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Tortoiseshell
Limpet (Notoacmaea testudinalis) - Small oval
shell is hat-like, with an apex which is somewhat central.
The outside of the shell can be checkered or have lines
radiating out from the center. The markings are checkered
brown, black, or bluish white. Size to 1". Found on
rocky shores intertidally to subtidally.
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Common
Periwinkle (Littorina littorea) - A thick, smooth,
small snail. Color variable - dark gray to chocolate brown.
Size to 1". Usually seen on algae, as well as on algae
films that cover rocks. Intertidal - easily seen exposed on
rocks at low tide. This is an introduced specie of periwinkle,
most likely brought over in the bilge water of a ship from
Europe long ago. It is considered quite common along the North
Atlantic Coast south to Chesapeake Bay. |
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Smooth
Periwinkle (Northern Yellow Periwinkle- Littorina
obtusata) - This small snail is round with a low spire.
It has 4 whorls, the last one is largest. Size to ½".
Color varies greatly - usually brownish yellow or orange
yellow, but can be green, black, or brown. Found on Rockweed
and knotted wrack, intertidally in the brown algal zone.
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Northern
Moon Snail (Lunatia heros) - A large rounded snail
up to 5". Shell color gray to brown with a large gray
foot. This snail drills a hole in its' prey and can be seen
with the foot completely enveloping its'food. Very common
on sand and mud bottom, intertidally to 1,200'. |
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Waved
Whelk (Buccinum undatum) - This northern whelk's
shell has a sharp apex with 9-18 waves on each whorl. Shell
has 5-8 small but distinct spiral chords between each shell
section. Color chalky gray. Size to 2 ½". Found
subtidally to 600'.
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Naked
Sea Butterfly (Clione limacina) - This shell-less
spindle shaped gastropod is slug-like in its' appearance.
Outside color is pale gray, internal color red. You can observe
this animal flying through the water by flapping to arm-like
appendages near the head area. Size 1 ½". Found
in both coastal and offshore waters near the surface. |
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White
Atlantic Cadlina (Cadlina laevis) - This nudibranch
(shell-less snail), is broadly oval in shape. Size 1"
in length and 3/8" wide. Color semi-transparent to
whitish with yellow spots. Relatively easy specie to identify
due to its' size and color. Found on rocky bottoms, subtidally
to shallow waters.
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White
Dorid (Lamellidoris muricata) - Nudibranch is broadly
oval with nearly parallel sides. Front and back of animal
are equally rounded. Surface is covered with short, oval tubercles
that are more abundant towards the margins. Color cream to
white. Size, length ½", width ¼".
Found on and under rocks, intertidally to 25'. |
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Rim-Backed
Nudibranch (Polycena dubia) - On each side of the
body are lateral ridges with projecting appendages. The back
has small and numerous appendages with a circle of gills in
the middle. Color body - transparent to whitish, tips of appendages
- yellowish. Size ¾". Found under rock or on seaweeds,
from the low-tide line to shallow water, intertidally to subtidally. |
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Bushy-Backed
Nudibranch (Dendronotus frondosus) - This very
common nudibranch is large and has a double row of branched
frilly appendages along the back. Body color grayish white
with blotches of brown, yellow, or rust - sometimes pure
white. Size to 2". Found in lower intertidal to subtidal
zones. Frequents rocky tide pools and places where there
are hydroids or fine algae.
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Red-Gilled
Nudibranch (Flabellina verrucosa) - This specie
as has many gills with cores of various shades of red or
brown. Each gill branch is tipped with opaque white or ring.
Body color opaque white, translucent, or yellowish-white.
Size to 1 3/16". Found on seaweeds, rocks and around
hydroids, from low tide line to deeper waters.
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Blue
Mussel (Mytilus udulis) - This smooth filter-feeding
bivalve is elongated and narrow ended. It is found attached
to rocks, other mussels, etc. by threads. Color blue black
to purple blue, hence its' name. Size to 4". Found
on solid substrate, rocky shores and wharf pilings, intertidally
to several feet.
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Northern
Horse Mussel (Modiolus modiolus) - A robust,
large mussel typically found in deeper waters by divers.
Color bluish black, with a white or chalky area near the
beaks. Size 6". Found subtidally to 240'.
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Deep
Sea Scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) - Relatively
flat and minimally convex as compared to the Bay Scallop.
The shell has fine, raised, thread-like ridges that give
the shell a sandpaper feel. Color creamy gray to pinkish
purple with lighter rays. Size to 8". Found subtidally
to 600'.
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Quahog
(Arctica islandica) - The shells of this clam are
thick and broadly oval. The outside is a dull gray with
concentric growth lines. The interior is white with a purple
border. Size: Length 3-5", width 4 ¼".
Found in sand or mud in shallow water.
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Surf
Clam (photo needed) - The shells are large, heavy and
somewhat triangular. The surface of the valves is smooth,
with fine concentric lines. Shell color - yellowish white,
foot - olive to brown. Length 8", height 5 ½".
Found in sand and mud from low tide line to 100'. |
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Common
Razor Clam (Siliqua patula) - This common, long
narrow clam looks like a barbers straight-edged razor. Color
brownish green. Size to 10". Found on sand flats, from
low tide line to shallow waters. |
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Long-Finned
Squid (Loligo pealei) - The mantle of this squid
is circular and tapers to a point at the posterior. The
fins are long, at least ½ the length of the mantle.
The head has large eyes which are covered by transparent
skin. 4 pairs of arms ½ the length of the mantle.
Color is changeable - white or mottled with brown or purple.
Found at all depths subtidally to 600'. Frequently seen
by night divers from shore.
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