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GOLDEN GUIDES: GOLDEN FIELD GUIDES:
GOLDEN GUIDES NATURE BIRDS
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BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS
CACTI
EXOTIC PLANTS FOR HOUSE AND GARDEN FLOWERS
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FOSSILS
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REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
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TROPICAL FISH
CATS
FISHES
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INSECTS
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POND LIFE
ROCKS AND MINERALS
SEASHELLS OF THE WORLD
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ORCHIDS
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HALLUCINOGENIC PLANTS
INSECT PESTS
NON-FLOWERING PLANTS
TREES
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GAMEBIRDS
HERBS AND SPICES
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SPIDERS AND THEIR KIN
WEEDS
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YOSEMITE
•
SEASHORES •
STARS
ZOO ANIMALS
SCIENCE BOTANY
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GEOLOGY
ECOLOGY •
HEART
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EVOLUTION
LANDFORMS
OCEANOGRAPHY
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FAMILIES OF BIRDS
LIGHT AND COLOR
WEATHER
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ZOOLOGY
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ANTIQUES
HOBBIES AMERICAN ANTIQUE GLASS CASINO GAMES INDIAN ARTS
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FISHING
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WINES
GOLDEN FIELD GUIDES BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA
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SEASHELLS OF NORTH AMERICA
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TREES OF NORTH AMERICA
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458
SPECIES
IN
FULL COLOR
��SHORES A GUIDE TO ANIMALS AND PLANTS ALONG THE BEACHES
by H ERBERT S. Z IM, Ph.D. and LESTER INGLE, P h . D . Professor o f Zoology, University of I l linois
ILLUSTRATED BY DOROTHEA AND SY BARLOWE
@
GOLDEN PRESS
•
NEW YORK
Western Publi s h i n g C o m p a ny, I n c . R a c i n e, Wisco n s i n
F O REWO RD
Where land and ocean meet at the shore, a mysterious world begins. Here the drama of the sea and its l ife comes to a focus. This book-a seashore primer-wi l l help you un dersta nd and en joy this unique zone. Many persons hel ped to make our book possible. First to be thanked ore the artists, Sy and Dorothea Ba rlowe, for their excel lent work. Va lued suggestions and criticisms came from severa l experts; E. J. Alexa nder, Frederick M. Boyer, Wi l liam D. C la rke, John E. Fitch, I ra N. Gabrielson, Howard R. H i l l, Alexander C . Marti n, Harol d A. Re hder, Pau l C. Si lva, a n d Alexander Sprunt IV. Dona l d F. Hoff meister, Nata lie and Mi lton Zim, Fro n k C. McKeever, Rosa lie Wei kert, Donald P. Rogers, and S. A. Fo rin helped with source materia The New York Botanica l Gorden, American Museum of Natura l History, Smithsonian I nsti tution, Philadelphia Academy of Natu ra l Sciences, Los Angeles County Museu m, and Un iversity of I l linois Natura l History Museum a lso gave generous assista nce. 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 vis1.1al 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.
H OW
TO
USE
T H IS B O OK
The Un ited States has a bout 88,600 miles of tidal shore line, and nearly every mile is a place of potentia l inter est. Everyth ing on the shore is worth your attention, from the magnificent sweep of the sea and sky to the forms of life that dwe l l on Rainbow Jelly-a Comb Jelly the beach or a re cast up there. Hunting for shells has long been a favorite pastime. This book will help in iden tification, but it is more than a guide to shells. It attem pts, in a simple way, to g ive a picture of life at the shore, from soaring g u l l s to worms and clams. You ca n use this book best if you begin before you g o t o t h e shore. Read these introd uctory pages. Thumb throug h the book to get acquainted with marine plant and animal life. Remember that she l ls and seaweeds cast up on the beach may look quite different from the living plants a nd a n i m a l s. Remember a lso that, yard for yard, some shore areas a re much richer in plant and a n i m a l life than any other areas. Don't expect to identify everything you find. Use the key on the next two pages as a sta rter. With its help, you can place most things within a major group. Then l ook further to see if your specimen or one like it is i l l u st rated . I l l ustrations show only the m ost com mon of thousa nds of species. You rs may be simi l a r to, but not identica l with, the one i l l ustrated . Sizes g iven are average; a l l ow for variation. For more detailed identifica tion use scientific na mes (pp. 1 54- 1 57), the books listed on p. 1 54, and m u seum study collections. 3
A
PICTURED KEY
PLANTS ALGAE-non-flowering
plants,
of
varied
PAGES 18-35
form-seaweeds.
Blue-green Algae ( 1 ,500 speciesl thread-like
or
branched
filaments;
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
delicate
than
brown;
deeper, warmer water. FLOWERING
PLANTS-a
live
in
31-35 great
group
(250,000 species), with roots, stems, leaves, flowers. Only common dune and shore spe cies are included.
141-146
ANIMALS SPONGES
(3,000 species)-simple, many
celled animals with numerous pores; vary ing form and kinds of skeleton. CORALS and KIN
41-43
(5,000 species)-soft,
cup-like, with tentacles, stinging cells. Some have limy skeletons.
44-52
COMB JELLIES-jellyfish-like; no stinging cells; some with paired tentacles.
53
WORMS-four to twelve groups (phyla), with distinct characteristics; some round, some flat, some segmented.
4
54-57
TO SEASHORE LIFE MOSS ANIMALS and LAMP SHELLS a small, diverse, and ancient group. Shell, dosal and ventral valves.
58-59
STARFISH and KIN (6,000 species)-with radial bodies (five divisions).
60-66
ARTHROPODS-jointed-legged, ternal skeleton; a vast group.
with
ex
67-79
Crustacea (25,000 species)-jointed legs
and
clude
segmented
barnacles,
abdomens;
crabs,
shrimp.
in-
lobsters,
68-79
MOLLUSKS or SHELLFISH
(80,000 spe
cies)-soft-bodied, shelled.
80-140
Chitons -primitive mollusks with 8plated shell.
81
Bivalves (Pelecypods)-animals with shell in two lateral halves.
Univalves
82-110
(Gastropod 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. BIRDS-of the
140 70,000
species of verte
brates, including sharks and fish, whales, and other
marine
mammals,
birds are covered in this book.
only
shore
147-153
5
ACTIVITIES FOR
AMATEURS
OBSERVATION is the key to science a n d to e n joying
shore l ife. Watc h ca refu l ly; deta i l s of form a n d movement can n ot be seen otherwise. Observe at the bea c h . Take l ive specimens home for study. Make a sa lt-water a q u a r ium a n d keep s m a l l specimens a l ive. The practice of keeping n otes a n d records will make your observations sha rper, your u n dersta n d i n g broader. CLOT HING is i m porta nt in your ventures-warm c l oth ing
a n d rubber boots i n colder months, a bath ing suit or the eq u ivalent at other times. Wear snea kers to protect feet. Goggles a n d snorkel w i l l give experienced swim mers entree into a new world. Begi n ners be careful! EQ UIPMENT can be simple. Use binoculars for b irds, a
pail a n d other wide-mouthed conta iners for a lgae a n d s m a l l a n i m a ls. A trowe l, a spading fork, a n d a kitchen or putty kn ife a re h a ndy. later you may fi n d landing and dredging n ets a h e l p; with them, col lecti ng from a small boat is rewa rding fun. A good magnifying g la ss or, better sti ll, a low-power m icroscope w i l l g ive you a chance to study sma l l invertebrates while they sport in a few table spoons of sea water. For preserving sea a n i m a ls, use rub b i n g a lcohol, slig htly d i l uted. Mol l usks ca n be clea ned by boi ling. Sta rfish and kin ca n be dried in the s u n .
6
LOOK a l l around you. Try d ifferent types of shores, as
pla nts a n d a n i m a l s vary greatly o n mud flats a n d rocky and sandy beaches. look u n der rocks. Dig i nto sand a n d m u d . Wade o ut, especia lly a t l o w tide, t o fi n d specimens you may m iss otherwise. Don't overlook the a l gae and shells washed ashore after storms. Some s m a l ler creatures are the m ost attractive. GET HELP in identifying your specimens. Besides this
book, try the more advanced ones listed o n p. 1 54. Ex perts at m useums a n d u n iversities a re often g lad to hel p. Most m a rine biological resea rch stations welcome visitors. The U.S. Fish and W i l d l ife Service, Washin gton 25, D.C., has tec h n ical publ ications on marine species of eco n o m ic va l ue. Dea lers in shells may h e l p you in ide ntification a n d ca n supply specimens f o r y o u r col lection . CONSERVATION o f t h e r i c h resou rces o f o u r s hores i s your responsi b i l ity. Everyon e who enjoys t h e w i n d a n d tide, t h e terns, a n d t h e she l ls u n derfoot h a s a sta ke i n preserving o u r shores in their natura l state. Pol l ution of shore waters by s h i ps, cities, a n d factories is a serious pro b l e m . A n i m a l s are harmed by chemical wastes or l ow ered oxygen content of water. Su pport groups working to protect our seashores a n d their natural resou rces. 7
THE SEAS AND THE S HORES
Greatest depth of sea
THE SEAS cover about 72% of the earth's surface-6 1 %
o f t h e n orthern a n d 8 1 % o f t h e southern hemisphere. The a verage height of a l l the land is a bout Y2 m i le. If the surface of the ea rth were smooth, an ocea n 2 m i les deep wou ld cover it. The weight of the seas i n tons is estimated at the fi g ure 12 followed by 1 7 zeros. This water, a great reservoir of heat, profou n d l y affects c l imate. In it oxygen, carbon diox1de, and other gases are d issolved; so are many sol ids, which make up about 3]12% of the weight of the seas. These solids include more gold than has ever been m i ned and enough iron to last man thousands of years. The Un ited States a lone has 88,600 m i l es of coast l ine; the world, proba bly over a m i l lion. Shores are rich in plant and a n i m a l life, and here im porta nt geologic cha nges are ta king p lace. Seas cover nearly% of the earth 's surface.
8
Shallow-water l ife about 400 m i l l ion years ago
L I F E went o n i n the seas for m i l l ions of years before plants a n d a n i m a l s ventured on to l a nd. The tra nsition was a slow one, and in it the s hore zone was a critica l area. Some ancient sea a n i m a ls have survived and have cha nged so l ittle they c l osely resemble their fossi l a ncestors; others changed greatly. But land a n i m a l s sti l l show traces of their origins. The l i q u i d portion of your b lood, and that of other land a n i m a ls, conta i n s i n sol ution many of the same chem ica ls a s sea water.
9
SEASHORES, the battleline between land a n d sea, are of
two m a i n types. Where shore lines are sinking, the sea carves the l a n d into sea c l iffs, terraces, a rches, caves, a n d rocky bea ches. These dra matic s hores a n d hea d l a n d s may enco m pa ss shal low bays where sand a n d pebbles form protected beaches. A wealth of plant a n d a n i m a l l ife is often f o u n d on rocks between t h e tidemarks. Tide pools are u n i q u e p laces to study shore l ife-both plant and animal. Large a reas o f sloping sea bottom a r e often exposed 10
a long nsmg shore l ines where land is u p l ifted . Sand, m oved by waves a n d currents, builds u p an offshore bar or barrier beach between a protected l a goon and the b reakers. Bars a n d spits a l so deve lop. Wind m oves dry sand i nto s h ifting d u nes. Bra ckish tida l m a rshes may form with a b u n d a n t pla nts, birds, and s m a l ler a n i m a ls. life a long sandy beaches is often disti nct from l ife o n rocky ones. Different kinds of s h e l lfish, worms, and crustacea l ive on each. Some sandy beaches may be q u ite barren, except for things washed u p . ll
SPRING TIDE
NEAP TIDE
TIDES
Moon
. t
The range of the tide de pends on the s h a pe of th e c o a s t . O n open coasts, i t i s u s u a l l y l e ss th an 8 ft. , but in funnel s h a p e d b a ys, l i k e the Ba y of F u n d y, t he t ide may rise 3 0 to 4 0 ft .
TIDES result from the g ravitational pu l l o f m oon a n d sun. The moon, much n earer the earth, has a stronger p u l l than the sun. When sun and moon are i n l ine with ea rth a n d pull together, h i g h tide is h i g hest, low tide lowest. When they p u l l at a right a n g le, tides are less extreme. As the moon revolves and the earth turns, the tida l b u lge m oves around the ea rth . Tides on the Atla ntic a n d Pacific coasts come about a n hour later each day. Sha pes of the ocean basin and of the coasts affect tides. The Gulf of Mexico has l or 2-ft. tides; elsewhere they are 4 to 8 ft. or more.
12
WAVES a re ca used by the winds. The steady push of wind g ives the wafer its ro l l ing, rising a n d fa l li n g m otion. As the water m oves u p and down, the wave itse lf m oves forwa rd. Waves have l ittle effect a h u n dred feet down, but as they m ove i nto shal low water near the s hore, the friction of the bottom ca uses them to rise hig her u nti l they tip forward i n a n a rc and brea k . The breaker, like a m i n i ature waterfa l l , rushes u p the b e a c h ti l l i t s energy is ex ha usted. Currents and undertows along the shores may be set u p by wave action.
S HORE LIFE differs"on rocky a n d sa ndy beaches, a n d o n exposed a n d protected ones. Each b it o f beach shows how pla nts and a n i m a l s l ive together i n certa i n broad l ife zones. F irst and hig hest i s the dry beach or dune area. The u p perm ost beach is reached only by the h i g h est tides, storm waves, and ocea n spray. The u p per beach gets wet by tides twice dai ly, but the pla nts and a n i m a l s are more ada pted to land and air than to water. In the middle beach, which is covered with water most of the time, pla nts and a n i m a l s a re norma l l y less exposed to air and are 14
m ore harmed by drying. The lower beach is a l m ost a l ways submerged except during the very lowest tides a n d so is exposed no m ore t h a n twice monthly-during t h e "spring" tides. Plant and a n i m a l l ife form cha racteristic com m u n ities withi n these broad zones. Each is adapted to a partic u l a r m a rine environment a n d its food su pply. Water tem per ature due to latitude or offshore c urrents, sa l i n ity a s affected by streams, a n d po l l ution from ships a n d cities modify the shore l ife of a region.
Foraminifera
D iatoms (top)
C opepods
PLA N KTON is to the sea what grass is to the l a n d-the basic food. All forms of p l a n kton a re very s m a l l , often m icroscopic. Bil lions upon bil lions l ive i n the sea . Most common a re the diato ms, p l a nts of colder waters which furnish a l m ost nine-tenths of the food i n the ocean . Dia toms a nd other m icroscopic pla nts are m ore common than dinofl a g e l l ates a n d the p l a n kton a n i m a ls. Among the latter are incl uded sing le-cel led a n i m a ls, small jel lyfish, and copepods-tiny re latives of lobsters a n d crabs. Plank-
Dinoflagellates
Radiolarians
ton serves as food for sma l l fish and other sea a nim a l s w h i c h , in t u r n , a re eaten by larger species. One a uthority fi g ures a b o u t 1 0,000 l b . of diatoms are eaten to make 1 ,000 l b . of copepods, and 1 ,000 l b . of copepods pro d uce 1 00 lb. of smelts. The 1 00 lb. of smelts, when eaten, give 1 0 lb. of mackerel w h ich, as food, m a ke 1 l b. of tuna. Caug h t, canned, and eaten, 1 lb. of t u n a increases m a n 's body weight by o n l y 0. 1 lb. Such food c h a i n s i l l us trate the interdependence of sea l ife.
MARINE ALGAE
Seaweeds, or marine a l gae, a re easy to col lect, preserve, and study. Of about 1 8,000 kinds of a lgae, some l ive o n land, more i n fresh water, b u t m ost are marine. These g row attached to rocks, piles, a n d even boats. Storms wash u p deep-water species. Any rocky beach or wharf is good collectin g ground. Take a pail, spoon, kn ife, a n d putty k n ife a long. W e a r appropriate clothing. Scra pe a lgae free a n d drop them into you r pa i l of sea water. Later, at home, float one p l a nt at a time i n a large tray or dishpa n . As it floats, arran ge, trim, and spread it. Slip a s heet of heavy wh ite paper u n der it. Ra ise s lowly, lettin g plant settle a n d water drain off. Most s m a l l e r specimens w i l l ad here a n d dry i n place. Larger seaweeds can be photogra phed, or preserved i n alcohol or 6% forma lde hyde. More i nteresting than preserving specimens is de ta iled study of them when a l ive. For this; a h i g h-powered m icroscope and h igh- powered patience are needed.
2. F loot specimen i nto positi on. Ro ise poper o n d remove slowly.
F loot specimen i n p o n o f sea water. Slide heavy paper beneath.
3 . Cover with cheese cloth. Dry between blotters, mou nt, and label.
r:· .. , ....::J
19
BLU E-GREEN ALGAE are a widespread group of some 1 ,500 i n co nspicuous species, both marine and fresh-water. They form dark scums o n mud, rocks, and pi l es, or a ppear as a velvety fuzz o n boat bottoms. Most a re dark b l uish g reen i n color and can thrive i n pol l u ted waters unsuited for other a lgae a n d a n i m a l l ife. Some species l ive in hot springs; others give the Red Sea its color. I dentification is difficult without m icroscopic exam ination of the thread like, often g e l atinous p l ants. Mermaid's H a i r l ives o n m ud, rocks, and piling i n shal low water of both coasts. The sim ple, u nbranched fi laments are curled and matted. 20
GREEN ALGAE, including over 5,000 species, a re more common in fres h water and on moist soil than in the sea. Marine species a re found a long all shores but are more a b u ndant in warmer waters. These are s m a l ler and more del icate than the great ke l ps, and prefer m ore s h a l low water. Some green a l gae are single cells. Better-kn own marine species grow as fi la ments, irreg u l a r sheets, or bra nching fronds. Som e tro pica l species take lime from sea water a n d h e l p b u i l d "cora l" reefs. N o a lgae have roots, stems, or leave s like higher pl a nts. B l ue-green a l gae h ave no special ized sex cel ls; reprod uction is veg etative, cells splitti ng off to form new pla nts. In the green a lgae, sex cells are formed, though vegetative reproduc tion a lso is common in nearly a l l species. Codi um, a very common a n d widely distrib uted marine green a lga, occurs a l o n g the southern Atla ntic, Gu lf, and Pacific coasts. Sometimes cal led Sponge Seaweed be cause of its soft, sponge-like texture, Codium has m a n y branching sta l ks. It is c l osely re lated to Bryopsis (p. 23).
21
CLADOPHORA is a group ot var iable species, q u ite common on the n orth Atl a n tic Coast. Plants vary from silky, compact, green tufts to coa rser fi l a ments 3 to 12 in. long.
SEA LETTUCE is c o m m o n on both
22
coasts. Largest of the green a l · g a e , u p to 3 ft. long, it i s sheet· or ribbon-like. A n u mber of spe· c ies, typical of sha l l ow water, g row on rocks or i n m u d flats.
3a 4 in. to 2 ft. long, often ca l led "g rass," is a common g reen a l g a of piers a n d boat bottoms. Some species a re stringy or ribbon-like, others flat tened, thickened, or with inflated bran ches.
ENTEROMORPHA,
1. Caulerpa
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 Pacific 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 differences in branching and fineness of the filaments.
23
1 . H a l i meda
3 . Merman's Shaving Brush
2. Mermaid's C u p
TROPICAL GREEN ALGAE are more common tha n col d-water spe cies. Along the warmer pa rts of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts a re severa l species, sm a l l in size a n d unusual i n form. Oddest is Merm a n 's Shaving Brush (Penici l l us), 2 to 5 i n . long, shaped true to its name. Severa l species of Hal imeda a l l h ave u n us ual thin, rou ndish, branching seg ments with cactus- like g rowth. Mer maid's Cup (Aceta b u l a ria), 1 to 3 i n . ta l l , is l i k e a sma l l , greenish-wh ite mushroom. Patches of these th ree a lgae car pet s h a l l ow a reas.
BROWN ALGAE include, in the 1 ,000 or so kinds known, some of the la rgest and most i nteresting a lgae. Brown a lgae a re diverse in form and structure; some have in volved l ife h istories. They reproduce vegetatively and by the u n ion of m a l e and fem a l e cel ls, which swim out into the water. A l l brown a lgae conta i n a greenish-brown pig ment which a bsorbs light l ike the green pigment of green a lgae. This pigment is effective a t medium depths, so brown a lgae may grow a s much as 75 ft. down. Tremen dous beds of brown a l g a e stretch a long tem perate a n d cooler shores. These a l gae a re used f o r ferti lizer a n d as a source of iodine a n d potash. The chemica l a lgin, made from them, is used to make puddings sm oother, to fi n is h pa per, t o a pply dyes a n d inks, and in m edicine. Sargassum, m ost famous of the brown a lgae, fl oats over m i l e after mile in the "Sa rgasso Sea" of the Atlantic. Over 150 species, usua l l y 3 ft. or more long, occ u r w i d e l y in w a r m e r waters, but some are found wel l to the north on our Atla ntic and Pacific coasts. Fronds o utwa rdly resemble stems a n d leaves; air bladders of varyi n g size are com m o n .
1 b Sargassum
25
1. Alaric
2. Padina
3. Chordaria
ALARIA is a north e r n alga used for food on north E u ropean coasts. T h e flat tened frond is divided and may have sev eral branches be low it. It is 1 to 10 ft. long (branches 3 to 10 in. lon g ) . P A D I N A or Peacock T a i l is a worm water alga and an attractive o n e with iis alternati ng bands of l i g h t and darker color. I t is a small, tou g h , leathery spe cies fou nd f rom the Carol inas southward.
26
CHORDAR IA, a dark, stringy alga 1 to 2 ft. lon g, has occasional slig htly cu rved branch es. Smaller than C horda, it g rows attached to rocks on the North Atlantic Coast.
1. Ectoca rpus ( enlarged )
2. Desmarestoa ECTOCARPUS i ncludes many species d iffi· c u l t to distin g u ish. Most have fi n e fi l a m ents i n loose or d e n se tufts. Some are feathery or spongy. Ectocarpu s grows 6 to 12 in. long on rocks, wha rves, or larger algae. DESMARESTIA a l so includes varied species. The most common has t h i n cyl i n d rical fronds with stiff h a i ry o r spi ny bra n ches. A Pacific Coast species h a s flattened, branched fro n d s 2 to 6 f t . long.
CHORDA g rows a s slender, whip-li ke fronds 3 to 12 ft. long, some bare, some h a i ry. Cam· man i n n orth ern waters, they grow sin g l y from a d i sc-sha ped holdfast. Plants grow a n ew each spri n g .
27
28
KELPS, the great brown a lgae of northern waters, a re h a rvested on the Pacific Coast, a n d thousands of tons a re used yea rly in chemical ind ustries. I n Asi a n waters, these a lgae a re "fa rm ed" for food. East Coast kelps include Alaria (p. 26), la m inaria, and Agarum. West Coast kelps are larger a n d more i m posing; some grow to lengths of over 1 00 ft. A tou g h holdfast a n c h ors the k e l ps to the rocky bottom · a i r bla dders fl oat the plant to the surface. Kelps g row from the low-tide mark to depths of 1 00 ft. or more. Nereocystis and Macrocystis include the largest a n d best-known Pacific species. Sea Pa l m (Poste lsia) is one of the m ost unusual of a l l marine a lgae.
1. Macroc ystis
2. Sea Pa lm
3 . N e re oc ysti s
29
FUCUS (or Rockweed), one of the m ost widely d istributed seaweeds, abounds o n a l l cool, rocky shores. A nu mber of species are similar i n struc· ture a n d habit. A l l have swo l len air b l a dders a long the m id-rib. The well-known l ife h istory of Fucus is an exa m ple of how seaweeds g row a n d reproduce. Pa rts o f Fucus, torn l oose by waves, continue to grow and may become esta b l ished as new plants; other wise, they reproduce by spe cial ized cells. Other brown al gae have s i m i l a r l ife h istories.
RED ALGAE are admirable for del icate color a n d form . Most of the 2,500 kinds prefer cooler, deeper waters tha n other a lgae. Their red pigment a bsorbs more b l u e a n d violet l ig ht, which penetrates deepest in t h e ocea n, s o red a lgae can m a n ufacture food at depths of 1 00 to 200 ft� Species l iving c loser to shore are im porta n t in tide-pool plant l ife. Some lack the typica l del icate branching pat tern a n d are coarse, flatte ned, or c l ub-like. Severa l species whe n boiled yiel d agar-agar, va l u a b l e in medicine a n d bacteriology. I n the Orient, British Isles, and Scandinavia, other red a lgae-Irish moss, d u lse, laver, slack-are widely used a s food or for chemicals. Field identification of m ost red a lgae is difficu lt. Dasya is found from F lorida to Cape Cod. The del icate orange-brown to red-purple fronds, with m a n y thin, h airy bra nches, a re 6 in. to 3 ft. long. look o n s h e l l s and rocks in q u iet, protected a reas below the low-tide mark. When taken from the water, the fra gile, delicate fronds c o l l a pse i nto a red or purple jel ly-like m ass. Dasya is a large a n d wel l-known gen us. A n u m ber of species a re found a lso o n rocks a lo n g the Pacific Coast.
Dasya
31
GIGARTINA, odd red a lgae, a re often thick, stri n gy, leathery, rou gh, a n d spiny. More common, more d iversified, on Pacific. G row 6 in. to 3 ft. lon g on rocks. H a r vested commercia lly for chemicals.
I RISH MOSS or C h o n d rus is found as dense p u rp l e or p u rple· g reen moues i n tide pools a n d shal lows a l o n g cooler, rocky shores. Gathered for food and as a sou rce of industrial chemicals.
32
3a
GELIDIUM grows 3 to 6 in. long on rocks along N . Atla n tic. Paci fic species grow much larger, with flat, horny branches. Species vary: some stringy, some finely divided. I d entification difficult.
is a complex g roup of many species not com p letely identifi a b l e without a microscope . Finely branched, less than 1 ft. long . On rocks a n d other a lgae; Atl antic a n d Pacific.
GRINNELLIA is a del icate Atlan tic species common in spring and summer, on rocks, p i les, and shells. Wavy fronds 4 to 12 i n . long. S i m i l a r forms on Pacific, some with conspicuous midveins.
(ond Spe r moth a m nion) form a l a rg e g ro u p o f d e licate, varia ble species with filaments of a l m ost s i l ky fi ne n ess, 1 to 6 in. long, p i nk to red . f ro m F lorida north ward. CALLITHAMNION
33
CERAM I UM is a lso a g r o u p of small red algae (2 to 6 in .), Use a h a n d len s to see the tips of the filaments, curved like m in ute claws. Fou n d on othe r algae a n d debris, especially on t h e Atlantic.
p'
Detail oft
PLUMARIA (Ptilota) or Feather weed is common on North Atla ntic a n d a ll a long Pacific shores. The dense, fern-lik e tufts g ive the p la n t its name. Prefers deeper wafer but is often washed ashore.
3a
LAVER or Porphyra is often gath ered as a food p la n t a n d makes a n excellent soup. If sometimes looks like a thin, delicate red Sea Lefluce (p. 22), but species a re variable in form a n d color.
34
Deta i l a f frond
C ORALLI N A i n c l udes tropi ca l species and those w h ich extend far north into C a n a d i a n waters. The p l a n t is hard a n d covered with a crust of l ime. When it is washed up o n beaches, the sun b le a c h es i t complete ly wh ite. The b r a n c h i n g o f Coro l lina is a lways o p posite. The segments of t h e p l a n t are f l atte n e d a n d wedge-s h a ped. Other coral line a lgae are found a long the Pacific. The a b i l ity to de posit l i m e from sea water is a lso sha red by green a lgae ( p� 24). Such action a ids ma teria l ly i n the b u i l ding u p of "coral " reefs.
35
0'
1 0'
20'
30'
40'
SO'
60'
70'
80'
ANIMAL LIFE AND PLANT L I FE i n the sea are not d is tributed at random. They fol low patterns as com plex, i n their own way a s l a n d societies. O n e factor i s the tre mendous range in size of ocea n organisms. Plants ra nge from bacteria 1 /25,000 in. l ong to giant ke l ps (p. 28) that grow to over 100 ft. The ra nge in length in the ma rine animals i s about the same, but the much greater ra nge in weight is hard to imagine. Marine protozoa weigh as l ittle as 1/6,000,000,000,000 oz. The great b l ue w h a le weighs up to 150 tons-or 21,800,000,000,000,000,000 times as much. large and s m a l l , these plants a n d a n i m a l s are bound together by their water environment, and even more tig ht ly i nto l iving com m u n ities within the seas. Such commu n ities of plant a n d animal life a re very evident a l ong the shore. Anyone who begins to study shore life wi l l find ob vious signs of them . The intensive study of such communi ties may yield m o re kn owledge of interdependence and g reater satisfaction than the accum u lation of many shells. MICROSCOPIC SEA LIFE
9(
SEASHO R E COMMUNITIES are determ i ned by such things as the nature of the shore-rocky, san dy, or m u d dy. The depth of water or the range in tides is a n other factor; so are currents, the temperature of the water, a n d d i l ution f r o m fresh-water strea ms. These factors, working together, enable certain p l a nts and a n i m a ls to survive a n d deve lop i nto com m u n ities. Watch for them. Food is suppl ied by the p l a nt l ife. larger a n i m a l s feed o n sma l l er ones a n d o n pla nts. Some sea a n i m a l s can exist i n a wide ra nge of surroundings a n d are fou n d a long m ost shores. Others a re selective a n d exist only when condi tions are exactly favora ble. These conditions m ake the d ifference between a Pacific Coast protected tide pool a n d the clam-rich m u d fl ats of long Island Sound.
are one. major group of a nima ls includes kinds that to sea l ife. All the a n i m a ls i n each
38
1. Ciano
2. Sea Grapes
FAMILY TREE OF ANIMAL LIFE
40
At the base of the fa mily tree of a n i m a l l ife are sing le ce l led a n i m a l s (Protozoa), which sti l l live in warm, s h a l low s e a s a s t h e y did many m i l l ions of years ago. Some build i ntricate, tiny shells of silica or lime. Sponges are simple o r colonia l a n i m a ls. Some kin ds, of a ncient origin, have "ske letons" of si l ica; many h ave the fi brous (spongin) skeletons we all know. Jel lyfish a n d hydroids a re a large, complex, and diverse grou p-some-so l itary, some colonia l . Cora l a n i m a l s b u i l d hard, limy wa l ls which g r a d u a l l y make cora l r o c k . The worms, tho ugh t h e y look somewhat similar, differ g reatly interna l ly and hence a re put into severa l distinct but related groups. Starfi s h have a pecu liar radial pattern of growth and odd a d a ptations for feed ing and moving. Best known of shore animals are the m o l l usks. Collec tors seek their many, varied shells. The l iving a n i m a l s (some of w h ich lack shel ls) are interesting, too. Deta i led identification of shells may req uire more a dva nced books (p. 1 54) or the help of a n expert. The jointed- legged a n i m a l s i n c l ude such marine groups as crabs, l obsters, a n d barnac les. A l o n g t h e shores w e sti l l fi n d s i m p l e ch ordates -creatu res related to ancestors of backboned a n ima ls. We see a lso shore birds (pp. 1 47 -1 53) and fi s hes.
a re the simplest s ponges. Some are single "urns"; others g row in colon ies. Between the two cel l walls a re scattered �:...____ ..; ....,.....___,___ . __.;.., needles (spicu les) of l ime, which su pport the sponge a n d g ive t h e grou p its name. Water enters through pores in the sides a n d leaves through the opening at the top. The yel lowish or g ray Grantia (1 in. long) is found singly or in cl usters on shells, rocks, or pil ings. Some leucosolenia are similar but s m a l ler, g row ing in soft, yel lowish m ats. Other branch ing forms may g row to be an inch or so long.
HORNY SPONG ES, the best k n own kin ds, i n c l ude over 2,000 species. A few l ive in ponds but most a re marine, a n d common i n warmer wa ters. A boring spon ge, C l iona ridd les shellfish with tiny h o l es. Suberites, the Sulfur Sponge, a lso attac hes itself to shells a n d rocks, where it grows 2 to Sponge di ver 3 i n . long. Both are s h a l lowwater species. Microciona, or Redbea rd'Sponge, encrusts shells a n d pilings. Simi lar orange a n d ye l low s pecie� occur on Atlantic a n d Pacific coasts. One, Dea d m a n 's Fin gers (C h a l ina), is common ly washed u p on beaches. 1 . Redbeard Sponge
Vase Sponge
severa l kinds. The g l ove s ponges, horse sponges, and sheep's wool sponges are gathered by divers. They a re dried, c leaned, and bleached before they are sold. Ta rpon Springs, F lorida, is the center for American sponge fishing. The once-important indus try has g iven way to arti ficial sponges made of cel l u lose. Other s ponges-vase sponges, g rass sponges, and dozens m o re - are found in Gulf waters, grow ing on the ocean bottom and feeding on sma l l water anima ls. S ponges can re g row lost or injured pa rts.
3 . Sheep's Wool Sponge
4. Glove Sponge
43
En larged detail of a stinging cell
FEEDING POLYP OF OBELIA (Internal Structu re)
Ready
Discharged
POLYP and JELLYFISH ANIMALS (Coelenterates), a diverse group, have a centra l digestive cavity. Its o pening is ringed by stinging tentacles, which stun or k i l l sma l l prey. Many have both a free-swimming (medusae or jel ly fish) and a more fixed (polyp or hydroid) stage. Some a re coloni a l . Coelenterates inc l ude Hydrozoa ( po lyps and medusae, usua lly sm a l l ); Scyphozoa (med usae on ly, fairly la rge); and Anthozoa (polyps only, usua lly fairly large).
1 . Moon Jellyfish 3" -9"
2 . Pink Jellyfish 1 '- 8 '
JELLYFISH The moon jel lyfish, very common, with color va rying from wh ite to pin k and orange, is washed up on all our beaches. Its milky disc, 3 to 9 in. across, has rad iating cana ls and a thin indented fringe. Tentacles are very s hort. Pink jel lyfish, of col der waters, is larger- 1 ft. o r more wide, with long, trailing tentac les. Specimens 8 ft. across with tentacles over 1 00 ft. long are reported. It swims by opening and closing its disc. 45
COELENTERATES are of many kinds. The Obelias are smal l colonies (1 to 8 in.) growi ng on rocks, piles, o r sea weeds. C ommon a long the Atlantic Coast, they a re fou n d the w o r l d over. N ote t h e branching stems w h i c h under mag n ification show both feeding and reproductive po lyps. The sma l l , free-swimming medusae have 8 to 24 tentacles. Most Tubularia, unbranched or in sma l l colon ies, are com mon in northern waters. Some are foun d as far south a s F lorida. E a c h hydroid (about "\4 in. or l e s s in d iameter) h a s about two dozen short tenta c les. Gonionemus, a New Eng land species, is typica l of many free-swimming jel lyfish. It is about a n inch in diameter, with 60 to 80 tentac les, each less
46
V
(
than an inc h long. Best known of a l l jel lyfish is the Portug uese Man-of-wa r, with its specia l ized purple, pink, or red inflated float, 3 to 1 2 in. long. A tight mass of polyps c l uster beneath the fl oat. These are of th ree types sensitive, feeding, and reproductive. From the feed ing polyps extend long (3 to 30 ft.) tentacles which expand and contract. Swim mers in warmer waters may be badly h urt by the sting-
Man-of-war
47
SEA ANEMO N ES look l i ke fl owers, as they grow at tached to rocks and piles. The tentacles a ro und the mouth cavity open l ike fleshy peta ls, and contract whenever danger threatens. Sea anemones usua l l y do not have a free-swimming jel lyfish stage. The fertil ized egg g rows into a la rva, which soon settles down to a fixed existence. Metridium, sometimes 3 in. high, with many wh ite ten tac les, is common in n orthern waters, both Atlantic and Pacific. Severa l species of Sagartia, about 1 in. high and
48
del icately colored, are also found on both coasts, grow ing on rocks or in sand near the low-tide ma rk. The Pacific s pecies, believed to have been introduced with oysters from Ja pa n, is sma l l (Yz in.), dark green with orange stripes. Adamsia, an u n usua l a n emone, may g row 3 in. high. It attaches itself to a Hermit Crab's adopted she l l (p. 73) a n d INTERNAL VIEW O F A NEMONE s o gets free transportation . It is most common along the South Atlantic Coast. Green Anemone, or Cribrina, occurs abundantly in western tide pools. The color is due to a l gae, which actua l ly l ive in the anemone's tissues. Both plant and a n imal benefit from this odd partnership. G reen Anem one ___,......,
Polyp expanded
Top view of stony cup
CORALS, closely related to sea anemones, ore of severa l groups. One has b its of l ime imbedded in the body wa l ls b ut does not produce the typi ca l cora l "skeleton." Another (p. 52) makes horny skeletons. The stony cora ls ore best known. These ore the cora ls which form g reat reefs, ato l l s, and islands. Cells at the bose of each polyp toke l ime from sea water to build up their skeletons. A few of these cora ls grow sing ly; most ore colonial, thriving in worm, fairly s h a l low water. Northern species ore washed up on New Eng land beaches, but most cora ls you will see come from south
Polyps 0.4" diam.
Astrangia skeleton 50
3.
Eyed Coral skeleton
Atlantic a n d Gulf waters. Two eastern, cooler-water corals are Astra n g i a a n d Ocu lina, both with w h ite skeletons. The three Pac ific kinds i n c l ude Balanophyl la, a solita ry or a nge cora l , a n d a nother As trangia. Precious Cora l comes from the Med iterra nea n . Simi lar species have recently been found i n deep waters off C a l i fornia. About a dozen corals a re common i n F lorida and West I n d i a n reefs. All h ave wh ite skeletons. Best known are Brain, Star, a n d Staghorn.
3.
Staghorn Coral
4.
Star Coral
5. Brain Coral
1 . Sea Pen 4 "
2 . Sea F a n 2 '
SEA FANS and SEA PENS The former are horny cora ls inc luding those ca l led Sea P l umes or Sea Wh ips. Sea Fan is common in warmer waters on both coasts. Polyps are sma ll, with eight tentacles. The flex ib le, brightly colored dried skeletons a re often seen in curio shops. Sea Pens are related animals, named from their odd sha pe. Found in both Atlantic and Pacific, they g row from 4 in. to over a foot long. Muddy bot toms of some Pacific bays a re cov ered with a common green species of Pennatu la. These animals contract when disturbed and seem to disap pear.
3 . Sea Whip 2 '- 4'
COMB JELLI ES were once classified
r as Coelenterates. Closer study shows that they possess many characteris tics which a re not common to this large group. They lack stinging cel ls and typica l l y have only a sing l e pair of tentacles. They swi m by m ovement of eight fringed combplates, using balanci n g organs to keep them u p right in the water. Some Comb Jel l ies are round or egg-shaped. One, with the long name of Pleurobrachia, has world-wide distri bution. Even better known is Venus' Gird le, a ribbon-l i ke form about 6 in. long, which is some times abundant along the Atlantic Coast.
RIBBON WORMS, mostly marine, 1 in. to a bout 90 ft., are more advanced than the fl at worms, less advanced than the segmented worms. They feed on sma l l marine anima ls, ca pturing their food with a proboscis-a con tracting tube with a pointed end . Cereb ratu lus inc l u des the largest American ribbon worms -some up to 20 ft. long. They live in mud and under rocks by day, swimming at night. Color varies from cream or brownish to pink. Ribbon worms are cylindrica l or flat; some are red, orange, and purple.
Exposed
Withdrawn
SAN DWORMS belong to the group of segmented worms (pp. 56-57), the most advanced of the worm-like anima ls. Be sides the seg ments, group characteristics include bristled a ppendages and interna l organs a rranged symmetrica l ly. Sand worms are found in sand and under rocks a l ong Atlantic and Pacific shorel ines. They swim freely at night, especi a l l y d uring the breeding season. Other worms and sma l l sea anima ls are seized by the sharp, horny jaws a n d eaten. Some species g row severa l feet in length . However, these a re not as common. The Clam Worm, i l lustrated here, is the best-known species, found on both eastern and western sides of the north Atlan tic. Lives in a thin tube in sand or mud; 12 to 18 orange and red. in. l ong.
Clam Worm or Sandworm 55
SEGMENTED WORMS, a group of some 8,000 s pecies, inc lude sandworms, leeches, and ea rthworms. The marine forms are varied, unusual, and may be brightly colored . Sea Mouse is a broad worm (3 to 6 in. long), covered with Fan Worm long, gray, iridescent "hair." It l ives on sandy bc:>ttoms in shal low water on both sides of the north Atlantic. A related species has m ore prom inent feeding appendages around the mouth. Lugworm is a burrowing anima l like the ea rthworm. It lives well below the surface and feeds by extracting organic matter from the fine sand and debris it takes in as it bu rrows a long . Length: 6 to 8 in. Parchment Worm lives in U-shaped tubes on muddy bottoms. Water is sucked in at one end, bringing oxygen and plankton food. Wastes are discharged at the other. The tube is built of a tough membrane, hence the com m on name of this worm. Tube openings can be seen d ot ting the bottom of shal low water at low tide. Trumpet Worms are sma l l (2 in.}, seg mented worms, which build their own conical tubes out of grains of sand neatly and attractively cemented together. These seden ta ry anima ls use p l ume-like appendages for respiration and in gathering food, and curved ones to help them d ig . Fringed Worms are unusua l-looking creatures about 6 in. l ong. They a re earthworm-l ike in a ppea rance, ex cept for many long, thin, fleshy appendages g rowing from most seg ments. These a re exposed and help obta in oxygen for the worm, which lives bu ried in the mud . 56
2. Trumpet Worm 1 "-2"
3.
Fringed Worm 6"
5 . Lugworm 6"-8"
57
2. Spiral-tufted Bryozoan
on Mussel
MOSS ANIMALS a n d la m p Shells, though very d ifferent i n appearance, belong t o t h e same very ancient group of sea ani ma ls. Many fossils of both are found in rocks 250 to 500 m i l lion years old. Moss a n im a l s or Bry ozoans are colon i a l . Individu a l animals a r e so sma l l that a lens is needed to study them. Some build horny sheaths; some secrete l i me like the corals. In each case the colony develops a distinctive pattern. Moss animals feed on plankton. They a re found i n both shal low and deep water, on rocks, shells, debris, and seaweeds.
2. Southern Lom p Shell 0.5 "
LAMP SHELLS, or Brachiopods, though not common n ow, were once so common that thousands of fossil species hove been found. living species often prefer deep water, but a few ore found be tween the tides, attached to rocks by sta l k- l ike body projections. The animals hove on upper and lower shell, while shells of b iva lve mol lusks ore right and left. In terna l structures show their c l ose relationship to the m oss anima ls. Brachiopods feed on plankton, which they catch on fringe- l i ke a ppendages. Their size is sma l l from Y2 to 2 i n .
EC H I NO D ERMS are marine animals that have limy plates, often with spines, for "skeletons." The plates may be connected at movable joints, as i n some Starfish. They may form a contin uous she l l , as in the Sea Urch ins, or they are not con nected at a l l, as in Sea Cucumbers. Adult Echinoderms exhibit a star- l i ke pattern, some with radiat ing arms. Sma l l tube feet o n these arms grip surfaces, helping the a n i m a l to move and obtain food. They con nect to a system of internal tubes through which sea water circulates. 60
3. Green Brittle Star to 6"
BRITTLE and BASK ET STARS are a lesser group of Starfish. The thin, flexible arms of Brittle Sta rs (2 to 6 i n . long) are at a broad angle to the disc. They lack functiona l tube feet but can wa l k with their m uscu lar a rms. Brittle Stars, mainly deep-water species, are occasiona l ly found in tide pools and on rocky shores. Bas ket Stars have branching a rms up to 24 in. long. These coil arou n d rocks or anchor the a n i m a l to seaweeds.
3. Purple Star
�'r'"
Warty Sea Star 4"-5"
ATLANTIC STARFISH
STARFISH, the best-known Echi noderms, include Brittle and Basket Stars (p. 6 1 ) and Sta rfish o r Sea Stars. Com mon Sta rfish have arms at a sharp angle to the centra l d isc, which has, on top, a sieve plate through which water enters and then moves through tubes to the tub e feet, I ing in g rooves on t h e u n d e r s i d e o f t h e arms. 6. Common or Eastern Star 6" - 1 1 "
Arms, 5 to 10 or more, vary with species; m ost are spiny, with very tiny pincers amid the spines. U nder n eath the d isc is a m outh. Wra p ping its arms over a clam, the sta r fish uses sustained suction of the tube feet to force it open. Then it extends its stomach through its m outh i nto the c lam she l f and digests the clam there. Starfis h d estroy m i l l ions of dol lars' worth .of shellfish yearly.
Starfish feeding on oyster
'
Regeneration of arms
63
SEA U RC H I NS and SAND DOLLARS a re Ech i n oderms in w h ich the plates are joined to form a firm shell. A five-rayed pattern of pores for the tube feet shows the close relationship to Starfish. Ma n y to 2 . 5 " S e a U r c h i n s live on rocks i n shal low water. Those that l ive in deeper water occur i n g rou ps, which sometimes carpet a large a rea of sea botto m . live Sea Urc h i n s are covered with mova ble spines-long, short, del icate, or heavy, depending on the species. Those of some tropica l s pecies have around the base of the spines structures which extrude poison. Sea Urchin eggs a re eaten i n Europe a n d the West I n d ies. Sea Urchins range from 1 Y2 to 10 in. i n dia meter. Sand Dollars, sometimes c a l led Sea Biscuits, a re fl at tened relatives of the Sea Urchins, w ith the movable spines greatly reduced i n size. The a n im a l s l ive i n deeper water, ha lf-buried i n sand, feeding on org a n i c m ateria l a n d plankton . C i l i a on t h e spines move these food p<:�rticles ti l l they are tra pped by mucus a ro u n d t h e spines a n d a re pushed i nto the mouth of the a n i m a l . A l a rge Pacific sta rfish feeds o n Sand Dollars. Sand Dollar and Sea Urc h i n "skeletons" are found washed u p on beaches. 2. Purple Seo U rchin 1 . 5 " -3"
64
6. Eccentric Sand Dollar
. Atlantic Sand Dollar
65
SEA C U C UMBERS are soft or leathery Echinoderms i n which t h e radial pattern is often h a r d t o see. Some are worm-l ike; some have l ost their tube feet. They live b uried i n san d or under rocks below the low-tide mark and in deeper water. A ring of short-branched tentacles encircles the mouth. Sea Cucumbers range from 2 to 1 8 in. long a n d from Y 2 to 6 i n . thick. Some throw out their internal organs when disturbed a n d regrow them later. Sea Cucumbers are fairly common on both Atla ntic a n d Pacific shores, usua l ly i n cooler water. 4. Northern 9"
lsopods Amphi pods Barnacles
"' z
Shri mps, Crabs, lobsters
:5
u
�
� u
ARTH ROPODS
MAR I N E ARTHROPODS belong a l most entirely to the crustaceans, a group of some 25,000 species which, though large, pa les beside the i nsects, a group of over 600,000. Marine crustacea ns vary from a l most m icro scopic forms to giants with legs 5 ft. long. Most are s m a l l anima ls. Species of crabs, shrimp, a n d lobsters a re of commerc i a l value. Smaller crustaceans a re im porta nt foods for m a n y kinds of marine life. All crustaceans h ave segmented bodies and a n extern a l skeleto n . Growth in volves shedding the o l d covering a n d growing a new one. less conspicuous a rthropods, as the cope pods, isopods, a n d a m ph i pods, are im porta nt foods for larger marine l ife a n d have complex l ife h istories.
1 . Gooseneck Barnacles 2"
2 . Rock Barnacles to 2 "
BARNACLES, shrimp- like in struc ture, do not look or act like other crustaceans. Eggs hatch i nto free swim m ing larvae, which feed a n d molt, changing in form as they grow. The new form attaches itself to rocks or timber where, after a resting stage, it becomes a shelled adu lt. The shell is i n d ivisions which over lap and, when sh ut, are protective. Modified, feathery feet brush plank ton and organic matter into the mouth. Some species resist dryin g a n d a r e foun d wel l a bove t h e l ow-tide mark. Ship h u l ls are treated to pre vent drag due to barnacle g rowths.
SAN D HOPPERS (BEAC H FLEAS) and their k i n form a group of crustaceans which n u m bers over a thousa nd spe cies. Most are only a fraction of a n inch i n l ength. Some l ive on the dry beaches, in sa n d a n d decaying seaweeds. More 1 . Gammarus 1 "-2" kinds l ive in sand and mud in shal low water. Others are free-swimming. The name of the grou p-the Amphipods-refers to modified legs for both wa lking and jum ping. These thin, latera l l y com pressed a n imals have g i l l s at the base of a ppe ndages for breath ing. Some kinds a re so n u merous during certa i n seasons that they form a m a jor part of the plankton . The identifi cation of species is difficult for the amateur. Larger, sand dwe l l i ng species are often dug for ba it. The p l a n kton species serve as food for many larger ki nds of ocean l ife. 3. Cali fornia Sand Hopper About 1 "
Eastern Sand Hopper to 0 . 5 " 69
S H R I MP S, l o b s t e r s , a n d crabs, a l l with five pairs of joi nted legs on the thorax plus abdom inal a ppendages, are closely related. The cara pace that covers the head and the thorax is fused. Shrimps or Prawns grow u p to 9 in.,.. long; most are smaller, a n d some s pecies are m i n ute. They swim backward with q uick strokes of their fan-like tai ls. The larg e r shrim ps are n etted in the Atla ntic and Pacific. An im por tant edible species comes from the South Atla ntic a n d Gu lf. The Pacific Black-tailed Shrimp a lso is eaten. Some sma l l shrim p live buried in t h e mud. 2 . Edible Shrimp 4"-6"
70
LOBSTERS, a sea-food favorite, live inshore in summer, i n deeper water during the winter. Most ca ught weig h 1 to 3 lb., though older lobsters get m uch larger. It takes about 5 years for them to grow to edible size. Lobsters, ca ptured in wooden tra ps ba ited with dead fish, are now protected as the basis of a n im portant i n dustry. The Spiny Lobster of southern waters a n d of the Pacific is n ot a close relative. Also edib le, a n d more colorfu l, it lacks the large pincers and has a spiny she l l .
SANDBUGS, sometimes ca l le d Mole Cra bs, are known to everyon e who h a s waded i n t h e surf. These common crustacean s l ive in the sand, moving in a n d out with the tide. Their heavy, curved carapace d is g uises their relationship to other crabs. Legs are a d a pted for digging. P l ume-like antennae, h e l d just above the sand, catch organ ic m atter on which these active creatures feed. All movements-swi mming, crawling, or digging-are made backwa rd. Fema les, m uc h larger than ma les, ca rry their orange eggs severa l months before they hatch.
HERMIT CRABS make up a sma l l but very common group, found i n tide pools a n d shal low water a l l around the world. These o d d crus taceans can be kept a l ive in sa lt water aquaria. An obvious fea ture of Hermit Crabs is the soft, curved abdomen with a hook-like tail. S m a l ler Hermit Crabs seek out shells of Periwin kles a n d Mudsnails t o u s e a s a "house"; larger Hermit Crabs use Whelk, Tulip, and Moon shel ls. The crabs use only em pty shel ls, searching for bigger ones as they grow. Hermit Crabs are common beach scaven gers. 73
1 . Blue Crab 6"
SWIMM I N G C RABS are a fa mily in w h ic h the last pair of legs is flattened a n d adapted for swim m i n g . Best known in this g roup is the Blue Crab, prized as sea food a l l a long the Atla ntic and Gulf coasts, especia l ly in Chesa peake Bay, which is noted for them. Eggs, laid i n summer, r e m a i n attached t o t h e b o d y o f the fema le. They hatch in a bout two weeks as larvae, which are very un l ike the a d u lts. The young crabs molt and shed their shells as they g row, a n d soon assume adult form. They a re mature i n about a yea r. After mo lting, the s h e l l is soft, and crabs caught at this time are sold as soft-shel led cra bs, b ut they are n ot a d ifferent species, as some P.eople may think. B l ue Crabs a re scavengers which prefer brackish water near mouths of rivers, moving into deeper water in winte r. Their number may vary considerably from year to year. Other mem bers of the swi m m i n g crab group are sma l ler a n d have less va l ue,
a n iare active, attra m a ls, a lert a n d aggressive. The Green Crab does not have its legs modified as m uch for swim ming. T h e C a l ico or l a d y Crab has a varied, speckled pattern, with a shell about as long as it is broad. It prefers sa ndy beaches and is sometimes caught for food in the South. Portunus Crabs, which are fou n d on both Atla ntic a n d Pacific coasts, include some smal ler species wh ich a re usua lly found on seaweeds.
2. Calico Crab About 3"
ROCK CRABS, despite their name, live on sandy bottoms as well as on rocky beaches. On the Pacific Coast, one crab of this group-the Big Crab g rows over a foot across a n d is
caught
crabs
for
ma rket.
prefer cooler
The
waters;
they grow larger a long the northern shores of both coasts. On the Atlantic Coast are sev eral smaller
re lated species
(3 to 4 in.). Young are often found in crabs
tide
prefer
pools.
larger
deeper water.
Species d iffer i n ma rkings. A l l have a n oval carapace with teeth along the edge.
F I DDLER and SAND CRABS are both burrowing crabs, preferring the drier pa rts of sandy beaches and salt marshes. Both run rapidly w ith a sidewise m otion . The Fiddler Crab is named after the ma le's huge single c law, which is seldom used except in mating-season . battles. These little crabs dig b urrows up to 3 ft. long. They feed on org a n ic m ateria l in the sand. The Sand or Ghost Crab l ives i n even drier sa n d than the Fidd ler. Its protective coloring a n d q u ick movements make it see m to disappear 2 . Sand Crabs right before your eyes.
S P I D E R and KELP C RABS are closely related. Both have long, thin legs, and a shell more rounded than in swim ming crabs. Spider Crabs, which are sluggish, have a carapace usua l ly covered with a lgae, barnacles, and occa siona l l y a Sea Anemone. A n umber of species are fou n d in shal low water o n both At lantic a n d Pacific shores. The Kelp Crabs of the Pacific, with cleaner carapace than other Spider Crabs, are fou n d in kelp beds and i n tide pools. With their long, agile legs they easily nip a n u nwary collector.
1 . Eurypterid
HORSESH O E or KING C RABS are not crabs at a l l but may be descenda nts of a ncient Euryp terids which flourished some 400 million years ago. Their nearest living relatives are the spiders. These awkward a n ima ls, found a long Atlantic beaches, may be very common there. None occur a long the West Coast. Though bathers a re sometimes frightened by them, Horseshoe Crabs are harm less. The female (up to 20 in.) is larger than the male. Eggs are deposited in sand close to shore. The young live out in deep er water, mo lting periodica lly as they grow.
2 . Horseshoe Crab to 20"
SEA SNAILS
pp. 1 1 1 - 1 37
MOLLUSKS are o n e o f the oldest a n d I argest groups of a n imals . F or over h a lf a b i l l ion years species of mol lusks have . been comm on m the se as. S orne k"m d s l ive in fresh water, a few o n land. In a l l e r 100,000 species of m o l l us s are k nown , ra nging f rom sea rce I y visible . sea snails to giant squid over 50 ft. long FIVe classes of mol l usks are ·I il ustrated a t t h e left. . Th ese animals f urmsh pearls ' b uttons, orna ments , a n d food f or man, fish , a n d other sea a n imals I
80
T U S K SHELLS p. 1 40
r
C HITONS are the most simple mollusks. Their eight overlapping plates will identify them. The margin of the animal may be smooth, ha iry, or spiny. A powerful m us cular foot holds the C h iton to rocks in tide pools or i n s h a l low water. Most prefer darkness a n d stay o n the · un derside of the rocks, where they feed o n diatoms and other sma l l a lgae. Over a hun dred species are found a long the Pacifi c Coast; fewer a long the Atlantic, gener a l ly i n cooler water. Sizes: YJ to 1 Vz in. and longer.
1 . Common Eastern Chiton 0.3" -0. 8"
2 . Hairy
Mopalio 1 "- 1 . 5 "
81
OYSTER NUT CLAM BIV A LVES
or
MUSSEL
P E L ECYPODS ore two-shel led m o l lusks
which tota l about 1 5,000 species, in a bout 70 families. Most ore marine, thoug h about one-fifth live in fresh water. The two h a lves of a bivalve ore joined at a hinge. One or two powerful m uscl es hold the valves together, relaxing to a l low the siphons to extend. Water enters through one of these paired tubes, bringing oxygen a n d food t o the a n i m a l . Water leaves through t h e other siphon, carrying out waste products. Biva lves ore diverse in form. Some can swim . Some bore i n rock. Most l ive i n sand o r mud. These may move by means of a m uscu l a r "foot," which is thrust forwa rd and a nchored. The a n i m a l pulls itse lf forwa rd as the "foot" is contracted. The animal itse lf is wel l deve loped, with g i l l s for breathing and a heart, l iver, kidney, a n d digestive a n d reprod uctive systems. T h e ma ntle, a soft membrane around the animal, bui lds the shells out of lime. 82
N U T C LAMS a re a large group of sma l l shel ls. They are actu a l l y three related groups -Aci la, Nucula, a n d N u c u l a na -found on both coasts with a n u m ber of widely d istributed a rctic species. Severa l are so common that they can be picked u p by the handful. A few others a re rarely washed ashore. Fishes and diving d ucks feed o n these biva lves.
ARK S H ELLS are widely d istrib uted, heavy-she l led a n i m a ls, more common along the Atlantic than o n t h e Pacific. O n e , t h e B l o o d A r k , of shal low sandy bottoms, is the o n l y c o m m o n m o l l usk with r e d b lood. Its she l l is m a rked by strong radiating ribs. An other species with prominent ribs is the Eared Ark of the south Ca l ifornia shores. Turkey Wing or Noah's Ark, fou nd o n the south Atla ntic a n d G u lf shores, is brightly colored when fresh. Ark Shells a lso in c l u de a n u m ber of min iature species. A l l Arks have a long, narrow, toothed hinge l i ne.
I . Mossy Ark 1 . 5 " -2. 5 "
Blood Ark 1 . 5 "-2.4"
84
4 . Eared Ark 3"-4"
5 . Baily's Miniature Ark 0.3"
Blue Mussels on piling
2. Atlantic Ribbed Mussel 2"-4"
MUSSELS, widespread in cooler seas, a re a favorite food in Europe, b ut they a re n ot prized here as such. 3. Northern Over a dozen species are found i n Horse Mussel 2" -6" sa n d or m ud, or attached to rocks and pilings by strong threads (bys sus). The B l ue Mussel (3 in.) is very com m o n . The Hooked Mussel, small er (1 Y 2 in .), is found farther 'south. The Horse Mussel (2 to 6 in.) is a deep-water s pecies. Similar kinds a re found a long the Pacific Coast. These may be poisonous when they 4. Hooked Mussel l "-2. 5 " feed on certain d i n oflagel lates. 85
SCALLOPS or PECTENS-com mon, colorfu l, and a ppea l ing in desig n delight col l ectors. Rows o f tiny eyes along the edge of the mantle make them unique among bivalves. They ore jet-propel led. As their valve opens, the space fi lis with water. The powerf u l m uscle contracts a n d the valves p u l l sh ut, shooting the water out beh ind and sen ding the sca l l o p forwa rd. T h i s large m uscle is edible. Most sca l lops prefer sha l l ow water. Shells are washed u p on beaches by storms. Detailed identification in volves counting ribs, noting size, col or, a n d the wings which project at the hinge. Sca l lops are more com mon a l o n g the Atlantic than on the Pacific shores. They vary i n size from 1 to 6 in. or m ore.
1 . Calico Scallop 1 "-2 "
2. Kelp-weed Scallop 1 " 1 . Pacific Pink Scallop 2" -2.8"
3 . Sentis Scallop 1 "- 1 . 5 "
4. Atlantic Deep-sea Scallop 5"-8"
5 . San Diego Scallop 3 "
6 . Atlantic B a y Scal lop 2 "
87
2. Pric kly Jingle Shell to 0 . 8 " 1 . Common Jingle Shell ! "-2"
>S_,......,,_.,.,�'P
J I NG L E S H E LLS, thin, brig ht, a n d pearly, are very com mon on both coasts, mainly in warmer waters. The shel ls, about 1 in. across, a re uneq ual, the top one being deeply hol l owed, the bottom one smal ler and a l m ost fl at. The a n i m a l a nchors itself perma n ently to rocks, seaweeds, or o l d s he l l s by a fleshy a p pendage (byssus) passi ng thro u g h a hole in the l ower va lve. Only the u pper valve is usua lly washed ashore.
OYSTERS, the most va l u a b le shell fish, a re common in s h a l l ow, warmer waters of a l l ocea ns. The shells a re irreg u l a r in shape; the valves, un eq u a l in size. When young, oysters a re free-swimming; later they attach themse lves to she l l s, rocks, or roots. Most species of oyster are too sma l l t o be used as food, though they are eaten by land and other marine anima ls.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE OYSTER Eggs e "
Fry
One year old
1 . Native Pacific Oyster 2"-3"
2 . Kitten's Paw 1 "
--
3. Eastern Oyster 2" -6"
89
2. Stiff Pen Shell S "-9"
PEN S H E LLS or SEA PENS a re la rge, wedge-s h a ped shells. The a n i m a l s grow 4 in. to a l most 1 ft. long. Their l a rge m u sc le, like that of a sca l lop, is sometimes used for food. Pen She l ls prefer warmer, deeper water, where they grow atta ched to rocks. They ore q u ite rare o n the Paci fic Coast, though th ree species are common i n the Atl a n tic. The shells a re thin a n d fragi le, d u l l -colored a n d rough. The insides a re smooth a n d pearly. 3 . A m ber Pen S h e l l 4"-9"
_
1 . Atlantic Wing Oyster 1 . 5 " -3"
WING and PEARL OYSTERS are widespread i n warmer waters. The Great Pearl Oys ter, source of m ost pearl a n d m other-of-pea rl, is a large ( 1 2 in.) tropica l a n i m a l . Pea rls are found i n shells over 5 yea rs old. C u l tured pearls are pro duced by placing b a l l s of she l l under t h e m a ntle o f Pea rl Oys ters. O n l y one eastern a n d o n e western species o f the Wing Oyster are fou n d in o u r waters. T h e s a m e h o l d s true for the Pea rl Oysters. 2 . Pacific Pearl Oyster 1 . 5"-3"
over six common species found on both the Atlantic and Paci fic coasts. They may occur be low the l ow-tide mark or are dredged up from moderately sha l l ow waters. Pan doras are sma l l shel ls, rarely over 1 Y2 in. long, usua l l y shorter. The shel ls are thin, with uneq u a l flattened va lves. The right va lve is much more flattened than the left. Their color is wh ite, sometimes c h a l ky, and a pea rly under-layer may be revea led when the shell is worn. A stron g ridge a long the hinge line is cha racteristic. The hinge is toothed. Gou l d 's Pan dora, ofte n found from North Carolina n orth ward t o labrador, h a s a pair o f purplish fringed siphons. The lyonsias a n d Thracias a re related grou ps, the former somewhat smal ler and the latter usu a l l y larger than Pan doras. Conrad's Thracia (3 to 4 in.) has a rounded shell with the ridge along the hinge line not strongly developed.
1 . Waved Astarte 1 . 3 "
3 . Striate Astarte 0. 5 "
2 . Smooth Asta rte 1 "
ASTARTES, a l so k n own as Chestn ut C l ams, are commonly washed u p o n beaches. The animals l ive i n s h a l low or m od erately deep water. Their tis sues are of a red or orange color. Asta rtes a re sma l l (from Y2 to 2 in.), roughly triangu lar, with a h eavy shell. The concentric g rooves a n d ridges a re strong i n some species. These a n i m a l s l ive i n cooler waters, n orth to the Arctic, but two kinds occur as far south as F lorida.
4. Alaska Astarte 1 "
5. Esquimalt Astarte 0 . 5 "
93
1 . Florida lucina 1 . 5 "
2 . Western Ringed lucina 2"-2.5 "
3. Tiger lucina 2 . 5 "- 3 . 5 "
4. Pennsylvania lucina 1 "-2 "
L UC I N A or WHITE SHELLS are members of a tropica l fa m i ly common in warmer waters a long both Atla ntic a n d Pacific shores. They l ive on sandy or m uddy bottoms i n sha l l ow water or moderate de pths. S h e l l s are rough, V2 t o 3 Yl i n . across, usua l l y white. T h e surface m a y b e ridged, and some species have a deep fo ld r u n n i n g from the ti p of the s h e l l to the margin. Eggs a re sometimes reta ined with i n the gill chamber while they deve lop. 94
COCKLE or H EART SH ELLS are close relatives of the edible Cockle of Europe. All the shells are heart-sha ped, with strong ra diating ribs. Valves a re of equa l size. The a n i m a l s l ive in sa n d a n d m u d . They prefer sha l l ow water, often in brackish i n l ets. The Ice la n d Cock l e (2Vz in.) is found in cooler waters of both ocea ns. The Ye l low Cockle (2 in.), ye l l owish with brown, has 30 to 40 ribs. It occurs south from the Carolinas. N utta l l 's Cockle (3 to 6 i n . ) is a n abundant Pacific species; wh ite or yel l ow with strong sq uarish ribs. The Giant Atlantic Cockle (3 to 5 in.) has 30 to 36 ribs, and the margins of its va lves a re toothed. It is a common animal a long the south Atla ntic a n d Gulf coasts.
3. Nuttall's Cockle 3" -6"
1 . Iceland Cockle 2 . 5 "
2 . Yellow Cockle 2 "
QUAHOGS or HARD-S HELL C LAMS are a sma l l but im porta n t group of biva lves. Related tropica l forms are bea utifu l l y sha ped a n d marked. The typica l Atlantic Coast species (3 to 5 in.), ca lled Quahog by the I n dians and a lso littleneck or Cherrystone C l a m s (for sma l l sizes), is less attractive but more appetizing. I t was used as food by the I n d ians and has been eaten ever si nce, fres h a n d in c h owders. T h e Southern Qua hog is larger, with a heavier s he l l . Both are fou n d in sand or m u d near the low tide mark. The coasta l I n dians made wa m p u m from the 2. Northern Quahog with foot and siphons extended
Northern Quahog
wh ite and purple parts of the Quahog s h e l l . Purple wa m pum was highly prized. The shells were broken, dril led, a n d rubbed down to m a k e beads about v.t in. long. These were strung i n s hort stra nds or woven i nto belts. Wam pum belts served to bind treaties; shorter strings were used i n trade.
Wampum beads ( enlarged )
97
ROCK VENUS SHELLS, or LITTLENEC KS, are spec ies that include the com monest clams of the Pacific Coast. Common Pacific little neck ( 1 Y2 to 2 in.) is the hard she l l clam of sa ndy bottoms, most common north of San Fra ncisco. It occurs in severa l 2. Common Pacific Littleneck 1 . 5 " -2"-two forms forms or varieties. One of these, the Rough-sided Littleneck ( u p to 3 i n .), more com mon to the south, is ma rked by prominent li nes on the she l l . The T h i n -shelled littleneck is a large species (about 4 i n .), relative ly flatter, with fewer markings a n d light grayish brown i n color.
3.
98
1 . Calico Clam 1 . 5"-2.5"
CALICO C LAMS are attractive, clam- like a n i m a l s of the south Atla n tic and Gulf coasts. The Sunray Venus o r Sun ray Shell, best k n own in this group (up to 5 in. long), is pink, g ra y, a n d lavender. I nterior is pink. The a n i m a l l ives in sand jusr below the tide mark. The s m a l l e r C a l ico C l a m (1 Y2 t o 2 Yl i n . ) is known a lso as t h e C h eckerboard, from the sq uare, b rownish s pots o n the thick, smooth va lves. The interior is wh ite. This species occurs south of the Carolinas a n d is especia l l y common on F lorida west-coast shores. 2 . Sunray Venus 4 " -5 "
�
--. - -
1 . Elegant Doslnia 2"-3"
� -
2. DiiC Doslnia 2"-3"
AMETHYST GEM CLAM and DOS I N I A are both At lantic Coast shells. The fi rst is a s m a l l (1;4 in.), pea-sized, smooth she l l found commonly on n orthern beaches. Ex terior, lave n d e r to purple; i n terior, pa ler. Common from New Jersey south. This sma l l clam has been introduced with oysters into Puget Sound. C l osely related are two species of Dosinia. Both have thin, 3. Amethyst G e m C l a m 0 · 3 " shiny, wh ite, circu lar shells 2 to 3 in. long. The more common kind has a fine, yel lowish skin over the white shell. Dosinias l ive in sand i n shal low south ern waters.
PISMO CLAMS, famous for their fl a vor, a re f o u n d on o p e n , sandy beaches from m id-Ca lifornia so uth. Com mercia l digging has so reduced the J') u m b e r of Pismo C l a m s that the law perm its a per son to dig only 1 5 clams dai ly. Even so, there is danger of their disa ppea ring fro m Cal ifornia beaches. The thick, smooth, g ray to brown shells a re a l most tria n g u l"a r. Pismo C l a m s ta ke 4 to 7 years to grow 5 in. (present leg a l m i n i m u m for digging), b u t they m a y conti n u e t o grow more slowly f o r a n other 1 0 years.
-
• ·
3. Sunrise T e l l i n 2" -4"
2. Carpenter's Tellin 0.4"
4.
S.
6.
7.
1 02
TELLIN S H ELLS belong to a fa mily which is often considered the aristocracy of the bivalves. Of severa l h u ndred species, a score and more are found a long our coasts, especia l l y i n the Salmon Tellin 0. 5 '' warmer waters of the Atla ntic and Gulf. Tel l i n Shells are d iverse in size (\4 to 4 in .), but all a re relative ly thin and com pressed. The hinge is n ot strong, Modest Tel l i n O. B "- 1 " and she l l s washed up o n the beach ore often broken a part. The she l l s are del icately col ored-wh ite, ye l l ow, pink, a n d purple-va rying with t h e i ndivid uals and species. O n the Pacific Coast look for the Modest, Sa lm Speckled Tel l i n 2 . 5 "-3. 5 '' on, a n d Carpenter's Te l l ins. The South Atlantic Coast has a great er variety and incl udes such wel l ' known kinds as the Sunrise Tel l i n , Dwarf Tel l in, Ta m pa Tel l in, and Rose Petal Tellin 1 . 5 " Rose Peta l Te l l i n .
1 . Tenta Macoma 0.5 " -0. 8 "
2.
4. White Sand Macoma 2"-4"
MACOMA SHELLS are
a nother widespread group, l a rger than the Te l l ins a n d not as attractive. These thin, g l ossy s h e l l s a re usua l l y wh ite, but are sometimes covered with a thin, brownish membrane. W h i le some s pecies l ive i n cooler water, others exte n d far i nto the tropics. They tend to favor m uddy bottom s i n protected waters.
5 . Indented Macoma 1 . 5 "
6. Bent-nose Macoma 2 "- 3 . 5 "
1 . Denticulate Donax 1 " /
3 . Cal ifornia Donax to 1 "
2. Fossor Donax to 0.5"
·
4. Gould's Donax 0 . 8 "
COQ U I NA, DONAX, or WEDGE SH ELLS l ive i n sand close to shore in warm waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gu lf. Some kinds are so abundant that, des pite their sma l l size, they a r e d u g t o make chowder. Along the South Atlantic the Coq u ina is a lso cal led Pompano S h e l l a n d B utterfl y S h e l l . T h e last n a m e refers t o t h e fact that va lves, washed ashore, often rem a i n attached but spread open like b utterfly wings. A l l Donax shells show great variation i n color and ma rkings. A handful picked u p a t random will i l l u strate this. 5 . Coquina 0 . 5 "-0. 8"
1 . Rosy Razor 1
"-
3"
2. Atlantic Razor to 1 0"
3 . Green Razor 2"
RAZOR (Jackn ife) AND SAN Q U I N C LAMS a re widespread in sand bars and in s h a l low sa n d banks between tide m a rks. Four groups of Razor Clams have been c lassified, but all are genera l ly similar. Razor C l a m s are prized for their flavor and are dug loca l l y a n d even comm ercial ly. They l ive in a vertica l position in the sand and feed with part of the shell sticking out. The Razor C la m s are well repre sented o n the Pacific.
1 05
1 . Fra g i l e Atlantic M actra 2 " -2.5"
2. Atlantic S u rf C l a m
SURF C LAMS include severa l related grou ps, all prefer ring a surf environ ment on sandy shores. These clams bur row a few inches i nto the sand, feeding o n m i n ute plant a n d animal l ife washed back a n d forth by the waves. The Atla ntic Surf C l a m , with a coa rse white shell, g rows u p to 7 in. long. It is often gathered for food. After severe storms, beaches a re sometimes covered with m i l l ions of 106
1. Dwarf Surf C l a m 0. 3"-0.5 " 2. Smooth Duck Clam 2" - 3 "
these clams. Two s pecies a re found a l ong the Atla ntic shores; five species occu r a long the Pacific. The Dwa rf Surf C l a m , usu a l ly Yz i n . long or less, is very common i n w a r m , sha l l ow waters o f t h e Atla ntic a n d G u lf. The Fragile Atlantic Mactra a n d C a l ifornia Mactra are species w ith both ends of the she l l rounded. Only the eastern form has a fragile shel l . The Duck Clams a re s i m i l a r eastern c l a m s with thin shel ls. They show a greater preference for mud than d o the Mactras.
SOFT-SH ELL CLAMS prefer s h a l l ow, m uddy bottoms. At low tide, c l a m d iggers l ocate them as they sq uirt. Known a l so as Steamer C l a m s and long Cla ms, they a re edible, tasty, and popu lar. The shell is dull c h a l ky wh ite, with un equal va lves that do not close comp letely. Maxim u m size is about 6 in. Abundant a long the Atl a n tic Coast, they have been i ntroduced i nto the San Franc isco Bay region. 1 . Truncate Soft-shell Clam 1 " - 3 "
a re species b u rrow in mud, c l ay, or peat, and c a n n ot be col lected without hard, ca refu l d i g g i n g . The Angel Wing l ives about a foot b e l ow the surface. These species live a l ong the At la ntic, genera l l y preferring warmer water. A n u m ber of sim i l a r but less attractive spec ies l ive a l ong the Pacifi c . Shells o f a l l a re t h i n , somewhat fra g i l e, a n d often pinkish.
S H I PWORMS (Teredo) a re not worms at a l l but a re one of the few destructive b iva lves. These a n i m a ls, with a g reatly reduced shell, enter wood as larvae. They rema i n and g row, digging a circu lar, twisting burrow with the edge of their shells throu g h p i l i n g . Before the days of steel ships, h u l l s were sheathed with copper t o keep out S h i pworms. Chemi cals deter them, but control is sti l l a major prob lem. Over 1 2 species a re known. S peci mens of bored wood may be found o n nearly every beach.
Damage to p i l i n g
1 10
L I MPET
GASTROPO DS, often cal led Sea Snai ls, a re the second large group of m o l l usks. It i n c l udes many fresh-water a n d l a n d species; t h e latter a r e m ost common i n t h e tro pics. Though a few Gastropods have no shell at a l l , m ost have a single spira l she l l . The a n i m a l has a distinct head with eyes and feelers (tentacles). I nterna l body structu res shown a b ove a re modified to fit the spira l pattern, evident even in the young, free-swimm ing larvae. A horny cover or operc u l u m , covering the shell opening, protects the a n i m a l when it withdraws.
111
3. Antillean Lim pet 0.8" -1 "
2. R o u g h Li m pet 1 . 3"
1 . Great Keyhole Limpet 2 . 5 " -4"
4. Li ster's Keyhole Limpet
1 "-2 "
LIMPETS have spiral shells as larvae but soon settle down and grow their flattened conica l shells. A n u m ber of species have a hole at the peak of the spira l; others do n ot. Most Lim pets prefer cooler waters of the Atl a n tic a n d Pacific. Most grow attached t o rocks a n d may be collected at low tides. Some prefer deeper water, a n d a few l ive on larger a lgae. The Great Keyh ole Lim pet of the Pacific is our la rgest species, up to 4 in. long. A n i m a l 's m a ntle cov ers m ost of shel l .
5 . Atlantic Plate lim pet 1 " - 1 . 5 "
TOP SHELLS a n d those on the n ext page point out the wide con fusion i n common na mes. Over 50 American species a re cal led Top Shel ls, including those i l l ustrated. These shells vary from Y2 to 4 i n . high. S o m e h a v e a thick, h eavy o percu l u m which covers the a n i m a l w h e n inside the she l l . larger species are gathered for food, especia l l y o n the Asian side of the Pacific. Found in sha llow to m oderately deep water. Opercu lu m
2. Ri bbed Top Shell 0. 8"- 1 "
3. Greenland Marga r ite
o.s"
4. Tompa Top Shell O.S"- 1 .3"
S . Channeled Tap S h e l l 1 "- l . S "
1 13
( 3 views )
TEG ULA S H E LLS, formerly known as Turban Shells be cause of their sha pe, a re p lant eating snails of wa rmer wa ters. Nearly a dozen species live along the Pacific, but only two occur i n sha l l ow waters of southern Florida. West I n dies species a re more com m o n . A l l have sm ooth , iridescent s h e l ls; there is a thin, horny, s heet l i ke covering on the she l l s of living a n im a l s. Most Teg u l a a re from 1 to 2 i n . high (Atla ntic species, a bit s m a l l er). The Black Teg ula is abundant o n Pacific shores between the tide marks. The top of the she l l is usu a l ly worn, d isclosing the pearly layer ben eath the dark skin.
3 . Smooth A t l a n t i c Tegula 0. 5 "-0. 8 " (2 v i e w s )
1 14
1 . Red Abalone 1 0" - 1 2 "
live Red Abalone
2. Japanese Abalone 4" -6"
3 . Green Abalone 7" -8 "
ABALONES, la rgest a n d most attractive Pacific C oast shells (4 to 1 2 in. across), are most common i n warmer pa rts of the Pacific. The shel ls, prized by Indians a n d traded f a r i n l a n d , a r e sti l l used in attractive jewe l ry. The large m uscle is edible and tasty. A b a lones caught a n d canned in l ower C a l ifornia a re reg u l a r l y s h i p pe d t o the O r ient. On o u r coasts they a re protected by conserva tion laws. 4 . Black Abalone 6"
1 . Brown-banded Wentletrap 0. 5 " - 1 "
WENTLETRAPS are Sta ircase or ladder She l ls . The fi rst name, Wentletra p, is Dutch; it is a pplied to o l d spira l staircases. Del icate, sym m etrica l, a n d attractive-rare forms of these shells bring high prices from col lectors. The a n i m a l s are carn ivorous and live i n deep water. T h e y a r e a n im por tant food of larger fish. The shell is a tig ht, hig h-spiraled whorl with as many as ten spira ls (l-2 to 1 Y2 in. high). The l i p of the shell thickens, form ing an isolated ridge during the next growth period.
1 16
2 . Gree n l a n d Wentletrap 1 "
4. Crowded Wentletrap 0.5"
MOON S H E LLS a n d the closely related Natica include about a dozen widely d istributed species. Their shells a re found o n a l l At la ntic a n d Pacific beaches. These carnivores feed on other shel lfish, which they e n g u lf and smother with the aid of an u n usua l l y large foot. Moon Shells b u i l d a circular "san d collar, " cementing the sand grains with a g l u e they prod uce. Eggs are de posited inside this protective ring.
1 . Arctic Natica 1
"-
1 .3"
2. C olorfu l Atlantic Natica 1 "-2"
\ 3 . Shark Eye 1 " - 2 . 5 "
1 17
1 . Onyx Slipper 1 "-2"
2 . Spiny Sli pper 0.5" - 1 "
4 . Common Atlantic S l i pper 0.8"-2"
S. Convex Slipper 0.3 -0. 5 ''
6. Eastern White Slipper 0.5'' - 1 . S "
SLI P P E R o r BOAT SHELLS are odd animals Y4 to 2 i n . long. T h e y l e a d a fi xed existence somewhat like t h a t of lim pets. A l l the shells have, interna l ly, a sma l l horizonta l platform or deck somewhat like that of an old sa iling s h i p. This a n d the shape of the she l l g ive these species their name. C o l l ectors find these common shel ls washed u p o n every beach. T h e a n i m a l s l ive i n shal low water attached to rocks or other shel ls. Slippers occur i n a l l the tem perate a n d tropica l seas. There are about n i n e American species. 1 18
PERIWI N KLES are probably better known than any other m o l l usks. The common species has come from Eu rope, where it is a favored sea food. During the past century it has spread rapidly a l o n g the Atlantic Coast. They are seldom eaten in this coun try. About 1 2 species of Periwi nkle a re eq u a l l y d istributed o n rocky beaches of both our coasts. length is Y2 to slig htly over 1 in. All are drab col ored, though some are spotted or m ottled . Periwi n kles feed on a lgae.
1 . Checkered Periwinkle 0. 5 "
2 . Eroded Periwinkle 0 . 5 "-0. 8 "
3 . Northern Rough Periwinkle 0.3"-0. 5 "
Common Periwinkles o n seaweed
5 . Common Periwinkle 0.8"- 1 "
6. Angu late Peri winkle 1 "
3. Florida Fighting Conch 3" -4"
CONC H and H E LMET SH ELLS are found on sandy b ot toms of sha l l ow tropica l waters. Species of these wide spread groups occur from the Carolinas south . Shells a re often for sa le in stores a n d roa dside sta nds. A l l are large (2 to 1 2 i n . long). Helmet Shells are carnivorous. Conchs feed on a lgae. The Queen L i ving Queen Conch Conch, o n e of the largest gastropods, is com monly eaten i n the form o f chowder. The h eavy, triangular, thick-lipped Hel m et Shells a re used in m a k ing cameos. The thick she l l a n d varia b l e colors su it them espe cia lly we l l for this purpose.
Queen Conch 6"- 1 2"
3. Emperor Helmet 4"- 1 4"
1 . Alternate Bittium 0.2"-0. 3"
HORNSH ELLS and their kin are sma l l ( l4 to 1 h i n . long) animals common on m u d, seaweeds, a n d i n tide poo ls a long both coasts. Most prefer shal low water a n d are common in the tida l zone. A l l feed o n sea p l a nts, especia l ly on eelgrass. Severa l groups, tota ling about 1 00 species, are em braced by the common name. Atlantic species a re more common on F lorida a n d other southern beaches. Some Pacific species prefer colder water. All these a n im a l s have sharply spi red shells with from 1 0 to 1 5 or more spirals.
Californi a Hornshel l 1 " - 1 . 3 "
4. Florida Cerith 1 "- 1 . 5 " 3 . False Cerith 0.5" -0. 8"
2. Partridge Tun 2" - 5 "
TUN o r CASK SHELLS are large, thin-wa l led, rounded shel ls, m ostl y tropica l . A few species occ u r o n o u r south ern Atl a ntic Coast-none off Ca l ifornia. These shells are 2 to 1 0 in. long. The moving a n i m a l is m uch larger a n d , l ike s o m e other gastropods, seems t o o big for i t s shel l . Members o f t h i s fa m i l y prefer deeper water. F i g Shell, shown here with the l ive a n i m a l protruding from its shell, is a c l ose relative.
3 . Common Fig Shell 3 "-4"
COWRI ES a re perha ps better known than any othe r group of m o l l usks. People the world over have been attracted by their bea uty. S m a l l e r kinds have been made i nto orna ments, a n d a ye l l ow species was long traded and used as money i n Africa and other re gions. The spira l she l l of cow ries can be seen only in young anima ls. As the a n i m a l g rows, the lime deposited in the large body spira l gradu a l l y e n g u lfs the rem a i n i n g twists of the she l l . I n mature cowries, a l l trace o f the spira l s h e l l i s l ost. A l l cowries h ave highly pol ished shells; a few a re p l a i n , b u t many a re m ottled a n d brightly colored. A l l are tropical species, a n d only a l i m ited n u m ber occur i n our warmer waters-one on the Pacific Coast a n d about a dozen on the Atl a ntic. Most cowries a re from 1 to 4 i n . long. T h e Coffee Bea n Shel ls, s m a l ler relatives o f cow ries, are a l l less than 1 in. A c l ose ly related group is found a long the Pacific. Most cowries prefer m oderately deep water. Live Chestnut Cowry
3 . Atlantic Gray Caw r y
1.
0 . 8 "- 1 . 5 "
5 . Solander's Coffee Bean 0.8"
6. California Coffee Bean 0 . 3 "-0. 5 "
7. Four-spotted Coffee Bean 0 . 1 "-0. 3 "
8. Atlantic Coffee Bean 0. 5 "
A p p l e Murex 2"-4. 5 "
2.
3 . Thick-lipped Drill 0.5" - 1 "
4. Gem M u re x 1 " - 1 . 3 "
MUREX S H ELLS a n d their k i n include over a thousa n d
species, counting t h e Drills (p. 1 28), which h ave become serious pests i n oyster beds. All of this group a re carni vores, feeding m a i n ly on biva lves. Shells a re about 1 in. to 6 in. high; heavy, ridged, a n d usua l l y spi ny. Most showy species are tropica l, though some a re a lso found in tem perate waters. Typica l a n d best known is the Murex group, a widespread genus, fou n d o n our south Atla ntic a n d G u lf coasts, a n d farther south. The West I n d i a n Mu rex, l a rge (6 i n . ) a n d showy, is a r a r e species. Fewer kinds, and a n u m ber of related species, l ive on our Pacific shores. Murex snails live in moderately deep water. Shells are often washed u p on beac hes. The Drills a n d other s h a l l ow-water species can be col lected at low tides. 1 26
1 . Festive M u r e x 1 . 5 "- 2 "
2 . Western Three-wi nged M u re x 2"-3"
3. Cabrit's Murex 1 "-3"
4. Carpenter's Dwarf Triton 0. 5 "-0 . 8 "
5 . Circled Dwarf Triton 0. 8 "- 1 "
1 27
OYST ER DRILLS, DOGWI NKLES and P U R P URAS are related to Murex. These smaller species (Y2 to 3Y2 in. long) look like m i niature, less showy forms. Oyster Drills use a tongue-l ike fi le to drill a hole through biva lve she l ls a n d use a sucking tube to eat the a n i m a l with i n . Animals of this group (and some other species of Murex, too) were crushed to o bta in the famous roya l purple dye used by Greeks a n d Romans. These a n imals are common on rocks and in tide pools on both our coasts, and i n s h a l l ow tem perate waters around the wor ld. Wide-m outhed Purpura 2"-3 . 5 "
2 . Atlantic Oyster Dri l l 0. 5 "- 1 "
5 . Atlantic Dogwi n k l e 1 "- 2 "
Carinate Dove-shell ( actual s i z e )
4.
Dove-shell 0.4 -0. 5 "
DOVE-SH ELLS w o u l d be a n even m o r e attractive group of shells if o n ly they were l a rger. Americ a n species are we l l under a n inch long-some less than Y.! i n . These sma l l a n i m a l s are common a n d c a n b e collected as they crawl over rocks and seaweeds at low tide. The spind le-sha ped shells have a thicke n i n g at the center of the lip. They are shiny and often brightly marked. More varieties of Dove shells live on the East Coast than o n the West. They occur a long the full length of each coast, but are m ore common i n warmer waters. 1 29
3. Tabled Neptune 3 "-4 "
New England Neptune 3"-4.5"
4.
WH ELKS are the la rgest north ern gastro pods, 3 to 1 6 in. long. While not so attractive as some southern forms, they have l ittle com petition on northern beaches. The a n i m a l s drill biva lve s h e l l s with a rasping, tongue-like struc ture ( l ike the Oyster Dri l l ) a n d feed on t h e a n i m a l inside. The Knobbed Whelk is the la rgest, a n d the C h a n neled Whelk a l m ost as big. Both occur from Cape Cod south a lo n g Atlantic ·a n d Gulf shores. I n sum mer, strings of horny egg ca ses of these w h e l ks a re found on the beac h-some times with h u n dreds of very tiny
3. Common Northern Bucc i n u m 2 "-4"
perfect shells with i n . The Pear Whelk, m ore del icate ly formed, is a southern whelk. Dozens of smal ler whelks a lso occur a long n orthern shores. All are carni vores and scavengers. Some of these a re widely used as food i n Europe. The K n o b b e d a n d Chan neled Whelks a lso a re eaten and are sometimes fou n d in markets.
4.
Glclcicil"WWrtriiltf":r". 131
0 . 8 " .. 1 "
3 . New England
4. Giant Western N assa 1 . 5 " -2"
NASSAS and MUD SNAI LS a re s m a l l species, Y2 to 1 i n . long, a n d much more common than the larger a n d better-known whel ks. The Mud Snail, sometimes ca l led Basket Shell, is the most common species, especia l ly in the n orth . Mud Snails may be seen by the thousands when mud flats a re exposed at low tide. They are scaven gers, but a lso attack and eat b iva lves. Because they a re so abunda nt, these animals a re an i m porta nt factor in shore l ife. The Nassas, which a lso favor mud
1 . Banded Tulip 2"-4"
TULIP shelled species related
SH ELLS or BAN D SH ELLS a re large, thick carn ivorous gastropods of warmer seas. Three l ive o n our south Atla ntic shores. Some s m a l ler shel ls, belonging to the sa me fa m i ly, are fou n d a long the Ca l ifornia beaches. Best known of this group is the large F l orida Horse Conch (1 to 2 ft.), largest gastropod i.n Amer ica n waters. The living a n i m a l is even more attractive than its h a ndsomely colored s h e l l .
2 . Florida Horse Conch 1 '-2'
3 . True Tulip 3"·5"
1 33
1 . lettered Olive 2" - 2 . 5 "
2. Variable Dwarf Olive 0.3 "-0. 5 "
3 . Beatie Dwarf Olive 0.5 "-0. 8 "
4. Purple Dwarf Olive 1 "· 1 . 3"
1 34
O L I V E S H ELLS a re somewhat simi l a r to Cowries (pp. 1 24- 1 25) i n that the growing shell engu lfs much of its spire. O l ive Shells a re sma l l (Yl to 2 Y2 in. long), but the family is a large one, of many tropic a l species. Our species occur on both the Atla n t i c a n d Pacific coasts-som e extend ing into n orthern waters. The a n i m a l is q u ite large, a n d w h e n i t is com pletely extended the shell is hidden. The brig ht gray or b l u ish shells were prized ornaments of I ndians. O l ive Shells a re common i n shal low water a n d a re fou n d o n sandy beaches.
C O N E SH ELLS a re a tro pical group. Th is l a rge fa m i ly is represented by a single species on o u r Pacific shores a n d by about a dozen Atl a n tic spe c ies, mainly from Florida's rocks a n d cora ls. More common i n t h e West I n dies. Some tropica l species a re poi sonous and can g ive a fata l sting. But n o n e of these lives in our area. Ours vary from j ust u n der 1 i n . to about 3 in. long. They a re brightly colored i n ye l lows and browns a n d a re best identified by t h e i r typica l con ica l shape a n d a ttractive mark ings. Cone shells are c o l l ectors' fa vorites. The Glory-of-the-Seas, most v a l u a b l e of a l l shel ls, is a rare Cone She l l from the East I n d ies. 2. Mouse Cone 1 "- 1 . 5 "
4 . Florida Cone 1 . 5 " - 1 .8"
1 35
2 . Eastern P a p e r B u bble 0. 5 " 1 . C a l iforni a B u b b l e 1 .5"-2"
4. West I n d i a n B u b ble 0 . 5 "- 1 "
3 . Brown-l i n e d Paper B u b b l e 1 "- 1 . 5 "
BUBBLE SH ELLS belong to severa l c losely related fam i l ies, which differ from other gastropods in seve ral ways. The a n i m a l has two pairs of tentacles. The s h e l l is s m a l ler than the a n i m a l , loosely curved, thin and brittle. Most s pecies l ive in sha l l ow, warm water. They are c l osely related to the she l l - l ess Sea Slugs. Nearly a l l are less than Y2 i n . long. Those i l l ustrated a re a mong the largest and showiest s pec ies.
1 36
SEA SLUGS a re a paradox-sh e l l - less she l l fi s h . However, some land s n a i l s are without she l l s a lso. The em bryo has a coiled shell, but this is lost soon after the Sea Slug emerges. Sea S l ugs vary considerably i n size a n d color. The P l u med Sea S l ug, one of the larger American species, g rows u p to 4 in. l o n g . Others a re much sma l ler. These odd a n i m a l s feed partly on Sea Anemones and a re a b l e t o u s e the sti n g i n g c e l l s taken f r o m their prey as part o f their o w n b o d y defen ses. Most S e a Slugs are cold-water a n i m a ls. 1 37
SQU I D, OCTOP US, a n d their kin are m o l l usks in which the foot is modified i nto a ring of tentacles, bearing c u p like suction discs around the mouths. Giant Octopus a n d Giant Squid a re rare, deep-water a n i m a ls. None is as big as the stories to l d about them . Other s pecies of both a n i m a l s a re common, h a r m l ess, a n d often prized as food . Squids, common along both o u r coasts, usua l l y trave l i n schools. Most species a r e 8 to 20 in. long, though the Giant Squid measures u p to 50 ft. The Squid she l l is red uced to a soft intern a l p l ate, the "pen." A muscu l a r ma ntle covers the body. Sq uids a r e jet- propelled : they swim by ejecti ng a stream of water which shoots them backwa rd. Sq uids enci rcle sma l l fish with their tentacles and eat with sharp horny beaks set aro u n d their mouths. They protect themselves by em itting an i n ky fl u id, and hide from their enem ies in this smoke screen.
Octopus prefers sha l l ower water than the Squid a n d is often found un der rocks at low tide. These unusual a n i m a l s f e e d m ostly on crabs. The Octopus (and a lso the S q u i d ) can c h a n g e color ra pidly, especia l ly w h e n excited or feed i n g . The col ors are usua l l y browns, ye l l ows, and a d u l l rose. T h e Octopus m oves along the bottom, using its tenta c les, o r swi ms by jet propulsion l i ke Squids. From eggs laid in je l l ied cl usters on rocks, the young emerge as m i n iature adu lts. Atla ntic a n d Pacific shore species are similar i n appea rance. 1 38
1 . Common Short-fin n ed Squid 1 2" - 1 8"
are tubular un iva lves which form a d istinct c lass of m o l l usks. The d e l icate, lig ht, a n d s l ightly c urved shells range in length from 1 to 5 in. Of about H iO s pecies, severa l are found on both our coasts. Shallow-water Pacific species were collected by I n d ians, who used them both for currency a n d a s prized ornaments. Tusk shells from the Pacific were tra ded far inland. The animals have a ring of sma l l fi la ments but no clearly defined head, as does the Squid. They feed on m icroscopic l ife o n sandy, and sometimes on m u ddy, bottoms.
Beach Plums spot dunes from Massachusetts to Virginia.
PLANTS
OF
DUNE
AND
SHORE
I n the long run, a l l a n i m a l l ife of the sea depends upon plants-hence the im porta nce of a lgae. Seed-producing aq uatic species a lso grow in brackish or salt water. less im porta nt but of specia l interest are many l a n d pla nts which hcive a d a pted themse lves to the seashore environ m ent. Some g row on beach sands or dunes, or in crevices of sea c l iffs. S hores rese m b l e deserts i n some ways, a n d shore p l a nts often s h o w characteristics o f p la nts i n arid regions. Some have deep, penetrati ng roots and sma l l leathery, hairy, o r waxy leaves. A n u m ber are succulents capa b l e of storing water. A l l are thrifty a n d resista nt to wind, sa lt spray, a n d droug ht. Of the pla nts a long the shore, mem bers of the grass and sedge fa m i l ies have been most successful. These are often less conspicuous a n d m ore difficult to identify. Other fl owering pla nts ra nge from sma l l herbaceous species to shrubs and trees. The latter include, besides those i l lus trated, pines, cedar, hol lies, sumac, and others. The her baceous pla nts are more n u m erous and so d iverse that o n ly a few are shown on the fol lowing pages. Also read: A9UATIC P L A N T S O F T H E U N ITED STATES, Muenscher, Cornell U n i v . Press (Comstock), Ithaca, New Yo rk, 1944. F LOWERS, Zim and Marti n , Golden P ress, New Yo rk, 1950. TREES, Zim and Martin, Golden P ress, New Yo rk, 1 952.
141
EAST ERN 5EA-·O,AT5 is a common, to l l , at tractive g rass of southern a n d Gulf shores. A p i o n e e r on n e w d u n es, its r o ot s h e l p anchor the sh ifting sand a n d t h u s stabil ize the d u n e . Grows 3 to 4 ft. RAILROAD V I N E is a tou g h , ha rdy morning-g l ory, o n e of sev eral kinds fou nd on d u nes. I ts long, stra ight r u n n e rs a n d heavy, rounded leaves are cha racteristic. EELG RASS, growing i n tidal boys on both coasts, is a favorite food of some d ucks and geese. It is related to the pondweeds. T h e W e s t C o a s t k i n d h a s brooder leaves.
YAUPON is a holly found a l o n g the E a s t a n d G u l f coasts. I ts dense foliage p rovides shelter; its red berries, food for birds. Other h o l l ies a l so g row on or near du nes.
PLANTS SANDBUR, a
hardy g rass, is never forgotten when met acci dentally. The s h a rp spines of the b u rs prick p a i n fu l ly . Found along Atlantic a n d G u l f shores a n d i n C a l ifornia, too.
GLASSWORT salt tolerates soaked soi l in tidal flats on both coasts, where n o other pla nts g row. Turns b r i g h t red in fa l l . look f o r t h e tiny, a l most invisible l eaves. SHORE
RUSH
or
3-SQUARE
belongs to a large group of com mon species wh ich p refer brack i�h water. Nate the a n g u l a r ste m . A l l rushes s p r e a d by creeping rootstocks.
SEASIDE GOLDENROD, a h a n d same p l an t, h a s th ick, a l most fleshy leaves and sto ut ste m s . M o re a ttractive t h a n other gold en rods, it g rows i n s a n d from Maine to Florida. 2 to 4 ft. h i g h .
S. Seaside Goldenrod
1 43
WESTERN LUPINES vary from s m a l l herbs to l a rge shru bs. Several kin ds, with spikes of b l u e o r yel low flow ers, g row a l o n g western beaches. Tree l u p i n e is the l argest of these species. SEA-FIG and related ice p l a nts are u n usual, thick-leaved p l a nts fou n d a long s h o res i n many warmer cou n tries. Sea·fig is p ro l ific, thrifty, and a ttractive. Its fruit is edible.
BEACH PEAS include seve ral species. Some a re h a i ry; some smooth a n d th in·leaved. F lowers usually p u rple; seeds i n a thin pod. Rel ated to sweet a n d g a r d e n peas. SAND STRAWBERRY is a s m a l l , short-stem med p l a n t o n or n e a r the beaches a n d o n open pra i · r i e s. B l ooms a n d fruits early in spring. F r u it delicious b u t s m a l l .
1 44
PLANTS BEACH
M O R N I NG-GLORY is one of a fa mi l y wh ich includes the common b i n dweed. This spe cies, with small, p u r p l ish flowers a n d thick l eaves, g rows on sandy beaches. REED g rows commonly in mildly brackish m a rshes of both coasts, sprea d i n g by a fast-grow i n g root stock. Height: 10 ft. or more. O n e of the l a rgest n a tive g rasses.
SEASIDE DAISY is a short (6 to 10 in.) p l a n t of b l uffs a n d beach es, with th ick, h a i ry stems and leaves. S h owy flowers bloom from April to J u ly. Not a true daisy but a fleabane.
SAN D VERBE NA, i n several forms, g rows in t h e West-in des erts and a l o n g shores. All have sticky stems; small, rounded leaves; a n d either p i n k, y e l l ow, or wh ite flowers. Sand Verbena
1.
Saw Palmetto
SHORE TREES PALMETTOS a re southern trees. Some cove r m i l e after m i l e of sandy soil behind the beaches. Usually s h r u b by, some g row 20 to 30 ft. h i g h, topped by large cl usters of fa n-shaped leaves. BAYBERRY or WAX MYRTLE, com m o n along d u nes a n d beaches, p ro d u ces wax-covered u b erries," once used for candles and still as a food by many birds. Does not get as close to salt water as M a n g rove. SEA-GRAPE is one of the most at tractive shore trees of the deep South. I t g rows a n d u n es or cora l . T h e large, leathery leaves are tinged red; the small p u rp l e fruit g ives it its name.
MANGROVE is u n m istakable. I ts sprea d i n g p rop-roots a n d tolerance of salt water make it the most com mon plant far long stretches of F lori da and Gulf coasts. Watch far awl shaped seedlings on beaches.
Brown Pelican
B I RDS of sea a n d shore add a spark l e of l ife whenever they a ppear. Some venture far out to sea. Others l ive a n d move a l o n g the shore, w h i c h is one o f t h e best places t o study b irds, especia l l y while migrating. T h e birds i n this book supplement those in B I R DS, a Golden Nature Guide. Birds of the shore include sa n d pipers, , terns, pe l icans, herons, g u l ls, d ucks, and others ada pted to l ife o n water or along the shore. Many l a n d birds l ive a l o n g the shores a lso. Seaside a n d Sha rpta i led Spa rrows, Boat-ta iled Grackles, Tree Swa l l ows, a n d larks are fo u n d i n or n ear salt swa m ps. Ospreys, eagles, crows, a n d Fish-crows pre fer open headlands or more protected bays a n d lagoons. I n spring a n d fa l l , many m i g rating land birds follow the shore l ine. Some shore b irds, too, mig rate. D o more than identify b irds; watch them feed a n d fly. See a whole flock maneuver together with unerring accuracy. I l l ustrations show adult birds i n spring p l umage. Further reading: B I R D S , Z i m a n d Gabrielson, Golden P ress, N e w Yo rk, 1 955. A F I E L D G U I D E TO THE B I R D S a n d A F I E L D G u i D E TO WESTER N B I R D S, Pete rson, Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, 1 947, 1 94 1 . B I R D S OF T H E PAC I F I C STATES, Hoffma n , R., Houg hton Mifflin Co., Bosto n , 1 938.
1 47
OYSTERCATCHERS are waders of rocky s hores of both coasts. These stocky b irds, 16 to 18 i n ., w i t h bl ac k heads a n d heavy r e d bills are q uickly recog n ized . I n flight t h e eastern species shows wh ite wing p a tches. The Western Black Oyste rcatcher has n o wh ite.
SEMI PALMATED
PLOVER, a rather s m a l l (6 to 8 i n . ) bird with a black collar a n d a short bill. Of ten it is seen r u n n i n g a l o n g the sand o r flying low over s u rf. Note its short tai l and dark b rown back. RUDDY TU RNSTONE (8 to 9 1/2 i n . ) mig rates down both coasts along both sandy and rocky shores. Look for the w h ite head a n d rusty brown back. I n flight note the striking b rown-a n d-white wing patte r n . DOWITCHER is a sni pe-like b i rd (1 0'/2 to 1 2 i n . ) with a long, stra ight b i l l . On m udflats, sandy beaches a n d salt m a rshes it con tinually p robes the mud for food . Note its rusty colo r, wh itish back and rump.
W I LLETS a re large ( 14 to 17 i n . },
fairly d r ab birds with long, stra ight bills a n d long, dark legs. Seen along both coasts, in m a rsh es a n d mudflats. I n flig ht, th e black·a nd-w h ite wing patte rn identifies them.
AVOCETS ( 1 7 to 20 i n . ) a re ma rked by their long, t h i n, up turned b i l ls, a n d by their longer, t h i n black legs. Note the p a l e b rown head a n d n e c k , a n d t h e strongly m a r ked black-an d-white wings. More common on the West Coast i n quiet lagoons and m u d flats.
KNOTS are ci n n amon-brown in spring; g ray and wh ite i n winter. They a re s m a l l e r ( 1 0-1 1 in.) than Dowitchers and have shorter b i l ls. Common d u r i n g spring and fall migrations.
SANDERLING (7 to 8 i n .), com mon i n winter on both coasts, is a stocky sa n d p i p e r showi n g a broad white stripe on t h e wings. feeds o n small inve rtebrates along surf or i n mud fl a ts.
P E C T O R A L SA N D P I P E R S m i g rate a l o n g both coasts a n d are partial to coastal swamps. Note the wh ite throat and abdomen, crossed by a broad, strea ked band. Legs t h i n a n d yel low; length : 8% to 9 % i n .
S E M I PA L M A T E D S A N D P I P E R a n d the a l most identical Wester n Sandpiper of the Pacific are very common m i g rations. d u ri n g Streaked d a r k b rown a bove with dark legs and short, dark b i l l . Length : S V2 t o 6 V2 i n .
G U LLS a re common on a l l shores and a l ong many la kes and rivers. Most common i n the East is the Herri ng G u l l (22 t o 2 6 i n .), marked b y black wing tips a n d pin kish legs. Severa l oth er g u l ls are similar. The C a l ifornia Gu l l of the West Coast (20 to 23 in.) is s l ig htly smal ler, with dark l egs and with a red spot near the tip of its lower b i l l . The Ring b i l led G u l l also is similar but sma l l e r ( 1 8 to 1 9 in.), with a black ring a round its yel lowish b i l l a n d with d u l l ye l l ow legs. The Western G u l l is l i ke the Ca lifornia Gull, but has a yellow b i l l with a red spot, and flesh-colored legs. The Laughing Gull is 1 5 to 1 7 in. It is black-headed i n spri ng, and with very dark wings and back. The Great B lack backed G u l l is a northern b i rd seen m a i n l y in wi nter a long Atlantic s h o res. Its large size (28 to 31 in.) a n d dark back identify it. The Black Skimmer of the East Coast is a striking bird with b lack back and wings, a n d white b e l ow. It uses its red unders l u n g b i l l to scoop u p sma l l fish.
1 50
1 . Royal Tern
TERNS The Roya l Tern is a han dsome bird of southern shores-Atla ntic and Pacific. N ote its b l ack, crested crown, the orange bill, and the deeply forked ta il. Length: 19 to 21 in. The Cas pia n Tern is similar i n range, size, and gen era l appeara nce. It has a red bill, a n d tail is less forked. The Common Tern is easy to see a n d identify. N ote its black ca p, forked ta i l , a n d b lack-ti pped ora nge b i l l . Length : 1 3 t o 1 6 in. Forster's Tern, m ore c o m m o n in the West, genera l l y l ig hter, prefers marshes to open sandy beaches. The Arctic Tern is grayer, with b i l l com plete ly red. 3. Arctic Tern
4 . Forster's Tern
5. Black Skimmer
6. Great Black-backed Gull
WOOD STORK 34 to 38 i n . L o r g e flocks along southern shores. Note block on wings, g ray head. F l ies with neck out. DOUBLE - CRESTED CORMO RANT Ranges farther n o rth tha n othe rs o n t h i s p a g e . Often s u n s with wings o u t . L o r g e (28 to 34 i n . ) .
3
WHITE I B I S S m a l l e r (22 to 26 i n . ) , a l most a l l wh ite. Red face. Seen in Iorge flocks over coastal swa mps.
WATER TURKEY
or
A N H I NGA
Prefers m a rsh es, l a g oons, coasta l rivers. G l ossy, g re e n ish-gray bock, with l ig h t wing patches.
i n . Common both coosts. White H e ron of Florid a : la rger, p u re w hite, yellow b i l l a n d legs.
LITTLE BLUE HERONS 20 to 25 i n . You n g : wh ite or b l u e.blotc h e d . Green Heron s m a l ler; yellow legs, wh ite on th roat. Both coasts.
REDDISH EGRET 28 to 32 in.; on warmer coasts of both oceans. A w h i ie p hase is similar to Com mon Eg ret.
COMMON EGRET 34 to 40 i n . Common o n both coasts. Snowy Egret i s 8 to 2 4 i n ., has yellow feet, black b i l l a n d legs.
GREAT BLUE HERON 40 to 50
BOOKS F O R F U RTHER STU DY . Systematic a n d exact i dentification is often difficu lt. You may need the aid of technical publications, such as journ a l s of scientific socie ti es and museums. Less technica l books include: Abbott, R. T . , A M ER I C A H SEAS H E LLS, D . Van Nostran d Co., 1 954. A major reference. Over 1 ,500 varieties. Exce l l e n t b i b l iography. Buchsb a u m, R., A N I M A L S WITHOUT BAC K B O N ES, U niv. of C h i cago Press, 1 948. Readable, col lege-level i ntroduction. Exce l lent i l l u strations. C a rson, Rachel, T H E E D G E o F THE SEA, New American Library, N . Y., 1 955. A very read a b l e i ntrod uction to the many l i v i n g t h i n g s at the sea ' s edge. MacGin itie, G. E. and N ., NATURAL H I STORY O F M A R I H E A N I M A L S, McGraw- Hi l l Book Co., 1 949. A fairly detai led, u s a b l e s u m m a ry. Miner, R. W., F I E L D B o o K OF SEAS H O R E L I F E, G. P. Putn a m ' s Sons, 1 950. A very complete and authentic guide for the Atlantic Coast. Ricketts, E. f. & C. J ., BETW E E N PAC I F I C T I D ES, Stanford U n iv. P ress, 1 952. All tide-zon e Pacific invertebrates. Readable; fi n e p h otos.
MUSEUMS, AQUARIA, AND MARI N E BIOLOGICAL STAT I O N S of interest to serious amateurs i n c l u de: America n Museum o f Natural H isto ry, N e w York, N . Y. Chicago Museum of Natura l Histo ry, C hicago, I l l . Shedd Aq uarium, C hicago, I l l . Morine Biological laboratory, Woods Hole, Moss. Duke U n iv. Mori n e labo ratory, Beaufo rt, N . C . I n stitute of Morine Science, U niversity o f Miami, V i r g i n i a Key, Miami, Fla. Ocea nographic I n stitute of Florida Stole U n iv., A l ligator H a rbor, F l a . G u l f Coast Research laboratory, Ocea n Springs, Miss. Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove, C a l if. Puget Sound Marine Bioi. Station, U n iv. of Wash., F riday H a rbor, Was h . Scri p p s I n stitution o f Oceanography, U niv. o f C a l if., La J o l l a , C a l if.
S C I E N T I F I C NAMES Following a re the scientific names of species i l l u strated i n this book. H eavy typ e i n d icates pages w h ere species appear; n u m bers i n l i g h te r type are caption n u m bers. The g e n u s n o m e is fi rst, then the species. If the g e n u s name is a b b reviated, it is the same as the genus n a m e men tioned just before it. 3 Mnemiopsis leidyi. 20 Lyngbyo m ajuscu le. 2 1 Cod i u m fra g i l e . 22 1 . C la d o p h o r a g to c i l i s ; 2 . U l v o lactuca; 3 o . E n t e r om o r p h a i n t e s t i n a l i s ; 3b. E . c o m pr e s s a . 2 3 1 . C a u l erpa p r o l ifera; 2 . B r y opsis p l u m o s e .
1 54
24 1 . H a l i meda t u n a ; 2. Aceta b u l a r i a cren u lata; 3 . Penici l l u s d u meto s u s . 2 5 1 a . Sargassum notans; 1 b. S. v u l g a r e. 26 1 . A l e r i a e s c u lenta; 2. P o d i n a povon i a ; 3 . C h o r d a r i a f l a g e l l ifor mis.
(Scientific Names Continued) 27 1. Ectocarpus viridis; 2a. Des marestia v i r i d i s ; 2 b . D. acu leate; 3 . C h orda tomentosa. 28 1 . Agarum cribrosum; 2 a . Lam inaria a g a rd h i i ; 2b. L . d i g i tata. 29 1 . Macrocystis p y r ifera; 2. Pos telsia p a l maeformis; 3 . Nereocystis luetkea na. 30 l a . Fucus v e s i c u l osus; l b . F. evanescens. 3 1 Dasya sp. 32 l a. Gigarti n a ste l l ata; l b . G . corymbifera; l c. G . m icrophy l la ; 2 . Chondrus crispus ( 3 for m s ) ; 3 a . Ge lidium coulteri; 3b. G . corne u m . 3 3 1 a . P o l y s i p h o n i a fi b r i l l ose; 1 b . P. n i g rescens; l c. P. h a rvey i ; 2 . G r i n ne l l i a americana; 3 a . Spermo· thamnion turneri; 3 b . S . b a i l e y i . 34 1 a . Cera m i u m fasti g i a t u m ; 1 b . C . rubrum; 2a. P l u m a r i a serecea ; 2b. P. pectinate; 3 a . Porphyra u m b i l ic a l is; 3 b . P . atropu r p u re a . 35 C o ro l l i n a officina l i s . 40 1. C i o n a intesti n a l is; 2 . M o l g u l a m a n hattensis. 4 1 1 . Leucosol e n i a botryoides; '2 . Scypha l i n g u a . 42 1. Microciona prolifera; 2. C l i ona celata. 4 3 1 . C a l l y s p o n g i a vaginalis; 2 . H a l ic l o n a occ u lata; 3 . H i ppiospon g i a lachne; 4. H . c a n a l iculata; 5. H . e q u i n oformis. . 45 1 . A u r e l i a a u r i t a ; 2. Cyanea capi l lata. 46 1. Gonionemus murbach i i ; 2 . T u b u l a r i a specta b i l is; 3 . O b e l i a gelatinosa. 47 P h y s a l i a p h y s a l i s . 48 1. Metri d i u m d i a n t h u s ; 2 . Ad amsia socia b i l i s ; 3 a . Sagartia mod esto; 3 b . S . l u c i a e . 49 C r i b r i n a x a n t h o g r a m m i c a . 50 1. B a l a n o ph y t l a e l e g a n s ; 2 . A s t ra ng i o danae; 3 . Ocu l i n a d iffuse. 5 1 1. Cora l l i u m r u b r u m ; 2 . Agari c i a a g a r i c i tes; 3 . Acropora cerv i · c o r n i s ; 4. F a v i a f r a g u m ; 5. D i p l o r i a labyrithiform i s . 52 1 . Pen n a t u l a a c u l e a t a ; 2. Gor gonia flabe l l u m ; 3 . Plexaura flex uosa.
53 1 . F o l i a para l l e l a ; 2 . brachia brunnea. 54 Cerebratu I u s lacteus. 55 Nereis virens. 56 Bispira sp.
Pleura
57 1. Aph rodite a c u leata; 2 . Pec tinaria g o u l d i i ; 3 . C irratu l u s g r a n · d i s ; 4. C haetopterus pergamenta ceus; 5. A re n i c o l a c r i stata. 58 1. Membra n i pora p i l o s e ; 2 . B u g u l a t u r r i t a ; 3 . C risea eburnea. 59 1. Terebratu l i n a spitzbergen s i s ; 2 . T. septentrion a l i s; 3 . l i n g u l a a n atina. 61 1. Amph i p h o l i s squamata; 2 . Gorgonoceph a l u s arcticus; 3 . Oph i oderma brev i s p i n u m ; 4 . O p h i o p h o l i s a c u l e a t a ; 5. Ophiothrix a n g u lata. 62 1. Henricia s a n g u i n o lenta; 2. Ctenod iscus c r i s patus; 3 . Aste r i a s v u l g a r i s; 4. S o l a ster e n d e c a ; 5 . Echi naster Sentus; 6 . Aste r i a s f o r besi. 63 1. P a t i r i a m i n iata; 2 . L i n c k i a c o l u m b i a e ; 3 . H e n r i c i a leviuscu l a ; 4. Pycnopod i a h e l i a nthoides; 5. P i saster ochraceus. 64 1 . Cidaris t r i b u l o ides; 2 . Ar bacia p unctu lata; 3 . Echinarac h n i us parma. 65 1. Arbacia punctulata; 2 . Stron g y l ocentrotus d r oebachiensis; 3. 5. francisca n u s ; 4. Echin ametra lucunter; 5. E n c ope emarginata; 6 . Dendraster excentricus; 7. Echi narachinus parma. 66 1. S t i c h o p u s c a l ifornicus; 2 . Leptosyn o pta i n h aerens; 3 . C a u d i n a a r e n a t a ; 4. Cucumaria f r o n dosa. 68 1 . Lep a s fasc i c u l a r i s ; 2 . B a l a n u s b a l a n oides. 69 1 . Gammarus locusta; 2 . Talor chestia longicornis; 3 . Orchestoidea c a l iforn i a n a ; 4. Orchestia a g i l i s . 70 1. S q u i l l a e m pu s a ; 2 . Penaeus setiferus; 3 . C rangon septe m s p i nosa. 7 1 1. H o m arus americanus; 2. Pan u l i r u s argus. 72 1. Emerita a n a l o g a ; 2 . E . tal poida.
1 55
I Seientifie Names Continued l 73 Pagurus p o l l icaris. 74 1. C a l l i nectes sapidus; 2 . Car ci nides moenas. 7 5 1 . Portu n u s g i bbesi i ; 2 . Oval i p e s ocellatus. 76 1 . Cancer i rroratus; 2 . C . bore a l is; 3. C . magister. 77 1 . Uca pugnax; 2 . Ocypode q uadrate . 78 1 . P ugettia pradu cta ; 2 . L i b i n i a emarginata ; 3. l. d u b i o . 79 1. Eu rypterus fischeri; 2. L i m u · I u s po l y phemus. 8 1 1 . C haetop l e u ra a p i cu lata; 2. Mopa l i a ciliate; 3. l schnochiton magd a l e n s i s . 83 1. N ucula p r o x i m a ; 2 . Acila castrensis; 3 . N u c u l a n a m i nute; 4. N . taphria; 5. N u cu la n a acuta. 84 1 . Area imbri cate; 2 . Anadaro ovalis; 3 . Area zebra; 4. Anadara nota b i l is; 5. Barbatia b a i l y i . 8 5 1. Myti l us edu l is; 2 . Mod i o l u s d e m i s s u s ; 3 . Mod i o l u s mod iolus; 4. B rachidontes recu rvus. 86 1 . Aeq uipecten g i b b us; 2. C h lamys ornatus; 3 . H i n n ites m u l · t i rugosus. 87 1. Pecten hericius; 2 . Lepta pecten latiaruatus; 3. C h lamys sen tis; 4 . P l a copecten magel l a n icus; 5, Pecten d i egensis; 6 . Aeq ui pecte n irrad i a n s . 88 1. A n o m i a simplex; 2 . A . a c u l e a t e ; 3 . A . p e r u via n o . 89 1 . Ostrea l u rida; 2 . P l icatu l a g i bbosa; 3 . Crassostrea virginica. 9 0 1 . Atri n a serrata; 2 . A. rigida;. 3. P i n n a cornea. 9 1 1 . Pteria colymbus; 2 . P . nebu losa. 92 1 . Pandora gauldiana; 2. P . tri l i n eata; 3 . P . punctate; 4 . P. fil osa . 93 1 . Astarte undata; 2. A. ca s tanea; 3 . A. borea l i s; 4 . A. a lasken sis; 5. A. esq u i m a l t i . 94 1. Lucina floridana; 2 . Phacai des a n n u l atus; 3 . Codakia orbicu laris; 4. Lucina jjensy lvanica. 95 1. C l i noca r d i u m ciliatum; 2. Trachycard i u m m u r i catum; 3 . C l i n ocard i u m n u tta l l i ; 4 . Dinocardium robustum.
1 56
96
1.
Mercena r i a
compechiensis;
2 . M. mercenaria.
98 1. Protothaca tenerrima; 2 . P . staminea; 3 . P. lacin eata . 99 1 . Macroca l l i sta moculato; 2 . M . nimboso. 1 00 1 . Dosinia elegans; 2 . D . dis cus; 3 . Gemma gemma·. 1 0 1 Tivela stu ltoru m . 1 02 1 . Te l l i na bodegensis; 2 . T : carpenteri; 3 . T. radiate; 4. T . sal monee; 5. T . modesto; 6 . T. inter rupto; 7. T. l ineata . 1 03 1 . Macoma tenia; 2. M. b a l thico; 3 . M . constricto; 4. M. secto ; 5. M. i ndentota; 6. M. nasuta. 1 04 1 . Donax denticulate; 2 . D . fossor; 3 . D . californicus; 4. D . g o u l d i ; 5. D. variab i l i s . 1 0 5 1 . S o l e n rosaceus; 2 . Ensis d i rectus; 3. S o l e n viridis; 4. T agel us plebeius. 1 06 1 . Mactra fra g i l i s ; 2 . Spisula solidissima. 1 07 1 . Mulinia latera l i s; 2. Anatina anatina; 3. Anatina p l i ca te l l a . 1 08 1 . My a truncala; 2 . M . a re nario. 1 09 1 . C y rtopleura costata; 2 . Petri colo pholadiformis; 3. Borneo trun cate . 1 1 0 Teredo n a v a l i s . 1 1 2 1 . Megathura cre n u lata; 2 . A c m e o e a sca bra; 3 . A. a n t i l l arum; 4. D iodora l i steri; 5. Acmaea testu dinalis. 1 1 3 1 . T u r b o casta nea; 2 . Ca l l io· stoma l i gatum; 3 . Mo rgarites g ro· e n l a n d icus; 4. C a l l i ostoma j u j u b i n u m ; 5. C . d o l i a r i u m . 1 1 4 1 . Teg u l a funebra l i s; 2 . T. g a l l i n a ; 3 . T. fasciata. 1 1 5 1 . H a l iotis rufescens; 2 . H. kamlschatkana; 3 . H . fulgens; 4 . H . cracherod i . 1 1 6 1 . E p i ton i u l)'l rupicola; 2 . E . g reen l o ndicum; 3. Opo l i a wro b l e w s k i i ; 4. E p i ton i u m m u ltistri atum. 1 1 7 1 . N o tice clause; 2 . N. can rena; 3 . P o l i n i ces d u p l icatus; 4. Lunatic h e ros. 1 1 8 1 . C re pi d u la onyx; 2. C . acu leate; 3 . C . nummaria; 4 . C . fo rni-
( Scientific: Names Continued l cata ; 5. C. convexa; 6. C. p l a n a . 1 1 9 1. Littorina scutulata; 2 . L. p l a n a x i s ; 3 . L. saxati l i s ; 4 . L . i r rorata; 5. L . l i ttorea; 6 . L . a n g u l i fera . 1 20 1 , Stro m b u s r a n i n u s ; 2. C a s s i s tuberose; 3 . S t r o m b u s a l a t u s . 121 1. Strombus pugilis; 2. S. gi· gas; 3 . C a s s i s madaga sca riensis; 4. C . flam mea . 1 22 1 . B i t t i u m a l ternatum; 2 . Ceri· thidea californica; 3. Bati l la r i a m i n i ma ; 4 . Cerith i u m f l o r i d a n u m . 1 23 1 . l o n n a g a lea; 2 . T. macu losa; 3. F i c u s com m u n i s . 1 2 5 1 . C ypraea spadicea; 2 . C y praea spu rca ; 3 . C . ci nerea; 4 . C . zebra; 5. Trivia s o l a n d r i ; 6. Trivia californ i a n a ; 7 . T r i v i a q ua d r i p u n c t a t a ; 8 . T. pedicu l u s . 1 26 1 . M u rex p o m u m ; 2 . M . d i l ec tus; 3. E u p l e u ra caudate; 4. Murex gemma. 1 27 1 . M u rex festi v u s ; 2 . M . tri a l o t u s ; 3. M. cabriti; 4. Oct:-nebra i nterfossa; 5. 0 . ci rcumtexta. 1 28 1 . Purpura patu l a ; 2 . U ro sa l p i n x cinerea; 3 . N u c e l l a l i ma; 4 . N u c e l l a emarginata; 5. Nucella l a pi l l u s . 1 29 1 . N it i d e l l a carinate; 2 . Mit r e l i c l u n a ta ; 3 . C o l u m b e l l a merca toria; 4. A n a c h i s a v a r a . 1 30 1 . B u sy con ca n a l i c u l a t u m ; 2 . B . carica; 3 . Neptu nea ta b ula ta ; 4 . N . decemcostata . 1 3 1 1 . B u sycon contra r i u m ; 2. B . spi ratum; 3 . B u c c i n u m u n d a t u m ; 4. B. glaciale. 1 3 2 1 . l l ya n a s s a obsoletus; 2. N a s s a r i u s v i b e x ; 3. N. tri v i ttatus; 4 . N . fossa tu s . 1 33 1. Fascio l a r i a h u nteria; 2. P l europloca g i g a ntea ; 3. F a scio laria tulipa. 1 34 1 . O l i v a s a y a n a ; 2 . O l iv e l l a m u t i c a ; 3 . 0 . b a e t i c a ; 4 . 0. b i p l i cata . 1 3 5 1 . C o n u s c a l i fornicus; 2. C . m u s ; 3 . C . reg i u s ; 4. C . f l orida n u s ; 5. C . s p u r i u s . 1 3 6 1. B u l la g o u l d i a n a ; 2 . H a m i n o e a s o l i t a r i o ; 3 . H ydatina vesi ca ria; 4. B u l l a occidenta l i s ; 5. B .
striata. 1 37 1 . Dendronotus frondosus; 2 . Aeo l i s p a p i l lose . 1 39 1. l l l ex i l l ecebro s u s ; 2. l o l i g o pea l e i ; 3, Octo p u s b i m a culotus. 1 40 1 . Dento l i u m enta l e sti m s o n i ; 2 . D . l o q u e a t u m ; 3 . D . entale; 4 . · D. eboreum; 5. D. p reti o s u m . 141 Prunus moritimus. 1 42 1 . U n i o l a p a n i c u l a t a ; 2 . I po moea pes-caproe; 3. Zostera m a rina. 1 43 1 . l l ex v o m i toria; 2 . C e n c h r u s tribuloides; 3 . S a l i co r n i a europaea; 4. Scirpus americanus; 5. Solidago sempervirens. 1 44 1 . l u p i n u s a rboreus; 2 . Me sembry a n t h e m u m a e q u i laterale; 3. Lathyrus maritimus; 4 . Fragaria chi loensis; 5. C o n v o lv u l u s solda nella. 1 4 5 1 . P h r a g m i t e s com m u n i s ; 2 . Erigeron g l a u c u s ; 3a. Abronia u m bel late; 3 b . A. l a tifol i a . 1 46 1 . Serenoa repens; 2 . Sabo l pa l metto; 3. M y r i ca cerifera ; 4 . Cacco l o b i s uv ifera; 5. R h i zo p h o ra mangle. 1 47 Pelaca n u s occidenta l i s. 1 48 1 . H aemoto p u s p a l l iatus; 2 . C h a ra d r i u s hiaticula semipalma tus; 3. Arenaria interpres morinel la; 4. Limnodromus g r i s e u s ; 5. C a toptrophorus s e m i pa lm a tu s . 1 49 1 . Recu r v i rostra a m e r i ca n a ; 2 . C a l i d r i s canutus r u f u s ; 3 . C roceth i a a l b a ; 4. E r o l i a m e l a notos; 5. Ereu netes m a u r i . 1 50 1. L a r u s argentatus ; 2 . L . a r tici l l a ; 3 . L . d e l a w a r e n s i s ; 4 . L . occidenta l i s ; 5. l . ca l i f o r n i c u s . 1 51 1 . Thalasseus maximus; 2. Sterna h i r u n d o ; 3 . 5 . paradisaea; 4 . S . forsteri; 5 . Rynchops nigra; 6. L a r u s m a ri n u s. ) 52 1 . Mycteria americana; 2. G u a ra a l ba ; 3 . P h a l a c rocorax a u ritus; 4 . A n h i n g a a n h i ng a . 1 53 1 . Ardea h e ro d i a s ; 2 . F l o r i d a caeru lea; 3 . D i c h r o m a n a s s a rufes cens; 4. C asmerod i u s a l b u s eg retta .
1 57
I N D EX Abalones, 1 1 5 Acetab u l a r i o , 24 A c t i v i t i e s f o r a ma t e u r s , 6-7 Ad a m s i a , 48-49 Aga r u m , 28 A l a r i c , 26, 28 A l g a e , 1 8 -35; s e e also
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specific names Alternate B i t t i u m , 1 22 American Lobster, 71 Amethyst Gem C l a m , 1 00 A n e m o n e s , Sea, 48-49 A n g e l W i n g s , 1 09 A n n i n g a , 1 52 A n i m a l l i fe in s e a , 3 6 40 Arct i c T e r n , 1 5 1 Ark S h e l l s , 84 A r t h r o p o d s , 67-79 f a m i l y tree, 67 Asci d i o n s , 40 A s t a r t e s , 93 Astra n g i o , 50 - 5 1 Avocets, 1 49
B a l a n o p h y l l a , 50- 5 1 Band Shel ls, 1 33 B a r n a c l e s , 68 Basket S h e l l s , 1 32 Basket Stars, 6 1 B a t h S p o n g e s, 43 B a y b e r r y , 1 46 Beaches, 1 0 - 1 1 , 1 4- 1 5 Beach F l e a s , 69 Beach Mqrn i n g . g l o r y , 1 44- 1 45 Beach Pea, 1 44 Beach P l u m , 1 4 1 B i r d s , 1 47 - 1 53 ; see also specific n a m e s B i t t i u m , A lternate, 1 22 Biva lves, 8 2 - 1 1 0 p o r t s of, 8 2 ; see a lso specific names B l o c k S k i m m e r , 1 50 - 1 5 1 B l u e C r a b , 74 B l u e - g re e n A l g a e , 2 0 B o a t She l l s, 1 1 8 Books, 1 4 1 , 1 47, 1 54
1 58
Brach iopods, 59 Brain C o r a l , 51 B r i t t l e Stars, 6 0 , 6 1 B r o w n A l g a e , 25-30 B r y o p s i s , 2 1 , 23 Bryozoans, 58 B u b b l e Sh e l l s , 1 3 6 B u cc i n u m , C o m m o n N or t h e r n , 1 3 1 Butterfly S ne l l , 1 04 C a b b a g e P a l metto, 1 46 C a l i c o C l a m , 99 C a l ico C r a b , 75 C a l if o r n i a G u l l , 1 50 C a l l i t n o m n i o n , 33 C a s k S h e l l s, 1 23 C a s p i a n Tern, 1 5 1 C a u l e r p a , 23 C e r a m i u m , 34 C e r e b r a t u l u s , 54 C e r i t h s , 1 22 C h o l i n e , 42-43 C h eckerboard, 99 C herrystone C l a m s , 96 C h e s t n u t C l a m s , 93 Chestnut Turban, 1 1 3 C h itons, 8 1 C h o n d r u s , 32 C h or d a , 27 C h ordaria, 26 C i d a r i s , 64 C i o n a , 40 C la d o p h o r a , 22 C l a m s , 96 - 1 0 1 , 1 051 08; see also specific n a m e s C l a m W o r m , 55 C l i o n a , 42 C oc k l e Sh e l l s , 95 Codium, 2 1 C o e l e n terates, 44.52 see also spec;fic names C offee Bean She l l s, 1 241 25 C o m b J e l l ie s , 3 , 53 C o m m o n E g r e t , 1 53 C o m m o n T e r n , 1 .5 1 C o m m u n i t i e s , seashore, 37
C o n c h S h e l l s , 1 20 - 1 2 1 F lorida Horse C o n c h , 1 33 Cone Sh e l l s, 1 3 5 C o p e p od s , 1 6 C o q u i n a S h e l l s , 1 04 C o r o l l i n a , 35 C o r a l s , 40, 50-52 Cormorant, Doublecrested, 1 52 C o w r i e s , 1 24 - 1 2 5 C r a b s , 73 -79; see also specific n a m e s C r i b r i n a , 49 C r i n o i d s , 60 C u c u m be r s , S e a , 66 D a i s y , S e a s i d e , 1 45 Dasya, 3 1 D e a d m a n ' s F i n g e r s , 4243 D e s m a r e s t i a , 27 Diatoms, 1 6 D i n o fl a g e l l ates, 1 6 - 1 7 Oogwink les, 1 28 D o n a x S h e l l s, 1 04 D o s i n i a s , 1 00 D o v e - sh e l l s, 1 29 D o w i t c h e r , 1 48 D r i l l s, 1 26 , 1 28 D u c k C l a m s , 1 07 D u n e p l a n t s , 1 4 1 - 1 46 D w a r f T r i t o n s , 1 27 E c h i n od e r m s , 60 -66 f a m i l y tree, 60 E c t o c a r p u s , 27 E d i b l e R o c k C r a b , 76 E d i b l e S h r i m p , 70 E e l g r a s s , 1 42 E g r e t s , 1 53 E n te r o m o r p h a , 22 E u ry p t e r i d , 79 E y e d C o r a l , 50 F a n Worm, 56 Featherweed, 34 F i d d l e r C ra b s , 77 f i g She l l , 1 23 F l ea s , B e a ch , 69
Fforida Horse C o n c h , 1 33 Fora m i n i fera, 1 6 Forster 1 s Tern, 1 5 1 F r i n g e d Worm, 56-57 Fucus, 30
J e l l y fi s h , 44-47; see also specific n a m e s J i n g l e S h e l l s, B8 J o n a h Rock Crab, 76 K e l p C r a b , 78 K e l ps, 28 - 29, 36 Key to seashore l ife, 4-5 K i n g Crab, 79 K i t t e n ' s Paw, B9 Knats, 1 49
G o m m o r u s , 69 Gastropods, 1 1 1 - 1 37 ports of, 1 1 1 ; see also specific n a m e s G e l i d i u m , 32 Gem C l a m , Amethyst, 1 00 Ghost C r a b s , 77 G i g o r t i n o , 32 G l a sswort, 1 43 G l ory-of-th e - S e a s , 1 3 5 G l ove S p o n g e , 43 G o l d e n r od, 1 43 Gonionemus, 46 Gooseneck B a r n a c l e s , 68 Grantia, 41 Grapto l i tes, 9 Gross S p o n g e , 43 Great B l a c k - b acked G u l l , 1 50- 1 5 1 Great B l ue H e r o n , 1 53 G r e e n A l g a e , 2 1 -24 Green Crab, 74-75 Green H e r o n , 1 53 Gree n l a n d Margarite, 1 G r i n n e l l i a , 33 G u l l s , 1 50 - 1 5 1
ladder S h e l l s , 1 1 6 l a d y C r a b , 75 l o m i n o r i o , 28 l a m p S h e l l s, 59 l a u g h i n g G u l l , 1 50 laver, 34 leaf Cora l , 5 1 leucoso l e n i o , 4 1 l i me Sponges, 41 l i mpets, 1 1 2 l i nc k i a , 63 l i n g u l a , 59
13
H a i ry Mopa l i a , 8 1 H a l i me d a , 24 H a r d - s h e l l C l a m s , 96-97 Heart She l l s, 95 Helmet S h e l l s , 1 20 - 1 2 1 H e r m i t C r a b , 49, 73 H e r o n s , 1 53 H e r r i n g G u l l , 1 50 H o r n s h e l l s, 1 2 2 H o r n y C o r a l s , 52 H o r n y Sponges, 42-43 Horseshoe Crab, 79 H y d r a i d s , 40 I b is, 1 52 I ri s h Moss, 3 2 J a c k k n i fe C l a m s , 1 05
l i t t l e Blue Herons, 1 53 l i tt l e n e c k C l a m s ( A t l ;, n t i c ) , 96 l i tt l e n eck C l a m s ( Pa c i fi c ) , 98 lobsters, 7 1 l o n g C l a m s , 1 08 l u c i n a s , 94 l u g worm, 56-57 l u p i n e s , 1 44 l y o n s i o s , 92 Macoma S h e l l s, 1 03 Mocrocy s t i s , 28-29 Mactras, 1 06 - 1 07 M a n g rove, 1 46 M a n - of-War, Portug u e s e , 47 M a n t i s S h r i m p , 70 Merm a i d ' s C u p , 24 Merma i d ' s H a i r , 20 Merm a n ' s S h o v i n g Brush, 24 Metrid i u m , 4 8 Microc i o n a , 4 2 Mole Crabs, 72 M o l l u sk s , 80- 1 40 fa m i l y tree, 80; see also specific n a m e s
Moon J e l l y fi s h , 45 Moon Shells, 1 1 7 Morn i n g - g lory, Beach, 1 44 - 1 45 Moss I ri s h , 3 2 S e a , 23 M o s s A n i m a l s, 58 M u d fl a t , 37 M u r e x S h e l l s , 1 2 6- 1 27 M u s e u m s , 1 54 Mussels, 85 M y r t l e , W a x , 1 46 Nossos, 1 3 2 Naticos, 1 1 7 N e p t u n e , T a b l e d , 1 30 N e reocy s t i s , 28 -29 Nut C l a m s , 83 Obe l i a , 44, 46 Octopus, 1 3 8 - 1 39 Ocu l i n a , 50 - 5 1 O l i v e S h e l l s, 1 3 4 Oystercatchers, 1 48 Oyster D r i l l s , 1 28 O y s t e r s , 89 Pe a r l , 9 1 Pad i n a , 2 6 P a l m ettos, 1 46 P a n dora She l l s, 92 Parchment Worm, 56-57 Pea, Beach, 1 44 Peacock Ta i l , 26 Pea r l Oy sters, 9 1 Pecte n s , 86-87 Pectora l Sa n d p i per, 1 49 Pelecypods, 82 P e l i can, B r o w n , 1 47 Pen i c i l l u s , 2 4 P e n n otu l o , 52 P e n S h e l l s, 90 Peri w i n k l e s, 1 1 9 P i n k J e l l yfi s h , 45 P i s m o Clam, 1 0 1 P l a n kton, 1 6- 1 7 P l a n ts , 1 4 1 - 1 46 in the sea, 36; see also specific n a m e s P l e u ro b r a c h i a, 5 3 P l o v e r , Sem ipa l moted, 1 48 Pl umaria, 34 P o l y p a n im a l s , 44
1 59
P o l y s i p h o n i a , 33 Pompano She l l , 1 04 P o r p h y r a , 34 Portuguese M a n - o f - w a r , 47 P o r t u n u s C r a b , 75 Precious C o r a l , 5 1 P r e h i s t o r i c sea l ife, 9 Protozoa, 40 Pti lota, 34 Purpuras, 1 28
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Rad i o l a r i a n s , 1 7 Rai l r oad V i n e , 1 42 R a i n b o w J e l ly, 3 Razor C l ams, 1 05 Red A l gae, 3 1 -35 Redd i s h Egret, 1 53 Reed, 1 45 R i b b o n Worms, 54 R i n g - b i l led G u l l , 1 50 Rock B a r n a c l e s , 68 Rock C r a b s , 76 Rock V e n u s S h e l l s, 98 Rockweed, 3 0 R o y a l Tern, 1 5 1 Ruddy Turnstone, 1 48 Rush . S h o r e , 1 43 Sagartia, 48-49 S a n d b u g s , 72 S a n d b u r , 1 43 Sand Crabs, 77 Sand D o l l a r s , 64-65 Sand e r l i n g, 1 49 Sand Hoppers, 69 Sandpipers, 1 49 Sand S h r i m p , 70 Sand Strawberry, 1 44 Sand Verbena, 1 45 Sandworms, 5 5 Sarg a s s u m , 2 5 S a w P a l metto, 1 46 Sca l l ops, 86-87 S c i e n t i fi c n a mes, 1 541 57 Sea A n e m o n e s , 48-49 S e a B a t , 63 Sea B i s c u i ts, 64 Sea C u c u m b e rs, 60, 66 Sea F a n , 52 Se a - fig, 1 44
1 60
Sea-grape (tree ) , 1 46 Sea Grapes ( a n i m a l s ) , 40 Sea lettuce, 22 Sea 'Moss, 23 Sea Mouse, 56-57 Sea-oats1 1 42 Sea P a l m , 28-29 Sea Pen ( c o e l e n t e r a t e ) , 52 Sea Pens ( b i v a l v e ) , 90 Sea P l u me , 52 Seas, contents of, 8-9 Seashores, 1 0- 1 1 , 1 4 - 1 5 Seaside D a i s y , 1 45 S e a si d e G o l d e n r o d , 1 43 Sea S l u g s , 1 3 6, 1 37 Sea S n a i l s , 1 1 1 Sea S q u i rts 1 40 Sea Stars, 62-63 Sea U rc h i n s , 60, 64-65 Seaweeds, 1 8 -35 Sea W h i p, 52 Segmented worms, 55-57 S e m i p a l mated Sandpiper, 1 49 Shark Eye, 1 1 7 Sheep's Wool Sponge, 43 S h i pworms, 1 1 0 Shore l i n e s , 3 , 8 , 1 0 - 1 1 Shore Rush, 1 43 S h r i m p , 70 S l ipper S h e l l s, 1 1 8 S l u g s , Sea, 1 37 Snails, Mud, 1 32 Snowy Egret, 1 53 Soft- she l l C l a m s , 1 08 Spermoth a m n i o n , 33 Spider Crabs, 78 S p i n y lobster, 7 1 Sponges, 4 1 -43 ; see a l s o specific names Sponge Seaweed, 2 1 Squid, 1 3 8 - 1 39 Staghorn Cora l , 5 1 Staircase S h e l l s , 1 1 6 Star Cora l , 5 1 Starfish, 40, 6 1 -63 Steamer C l ams, 1 08 Stony Corals, 50 -51 Stout Tage l u s , 1 05 S u b e r i tes, 42
S u n r a y V e n u s , 99 S u r f C l a m s , 1 06- 1 07 S w i m m i n g C r a b s , 74-75 T a b l e d Neptune, 1 3 0 T a l or c h e s t i a , 69 Teg u l a She l l s, 1 1 4 Te l l i n She l l s, 1 02 Teredo, 1 1 0 Terns, 1 5 1 Thracias, 92 Three - s q u a re , 1 43 Tide pool, 37 Tides, 1 2 Tooth She l l s , 1 40 Top S h e l l s , 1 1 3 Trees, 1 46 T r i t o n s , Dwarf, 1 27 T r u m p e t Worm, 56-57 T u b u l a r i a , 46 T u l i p S h e l l s , 1 33 T u n S h e l l s, 1 23 T u r b a n S h e l l s, 1 1 4 T u r k e y W i n g , 84 Tusk S h e l l s, 1 40 U n i v a lves, 1 1 1 - 1 37 see also sp ecific names Vase S p o n g e , 43 V e n u s G i r d l e , 53 Verbena, S a n d , 1 45 Wa m p u m , 97 Water Turkey, 1 52 Waves, 1 3 Wax M y r t l e , 1 46 Wedge S h e l l s , 1 04 Wentletraps, 1 1 6 Western G u l l , 1 50 W h a l e , B l u e , 36 W h e l k s , 1 30 - 1 3 1 White Hero n , 1 53 W h i te I b i s , 1 52 W h i te S h e l l s , 94 W i l let, 1 48 W i n d a n d waves, 1 3 W i n g O y sters, 9 1 Wood Stork, 1 52 Warms, 40, 54-57; see a/so specific names Yaupon, 1 42 - 1 43
JJ
KK
LL
SEASHORES A GOLDEN GUIDE
®
H E R B ERT S. Z I M, Ph . D ., Sc. D., i n itiated the Golden G u ide Series and was both author and editor for many years. Author of some n i nety books and editor of about as many, he is now Adj u n ct Professo r at the U n i ver sity of Miami and Educational Consu ltant to the American Friends Service Co m m i ttee a n d o t h e r orga n i za t i o n s .
He w o r k s o n
education, popu lation a n d enviro n m ental problems. LESTER I N G LE, Ph.D., Professor of I nverte brate Zoology at the U n iversity of J l l inois, i n col laborating with D r. Zim brings to this vo l u m e a
b road, e x p e rt k n o w l edge of
marine and tidal l ife. D O ROTHEA and SY BARLOWE h ave con tributed i l l ustrations of nature su bjects to many
magazines, as well as to Col l ier's
Encyclopedia, the Encycloped ia Americana, and the Golden G u i de TREES .
GOLDEN PRESS
•
NEW YORK
