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Species
Invertebrates
Learn more about the invertebrates monitored by the LiMPETS program. The list below includes:
- 17 core taxa that are monitored at as many sites as possible
- 5 other taxa (denoted with *) that are monitored at only one or two sites
Go to Datasheets and Forms to find out which species are monitored at your LiMPETS site of interest.
- Abalone – Haliotis cracherodii
- Aggregating anemone – Anthopleura elegantissima
- Chitons – Mopalia spp./Nuttallina californica/Lepidozona spp./others
- Common acorn barnacles – Balanus glandula/Chthamalus dalli/fissus
- Giant green anemone – Anthopleura xanthogrammica
- Hermit crabs – Pagurus spp.
- Honeycomb tube worm – Phragmatopoma californica
- Limpets – Lottia spp.
- Leaf barnacle – Pollicipes polymerus
- Ochre sea star – Pisaster ochraceus
- Owl limpet – Lottia gigantea
- Pink acorn barnacle – Tetraclita rubescens
- Purple sea urchin – Strongylocentrotus purpuratus
- Sea mussel – Mytilus californianus
- Sunburst anemone – Anthopleura sola
- Turban snails – Tegula brunnea/funebralis
- Whelks – Acanthinucella spp./Nucella spp.
- * Broken back shrimps – Heptacarpus spp.
- * Bat star – Patiria miniata
- * Brooding anemone – Epiactis prolifera
- * Six-armed star – Leptasterias hexactis
- * Yellow introduced sponge – Hymeniacidon spp.
- We also monitor:
- Bare rock
- Loose sand
- Tar (petroleum)
Whelks(Acanthinucella spp./Nucella spp.)
- Description:
- Whelks are a group of predatory snails. The shells can be lots of different colors; black, grey, orange, purple with stripes, gray with stripes; up to about 4 cm in length. Note that both ends of whelk shells are pointed.
- Distribution:
- Varies with species.
- Habitat:
- High and middle intertidal zones mostly; on rocks experiencing some wave action; unicorn snails (Acanthinucella spp.) and dogwinkles (Nucella spp.) are often found in mussel beds and among barnacles.
- Diet:
- Feeds primarily on mussels, barnacles, limpets and herbivorous snails such as turban snails and periwinkles; holes are drilled in the shells of prey by means of the radula and an accessory boring organ located on the sole of the foot which softens the shell.
- Fun Fact:
- Unicorn snails and dogwinkles spawn sporadically throughout the year in California most actively from November to March. Females deposit their eggs in yellow vase shaped capsules (as many as 300 capsules per cluster with average of 500 eggs per capsule).
- Reason for Monitoring:
- These are major predators in the intertidal.
- References:
- Morris, R.H., D.P. Abbott, and E.C. Haderlie. 1980. Intertidal Invertebrates of California. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California.