PO Box 9021, Wilmington, DE 19809, USA
E-mail: font@focusonnature.com
Phone: Toll-free in USA 1-888-721-3555
 or 302/529-1876

 

MARINE LIFE
of Southeastern 
North America 


of and by the Atlantic Ocean
and the Gulf of Mexico

Other than Whales and Dolphins
and the Manatee

including inshore and offshore waters
of coastal Florida and Texas 


A list compiled by Armas Hill


With those seen during FONT tours and pelagic trips with an (*)

Photo at upper right: the jellyfish known as the PORTUGUESE MAN-OF-WAR


Codes:

All of the following in this list either along the coast or offshore

FL   in Florida
TX   in Texas


(p)   pelagically 


(ASC:xx)  refers to plate number of photo in the "National Audubon Society Field Guide to Seashore Creatures"

(FGCF:xx)  refers to the page with an illustration in the book "A Field Guide to Coastal Fishes, from Maine to Texas", by Val Kells & Kent Carpenter, 2011.    

These classifications by the ICUN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
of Threatened & Near-threatened species; 
(t1):  critically endangered
(t2):  endangered
(t3);  vulnerable  
(nt):  near-threatened 

(ph)  species with a photo in the FONT website 


Links:

A Listing of upcoming Focus On Nature Tours

Upcoming FONT Birding & Nature Tours in North America

FONT Past Tour Highlights

Links, in the following list, to:

Sea Turtles   Fish   Corals & Jellyfish    Mollusks (Shells)    

Arthropods (including Crustaceans & Echinoderms)

Other Links:

A List & Photo Gallery of Texas Birds, in 2 Parts

Mammals of Texas    Butterflies of Texas    Dragonflies & Damselflies of Texas

Amphibians & Reptiles of Texas

A Directory of Photos in the this Website





     
   
MARINE, or SEA, TURTLES  (Reptiles)
 

  1. Leatherback (Sea) Turtle  (t1) (ph) (*)  ______  FL  TX
    Dermochelys coriacea

    The Leatherback Sea Turtle is the world's largest turtle. It can weigh half a ton. It is a deep diver, able to go to a depth of about 5,000 feet.

  2. Loggerhead (Sea) Turtle  (t2) (ph) (*)  ______  FL  TX
    Caretta caretta 



    A Loggerhead Sea Turtle photographed during a FONT pelagic trip
    (photo by Alan Brady)

  3. Kemp's Ridley (Sea) Turtle  (t1)  (*)  ______  FL  TX
    Lepidochelys kempii

    The Kemp's Ridley is globally the most endangered of the sea turtles, but it is the species most commonly found in the Texan waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

    The primary nesting area for the species is in the Mexican state of Tampaulipas, where Rancho Nuevo has been the only known major nesting beach for the species in the world.
    A secondary nesting population has been established at the Padre Island National Seashore in Texas.  

  4. Green (Sea) Turtle  (t2) (ph)  ______  FL  TX
    Chelonia mydas



    A Green Sea Turtle photographed during a FONT tour

  5. Atlantic Hawksbill  (t1) (ph)  ______  FL  TX
    Eretmochelys imbricata



    The Atlantic Hawksbill

    (photo courtesy of Diane Allison)


    An excellent book about sea turtles is "Voyage of the Turtle - in Pursuit of the Earth's Last Dinosaurs", by Carl Safina, Owl Books, 2007.  



    FISH

    Click the above link to a list of marine fish of southeastern North America:  with 357 species



    INVERTEBRATES

    including those of the OPEN OCEAN:


    CNIDARIANS (including corals & jellyfish)


    STONY CORALS  (Class Anthozoa)

  6. Staghorn Coral  ______  FL  (ASC:55)
    Acropora cervicornis

  7. Elkhorn Coral  ______  FL  (ASC:32)
    Acropora palmata

  8. Lettuce Coral  ______  FL  (ASC:33)
    Agaricia agaricites

  9. Starlet Coral  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:16)
    Siderastrea radians

  10. Reef Starlet Coral  ______  FL  (ASC:14)
    Siderastrea siderea

  11. Porous Coral  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:9)
    Porites astreoides

  12. Clubbed Finger Coral  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:13)
    Porites porites

  13. Knobbed Brain Coral  ______  FL  (ASC:4)
    Diploria clivosa

  14. Labyrinthine Brain Coral  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:3)
    Diploria labyrinthiformis

  15. Common Brain Coral  (ph)  ______  FL  (ASC:2)  
    Diploria strigosa 

    Diploria strigosa
    is also called Smooth Brain Coral or Symmetrical Brain Coral.



    Symmetrical Brain Coral

  16. Rose Coral  ______  FL  (ASC:175)
    Maniccina areolata

  17. Large Star Coral  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:11,174)
    Montastrea cavernosa

  18. Common Star Coral  (ph)  ______  FL  (ASC:10)
    Montastrea annularis 



    Common Star Coral and Neon Goby

  19. Northern Stony Coral  ______  FL  (range: Cape Cod to Florida)
    Astrangia danae

  20. Ivory Bush Coral  ______  FL  (AS:35)
    Oculina diffusa

  21. Meandrine Brain Coral  ______  FL  (ASC:5)
    Meandrina meandrites

  22. Stokes' Star Coral  ______  FL  (ASC:7)
    Dichocoenia stokesii

  23. Pillar Coral  ______  FL  (ASC:6)
    Dendrogyra cyclindrus 

  24. Flower Coral  ______  FL  (ASC:173,198)
    Eusmilia fastigiata



    JELLYFISH  (Class Scyphozoa)

  25. Crown Jellyfish  ______  FL  (ASC:503)
    Nausithoe punctata

  26. Purple Jellyfish  ______  (ASC:508)
    Pelagica noctiluca

    The Purple Jellyfish occurs in large swarms, which appear as glowing white balls at night.

  27. Sea Nettle  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:506,510)
    Chrysaura quinquecirrha

  28. Lion's Mane  ______  FL  (ASC:514)
    Cyanea capillata

    The Lion's Mane is the largest jellyfish in the world. Specimens up to 8 feet wide have been found.

    In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's story, "The Adventure of the Lion's Mane", Sherlock Holmes solves a homicide caused by contact between the victim and this medusa in a tidepool.

  29. Upside-down Jellyfish  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:509)
    Cassiopeia xamachana

  30. Moon Jellyfish  (ph) (*)  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:502)
    Aurelia aurita



    Moon Jellyfish
    Above on a beach; below in the water 



  31. Cannonball Jellyfish  (*)  ______  FL  TX   (ASC:507,514)
    Stomolophus meleagris 


    HYDROIDS  (Class Hydrozoa, Order Siphonophora: not true jellyfish)

  32. Portuguese Man-of-war  (*)  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:512,513)
    Physalia physalis


    MOLLUSKS  (SHELLS)


    SEASHELLS are made by MOLLUSKS

    MOLLUSKS are invertebrate animals that produce shells of one or two pieces that wholly or partially enclose a soft body.

    SHELLS are the skeletons of MOLLUSKS. Like the internal skeleton (endoskeleton) of a mammal, the external skeleton (exoskeleton) of mollusks function both for protection and as a place for muscle attachment. 
    A SHELL found on a beach is the skeletal remnant of a dead MOLLUSK.

    MOLLUSKS are either snail-like animals with one shell (UNIVALVES, or GASTROPODS),  or clam-like animals with two shells (BIVALVES). The two shells of a BIVALVE are held tightly together when the animal is alive.

    A third group of MOLLUSKS are the CEPHALOPODS, including SQUIDS and OCTOPUSES. These animals lack external shells, having instead internal or rudimentary shells.  



    GASTROPODS  (Class Gastropoda): snail-like mollusks with a one -part shell

  33. Rough-girdled Chiton  ______  FL  (ASC:375)
    Ceratozona squalida

  34. Mesh-pitted Chiton  ______  FL  TX
    Ischnochiton papillosus

  35. Florida Slender Chiton  ______  FL  (ASC:378)
    Stenoplax floridana

  36. Common Bee Chiton  ______  FL
    Chaetopleura apiculata


  37. Cayenne Keyhole Limpet  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:384)
    Diodora cayenensis

  38. Bleeding Tooth  (ph)  ______  FL
    Nerita peloronta



    Bleeding Tooth

  39. Checkered Nerita  ______  FL  TX
    Nerita tessellata

  40. Marsh Periwinkle  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:473)
    Littorina irrorata

  41. Angulate Periwinkle  ______  FL
    Littorina irrorata

  42. Boring Turret Snail  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:399)
    Turritella acropora

  43. Variegated Turret Snail  ______  FL
    Turritella variegata

  44. Common Worm Snail  ______  FL  (ASC:475)
    Vermicularia spirata 

  45. Common Sundial  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:433)
    Architectonica nobilis

  46. Costate Horn Snail  ______  FL  (ASC:396)
    Cerithidea costata

  47. Ladder Horn Snail  ______  FL
    Cerithidea scalariformis

  48. Black Horn Snail  ______  FL  (ASC:401)
    Batillaria minima

  49. Ivory Cerith  ______  FL
    Cerithium ebureum

  50. Florida Cerith  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:402)
    Cerithium floridanum

  51. Lettered Cerith  ______  FL
    Cerithium literatum

  52. Dwarf Cerith  ______  FL
    Cerithium variabile

  53. Variable Bittium  ______  FL  TX
    Bittium varium

  54. Common Purple Sea Snail  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:466)
    Janthina janthina

  55. Angulate Wentletrap  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:395)
    Epitonium angulatum

  56. Common Slipper Snail  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:462) 
    Crepidula fornicata

  57. Eastern White Slipper Snail  ______  FL  TX
    Crepidula plana

  58. Fighting Conch  ______  FL  TX
    Strombus alatus

  59. Queen Conch  (ph)  ______  FL  (ASC:435)
    Strombus gigas

  60. Four-spotted Trivia  ______  FL  (ASC:450)
    Trivia quadripunctata

  61. Atlantic Deer Cowrie  _____  FL  TX
    Cypraea cervus

  62. Atlantic Gray Cowrie  ______  FL
    Cypraea spadicea

  63. Flamingo Tongue  (ph)  ______  FL  (ASC:449)
    Cyphoma gibbosum



    Flamingo Tongue


  64. Shark Eye (or Moon Shell (ph)  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:467)
    Polinices duplicatus 



    Some Shark Eyes, or Moon Shells
    (photo by Marie Gardner)

  65. Common Baby's Ear  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:465)
    Sinum perspectivum

  66. Emperor Helmet  ______  FL  (ASC:434)
    Cassis madagascariensis

  67. Scotch Bonnet  (ph)  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:454)
    Phalium granulatum



    The Scotch Bonnet, on each side

  68. Angular Triton  ______  FL  (ASC:419)
    Cymatium femorale

  69. Apple Murex  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:437)
    Phyllonotus pomum

  70. Lace Murex  ______  FL  (ASC:438)
    Chicoreus florifer

  71. Rock Snail  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:415)
    Thais haemastoma

  72. Atlantic Oyster Drill  ______  FL  (ASC:407)
    Urosalpinx cinerea

  73. Mottled Dove Snail  ______  FL
    Columbella mercatoria

  74. Greedy Dove Snail  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:406)
    Anachis avara

  75. Lunar Dove Snail  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:453)
    Mitrella lunata

  76. Channeled Whelk  (ph)  ______  FL  (ASC:417)
    Busycon canaliculatum



    A grouping of Channeled Whelks
    (photo by Marie Gardner)

  77. Knobbed Whelk  ______  FL
    Busycon carica

  78. Lightning Whelk  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:427,428)
    Busycon contrarium

  79. Crown Conch  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:429)
    Melongena corona

  80. Mud Dog Whelk  ______  FL  (ASC:452)
    Nassarius obsoletus

  81. Mottled Dog Whelk  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:413)
    Nassarius vibex

  82. Florida Horse Conch  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:426)
    Pleuroploca gigantea

    Pleuroploca gigantea
    is the largest snail on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the US. It is 24 inches long & 10 inches wide.

  83. True Tulip Snail  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:421)
    Fasciolaria tulipa

  84. Banded Tulip Snail  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:422)
    Fasciolaria hunteria

  85. Netted Olive  ______  FL  (ASC:440)
    Oliva reticularis

  86. Variable Dwarf Olive  ______  FL  TX
    Olivella hiplicata 

  87. Lettered Olive  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:441,442)
    Oliva sayana

  88. Beaded Miter  ______  FL  (ASC:403)
    Mitra nodulosa

  89. Junonia  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:423)
    Scaphella junonia

  90. Common Nutmeg  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:416)
    Cancellaria reticulata

  91. Common Marginella  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:439)
    Prunum apicinum

  92. Mouse Cone  ______  FL  (ASC:431)
    Conus mus

  93. Alphabet Cone  ______  FL  (ASC:430)
    Conus spurius

  94. Stearns' Cone  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:432)
    Conus stearnsi

  95. Concave Auger  ______  FL  (ASC:397)
    Terebra concava

  96. Common Atlantic Auger ______  FL  TX  (ASC:398)
    Terebra dislocata


    TURRET or TURRID SHELLS:  Family TURRIDAE

  97. Cuban Turrid  ______  FL  in south Florida
    Crassispira cubana

    The Cuban Turrid has been said to be Crassispira mesoleuca.

  98. Sanibel Turret  ______  FL  (PS:65)   in west Florida, and the Bahamas
    Crassispira sanibelensis

    The Sanibel Turret (above) and the Tampa Turrid (below) were both described in 1939.

  99. Tampa Turrid  ______  FL  (PS:65)   in west Florida
    Crassispira tampaensis

  100. Star Turrid  ______  FL  (PS:65)   North Carolina to the Gulf of Mexico, and in the West Indies
    Cochlespira radiata

  101. Elegant Star Turrid  ______  FL   both sides of Florida
    Cochlespira elegans    

  102. Gabb's Mangelia  ______  FL  (PS:65)   Florida, Gulf of Mexico, West Indies
    Glyphostoma gabbi

  103. White-banded Drillia  ______  FL  (PS:65)   Florida and the West Indies
    Monilispira albomaculata

  104. Knobby Drillia  ______  FL  (PS:65)   south Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and the West Indies
    Monilispira leucocyma

  105. Collared Drillia  ______  FL   in south Florida
    Monilispira monilis

    The Collared Drillia was described in 1939.

  106. Glorious Drillia  ______  FL   Florida, the West Indies
    Neodrillia cydia

    The Glorious Drillia was described in 1943.

  107. Clapp's Drillia  ______  FL   in west Florida
    Cerodrillia clappi

    The Clapp's Drillia was described in 1939.

  108. Thea Drillia  ______  FL  (PS:63)   in west Florida
    Cerodrillia thea

  109. Janet's Turret  ______  FL  (PS:65)   Florida, the West Indies
    Fenimorea janetae

    Janet's Turret was described in 1934.

  110. Moser's Turret  ______  FL   North Carolina to Florida, and the Gulf of Mexico
    Fenimorea moseri

  111. Oyster Turret  ______  FL  (ASC:404)
    Crassispira ostrearum

  112. Common West Indian Bubble  ______  FL  (ASC:443)
    Bulla occidentalis

  113. Warty Sea Cat  ______  FL  (ASC:211)
    Dolabrifera dolabrifera

  114. Spotted Sea Hare ______  FL  TX  (ASC:210)
    Aplysia dactylomela

  115. Ragged Sea Hare  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:148)
    Bursatella leachi

  116. Common Lettuce Slug  ______  FL  (ASC:212)
    Tridachia crispata

  117. Saltmarsh Snail  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:446,448)
    Melampus bidentatus 


    BIVALVES  (Class Bivalva)

  118. Atlantic Nut Clam  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:329)
    Nucula proxima

  119. Veiled Clam  ______  FL
    Solemya velum

  120. Turkey Wing  ______  FL  TX  
    Arca zebra

  121. White-bearded Ark  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:323)
    Barbatia candida

  122. Blood Ark  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:369)
    Anadara ovalis

  123. Ponderous Ark  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:367)
    Noetia ponderosa

  124. Comb Bittersweet  ______  FL  (ASC:365)
    Glycymeris pectinata

  125. Ribbed Mussel  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:295)
    Ischadium demissum

  126. Flat Tree Oyster  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:357)
    Isognomon alatus

  127. Atlantic Pearl Oyster  ______  FL  TX
    Pinctada radiata

  128. Stiff Pen Shell  ______  FL  (ASC:298,354) 
    Atrina rigida

  129. Saw-toothed Pen Shell  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:299) 
    Atrina serrata

  130. Kitten's Paw  (ph)  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:361) 
    Plicatula gibbosa



  131. Atlantic Bay Scallop  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:353)
    Argopecten irradians

  132. Lion's Paw  (ph)  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:352)
    Nodipecten nodosus



    Above & below: Lion's Paw
    Below, as it appears in the sea



  133. Atlantic Thorny Oyster  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:349)
    Spondylus americanus

  134. Antillean File Shell  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:325)
    Lima pellucida

  135. Rough File Shell  ______  FL  (ASC:350)
    Lima scabra

  136. Common Jingle Shell  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:345)
    Anomia simplex

  137. Eastern Oyster  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:289)
    Crassostrea virginica

  138. Coon Oyster  ______  FL  (ASC:359)
    Dendrostrea frons

  139. Broad-ribbed Cardita  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:324)
    Carditamera floridana

  140. Carolina Marsh Clam  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:337)
    Polymesoda caroliniana

  141. Buttercup Lucine  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:333)
    Anodontia alba

  142. Tiger Lucine  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:332)
    Codakia orbicularis

  143. Cross-hatched Lucine  ______  FL  (ASC:331)
    Divaricella quadrisulcata

  144. Leafy Jewel Box  (ph)  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:347)
    Chama macerophylla 



    Leafy Jewel Box

  145. Florida Spiny Jewel Box  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:348)
    Arcinella cornuta

  146. Atlantic Strawberry Cockle  ______  FL  (ASC:362)
    Americardia media 

  147. Giant Atlantic Cockle  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:366)
    Dinocardium robustum 

  148. Common Egg Cockle  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:330)
    Laevicardium laevigatum

  149. Morton's Egg Cockle  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:342)
    Laevicardium mortoni 

  150. Yellow Cockle  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:363)
    Trachycardium muricatum

  151. Disk Dosinia  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:334)
    Dosinia discus

  152. Sunray Venus  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:302)
    Macrocallista nimbosa

  153. Southern Quahog  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:336)
    Mercenaria campechiensis

    The Southern Quahog is heavier and broader than its close relative, the Northern Quahog
    Although their ranges overlap, the Southern Quahog has not been exploited for food nearly as much as its northern relative.

  154. Northern Quahog (Clam)  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:338) 
    Mercenaria mercenaria  

  155. False Angel Wing  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:297)
    Petricola pholadiformis

  156. Alternate Tellin  ______  FL  TX  
    Tellina alternata

  157. Iris Tellin  ______  FL  TX
    Tellina agilis

  158. Candy Stick Tellin  ______  FL
    Tellina similis  

  159. Coquina  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:321)
    Donax variabilis 

    The Spanish fort at St, Augustine in Florida was made with Coquina about 400 years ago. 

  160. Jackknife Clam  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:305)
    Tagelus plebeius

  161. Common Razor Clam  ______  FL  (ASC:308)  
    Ensis directus 

  162. Angel Wing  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:296)
    Cyrtopleura costata

  163. Striated Wood Piddock  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:313)
    Martesia striata

  164. Common Shipworm  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:311)
    Teredo navalis 


    SQUIDS & OCTOPODS  (Class Cephalopoda)

  165. Caribbean Reef (or Briar) Octopus  (ph)  ______  FL
    Octopus briareus



    A Caribbean Reef, or Briar Octopus

  166. Joubin's Octopus  ______  FL
    Octopus joubini

  167. Long-armed Octopus  ______  FL
    Octopus macropus 

  168. Common Atlantic Octopus  ______   (ASC:480)
    Octopus vulgaris



    ARTHROPODS  (Class Merostomata)

  169. Horseshoe Crab  (ph)  ______  FL  (ASC:666)
    Limulus polyphemus 



    Horseshoe Crab 
    (photo by Rise Hill)


    CRUSTACEANS

  170. Brown Shrimp  ______  FL  TX
    Penaeus aztecus

  171. Pink Shrimp  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:609,611)
    Penaeus duorarum

  172. White Shrimp  ______  FL  TX
    Penaeus setiferus

  173. Common Shore Shrimp  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:607)
    Palaemonetes vulgaris 

  174. Pederson's Cleaning Shrimp  ______  FL  (ASC:616)
    Periclimenes pedersoni

  175. Spotted Cleaning Shrimp  ______  FL  (ASC:617)
    Periclimenes yucatanicus

  176. Brown Pistol Shrimp  ______  FL  (ASC:622)
    Alpheus armatus

  177. Banded Coral Shrimp  ______  FL  (ASC:618)
    Stenopus hispidus

  178. Grabham's Cleaning Shrimp  ______  FL  (ASC:615)
    Lysmata grabhami

  179. Red-lined Cleaning Shrimp  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:613)
    Lysmata wurdemanni

  180. Sand Shrimp  ______  FL  (ASC:593)
    Crangon septemspinosa

  181. Caribbean Lobster (or Caribbean Lobsterette)  ______  FL
    Metanephrops binghami

  182. West Indian Spiny Lobster  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:625)
    Panulirus argas

  183. Spanish Lobster  ______  FL  (ASC:626,627)
    Scyllarides aequinoctialis

  184. Ridged Slipper Lobster  ______  FL  TX
    Scyllarides nodifer

  185. Flat-browed Mud Shrimp  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:621)
    Upogebia affinis

  186. Say's Porcelain Crab  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:647)
    Porcellana sayana

  187. Land Hermit Crab  ______  FL  (ASC:685)
    Coenobita clypeatus

  188. Giant Hermit Crab  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:682)
    Petrochirus diogenes

  189. Striped Hermit Crab  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:684)
    Clibanarius vittatus

  190. Bar-eyed Hermit Crab  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:680)
    Dardanus fucosus

  191. Star-eyed Hermit Crab  ______  FL  (ASC:687)
    Dardanus venosus

  192. Long-clawed Hermit Crab  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:677)
    Pagurus longicarpus

    The Long-clawed Hermit Crab is the most common hermit crab along the Atlantic Coast. It normally uses the shells of the periwinkle, mud snail, or oyster drill.  

  193. Flat-clawed Hermit Crab  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:676)
    Pagurus pollicaris

    The Flat-clawed Hermit Crab is often found in the shells of Moon Snails and the larger whelks.  

  194. Atlantic Mole Crab  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:690)
    Emerita talpoida

  195. Sponge Crab  ______  FL  (ASC:670)
    Dromia erythropus

  196. Lesser Sponge Crab  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:669)
    Dromidia antillensis

  197. Purse Crab  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:635)
    Persephona punctata

  198. Flame-streaked Box Crab  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:671)
    Calappa flammea

  199. Yellow Box Crab  ______  FL  (ASC:673)
    Calappa gallus

  200. Calico Crab  (ph)  ______  FL  TX  (also called "Dolly Varden")
    Hepatus epheliticus



    Calico Crab

  201. Flat-browed Crab  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:633)
    Portunus depressifrons  

  202. Sargassum Crab  (ph)  _____  FL  TX  (ASC:658) 
    Portunus sayi  

    The Sargassum Crab is normally a creature of the high seas and a member of the Sargasso Weed community. 

  203. Blue Crab  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:657)
    Callinectes sapidus

  204. Jonah Crab  ______  FL  (ASC:653)
    Cancer borealis

  205. Coral Crab  (ph)  ______  FL  (ASC:648)
    Carpilius corallinus

  206. Warty Crab  ______  FL  
    Eriphia gonagra

  207. Flat Mud Crab  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:645)
    Eurypanopeus depressus

  208. Stone Crab  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:642)
    Menippe mercenaria

  209. Commensal Crabs  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:634)
    Pinnotheres spp.

  210. Sally Lightfoot  (ph)  ______  FL  (ASC:649)
    Grapus grapus

  211. Mottled Shore Crab  ______  FL  TX  
    Pachygrapus crassipes

  212. Flattened Crab  ______  FL
    Plagusia depressa

  213. Wharf Crab  ______  (ASC:665) 
    Sesarma cinereum

  214. Great (or Giant Blue) Land Crab  (ph)  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:632)
    Cardisoma guanhumi



    Great, or Giant Blue Land Crab

  215. Black Land Crab  ______  FL  TX
    Gecarcinus lateralis

  216. Mountain Crab  ______  FL  (ASC:638)
    Gecarcinus ruricola

  217. Ghost Crab  (ph)  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:631)
    Ocypode quadrata



    Ghost Crab

  218. Brackish-water Fiddler  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:629)
    Uca minax

  219. Sand Fiddler  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:628)
    Uca pugilator

  220. Mud Fiddler  ______  FL  TX
    Uca pugnax

  221. Common Spider Crab  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:656)
    Libinia emarginata

  222. Spiny Spider Crab  ______  FL  (ASC:640)
    Mithrax spinosissimus

  223. Atlantic Decorator Crab  ______  FL
    Stenocianops furcata

  224. Arrow Crab  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:574)
    Stenohynchus seticornis

  225. Pourtales' Long-armed Crab  ______  FL
    Parthenope pourtalesii

  226. Saw-toothed Crab  ______  FL
    Parthenope serrata



    ECHINODERMS


    ASTEROIDS  (Class Stelleroidea): including the sea stars and brittle stars

    "Sea Star" is preferred to "Star Fish" as that term is a misnomer as "fish" are finny vertebrates.

  227. Banded Luidia  ______  FL  TX  (ASC:564)
    Luidia alternata

  228. Striped Luidia  ______
    Luidia clathrata

  229. Plate-margined Sea Star  ______
    Astropecten articulatus

  230. Cushion Star  (ph)  ______  FL  (ASC:541)
    Oreaster reticulatus



    Cushion Star

  231. Thorny Sea Star  ______  FL  (ASC:549)
    Echinaster sentus

  232. Common Comet Star  ______  FL 
    Linckia columbiae

  233. Forbes' Common Sea Star  ______   FL  TX  (ASC:557,558)
    Asterias forbesi

  234. Caribbean Basket Star  ______  FL  (ASC:573)
    Astrophyton muricatum

  235. Short-spinned Brittle Star  ______  FL
    Ophioderma brevispina

  236. Dwarf Brittle Star  ______  FL  (ASC:568)
    Axiognathus squamatus

  237. Atlantic Long-spined Brittle Star  ______  FL  TX
    Ophiothrix angulata

  238. Reticulate Brittle Star  ______  FL  (ASC:565)
    Ophionereis reticulata

  239. Spiny Brittle Star  ______  FL  (ASC:569)
    Ophiocoma echinata
     

    (Class Echinoidea): including sea urchins and sand dollars
     
  240. Atlantic Purple Sea Urchin  ______  NC 689
    Arbacia punctulata

  241. Variegated Urchin  ______  NC 690
    Lytechinus variegatus 

  242. Michelin's Sand Dollar  _______  (ASC:533)
    Encope michelini

  243. Keyhole Urchin (or Keyhole Sand Dollar______  NC  (ASC:534)
    Mellita quinquiesperforata

    Mellita quinquiesperforata is more closely related to other sand dollars than to sea urchins.

  244. Six-hole Urchin  ______  (ASC:532)
    Mellita sexieperforata

  245. Mud Heart Urchin  ______  
    Moira atropos 

References include:

"Sea Life - A Complete Guide to the Marine Environment", edited by Geoffrey Waller, with principal contributors Marc Dando & Michael Burchett, 1996.  


To Top of Page