umose.
1 54
24 1 . Hal i meda tuna; 2. Acetabu
l ari a crenul ata; 3. Peni ci l l us du
metosus.
25 1 a. Sargassum notans; 1 b. S.
vul gare.
26 1 . Al eri a escul enta; 2. Podi na
povoni a; 3. Chordari a fl agel l ifor
mi s.
(r|ea|rNomesCoa|aeed)
27 1. Ectocarpus vi ri di s; 2a. Des
marestia vi ri di s; 2b. D. acul eate;
3. Chorda tomentosa.
28 1 . Agarum cribrosum; 2a. Lam
i nari a agardhi i ; 2b. L. di gi tata.
29 1 . Macrocysti s pyrifera; 2. Pos
tel si a pal maeformi s; 3. Nereocysti s
l uetkeana.
30 l a. Fucus vesi cul osus; l b. F.
evanescens.
31 Dasya sp.
32 l a. Gigarti na stel l ata; l b. G.
corymbifera; l c. G. mi crophyl l a; 2.
Chondrus cri spus ( 3 forms) ; 3a. Ge
lidium coulteri; 3b. G. corneum.
33 1 a. Pol ysi phoni a fbri l l ose; 1 b.
P. ni grescens; l c. P. harveyi ; 2.
Gri nnel l i a ameri cana; 3a. Spermo
thamni on turneri ; 3b. S. bai l eyi .
34 1 a. Cerami um fasti gi atum; 1 b.
C. rubrum; 2a. Pl umari a serecea;
2b. P. pecti nate; 3a. Porphyra um
bi l ical i s; 3b. P. atropurpurea.
35 Corol l i na ofcinal i s.
40 1 . Ci ona intesti nal i s; 2. Mol gul a
manhattensi s.
41 1 . Leucosol eni a botryoi des; '.
Scypha l i ngua.
42 1. Mi croci ona prol i fera; 2. Cl i
ona cel ata.
43 1 . Cal l yspongi a vagi nal is; 2.
Hal icl ona occul ata; 3. Hi ppi ospon
gi a l achne; 4. H. canal i cul ata; 5. H.
equi noformis.
.
45 1 . Aurel i a auri ta; 2. Cyanea
capi l l ata.
46 1. Goni onemus murbachi i ; 2.
Tubul ari a spectabi l i s; 3. Obel i a
gel ati nosa.
47 Physal i a physal i s.
48 1 . Metri di um di anthus; 2. Ad
amsi a sociabi l i s; 3a. Sagartia mod
esto; 3b. S. l uci ae.
49 Cri bri na xanthogrammi ca.
50 1. Bal anophyt l a el egans; 2. As
trangi o danae; 3. Ocul i na difuse.
51 1. Coral l i um rubrum; 2. Agari
ci a agari ci tes; 3. Acropora cervi
corni s; 4. Favi a fragum; 5. Di pl ori a
l abyrithiformi s.
52 1. Pennatul a acul eata; 2. Gor
gonia fabel l um; 3. Pl exaura fex
uosa.
53 1. Fol i a paral l el a; 2. Pl eura
brachia brunnea.
54 Cerebratu I us l acteus.
55 Nereis virens.
56 Bispira sp.
57 1. Aphrodi te acul eata; 2. Pec
tinaria goul di i ; 3. Ci rratul us gran
di s; 4. Chaetopterus pergamenta
ceus; 5. Areni col a cri stata.
58 1. Membrani pora pi l ose; 2. Bu
gul a turri ta; 3. Cri sea eburnea.
59 1. Terebratul i na spitzbergensi s;
2. T. septentri onal i s; 3. li ngul a an
ati na.
61 1. Amphi phol i s squamata; 2.
Gorgonocephal us arcticus; 3. Ophi
oderma brevi spi num; 4. Ophi o
phol i s acul eata; 5. Ophi othri x an
gul ata.
62 1. Henri ci a sangui nol enta; 2.
Ctenodi scus cri spatus; 3. Asteri as
vul gari s; 4. Sol aster endeca; 5.
Echi naster Sentus; 6. Asteri as for
besi .
63 1. Pati ri a mi niata; 2. Li ncki a
col umbi ae; 3. Henri ci a l eviuscul a;
4. Pycnopodi a hel i anthoi des; 5. Pi
saster ochraceus.
64 1 . Ci dari s tri bul oides; 2. Ar
baci a punctul ata; 3. Echi narachni
us parma.
65 1. Arbaci a punctul ata; 2. Stron
gyl ocentrotus droebachi ensi s; 3.
5. franciscanus; 4. Echi nametra
l ucunter; 5. Encope emargi nata;
6. Dendraster excentri cus; 7. Echi
narachi nus parma.
66 1. Sti chopus cal i fornicus; 2.
Leptosynopta i nhaerens; 3. Cau
di na arenata; 4. Cucumari a fron
dosa.
68 1. Lepas fasci cul ari s; 2. Bal anus
bal anoi des.
69 1 . Gammarus l ocusta; 2. Tal or
chesti a l ongi corni s; 3. Orchestoi dea
cal iforni ana; 4. Orchesti a agi l i s.
70 1. Squi l l a empusa; 2. Penaeus
setiferus; 3. Crangon septemspi
nosa.
71 1. Homarus ameri canus; 2. Pan
ul i rus argus.
72 1. Emeri ta anal oga; 2. E. tal
poi da.
\
I Seientifie Nams Conti nued l
73 Pagurus pol l i cari s.
74 1. Cal l i nectes sapi dus; 2. Car
ci nides moenas.
75 1 . Portunus gi bbesi i ; 2. Oval i
pes ocel l atus.
76 1 . Cancer i rroratus; 2. C. bore
al is; 3. C. magi ster.
77 1 . Uca pugnax; 2. Ocypode
quadrate.
78 1 . Pugettia praducta; 2. Li bi ni a
emargi nata; 3. l. dubi o.
79 1. Eurypterus fi scheri ; 2. Li mu
I us pol yphemus.
81 1 . Chaetopl eura api cul ata; 2.
Mopal i a ciliate; 3. l schnochiton
magdal ensi s.
83 1. Nucula proxi ma; 2. Aci l a
castrensi s; 3. Nucul ana mi nute; 4.
N. taphri a; 5. Nucul ana acuta.
84 1 . Area imbri cate; 2. Anadaro
oval i s; 3. Area zebra; 4. Anadara
notabi l i s; 5. Barbatia bai l yi .
85 1 . Myti l us edul is; 2. Modi ol us
demi ssus; 3. Modi ol us modi ol us; 4.
Brachi dontes recurvus.
86 1 . Aequi pecten gi bbus; 2.
Chl amys ornatus; 3. Hi nnites mul
ti rugosus.
87 1. Pecten hericius; 2. Lepta
pecten l ati aruatus; 3. Chlamys sen
ti s; 4. Pl acopecten magel l anicus;
5, Pecten di egensi s; 6. Aequi pecten
irradi ans.
88 1. Anomi a si mpl ex; 2. A. acu
l eate; 3. A. peru vi a no.
89 1 . Ostrea l urida; 2. Pl icatul a
gi bbosa; 3. Crassostrea vi rgi ni ca.
90 1 . Atri na serrata; 2. A. ri gi da;.
3. Pi nna cornea.
91 1 . Pteria col ymbus; 2. P. nebu
l osa.
92 1 . Pandora gaul diana; 2. P.
tri l i neata; 3. P. punctate; 4. P.
fi l osa.
93 1 . Astarte undata; 2. A. cas
tanea; 3. A. boreal i s; 4. A. al asken
si s; 5. A. esqui mal ti .
94 1. Luci na fl ori dana; 2. Phacai
des annul atus; 3. Codakia orbicu
l ari s; 4. Lucina jensyl vani ca.
95 1. Cl i nocardi um ci l i atum; 2.
Trachycardi um muri catum; 3. Cl i n
ocardi um nuttal l i ; 4. Dinocardi um
robustum.
\
96 1 . Mercenari a compechi ensi s;
2. M. mercenari a.
98 1. Protothaca tenerri ma; 2. P.
stami nea; 3. P. l aci neata.
99 1 . Macrocal l i sta mocul ato; 2.
M. ni mboso.
1 00 1 . Dosi ni a el egans; 2. D. di s
cus; 3. Gemma gemma.
1 01 Ti vel a stul torum.
1 02 1 . Tel l i na bodegensi s; 2. T:
carpenteri ; 3. T. radiate; 4. T. sal
monee; 5. T. modesto; 6. T. i nter
rupto; 7. T. l i neata.
1 03 1 . Macoma tenia; 2. M. bal
thico; 3. M. constricto; 4. M. secto;
5. M. i ndentota; 6. M. nasuta.
1 04 1 . Donax denti cul ate; 2. D.
fossor; 3. D. cal i forni cus; 4. D.
goul di ; 5. D. vari abi l i s.
1 05 1. Sol en rosaceus; 2. Ensi s di
rectus; 3. Sol en vi ri di s; 4. T agel us
pl ebei us.
1 06 1 . Mactra fragi l i s; 2. Spi sul a
sol i di ssi ma.
1 07 1 . Mul i ni a latera l i s; 2. Anati na
anati na; 3. Anati na pl i catel l a.
1 08 1 . My a truncala; 2. M. are
nari o.
1 09 1 . Cyrtopl eura costata; 2. Petri
col o phol adi formi s; 3. Borneo trun
cate.
1 1 0 Teredo naval i s.
1 1 2 1 . Megathura crenul ata; 2. Ac
meoea scabra; 3. A. ant i l l arum; 4.
Diodora l i steri; 5. Acmaea testu
di nal i s.
1 1 3 1 . Turbo castanea; 2. Cal l io
stoma l i gatum; 3. Morgarites gro
enl andicus; 4. Cal l i ostoma j uj ubi n
um; 5. C. dol i ari um.
1 1 4 1. Tegul a funebral i s; 2. T. gal
l i na; 3. T. fasciata.
1 1 5 1 . Hal ioti s rufescens; 2. H.
kamlschatkana; 3. H. fulgens; 4.
H. cracherodi .
1 1 6 1 . Epi toni ul rupi col a; 2. E.
greenl ondi cum; 3. Opol i a wro
bl ewski i ; 4. Epi toni um mul ti stri
atum.
1 1 7 1 . Notice cl ause; 2. N. can
rena; 3. Pol i ni ces dupl icatus; 4.
Lunatic heros.
1 1 8 1 . Crepi dul a onyx; 2. C. acu
l eate; 3. C. nummari a; 4. C. forni -
( Scientific Names Continued l
cata; 5. C. convexa; 6. C. pl ana.
1 1 9 1. Li ttori na scutul ata; 2. L.
pl anaxi s; 3. L. saxati l i s; 4. L. i r
rorata; 5. L. l i ttorea; 6. L. angu
l i fera.
1 20 1 , Strombus rani nus; 2. Cassi s
tuberose; 3. Strombus al atus.
121 1. Strombus pugi l i s; 2. S. gi
gas; 3. Cassi s madagascari ensi s;
4. C. fl am mea.
1 22 1 . Bi tti um al ternatum; 2. Ceri
thi dea cal i forni ca; 3. Bati l lari a
mi ni ma; 4. Ceri thi um fl ori danum.
1 23 1. lonna gal ea; 2. T. macu
l osa; 3. Fi cus communi s.
1 25 1 . Cypraea spadi cea; 2. Cy
praea spurca; 3. C. ci nerea; 4. C.
zebra; 5. Tri vi a sol andri ; 6. Tri vi a
cal i forni ana; 7. Tri vi a quadri punc
tata; 8. T. pedi cul us.
1 26 1 . Murex pomum; 2. M. di l ec
tus; 3. Eupl eura caudate; 4. Murex
gemma.
1 27 1 . Murex festi vus; 2. M. tri
al otus; 3. M. cabriti ; 4. Octnebra
i nterfossa; 5. 0. ci rcumtexta.
1 28 1 . Purpura patul a; 2. Urosal
pi nx ci nerea; 3. Nucel l a l i ma; 4.
Nucel l a emargi nata; 5. Nucel l a
l api l l us.
1 29 1 . Ni ti del l a cari nate; 2. Mi t
rel i c l unata; 3. Col umbel l a merca
tori a; 4. Anachi s avara.
1 30 1 . Busycon canal i cul atum; 2.
B. cari ca; 3. Neptunea tabul ata; 4.
N. decemcostata.
1 3 1 1 . Busycon contrari um; 2. B.
spi ratum; 3. Bucci num undat um; 4.
B. gl aci al e.
1 32 1. l l yanassa obsol etus; 2. Nas
sari us vi bex; 3. N. tri vi ttatus; 4.
N. fossatus .
1 33 1 . Fasci ol ari a h unteri a; 2.
Pl europl oca gi gantea; 3. Fascio
l ari a tul i pa.
1 34 1 . Ol i va sayana; 2. Ol ivel l a
muti ca; 3. 0. baeti ca; 4. 0. bi pl i
cata.
1 35 1 . Conus cal i forni cus; 2. C.
mus ; 3. C. regi us; 4. C. fl ori danus;
5. C. spuri us.
1 36 1. Bul la goul di ana; 2. Hami
noea sol i tari o; 3. Hydati na vesi
cari a; 4. Bul l a occidental i s; 5. B.
stri ata.
1 37 1 . Dendronotus frondosus; 2.
Aeol i s papi l l ose.
1 39 1 . l l l ex i l l ecebrosus; 2.
lol i go peal ei ; 3, Octopus bi ma
cul otus.
1 40 1 . Dentol i um ental e sti msoni ;
2. D. l oqueatum; 3. D. ental e; 4.
D. eboreum; 5. D. preti osum.
141 Prunus mori ti mus.
1 42 1 . Uni ol a pani cul ata; 2. I po
moea pes-caproe; 3. Zostera ma
ri na.
1 43 1 . l l ex vomi tori a; 2. Cenchrus
tri bul oi des; 3. Sal i corni a europaea;
4. Sci rpus ameri canus; 5. Sol i dago
sempervi rens.
1 44 1 . lupi nus arboreus; 2. Me
sembryanthemum aequi l ateral e; 3.
Lathyrus mari ti mus; 4. Fragari a
chi l oensi s; 5. Convol vul us sol da
nel l a.
1 45 1 . Phragmi tes communi s; 2.
Eri geron gl aucus; 3a. Abroni a um
bel l ate; 3b. A. l atifol i a.
1 46 1 . Serenoa repens; 2. Sabol
pal metto; 3. Myri ca ceri fera; 4.
Caccol obi s uvi fera; 5. Rhi zophora
mangl e.
1 47 Pel acanus occi dental i s.
1 48 1 . Haemotopus pal l i atus; 2.
Charadri us hi ati cul a semi pal ma
tus; 3. Arenari a interpres mori nel
la; 4. Li mnodromus gri seus; 5. Ca
toptrophorus semi pal matus.
1 49 1 . Recurvi rostra ameri cana; 2.
Cal i dr i s canutus r ufus; 3. Crocethi a
al ba; 4. Erol i a mel anotos; 5. Ereu
netes mauri .
1 50 1 . Larus argentatus ; 2. L . ar
ti ci l l a; 3. L. del awarensi s; 4. L.
occidental i s; 5. l. cal i forni cus.
1 51 1 . Thal asseus maxi mus; 2.
Sterna hi rundo; 3. 5. paradi saea;
4. S. forsteri ; 5. Rynchops ni gra;
6. Larus mari nus.
) 52 1 . Mycteria ameri cana; 2.
Guara al ba; 3. Phal acrocorax au
ri tus; 4. Anhi nga anhi nga.
1 53 1 . Ardea herodi as; 2. Fl ori da
caerul ea; 3. Di chromanassa rufes
cens; 4. Casmerodi us al bus egretta.
\
I N D E X
Abal ones, 1 1 5 Brach i opods, 59 Conch Shel l s, 1 20- 1 21
Acetabul ar i o, 24 Brain Coral , 51 F l ori da Horse
.
Acti vi ti es for amateurs, Bri ttl e Stars, 60, 61 Conch, 1 33
6- 7 Brown Al gae, 25-30
Cone Shel l s, 1 35
Adamsi a, 48-49 Bryopsi s, 2 1 , 23
Copepods , 1 6
Agarum, 28 Bryozoans, 58
Coqui na Shel l s, 1 04
:
Al ar i c, 26, 28 Bubbl e Shel l s, 1 36
Corol l i na, 35
Al gae, 1 8 -35; see also Bucci num, Common
Coral s, 40, 50-52
specifc names Northern, 1 3 1
Cormorant , Doubl e-
Al t ernat e Bi t t i um, 1 22 Butterfy Snel l , 1 04
crested, 1 52
0
Ameri can Lobster, 71
Cowri es, 1 24- 1 25
Amethyst Gem Cl am, Cabbage Pal metto, 1 46
Crabs, 73 -79; see also
1 00 Cal i co Cl am, 99
specifc names
Anemones, Sea,
48-49
Cal i co Crab, 75
Cr i br i na, 49

Angel Wi ngs, 1 09 Cal i forni a Gul l , 1 50
Cri noi ds, 60
..
.

Anni nga, 1 52 Cal l i t nomni on, 33
Cucumbers, Sea, 66
P
:
Ani mal l i fe in sea, 36- Cask Shel l s, 1 23
;:
40 Caspi an Tern, 1 51
Dai sy, Seasi de, 1 45

Arct i c Tern, 1 51 Cau l erpa, 23
Dasya, 3 1
" u
D
Ark Shel l s , 84 Cerami um, 34
Deadman' s F i ngers, 42-
z
Arthropods, 67-79 Cerebrat u l us, 54
43
.

fami l y tree, 67 Ceri t hs, 1 22
Desmaresti a, 27
..
:
Asci di ons, 40 Chol i ne, 42-43
Di atoms, 1 6
P
Astartes, 93 Checkerboard, 99
Di nofagel l ates, 1 6- 1 7
:
:
Astrangi o, 50- 51 Cherrystone Cl ams, 96
Oogwi nkl es, 1 28
:
Avocets, 1 49 Chest nut Cl ams, 93
Donax Shel l s, 1 04
-
!
Chest nut Turban, 1 1 3
Dosi ni as, 1 00
Bal anophy l l a, 50- 51 Chi tons, 81
Dove-shel l s, 1 29
Band Shel l s, 1 33 Chondrus, 32
Dowi t cher, 1 48

. Barnacl es, 68 Chorda, 27
Dri l l s, 1 26, 1 28
"

Basket Shel l s , 1 32 Chordari a, 26
Duck Cl ams, 1 07
" Basket Stars, 61 Ci dari s, 64
Dune pl ant s, 1 4 1 - 1 46
z
.
Bath Sponges, 43 Ci ona, 40
Dwarf Tri tons, 1 27

Bayberry, 1 46 Cl adophora, 22
"
.
Beaches, 1 0- 1 1 , 1 4- 1 5 Cl ams, 96- 1 0 1 , 1 05-
Echi noderms, 60-66
;
Beach F l eas, 69 1 08; see also
Beach Mqrni ng. gl ory, specifc names
fami l y tree, 60
1 44- 1 45 Cl am Worm, 55
Ectocarpus, 27
Beach Pea, 1 44 Cl i ona, 42
Edi bl e Rock Crab, 76
Beach Pl um, 1 41 Cockl e Shel l s , 95
Edi bl e Shr i mp, 70
Bi rds, 1 47- 1 53; see also Codi um, 2 1
Eel grass, 1 42
specifc names
Coel enterates, 44.52
Egret s, 1 53
Bi t t i um, Al ternate, 1 22 see also spec;fc
Enteromorpha, 22
Bi val ves, 82- 1 1 0
names
Eurypt eri d, 79
port s of, 82; see also
Cofee Bean Shel l s, 1 24-
Eyed Cor al , 50
specifc names
1 25
Bl ock Ski mmer, 1 50- 1 51
Comb J el l i es, 3, 53 Fan Worm, 56
Bl ue Crab, 74
Common Egret, 1 53 Featherweed, 34
Bl ue- green Al gae, 20 Common Tern, 1 .1 Fi ddl er Crabs, 77
Boat Shel l s, 1 1 8 Communi t i es, seashore, fi g Shel l , 1 23
Books, 1 4 1 , 1 47, 1 54
37 F l eas, Beach, 69
1 58
Ff orida Horse Conch,
1 33
Forami ni fera, 1 6
Forster
1
s Tern, 1 51
Fri nged Worm, 56-57
Fucus, 30
Gommorus, 69
Gastropods, 1 1 1 - 1 37
ports of, 1 1 1 ; see
also specifc names
Gel i di um, 32
Gem Cl am,
J el l yfsh, 44-47; see
also specifc names
J i ngl e Shel l s, B8
Jonah Rock Crab, 76
Kel p Crab, 78
Kel ps, 28-29, 36
Key to seashore l i fe,
4-5
Ki ng Crab, 79
Ki tten' s Paw, B9
Knas, 1 49
Amethyst, 1 00 ladder Shel l s, 1 1 6
Ghost Crabs, 77 lady Crab, 75
Gi gorti no, 32 lomi nori o, 28
Gl asswort, 1 43 lamp S
h
el l s, 59
Gl ory-of-the- Seas, 1 35 laughi ng Gul l , 1 50
Gl ove Sponge, 43 laver, 34
Gol denrod, 1 43 leaf Coral , 51
Goni onemus, 46 leucosol eni o, 41
Gooseneck li me Sponges, 41
Barnacl es, 68 li mpets, 1 1 2
Granti a, 41 l i ncki a, 63
Graptol i tes, 9 li ngul a, 59
Gross Sponge, 43 li t t l e Bl ue Herons, 1 53
Great Bl ack- backed li ttl eneck Cl ams
Gul l , 1 50- 1 51 ( At l
;
nt i c) , 96
Great Bl ue Heron, 1 53 li ttl eneck Cl ams
Green Al gae, 21 -24 ( Paci fc) , 98
Green Crab, 74-75 lobsters, 71
Green Her on, 1 53 long Cl ams, 1 08
Greenl and Margarite, 1 1 3 luci nas, 94
Gri nnel l i a, 33 lugworm, 56-57
Gul l s, 1 50- 1 51
lupi nes, 1 44
lyonsi os, 92
Hai ry Mopal i a, 8 1
Hal i meda, 24
Hard-shel l Cl ams, 96-97
Heart Shel l s, 95
Hel met Shel l s, 1 20- 1 2 1
Hermi t Crab, 49, 73
Herons, 1 53
Herri ng Gul l , 1 50
Hornshel l s, 1 22
Horny Coral s, 52
Horny Sponges, 42-43
Horseshoe Crab, 79
Hydrai ds, 40
I bi s, 1 52
I ri sh Moss, 32
Jackkni fe Cl ams, 1 05
Macoma Shel l s, 1 03
Mocrocysti s, 28-29
Mactras, 1 06- 1 07
Mangrove, 1 46
Man- of-War, Portu-
guese, 47
Manti s Shri mp, 70
Mermai d' s Cup, 24
Mermai d' s Hai r, 20
Merman' s Shovi ng
Brush, 24
Metri di um, 48
Mi croci ona, 42
Mol e Crabs, 72
Mol l usks, 80- 1 40
fami l y tree, 80; see
also specifc names
Moon J el l yfsh, 45
Moon Shel l s, 1 1 7
Morni ng- gl ory, Beach,
1 44- 1 45
Moss
I ri sh, 32
Sea, 23
Moss Ani mal s, 58
Mud fat, 37
Murex Shel l s, 1 26- 1 27
Museums, 1 54
Mussel s, 85
Myrtl e, Wax, 1 46
Nossos, 1 32
Nat i cos, 1 1 7
Neptune, Tabl ed, 1 30
Nereocysti s, 28-29
Nut Cl ams, 83
Obe l i a, 44, 46
Octopus, 1 38 - 1 39
Ocu l i na, 50- 51
Ol i ve Shel l s, 1 34
Oystercatchers, 1 48
Oyster Dr i l l s , 1 28
Oysters, 89
Pear l , 91
Padi na, 26
Pal mettos, 1 46
Pandora Shel l s, 92
Parchment Worm, 56-57
Pea, Beach, 1 44
Peacock Tai l , 26
Pearl Oysters, 91
Pectens, 86-87
Pectoral Sandpi per, 1 49
Pel ecypods, 82
Pel i can, Brown, 1 47
Peni ci l l us, 24
Pennotu l o, 52
Pen Shel l s, 90
Peri wi nkl es, 1 1 9
Pi nk J el l yfsh, 45
Pi smo Cl am, 1 0 1
Pl ankton, 1 6- 1 7
Pl ants, 1 4 1 - 1 46
in the sea, 36; see
al so specifc names
Pl eurobrachi a, 53
Pl over, Semipal moted, 1 48
Pl umari a, 34
Pol yp ani mal s, 44
1 59
"
Pol ysi phoni a, 33 Sea-grape (tree) , 1 46 Sunray Venus, 99
Pompano Shel l , 1 04 Sea Grapes ( ani mal s) , Surf Cl ams, 1 06- 1 07
Porphyra, 34 40 Swi mmi ng Crabs, 74-75
Portuguese Sea lettuce, 22
Man-of-war, 47 Sea 'Moss, 23 Tabl ed Neptune, 130
Portunus Crab, 75 Sea Mouse, 56-57 Tal orchesti a, 69
Preci ous Coral , 51 Sea-oats1 1 42 Tegul a Shel l s, 1 1 4
Prehi stori c sea l i fe, 9 Sea Pal m, 28-29 Tel l i n Shel l s, 1 02
Protozoa, 40 Sea Pen ( coel enterate) , Teredo, 1 1 0
Pti l ota, 34 52 Terns, 1 51
..
Purpuras, 1 28 Sea Pens ( bi val ve) , 90 Thraci as, 92
Sea Pl ume, 52 Three- square, 1 43
Quahog
s
, 96-97 Seas, contents of, 8-9 Ti de pool , 37
Seashores, 1 0- 1 1 , 1 4- 1 5 Ti des, 1 2
Radi ol ari ans, 1 7 Seasi de Dai sy, 1 45 Tooth Shel l s , 1 40
Rai l road Vi ne, 1 42 Seasi de Gol denrod, 1 43 Top Shel l s, 1 1 3
Rai nbow J el l y, 3 Sea Sl ugs, 1 36, 1 37 Trees, 1 46
Razor Cl ams, 1 05 Sea Snai l s, 1 1 1 Tri tons, Dwarf, 1 27
z Red Al gae, 3 1 -35 Sea Squi rts
1
40 Trumpet Worm, 56-57
W
Reddi sh Egret, 1 53 Sea Stars, 62-63 Tubul ari a, 46
!
,

Reed, 1 45 Sea Urchi ns, 60, 64-65 Tul i p Shel l s, 1 33
.
Ri bbon Worms, 54 Seaweeds, 1 8-35 Tun Shel l s, 1 23
..
Ri ng- bi l l ed Gul l , 1 50 Sea Whi p, 52 Turban Shel l s, 1 1 4 0

Rock Barnacl es, 68 Segmented worms, Turkey Wi ng, 84

Rock Crabs, 76 55-57 Tusk Shel l s, 1 40
2
Rock Venus Shel l s, 98 Semi pal mated

Rockweed, 30 Sandpi per, 1 49 Uni val ves, 1 1 1 - 1 37
. Royal Tern, 1 51 Shark Eye, 1 1 7 see also specifc
: Ruddy Turnstone, 1 48 Sheep' s Wool names
:
Rush . Shore, 1 43 Sponge, 43
.
Shi pworms, 1 1 0 Vase Sponge, 43

N
ii Sagarti a, 48-49 Shorel i nes, 3, 8, 1 0- 1 1 Venus Gi rdl e, 53
;
Sandbugs, 72 Shore Rush, 1 43 Verbena, Sand, 1 45
c
Sandbur, 1 43 Shri mp, 70
;
Sand Crabs, 77 Sl i pper Shel l s, 1 1 8
Wampum, 97
Sand Dol l ars, 64-65
Sl ugs, Sea, 1 37
Water Turkey, 1 52
Sander l i ng, 1 49 Snai l s, Mud, 1 32
Waves, 1 3
Sand Hoppers, 69 Snowy Egret, 1 53
Wax Myrtl e, 1 46
Sandpi pers, 1 49 Soft- she l l Cl ams, 1 08 Wedge Shel l s, 1 04
Sand Shri mp, 70 Spermothamni on, 33 Wentl etraps, 1 1 6
Sand Strawberry, 1 44 Spi der Crabs, 78 Western Gul l , 1 5
Sand Verbena, 1 45 Spi ny lobster, 71 Whal e, B l ue, 36
Sandworms, 55 Sponges, 41 -43; see Whel ks, 1 30- 1 31
Sargassum, 25 al so specifc names Whi te Heron, 1 53
Saw Pal metto, 1 46 Sponge Seaweed, 21 Whi te I bi s, 1 52
Scal l ops, 86-87 Squi d, 1 38- 1 39 Whi te Shel l s, 94
Sci enti fc names, 1 54- Staghorn Coral , 51 Wi l l et, 1 48
1 57 Stai rcase Shel l s, 1 1 6 Wi nd and waves, 1 3
Sea Anemones, 48-49 Star Coral , 51 Wi ng Oysters, 91
Sea Bat , 63 Starfsh, 40, 61 -63 Wood Stork, 1 52
Sea Bi scui ts, 64 Steamer Cl ams, 1 08
Warms, 4, 54-57; see
Sea Cucumbers, 60, 66 Stony Coral s, 50-51
a/so specifc names
Sea Fan, 52 Stout Tagel us, 1 05
Sea-fg, 1 44 Suberi tes, 42 Yaupon, 1 42- 1 43
1 60 JJ KK LL
SEASHORES
A GOLDEN GUI DE

HERBERT S. ZI M, Ph. D., Sc. D. , i nitiated the
Golden Gui de Series and was both author
and editor for many years. Author of some
ni nety books and editor of about as many,
he is now Adj unct Professor at the Uni ver
sity of Mi ami and Educati onal Consultant to
the American Friends Service Commi ttee
and other organi zati ons. He works on
educati on, population and envi ronmental
probl ems.
LESTER I NGLE, Ph. D. , Professor of I nverte
brate Zool ogy at the University of J l l i nois,
i n col l aborating with Dr. Zim brings to this
vol ume a broad, expert knowl edge of
mari ne and tidal l ife.
DOROTHEA and SY BARLOWE have con
tri buted i l l ustrati ons of nature subjects to
many magazi nes, as well as to Col l ier's
Encyclopedia, the Encyclopedi a Ameri cana,
and the Golden Gui de TREES .
GOLDEN PRESS NEW YORK