Field Guide to Common Subtidal Plants and Animals
Santa Barbara Coastal Ecosystem LTER
Dan Reed, Brent Mardian and Bryn Evans
2005
A Field Guide To
Common Subtidal Plants and
Animals
Second Edition
Santa Barbara Coastal Ecosystem
Long-Term Ecological Research Program
A Field Guide To
Common Subtidal Plants and Animals
Second edition
Santa Barbara Coastal Ecosystem
Long-Term Ecological Research Program
Edited by
Dan Reed, Brent Mardian, and Bryn Evans
Marine Science Institute
University of California
Santa Barbara, CA USA 93106
2005
Acknowledgements
A special thanks to Mike Anghera, Cary Galst, Monica
Pessino, Aimee Sarkaria, Cherlyn Seruto, and Allan Willis
who assisted in the preparation of the book. Funding was
provided by the National Science Foundation under grant
No. OCE99-82105. This book is intended for educational
use only. No portion of this field guide may be reproduced
for other purposes without the consent of the authors.
Photo Credits
Shane Anderson-Asterina miniata, Embiotica lateralis, Squatina californica,
Medialuna californiensis, Neoclinus blanchardi,
Todd Anderson- Brachyistius frenatus
Mike Behrens- Haliotis kamtschatkana,
Chris Gotschalk- Sebastes chrysomelas
Richard Herman- Parastichopus parvemensis
Kevin Lafferty- Haliotis cracherodii
Introduction
This guide contains information on the common marine plants
and animals that inhabit the shallow rocky reefs of the Santa
Barbara Channel. It’s purpose is to aid students, staff, and
faculty researchers of the Santa Barbara Coastal Ecosystem
Long-Term Ecological Research program (SBC-LTER) in field
identification. It also provides those less familiar with the Santa
Barbara Channel with a glimpse of the diverse marine life that
can be found at SBC-LTER study sites. SBC-LTER is one of 24
sites established and funded by the National Science
Foundation to investigate long-term ecological phenomena.
More information on SBC-LTER’s mission and research can be
found at: http://sbc.lternet.edu.
How To Use This Book
Taxa in this book are arranged in phylogenetic order. Each
organism is identified by its scientific name and common name,
when available. The accompanying one to four letter code in
BOLD is the SBC-LTER species code that is used to identify the
taxa in all SBC-LTER databases. Brief information on key
characteristics used in identification, including the size and
habitat of most common occurrence, is provided for each taxon.
Phylum Chlorophyta/Phaeophyta Chlorophyta/Phaeophyta
Ulvoid
UV
• Identification: Bright green algae with
thin leafy blades in the genera Ulva and
Enteromorpha.
• Size: Variable in size.
• Habitat: Usually found growing on
rocks or epiphytic.
Codium fragile
Dead man’s fingers
COF
• Identification: One to several erect
branches from a broad base, then
abundantly branched. Color dark
green to blackish-green.
• Size: 10-30 cm tall.
• Habitat: Frequent on sides and tops of
rocks in areas of high water motion.
Filamentous brown algae
FB
• Identification: Small finely branched
filamentous brown algae. Frequently
forming dense mats. Common genera
include Ectcarpus, Giffordia and
Hinksia.
• Size: Variable up to 30 cm long.
• Habitat: Growing on rocks and other
hard substrates.
Phaeophyta
Phylum Phaeophyta
Scytosiphon lomentaria
SELO
• Identification: Small brown alga with
slender tubular thalli. Gregarious in
clusters from a crustose holdfast.
Larger plants inflated and irregularly
constricted.
• Size: 20-30 cm tall, thallus 4-6 mm in
diameter.
• Habitat : on sheltered rocks.
Colpomenia spp.
CP
• Identification: Sac-like alga with broad
basal attachment. Color from olive to
medium brown.
• Size: Diameter up to 10 cm.
• Habitat: On rocks, occasionally
epiphytic.
Dictyota spp./ Pachydictyon spp.
DP
• Identification: Smooth thin blades
with rounded tips. Light to dark
brown in color. Dichotomous to
pinnate branching. No midrib.
• Size: Up to 45 cm tall. Blades 1-2 cm
broad.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Phaeophyta
Phylum Phaeophyta
Taonia lennebackeriae
TALE
• Identification: Thin strap-like to fan-
shaped blade. Light to medium brown in
color. Split or lacerated at tips when
mature.
• Size: 10-30 cm tall, blades 10-60 mm
broad.
• Habitat: Frequent on rocks, often
partially embedded in sand.
Dictyopteris undulata
DU
• Identification: Alga irregularly
dichotomous with short terminal
branches. Distinguishing feature is the
midrib running through the branches.
Color yellowish-brown to olive.
• Size: 8-12 cm tall, reaching 24 cm.
• Habitat: Frequent on rocks.
Laminaria farlowii
Oar weed
LAFA / LFJ
• Identification: Single long, wide blade with
deep depressions in longitudinal rows. Dark
brown in color with short stipe.
• Size: Blade length to 5 m. Stipe 4-7 cm
long.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Phylum Phaeophyta Phaeophyta
Pterygophora californica
Palm Kelp
PTCA / PTJ
• Identification: Long woody
unbranched stipe. Flattened in upper
portion. Terminal blade with a midrib.
Numerous lateral sporophylls. Small
branched holdfast.
• Size: To 2.3 m in height.
• Habitat: May form extensive stands on
rocky substrate.
Eisenia arborea
Southern sea palm
EA
• Identification: Erect tree-like stipe that
terminates into two branches that bear
leafy brown blades with toothed
margins. Color usually medium to
dark brown .
• Size: Stipe 1-2 m long. Blades can be
as long as stipe.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Egregia menziesii
Feather boa kelp
EGME / EGJ
• Identification: A large kelp having a
long flat stipe bearing numerous small
flat blades and floats along its entire
length.
• Size: Plant 5 to 15 m long with blades
to 8 cm long.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Phaeophyta
Phylum Phaeophyta
Macrocystis pyrifera
Giant Kelp
MPS / MPJ
• Identification: The largest of kelps
possessing many round stipes each
bearing numerous blades attached by
gas filled floats. Large conical holdfast
of root like haptera.
• Size: Up to 45.7 m tall.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate and
occasionally in sand.
Desmarestia ligulata
Acid weed
DL
• Identification: Thin pinnately branched
thallus with slender midvein. Medium to
dark brown in color. Finely branched and
bushy or coarse with marginal spines.
• Size: 8 m tall.
• Habitat: Growing on rocks and attached to
worm tubes in sandy habitats.
Sargassum muticum
SAMU
• Identification: Large alga having small
leaf like blades with toothed margins that
occur singly along the thallus. Medium to
dark brown in color. Small cylindrical
pneumatocysts borne in clusters.
• Size: up to 2 m tall, leaves to 10 cm long.
• Habitat: On hard substrate.
Phaeophyta/Rhodophyta
Phylum Phaeophyta/Rhodophyta
Cytoseira osmundacea
Bladder chain
CYOS / CYJ
• Identification: dark brown fucoid with
radial branches. Tall bushy reproductive
parts
• Size: to 8 m tall, blades 1-1.5 cm broad.
• Habitat: On rocks, frequently mingled
with Macrocystis.
Scinaia confusa
SCCA
• Identification: Rose pink tubular
thallus, with regularly branched
axes.
• Size: 3-15 cm tall.
• Habitat: grows on rocks.
Gelidium robustum
Agarweed
GR
• Identification: Dark red branches,
compressed, but basal axes cylindrical.
Branches frequently distichous, often
geniculate. Branches often covered by
white encrusting bryozoans..
• Size: To 40 cm tall.
• Habitat: On tops of reefs in areas of
high water motion.
Rhodophyta
Phylum Rhodophyta
Lithothrix spp.
Stone hair
LI
• Identification: Alga dull purple to pink
in color. Primary branching
dichotomous but irregular lateral
branches, gives a stringy look.
• Size: To 13 cm tall.
• Habitat: Found growing on rocks or
animals in sandy areas.
Corallina officinalis
CO
• Identification: Fronds whitish,
pinkish, or purplish. Bipinnate to
tripinnate branching, with branches
in one plane like a feather.
• Size: Height to 15 cm.
• Habitat: On hard substrate.
Bossiella orbigniana
BO
• Identification: Branches are thin and
delicate, always dichotomous. Each
segment is wing-nut shaped and has
bumps (i.e. conceptacles) on the inner
margin.
• Size: Height 15-30 cml.
• Habitat: On rocks.
Rhodophyta
Phylum Rhodophyta
Calliarthron cheilosporioides
CAL
• Identification: Articulate coralline alga
with coarse pinnate branching. Segments
flat and rounded. Conceptacles (bumps)
on the margins of wings. Seen here with
an orange epiphytic hydroid (Garvela
annulata).
• Size: Fronds to 30 cm. Segments to 7
mm.
• Habitat: Frequent growing on rocks.
Encrusting coralline
EC
• Identification: Calcified crusts of
pinkish algae that cover the surface of
hard substrates. Often intermixed with
other erect species of coralline algae.
• Size: Variable sized patches that can
cover a large proportion of the bottom.
• Habitat: Hard, rocky substrate.
Prionitis lanceolata
PL
• Identification: Dull, purplish red alga
with narrow compressed branches.
Cartilaginous in texture.
• Size: 20-30 cm tall, axes and branches
2.5-5 cm wide.
• Habitat: grow on hard substrate.
Rhodophyta
Phylum Rhodophyta
Callophyllis flabellulata
CF
• Identification: Flat thin bladed red
alga with finely dissected ultimate
branches. Rose to orange-red color.
• Size: 4-10 cm tall.
• Habitat: growing on rocks or
epiphytic.
Gracilaria sp.
GS
• Identification: Deep dull reddish algae
with numerous cylindrical spaghetti-
like branches arising from a discoid
holdfast. Branches fleshy to
cartilaginous.
• Size: 6-20 cm tall.
• Habitat: Frequently on rocks often
embedded in shallow sand.
Chondracanthus corymbiferus
CC
• Identification: Among the largest of
all red algae. Blades deep red.
Broadly rounded and frequently
ruffled, with smooth iridescent bases.
Formerly Gigartina corymbiferus.
• Size: blades can grow more than 1m,
30 cm wide. Holdfasts 1-5 cm wide.
• Habitat: On hard substrate.
Rhodophyta
Phylum Rhodophyta
Chondracanthus spinosa
CZ
• Identification: Colors range from
purplish to black to brownish to red,
grows in thick isolated clumps. Narrower
blades than C. corymbiferus with large
papillae and numerous spinelike to
bladelike branchlets.
• Size: 20-30 cm tall, 4-6 cm broad
• Habitat: On hard substrate.
Rhodymenia californica
R
• Identification: Thalli bushy and clumped,
one to many erect or spreading blades
dichotomously or flabellately branched on
short stipes. Color dark red to a bleached
pink.
• Size: To 15 cm tall.
• Habitat: Found growing on rocks.
Nienburgia andersoniana
NA
• Identification: Thin narrow branched
blades with a midrib in the lower parts
and conspicuously toothed margins.
Bright rose to dull carmine.
• Size: Main axes 1-16mm broad.
• Habitat: Found growing on rocks.
Rhodophyta
Phylum Rhodophyta
Acrosorium uncinatum
AU
• Identification: Thin flattened blades with
irregular branches. Blades irregularly
hooked at ends that cause it to become
entangled. Frequently parasitic. Color
deep rose red.
• Size: Height to 8 cm tall.
• Habitat: Often found epiphytic on other
algae.
Botryoglossum farlowianum
Grape tongue
BF
• Identification: Large deep red slightly
iridescent blades having densely ruffled
margins with numerous proliferations.
• Size: Erect axes 10-50 cm tall, blades
0.15-2 cm wide.
• Habitat: Common growing on rocks.
Laurencia sp.
LS
• Identification: Erect bushy thalli with
short stubby branches ending in a blunt
tip. Color ranging from brown to rich
red.
• Size: 3-10 cm tall.
• Habitat: Found growing on rocks or
epiphytic.
Rhodophyta
Phylum Rhodophyta
Bladey Red
BR
• Identification: Broad catch all
category for numerous species of red
algae having thin fleshy blades.
• Size: Variable, but can reach 10 cm
tall.
• Habitat: Rocky substrate.
Filamentous red spp.
FR
• Identification: Thin, finely branched
red algae. Frequently forms tufts or
clumps. Common genera include:
Polysiphonia, Ceramium.
• Size: Variable, up to 20 cm tall.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Red Algal Turf
RAT
• Identification: Low growing turf
consisting of polysiphonous filamentous
red algae (e.g. Polysiphonia spp.,
Pterosiphonia spp, Tiffaniella spp.), turf
dwelling invertebrates (e.g. tubiculous
crustacea and polychaetes) and sediments.
• Size: 1 – 3 cm tall.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Phylum Tracheophyta Tracheophyta
Phyllospadix torreyi
Surfgrass
PHTO
• Identification: Bright green narrow wiry
leaves with flowering stems arising from
a densely mingled rhizomous mat.
Separate sexes. Flowers arranged in
spadices.
• Size: leaves 2-4 mm wide, 1-2 m long.
• Habitat: open coast on rocky reefs, low
intertidal to 6 m depth.
Zostera marina
Eelgrass
ZOMA
• Identification: Dull, light green, strap-
like leaves with long flowering stems.
Monecious. Flowers inconspicuous in
spadices.
• Size: leaves 6-12 mm wide, 30-150 cm
long, flowering stems 1-3 m long.
• Habitat: protected sandy flats. Intertidal
to shallow subtidal in bays and estuaries.
Occurring offshore on open coast at
depths of 5–20 m.
Porifera
Phylum Porifera
Spheciospongia confoederata
moon sponge
SC
• Identification: Massive, smooth gray
sponge (leathery in texture) with
numerous crater-like oscula on outer
ridge.
• Size: Up to 70 cm long and 14 cm thick
• Habitat: On rocky reefs.
Tethya aurantia
orange puffball
TEAU
• Identification: Porous, globose sponge
with very rough outer surface. Color
ranges from orange to yellow.
• Size: Diameter at least 8 cm.
• Habitat: On sides of reefs and under
ledges.
Hymenamphiastra cyanocrypta
cobalt sponge
HC
• Identification: Thin, encrusting,
usually, cobalt blue sponge.
• Size: Diameter up to 1 m.
• Habitat:common growing on rocky reef
areas underneath ledges or on sides of
rocks.
Anthozoa
Phylum Cnidaria
Aglaophenia spp.
hydroid
AS
• Identification: Large feather-like brown
plumes consisting of a central stalk
with numerous pinnate branches.
• Size: Plumes to about 12 cm.
• Habitat: Attached to rocky substrate.
Urticina lofotensis
white-spotted rose anemome
URLO
• Identification: Column is very
distinctive red, with white spots.
Tentacles are scarlet to crimson.
• Size: Maximum column diameter to 10
cm.
• Habitat: Attached to rocky substrate.
Urticina piscivora
fish eating anemone
URPI
• Identification: Deep red column with
tentacles that are usually white, but
occasionally red.
• Size: Crown to 8 inches in diameter.
• Habitat: Attatched to rocky substrate.
Anthozoa
Phylum Cnidaria
Anthopleura spp.
aggregating anemone
ANSP
• Identification: Aggregations or solitary
individuals. Color from green to
reddish.
• Size: Maximum tentacular diameter to
10-15 cm.
• Habitat: Attached to rocky substrate,
may be buried in sand.
Corynactis californica
club-tipped anemone
CY
• Identification: Small colonial anemone
with bulbous-tipped tentacles. Color
varies from orange, red, purple, pink, to
almost white.
• Size: Diameter up to 2.5 cm.
• Habitat: attached to rocky substrates.
Astrangia lajollaensis
cup coral
AL
• Identification: Small cup corals form
large colonies. The stony cups are
brownish-orange and tentacles are
yellowish-orange.
• Size: Cups to about 1 cm in
diameter.
• Habitat: on rocky reefs and under
ledges.
Anthozoa
Phylum Cnidaria
Balanophyllia elegans
orange cup coral
BAEL
• Identification: Solitary, orange, cup-
shaped coral with orange tentacles.
• Size: Diameter up to 2.5 cm.
• Habitat: Attached to rocky substrate.
Paracyathus stearnsi
brown cup coral
PAST
• Identification: Small brown solitary
cup corals have long, almost clear,
tentacles.
• Size: Maximum cup diameter of 4
cm.
• Habitat: Attached to rocky
substrate.
Pachycerianthus fimbriatus
tube dwelling anemone
PAFI
• Identification: long, slender outer
tentacles and shorter inner tentacles. Soft
body protected by tube. Tentacles may be
creamy white, brown, black, or orange.
• Size: Height to about 30cm, diameter to
about 38 mm.
• Habitat: Sand and soft mud bottoms
Anthozoa
Phylum Cnidaria
Lophogorgia chilensis
red gorgonian
LOCH
• Identification: Sea fan with red
branches with white polyps. Branches
are not in a single plan.
• Size: Height to about 1 meter.
• Habitat: Attached to rocky substrate.
Muricea fruticosa
brown gorgonian
MUFR
• Identification: Thick brown branches
with white polyps, usually in one
plane. Brown in color.
• Size: Height to about 1 meter.
• Habitat: Attached to rocky substrate.
Muricea californica
california golden gorgonian
MUCA
• Identification: Thick brown branches.
Yellow polyps distinguish it from brown
gorgonian.
• Size: Height to about 1 meter.
• Habitat: Attached to rocky substrate.
Polychaeta
Phylum Annelida
Phragmatopoma californica
Colonial sand tube worm
PA
• Identification: Extensive colonies.
Tubes constructed of cemented sand.
Short lavender tentacles.
• Size: Diameter up to 1 cm.
• Habitat: Honeycomb colonies on or
against rocks in areas of high sand
transport.
Sabellid worm
SABW
• Identification: Worms in the family
Sabellidae that retract into tube when
disturbed. The most commonly
observed species is the feather duster
worm Eudistylia polymorpha which is
identified by it’s plume of branched
gills that vary in color from tan to
orange.
• Size: Crown diameter to 7.5 cm
• Habitat: Attached to rocky substrate.
Diopatra ornata
Ornate tube worm
DIOR
• Identification: Tubes usually
completely covered with attached
pieces of shell, algae, or other debris.
• Size: Tube diameter up to about 2 cm.
• Habitat: On sand or rubble usually near
rocks.
Polychaeta
Phylum Annelida
Salmacina tribranchiata
Fragile tube worm
ST
• Identification: Small whitish tubes that
form tangled complex masses up to a size
of about 20 cm in diameter.
• Size: Tube diameter < 2 mm.
• Habitat: Attached to sides or under rocks.
Gastropda
Phylum Mollusca
Haliotis corrugata
Pink abalone
HACO
• Identification: Shell is almost round, with
corrugated, scalloped edge. Two to four
raised shell holes remain open.
• Size: Length to 25 cm.
• Habitat: In rocky crevices and on sides of
rocks.
Haliotis cracherodii
Black abalone
HACR
• Identification: Shell color ranges from dark
blue to black and shell is smooth. Five to 7
holes are usually open.
• Size: Length to 20 cm.
• Habitat: On rocks and in crevices.
Gastropda
Phylum Mollusca
Haliotis rufescens
Red abalone
HARU
• Identification: Shell usually brick-red,
occasionally with bands of green or white.
Three or four of the holes are open.
• Size: Length to 30 cm.
• Habitat: On rocks, occasionally on sand or
gravel bottoms.
Haliotis kamtschatkana
assimilis
Threaded abalone
HAKA
• Identification: Flat oblong shell with four
to eight open holes that are slightly
raised.
• Size: Length to about 175 mm
• Habitat:on rocks or in crevices
Megathura crenulata
Giant keyhole limpet
MECR
• Identification: Mantle color varies from
black to mottled gray and usually covers
the entire shell. Shell has a large opening
in the center.
• Size: Length of shell to 13 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Gastropda
Phylum Mollusca
Lithopoma undosum
(Formerly Astraea undosum)
Red turban snail
LIGL/S
• Identification: Heavily sculptured spiral
shell that is frequently covered with
encrusting coralline algae. Oval-shaped
operculum has large rough ridges.
• Size: Shell diameter to 110 mm.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Norrisia norrisi
NONO
Norris’s top snail
• Identification: Red-brown flattened
spiral shell with a bright red foot.
• Size: Shell diameter to 5.5 cm.
• Habitat: On kelp and rocky substrate.
Tegula spp.
TESP
Turban snail
• Identification: Shell commonly smooth,
rounded-conical. Color orange, black,
brown or a combination of these. Foot
with dark brown or black sides, white
or cream color below.
• Size: Variable, 1-3 cm.
• Habitat: On kelp and rocky substrate.
Gastropoda
Phylum Mollusca
Serpulorbis squamigerus
scaled worm snail
SE
• Identification: Shell is a partially coiled tube
attached to substrate. No operculum.
Usually occurring in aggregations.
• Size: Length of tube to 12 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky or other hard substrate.
Cypraea spadicea
Chestnut cowry
CYSP
• Identification: Smooth shell with a brown
dorsal surface and white margins on the
ventral side. Foot and mantle are orange-
brown with dark spots.
• Size: Up to 8 cm in length.
• Habitat: On rocky reefs and underneath
ledges.
Kelletia kelletia
Kellet’s whelk
KEKE
• Identification: White or gray, robust shell
with heavy sculpturing crossed by thin
spiral lines. Skin is yellow, mottled with
black and white markings.
• Size: Length of shell to 18 cm.
• Habitat: In kelp beds on rocky and soft
bottoms.
Gastropda
Phylum Mollusca
Small Kelletia-like spp.
SKE
Whelk-like snail
• Identification: Catchall category for
small Kelletia-like snails. May include
juveniles Kelletii or other genera such
as Pteropurpura
• Size: Variable, 1-3 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Ceratostoma foliatum
Leafy hornmouth
CEFO
• Identification: Three distinctive wing-
like processes protrude from the central
shell, one on top and one to each side,
with a tooth on the outside edge of the
opening.
• Size: Length up to 9 cm.
• Habitat: commonly on rocky substrate.
Mitra idae
Ida’s miter
MIID
• Identification: Dark brown, smooth
shell covered with a black
periostracum. The foot is white.
• Size: Up to 8 cm in length.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Gastropda
Phylum Mollusca
Conus californicus
California cone
COCA
• Identification: Smooth light brown
shell with a transparent to white foot
and a black proboscis.
• Size: Up to 4 cm in length.
• Habitat: On sandy and rocky bottoms.
Aplysia californica
California brown sea hare
APCA
• Identification: Color varies from reddish,
brownish, and/or greenish, overlaid with
dark lines and spots.
• Size: Length can exceed 40cm.
• Habitat: Among seaweed, in kelp canopy,
sometimes in sandy areas.
Aplysia vaccaria
California black sea hare
APVA
• Identification: Body dark reddish
brown to black, with white speckled
patches. Distinguished from A..
californica by larger size.
• Size: Length up to 75 cm.
• Habitat: Around kelp beds, rocky and
sandy areas.
Bivalvia
Phylum Mollusca
Crassedoma giganteum
(Formerly Hinnites giganteus)
Rock scallop
CRGI
• Identification: Orange mantle. Adults
cemented to substrate and have thick
valves with spines protruding from ribs.
• Size:. Shell diameter to 20 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Mytilus californianus
MC
California mussel
• Identification: Shell thick, pointed at
anterior end, broadening posteriorly,
sculptured with strong radial ridges and
irregular growth lines. Surface often
eroded or worn. Blue-black in color.
• Size: Length to 13 cm.
• Habitat: Form large beds on rocks and
pilings.
Chaceia ovoidea
CHOV
wart-neck piddock
• Identification: Boring clam, with
siphon sticking out of rock. Siphon
distinct dark brown.
• Size: Shell to 12 cm in length.
Siphon fully extended can reach 1m
in length.
• Habitat: Burrows into clay or shale
reefs.
Bivalvia, Cephalopoda
Phylum Mollusca
Parapholas californica
scaleside piddock
PACA
• Identification: Boring clam, with white
siphon that usually has reddish-brown spots
and blotches.
• Size: Shell length to 15 cm. Siphon can
extend to 15 cm.
• Habitat: Burrows into clay, soft shale and
sandstone reefs.
Octopus spp.
octopus
OCTO
• Identification: Octopus mimic colors and
texture. They always have eight legs.
• Size: Armspan to 300 cm but usually
closer to 30 cm.
• Habitat: Usually found hiding in
crevices and under rocks.
Crustacea
Phylum Arthropoda
Barnacle spp.
barnacle
BA
• Identification: Sessile barnacle, usually
with feeding tentacles out. Plates or
paired beaks cover the opening of the
feeding tentacles.
• Size: Basal diameter ranges from 0.5
cm to 10 cm depending on species.
Height from 0.5 cm to 7.5 cm.
• Habitat: Requires hard substrate to
attach to, such as rock or the shell of
another animal.
Crustacea
Phylum Arthropoda
Panulirus interruptus
California spiny lobster
PAIN
• Identification: Large reddish brown
crustacean with long antennae covered
with small sharp spines. Anterior
portion of the thorax is covered with
sharp spines, large spines on tail`.
Claws absent.
• Size: Length up to 60 cm.
• Habitat: In crevices and underneath
rocks during daytime, forages at night.
Loxorhynchus grandis
Sheep crab
LOGR
• Identification: Large spider crab with
robust, oval carapace covered with
spines and tubercles. Males have larger
chelipeds (claws) than females.
• Size: Carapace up to 16 cm in width.
• Habitat: Common on rocky and soft
bottoms.
Pugettia producta
Kelp crab
PUPR
• Identification: Smooth carapace with
yellowish brown to reddish coloring.
Feeds on algae.
• Size: Carapace width up to 12 cm.
• Habitat: Common on kelp and on rocky
substrate.
Crustacea
Phylum Arthropoda
Cancer spp.
crab
CASP
• Identification: Typical “crab” shape
like you see in the grocery store.
Body and legs may be hairy or
smooth.
• Size: Carapace width 2-18 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky and sand
substrates.
Ectoprocta (Bryozoan)
Phylum Ectoprocta (Bryozoans)
Diaperoecia californica
staghorn bryozoan
DC
• Identification: Colonies in coral-
like masses, with flattened
branches. Color light to dark
yellow.
• Size: Colony height to 10 cm .
• Habitat: On rocks and other hard
substrate.
Bugula neritina
BN
• Identification: Colony bushy, reddish
brown or purple in color.
• Size: Colony 3-10 cm in height.
• Habitat: Found growing on rocks and
in sandy substrate.
Ectoprocta (Bryozoan)
Phylum Ectoprocta (Bryozoans)
Membranipora tuberculata
encrusting bryozoan
MT
• Identification: Small zooids form a
white crustose colony, having a
honeycomb appearance. Usually
epiphytic. Seen here on Macrocystis.
• Size: Variable, can cover most of an
alga, several cm in diameter.
• Habitat: Often found growing on
Macrocystis, Cystiseira, and especially
Gelidium.
Thalamoporella californica
TC
• Identification: Flesh colored colony
dichotomously branched with a basal
crust and many projections.
• Size: Colony varying in size but can
form large mats.
• Habitat: Found growing on rocks and
on some red algae, Gelidium,
Lithothrix, and Gigartina, and
Macrocystis.
Phylum Echinodermata Holothuroidea
Cucumaria piperata
CUPI
• Identification: Small cucumber. 10
branched tentacles. Usually white,
with brown or black speckles.
• Size: Length to about 60 mm.
• Habitat: In rocky areas and crevices.
Holothuroidea
Phylum Echinodermata
Cucumaria salma
sea cucumber
CUSA
• Identification: Body salmon to orange
color with 5 rows of tube feet. Tentacles
black and goldish yellow, with white
banding.
• Size: Length to 15 cm.
• Habitat: In holes and crevices in rocks.
Eupentacta quinquesemita
White sea cucumber
EUQU
• Identification: Small white to yellowish
sea cucumber, cannot completely retract
its long tube feet.
• Size: Length to 10 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Parastichopus californicus
California sea cucumber
PAST
• Identification: Dark red, brown or
yellow sea cucumber has stiff, conical
papillae. Tube feet only on ventral
surface.
• Size: Length to 40 cm.
• Habitat: On rocks and soft substrates.
Echinoidea /Holothuroidea
Phylum Echinodermata
Parastichopus parvimensis
Warty sea cucumber
PAPA
• Identification: Brownish sea cucumber
is covered with small black-tipped
papillae or pseudospines.
• Size: Length to 25 cm.
• Habitat: On soft substrate.
Photo by: Richard Hermann
Pachythyone rubra
PRUB
• Identification: Small brownish white
holothurian, with white to opaque
feeding apendages and protruding tube
feet
• Size: 1cm to 7 cm
• Habitat: on rocky reefs and often feed
upon by Pychnopodia helianthoides
Echinoidea
Lytechinus anamesus
White sea urchin
LA
• Identification: small sea urchin with
sharp, short white spines. Test is
usually white with dark blotches.
• Size: Diameter to about 8 cm.
• Habitat: On soft as well as rocky
bottoms, often aggregate around food
sources.
Echinoidea/ Astroidea
Phylum Echinodermata
Strongylocentrotus purperatus
purple sea urchin
SPL/S
• Identification: Medium sized sea urchin
with short purple spines. Frequently
bores depressions in rocks.
• Size: Diameter to about 5 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Strongylocentrotus franciscanus
red sea urchin
SFL/S
• Identification: Large urchin with sharp,
long spines. Color ranges from red,
red-brown, to dark purple. (Note: small
urchins in foreground are S. purpuratus
• Size: Diameter to 10 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Astroidea
Asterina miniata
AML/S
bat star
• Identification: This webbed sea star
varies greatly in color. Lacks
pedicellariae or spines. Number of
arms usually 5, but can be 4 to 9.
• Size: Diameter to 20 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky and sandy substrates.
Asteroidea
Phylum Echinodermata
Dermasterias imbricata
leather star
DIL/S
• Identification: This sea star feels
smooth and almost leather-like.
• Size: Diameter to 25 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate,
occasionally on sand.
Orthasterias koehleri
Rainbow sea star
OKL/S
• Identification: Vivid color, ranging
from pink with gray to bright red with
yellow banding. Small disk with 5
slender arms.
• Size: Arm radius to 21 cm.
• Habitat: On mud, sand, rock and kelp.
Depths extending to 250 m.
Pisaster brevispinus
short spined sea star
PBL/S
• Identification: This sea star is always
pink. It has short aboral spines.
• Size: Diameter to 60 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky and soft substrates.
Asteroidea
Phylum Echinodermata
Pisaster giganteus
giant spined sea star
PGL/S
• Identification: This sea star has long
uniformly spaced spines with swollen
tips. Each spine is surrounded by a
blue circle.
• Size: Diameter to 60 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky and sand substrates.
Pisaster ochraceus
ochre sea star
POL/S
• Identification: Thick armed star with
numerous small white spines on the
aboral surface arranged in a reticular
pattern. Color varies from dark gray to
orange.
• Size: Diameter to 35 cm.
• Habitat: Low intertidal to shallow
subtidal on rocky habitats.
Pycnopodia helianthoides
sunflower sea star
PHL/S
• Identification: Large sea star has 20 to
24 flexible arms. Juveniles have 5
arms. Color varies from purple to
brown, orange, or yellow.
• Size: Diameter to 90 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky and soft substrates.
Asteroidea
Phylum Echinodermata
Mediaster aequalis
Red seastar
MEAE
• Identification: red in color, smooth
embossed type texture
• Size: up to 14 cm
• Habitat: live on rocky reefs and feed on
a host of other inverts, ascidians,
sponges, etc.
Ophiothrix spiculata
spiny brittle star
OPSP
• Identification: Small brittle star with
long, erect spines on the arms and disc.
Often aggregates.
• Size: Diameter usually < 15 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky and soft substrates.
Ophioplocus esmarki
Smooth brittle star
OPES
• Identification: Relatively smooth, with a large
disc and short spines that can be folded again
the arms. Color brown to gray-brown.
• Size: Diameter to 15 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky and soft substrates.
Chordata
Phylum Chordata
Polyclinum planum
elephant ear tunicate
POPL
• Identification: Ear-like, lobed colony of
zooids attached to substrate by slender
stalk. Brown to yellow color.
• Size: Diameter of lobe to about 20 cm.
• Habitat: Attached to rocky substrate.
Archidistoma psammion
AR
• Identification: Colonies form flat slabs or
oval lobes. Test is firm, leathery to touch.
Color varies from dark brown, purple,
maroon, gray, or whitish. Zooids arranged
in circular systems.
• Size: 1-2 cm thick and can reach 20 cm
long.
• Habitat: On rock surfaces in sand scoured
areas.
Chelyosoma productum
CHPR
• Identification: A small flat tunicate that
occurs in colonies. Often covered with silt
and difficult to see. It is usually a
translucent brown and unlike most
tunicates feels hard to the touch
• Size: zooid diameter ~ 2 cm
• Habitat: on horizontal rock surface
Chordata
Phylum Chordata
Styela montereyensis
stalked tunicate
STMO
• Identification: Long stalked, solitary
tunicate with longitudinal ridges. Color
yellow to dark red-brown.
• Size: Height to about 25 cm.
• Habitat: Attached to rocky substrate.
Squatinidae/Scyliorhinidae/Carcharhinidae
Family Squatinidae
Squatina californica
Pacific angel shark
SCAL
• Identification: Flattened forebody with
large pectoral fins, rear body and base
are tubular, and two dorsal fins near
base of tail.
• Size: 0.6m to 1.5m.
• Habitat: Sandy bottoms near rocky
reefs and kelp beds. Typically found
on bottom, may be partially buried.
Family Scyliorhinidae
Cephaloscyllium ventriosum
Swell shark
CVEN
• Identification: Flattened head, two
dorsal fins located towards back of
body, and dark spots over body.
• Size: 30cm to 1m.
• Habitat: Sand flats, rocky reefs and
kelp beds. Typically found on bottom
in caves or crevices.
Family Carcharhinidae
Triakis semifasciata
Leopard shark
TSEM
• Identification: Short, rounded snout
and dark saddle blotches that run the
length of the body.
• Size: 60cm to 2.1m.
• Habitat: Shallow inshore areas of sand,
rocky rubble and mud flats. Often
found in bays and protected areas.
Myliobatidiae/Batrachoididae/Scorpaenidae
Family Myliobatididae
Myliobatis californica
Bat ray
BRAY
• Identification: Large bulbous head,
long pectoral fins, whip-like tail, and
long venom injecting barb at base of
tail.
• Size: 60cm to 1.8m (wide).
• Habitat: Anywhere from sand and mud
flats to kelp beds. Typically rest on
bottom and more active at night.
Family Batrachoididae
Porichthys notatus
Plainfin midshipman
PNOT
• Identification: Wide, flattened head,
protruding eyes, upturn mouth, rows of
white spots on head and several rows
running the length of the body, and
spiny dorsal fin.
• Size: 5cm to 38cm.
• Habitat: Sand and mud bottoms.
Buried during the day and hover right
above bottom at night.
Family Scorpaenidae
Scorpaena guttata
California scorpionfish
SGUT
• Identification: Spines and short barbels
and skin flaps on head and spots on
head, body and fins.
• Size: 18cm to 43cm.
• Habitat: Recesses on rocky reefs.
Typically lie on bottom nestled in with
debris.
Scorpaenidae
Family Scorpaenidae
Sebastes caurinus
Copper rockfish
SCAU
• Identification: White belly, pale fins,
and dark band that slopes downward
from eye toward pectoral fin. White
lateral line extending from dorsal fin
toward tail
• Size: 25cm to 57cm.
• Habitat: Rocky areas from offshore
reefs to shallow protected bays and
areas of kelp. Found in protected areas,
rest on bottom.
Sebastes serriceps
Treefish
STRE
• Identification: Five to six wide
blackish bars across back and base of
tail, two dark bands from eye to
pectoral fin, and pink lips.
• Size: 15cm to 40cm.
• Habitat: Caves, crevices, and other
protective recesses. Often hidden from
view.
Sebastes chrysomelas
Black and yellow rockfish
SCHR
• Identification: Two dark diagonal
bands extend from lower eye and bright
yellow spots over dark undercolor.
• Size: 15cm to 39cm.
• Habitat: Rocky areas in caves and
crevices. Often rest on bottom.
Scorpaenidae
Family Scorpaenidae
Sebastes carnatus
Gopher rockfish
SCAR
• Identification: Several pale colored
splotches on back, two diagonal bands
extend from lower eye, and pale
blotches on dorsal spines.
• Size: 15cm to 39cm.
• Habitat: Rocky areas in caves and
crevices. Often rest on bottom.
Sebastes atrovirens
Kelp rockfish
SATR
• Identification: Can change color and
markings with background.
• Size: 15cm to 42cm.
• Habitat: Kelp beds and other algae
areas. Typically drift in shaded areas.
Sebastes mystinus
Blue rockfish
SMYS
• Identification: Slightly projected jaw
that extends to midpoint of eye, two to
four curved bands around front of head,
straight and slanted rear edge of anal
fin, and sloping band from eye toward
pectoral fin with a smaller band below.
• Size: 20cm to 53cm.
• Habitat: Kelp forests, shallow reefs
and open water over deep reefs, rarely
in sheltered waters. Found in large
schools with other rockfish.
Scorpaenidae/Hexagrammidae
Family Scorpaenidae
Sebastes serranoides
Olive rockfish
SSER
• Identification: Lighter coloring below
lateral line and several pale spots below
dorsal fin.
• Size: 25cm to 60.6cm.
• Habitat: Open waters over banks, reefs
and descending coastlines. Congregate
in schools.
Family Hexagrammidae
Oxylebius pictus
Painted greenling
OPIC
• Identification: Pointed snout, five to
six dark bands encircle fins and body,
and two pair of cirri between eyes and
dorsal fin.
• Size: 10cm to 25cm.
• Habitat: Shallow rocky areas and
around docks. Typically hover above
bottom or move from perch to perch.
Ophiodon elongatus
Lingcod
OELO
• Identification: Single, whitish lateral
line, large mouth with prominent
canine teeth, and long dorsal separated
by notch just before taller rear dorsal.
• Size: 45cm to 1.5m.
• Habitat: Rocky areas. Either rest on
bottom or patrol territory.
Hexagrammidae/Cottidae
Family Hexagrammidae
Hexagrammos decagrammus
Kelp greenling
HDEC
• Identification: Male: Blue irregular
spots outlined by small dark spots on
head and forebody and a pair of cirri
above eyes. Female: Speckled with
red-brown to gold over a pale
undercolor.
• Size: 25cm to 60.6cm.
• Habitat: Generally kelp beds but also
rocky areas and sand bottoms.
Family Cottidae
Scorpaenichthys marmoratus
Cabezon
SMAR
• Identification: Bulbous head, stout
body, and prominent cirrus above each
eye.
• Size: 40.4cm to 1m.
• Habitat: Rocky bottoms near kelp
beds. Usually rest on bottom.
Leiocottus hirundo
Lavender sculpin
LHIR
• Identification: Slender, tapered
elongated body, first two extremely
long dorsal fin spines form a spike-like
projection, and red to blue spots on
spines of dorsal fins aligned diagonally.
• Size: 10cm to 25cm.
• Habitat: Shallow sand flats and rocky
reefs around kelp beds.
Serranidae
Family Serranidae
Stereolepis gigas
Giant sea bass
SGIG
• Identification: Large mouth, bulky
body, low profile foredorsal fin, tall
soft dorsal, and sizable black spots.
• Size: 60cm to 2.3m.
• Habitat: Rocky bottoms, rocky
outcroppings and kelp forests. Drift in
shaded areas.
Paralabrax clathratus
Kelp bass
PCLA
• Identification: Square cut tail, first two
spines of foredorsal fin short, and large,
pale blotches on back.
• Size: 30cm to 72cm.
• Habitat: Kelp beds, rocky inshore
areas and seaweed flats. Also found in
deeper patch reefs and areas of sand.
Paralabrax nebulifer
Barred sand bass
PNEB
• Identification: Square cut tail, dusky
bars on side, and third foredorsal spine
distinctly longer.
• Size: 25cm to 66cm.
• Habitat: Sandy areas near reefs, rocky
outcroppings and kelp beds. Typically
rest on bottom.
Girellidae/Scorpididae/Embiotocidae
Family Girellidae
Girella nigricans
Opaleye
GNIG
• Identification: Football-shaped profile,
one to three white spots on back, and
bright blue to blue-green eyes.
• Size: 15cm to 66cm.
• Habitat: Shallow rocky reefs and kelp
beds.
Family Scorpididae
Medialuna californiensis
Halfmoon
MCAL
• Identification: Football-shaped profile,
darker coloring on back graduating to
pale shades on sides and a whitish
belly, and a dusky spot on upper-rear
gill cover.
• Size: 15cm to 45cm.
• Habitat: School near kelp beds, oil rigs
and high profile reefs.
Family Embiotocidae
Rhacochilus toxotes
Rubberlip surfperch
RTOX
• Identification: Large, fat lips with
white to pink tint, thin, football-shaped
body, dark bar below front portion of
soft dorsal fin, and spinous dorsal fin
shorter than soft dorsal.
• Size: 20cm to 47cm.
• Habitat: Kelp forests, rocky
outcroppings, jetties and piers.
Embiotocidae
Family Embiotocidae
Embiotoca jacksoni
Black surfperch
EJAC
• Identification: Large lips, thin, football-
shaped body, blue strip along base of
anal fin, and about nine dusky bars on
body.
• Size: 12.6cm to 39cm.
• Habitat: Kelp beds.
Hypsurus caryi
Rainbow surfperch
HCAR
• Identification: Thin, football-shaped
body with a flat belly, bars on back
shaded orange, and a black spot on
upper corner of mouth.
• Size: 12.6cm to 30cm.
• Habitat: Sandy areas, rocky reefs and
around kelp beds.
Embiotoca lateralis
Striped surfperch
ELAT
• Identification: Thin, football-shaped
body and several narrow, iridescent
blue strips separated by wider orange to
copper colored stripes that run laterally.
• Size: 12.6cm to 38cm.
• Habitat: Rocky reefs, kelp forests,
eelgrass, leafy algae areas and
sandy/rocky surf zones.
Embiotocidae
Family Embiotocidae
Brachyistius frenatus
Kelp surfperch
BFRE
• Identification: Thin body, dark areas
on scales that form stripes above
midlateral line, concave head above
eyes, and snout pointed upward due to
prominent lower jaw.
• Size: 9cm to 21.5cm.
• Habitat: Kelp beds.
Damalichthys vacca
Pile surfperch
DVAC
• Identification: Thin, football-shaped
body, deeply forked tail, spinous dorsal
fin lower than soft, dark bar below
front portion of soft dorsal fin, and a
black spot behind corner of mouth.
• Size: 15cm to 44cm.
• Habitat: Rocky reefs, kelp forests,
under docks and around jetties and oil
rigs.
Phanerodon furcatus
White surfperch
PFUR
• Identification: Thin, football-shaped
body, deeply forked tail, and black line
at base of dorsal fin.
• Size: 10cm to 32cm.
• Habitat: Shallow bays, near docks and
jetties, sandy areas, rocky reefs and
around kelp beds.
Pomacentridae/Labridae
Family Pomacentridae
Hypsypops rubicundus
Garibaldi
HRUB
• Identification: Thin, oval-shaped body,
bright orange with a possibility of blue
spots, and deeply notched tail between
two rounded lobes.
• Size: 12.6cm to 35cm.
• Habitat: Rocky reefs and kelp beds.
Chromis punctipinnis
Blacksmith
CPUN
• Identification: Typically blue bordered
tail, anal and dorsal fins and black spots
on scales scattered from mid-body to
tail.
• Size: 10cm to 30cm.
• Habitat: Shallow reefs and rocky areas.
Family Labridae
Pimelometopan pulchrum
California sheephead
SPUL
• Identification: Juvenile: White mid-
body stripe, black spots on rear dorsal
and anal fins and upper base of tail, and
red. Adult: White chin, dark head and
rear body, protruding canine teeth, and
older species form bulbous lump on
nape.
• Size: 30cm to 90cm.
• Habitat: Rocky bottoms, especially
kelp beds.
Labridae/Clinidae
Family Labridae
Oxyjulis californica
Senorita
OCAL
• Identification: White belly, sharp
canine teeth that typically protrude
from mouth, yellow to orange in color,
and large black spot on tail base.
• Size: 8cm to 25cm.
• Habitat: Rocky reefs, kelp beds and
boulder-strewn areas surrounded by
sand.
Halichoeres semicinctus
Rock wrasse
HSEM
• Identification: Terminal Phase: Dark
bar behind pectoral fin and may have
dusky bars on back. Initial Phase: Dark
areas on scales from spotted stripe on
upper side. Juvenile: Two black spots
on dorsal fin and canine teeth protrude
form mouth.
• Size: 30cm to 38cm.
• Habitat: Boulder-strewn areas mixed
with sand and small rocky reefs.
Family Clinidae
Neoclinus blanchardi
Sarcastic fringehead
NBLA
• Identification: Large mouth with jaws
extending almost to gill openings, two
blue with yellow spots on foredorsal
fin, and cirri over eyes.
• Size: 8cm to 30cm.
• Habitat: Hard sand and mud bottoms.
Found in crevices, burrows, holes and
empty shells.
Clinidae
Family Clinidae
Alloclinus holderi
Island kelpfish
AHOL
• Identification: Pale spot extending
from cheek lower rear quarter of eye,
raised rear dorsal fin, pale cover spots
cover body, a row of dark blotches on
upper body, and long pectoral fins.
• Size: 5cm to 10cm.
• Habitat: Rocky coastlines, reefs with
abundant algal growth and kelp beds.
Heterostichus rostratus
Giant kelpfish
HROS
• Identification: Forked tail and an
elongated head with a upturned,
pointed snout.
• Size: 15cm to 61cm.
• Habitat: Kelp beds and areas of leafy
algae growth. Typically found amongst
the blades blending in with
background.
Gibbonsia montereyensis
Crevice kelpfish
GMON
• Identification: Rounded tail fin, short
pectoral fins, soft rays of rear dorsal fin
are spaced more widely towards rear,
and a single row of spots along upper
side.
• Size: 6cm to 15cm.
• Habitat: Rocky areas with numerous
recesses and abundant algae growth.
Typically found in the intertidal zone.
Gobiidae/Bothidae
Family Gobiidae
Coryphopterus nicholsii
Blackeye goby
CNIC
• Identification: Dark to pale tan, black
eye, and black edge of foredorsal fin.
• Size: 4cm to 15cm.
• Habitat: Sandy areas near reefs,
outcroppings and docks. Typically
found in protective recesses.
Lythrypnus dalli
Bluebanded goby
LDAL
• Identification: Bright red with four to
nine bright blue bars and a tall
foredorsal fin.
• Size: 2cm to 6cm.
• Habitat: Open rocky areas.
Family Bothidae
Paralichthys californicus
California halibut
PCAL
• Identification: Large mouth, upper jaw
extends to or behind eye, and tail
arched in middle with outer edges
square cut.
• Size: 38cm to 1.5m.
• Habitat: Flat sandy or mud bottoms.
Rest on bottom usually covered by
bottom material.
Bothidae
Family Bothidae
Citharichthys stigmaeus
Speckled sanddab
CSTI
• Identification: Speckles, often small
blotches, and ventrally compressed.
• Size: 8cm to 18cm.
• Habitat: Gravel, sand and shell rubble
flats. Rest on bottom.
Common Subtidal Plants and
Animals
Second Edition
Santa Barbara Coastal Ecosystem
Long-Term Ecological Research Program
A Field Guide To
Common Subtidal Plants and Animals
Second edition
Santa Barbara Coastal Ecosystem
Long-Term Ecological Research Program
Edited by
Dan Reed, Brent Mardian, and Bryn Evans
Marine Science Institute
University of California
Santa Barbara, CA USA 93106
2005
Acknowledgements
A special thanks to Mike Anghera, Cary Galst, Monica
Pessino, Aimee Sarkaria, Cherlyn Seruto, and Allan Willis
who assisted in the preparation of the book. Funding was
provided by the National Science Foundation under grant
No. OCE99-82105. This book is intended for educational
use only. No portion of this field guide may be reproduced
for other purposes without the consent of the authors.
Photo Credits
Shane Anderson-Asterina miniata, Embiotica lateralis, Squatina californica,
Medialuna californiensis, Neoclinus blanchardi,
Todd Anderson- Brachyistius frenatus
Mike Behrens- Haliotis kamtschatkana,
Chris Gotschalk- Sebastes chrysomelas
Richard Herman- Parastichopus parvemensis
Kevin Lafferty- Haliotis cracherodii
Introduction
This guide contains information on the common marine plants
and animals that inhabit the shallow rocky reefs of the Santa
Barbara Channel. It’s purpose is to aid students, staff, and
faculty researchers of the Santa Barbara Coastal Ecosystem
Long-Term Ecological Research program (SBC-LTER) in field
identification. It also provides those less familiar with the Santa
Barbara Channel with a glimpse of the diverse marine life that
can be found at SBC-LTER study sites. SBC-LTER is one of 24
sites established and funded by the National Science
Foundation to investigate long-term ecological phenomena.
More information on SBC-LTER’s mission and research can be
found at: http://sbc.lternet.edu.
How To Use This Book
Taxa in this book are arranged in phylogenetic order. Each
organism is identified by its scientific name and common name,
when available. The accompanying one to four letter code in
BOLD is the SBC-LTER species code that is used to identify the
taxa in all SBC-LTER databases. Brief information on key
characteristics used in identification, including the size and
habitat of most common occurrence, is provided for each taxon.
Phylum Chlorophyta/Phaeophyta Chlorophyta/Phaeophyta
Ulvoid
UV
• Identification: Bright green algae with
thin leafy blades in the genera Ulva and
Enteromorpha.
• Size: Variable in size.
• Habitat: Usually found growing on
rocks or epiphytic.
Codium fragile
Dead man’s fingers
COF
• Identification: One to several erect
branches from a broad base, then
abundantly branched. Color dark
green to blackish-green.
• Size: 10-30 cm tall.
• Habitat: Frequent on sides and tops of
rocks in areas of high water motion.
Filamentous brown algae
FB
• Identification: Small finely branched
filamentous brown algae. Frequently
forming dense mats. Common genera
include Ectcarpus, Giffordia and
Hinksia.
• Size: Variable up to 30 cm long.
• Habitat: Growing on rocks and other
hard substrates.
Phaeophyta
Phylum Phaeophyta
Scytosiphon lomentaria
SELO
• Identification: Small brown alga with
slender tubular thalli. Gregarious in
clusters from a crustose holdfast.
Larger plants inflated and irregularly
constricted.
• Size: 20-30 cm tall, thallus 4-6 mm in
diameter.
• Habitat : on sheltered rocks.
Colpomenia spp.
CP
• Identification: Sac-like alga with broad
basal attachment. Color from olive to
medium brown.
• Size: Diameter up to 10 cm.
• Habitat: On rocks, occasionally
epiphytic.
Dictyota spp./ Pachydictyon spp.
DP
• Identification: Smooth thin blades
with rounded tips. Light to dark
brown in color. Dichotomous to
pinnate branching. No midrib.
• Size: Up to 45 cm tall. Blades 1-2 cm
broad.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Phaeophyta
Phylum Phaeophyta
Taonia lennebackeriae
TALE
• Identification: Thin strap-like to fan-
shaped blade. Light to medium brown in
color. Split or lacerated at tips when
mature.
• Size: 10-30 cm tall, blades 10-60 mm
broad.
• Habitat: Frequent on rocks, often
partially embedded in sand.
Dictyopteris undulata
DU
• Identification: Alga irregularly
dichotomous with short terminal
branches. Distinguishing feature is the
midrib running through the branches.
Color yellowish-brown to olive.
• Size: 8-12 cm tall, reaching 24 cm.
• Habitat: Frequent on rocks.
Laminaria farlowii
Oar weed
LAFA / LFJ
• Identification: Single long, wide blade with
deep depressions in longitudinal rows. Dark
brown in color with short stipe.
• Size: Blade length to 5 m. Stipe 4-7 cm
long.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Phylum Phaeophyta Phaeophyta
Pterygophora californica
Palm Kelp
PTCA / PTJ
• Identification: Long woody
unbranched stipe. Flattened in upper
portion. Terminal blade with a midrib.
Numerous lateral sporophylls. Small
branched holdfast.
• Size: To 2.3 m in height.
• Habitat: May form extensive stands on
rocky substrate.
Eisenia arborea
Southern sea palm
EA
• Identification: Erect tree-like stipe that
terminates into two branches that bear
leafy brown blades with toothed
margins. Color usually medium to
dark brown .
• Size: Stipe 1-2 m long. Blades can be
as long as stipe.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Egregia menziesii
Feather boa kelp
EGME / EGJ
• Identification: A large kelp having a
long flat stipe bearing numerous small
flat blades and floats along its entire
length.
• Size: Plant 5 to 15 m long with blades
to 8 cm long.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Phaeophyta
Phylum Phaeophyta
Macrocystis pyrifera
Giant Kelp
MPS / MPJ
• Identification: The largest of kelps
possessing many round stipes each
bearing numerous blades attached by
gas filled floats. Large conical holdfast
of root like haptera.
• Size: Up to 45.7 m tall.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate and
occasionally in sand.
Desmarestia ligulata
Acid weed
DL
• Identification: Thin pinnately branched
thallus with slender midvein. Medium to
dark brown in color. Finely branched and
bushy or coarse with marginal spines.
• Size: 8 m tall.
• Habitat: Growing on rocks and attached to
worm tubes in sandy habitats.
Sargassum muticum
SAMU
• Identification: Large alga having small
leaf like blades with toothed margins that
occur singly along the thallus. Medium to
dark brown in color. Small cylindrical
pneumatocysts borne in clusters.
• Size: up to 2 m tall, leaves to 10 cm long.
• Habitat: On hard substrate.
Phaeophyta/Rhodophyta
Phylum Phaeophyta/Rhodophyta
Cytoseira osmundacea
Bladder chain
CYOS / CYJ
• Identification: dark brown fucoid with
radial branches. Tall bushy reproductive
parts
• Size: to 8 m tall, blades 1-1.5 cm broad.
• Habitat: On rocks, frequently mingled
with Macrocystis.
Scinaia confusa
SCCA
• Identification: Rose pink tubular
thallus, with regularly branched
axes.
• Size: 3-15 cm tall.
• Habitat: grows on rocks.
Gelidium robustum
Agarweed
GR
• Identification: Dark red branches,
compressed, but basal axes cylindrical.
Branches frequently distichous, often
geniculate. Branches often covered by
white encrusting bryozoans..
• Size: To 40 cm tall.
• Habitat: On tops of reefs in areas of
high water motion.
Rhodophyta
Phylum Rhodophyta
Lithothrix spp.
Stone hair
LI
• Identification: Alga dull purple to pink
in color. Primary branching
dichotomous but irregular lateral
branches, gives a stringy look.
• Size: To 13 cm tall.
• Habitat: Found growing on rocks or
animals in sandy areas.
Corallina officinalis
CO
• Identification: Fronds whitish,
pinkish, or purplish. Bipinnate to
tripinnate branching, with branches
in one plane like a feather.
• Size: Height to 15 cm.
• Habitat: On hard substrate.
Bossiella orbigniana
BO
• Identification: Branches are thin and
delicate, always dichotomous. Each
segment is wing-nut shaped and has
bumps (i.e. conceptacles) on the inner
margin.
• Size: Height 15-30 cml.
• Habitat: On rocks.
Rhodophyta
Phylum Rhodophyta
Calliarthron cheilosporioides
CAL
• Identification: Articulate coralline alga
with coarse pinnate branching. Segments
flat and rounded. Conceptacles (bumps)
on the margins of wings. Seen here with
an orange epiphytic hydroid (Garvela
annulata).
• Size: Fronds to 30 cm. Segments to 7
mm.
• Habitat: Frequent growing on rocks.
Encrusting coralline
EC
• Identification: Calcified crusts of
pinkish algae that cover the surface of
hard substrates. Often intermixed with
other erect species of coralline algae.
• Size: Variable sized patches that can
cover a large proportion of the bottom.
• Habitat: Hard, rocky substrate.
Prionitis lanceolata
PL
• Identification: Dull, purplish red alga
with narrow compressed branches.
Cartilaginous in texture.
• Size: 20-30 cm tall, axes and branches
2.5-5 cm wide.
• Habitat: grow on hard substrate.
Rhodophyta
Phylum Rhodophyta
Callophyllis flabellulata
CF
• Identification: Flat thin bladed red
alga with finely dissected ultimate
branches. Rose to orange-red color.
• Size: 4-10 cm tall.
• Habitat: growing on rocks or
epiphytic.
Gracilaria sp.
GS
• Identification: Deep dull reddish algae
with numerous cylindrical spaghetti-
like branches arising from a discoid
holdfast. Branches fleshy to
cartilaginous.
• Size: 6-20 cm tall.
• Habitat: Frequently on rocks often
embedded in shallow sand.
Chondracanthus corymbiferus
CC
• Identification: Among the largest of
all red algae. Blades deep red.
Broadly rounded and frequently
ruffled, with smooth iridescent bases.
Formerly Gigartina corymbiferus.
• Size: blades can grow more than 1m,
30 cm wide. Holdfasts 1-5 cm wide.
• Habitat: On hard substrate.
Rhodophyta
Phylum Rhodophyta
Chondracanthus spinosa
CZ
• Identification: Colors range from
purplish to black to brownish to red,
grows in thick isolated clumps. Narrower
blades than C. corymbiferus with large
papillae and numerous spinelike to
bladelike branchlets.
• Size: 20-30 cm tall, 4-6 cm broad
• Habitat: On hard substrate.
Rhodymenia californica
R
• Identification: Thalli bushy and clumped,
one to many erect or spreading blades
dichotomously or flabellately branched on
short stipes. Color dark red to a bleached
pink.
• Size: To 15 cm tall.
• Habitat: Found growing on rocks.
Nienburgia andersoniana
NA
• Identification: Thin narrow branched
blades with a midrib in the lower parts
and conspicuously toothed margins.
Bright rose to dull carmine.
• Size: Main axes 1-16mm broad.
• Habitat: Found growing on rocks.
Rhodophyta
Phylum Rhodophyta
Acrosorium uncinatum
AU
• Identification: Thin flattened blades with
irregular branches. Blades irregularly
hooked at ends that cause it to become
entangled. Frequently parasitic. Color
deep rose red.
• Size: Height to 8 cm tall.
• Habitat: Often found epiphytic on other
algae.
Botryoglossum farlowianum
Grape tongue
BF
• Identification: Large deep red slightly
iridescent blades having densely ruffled
margins with numerous proliferations.
• Size: Erect axes 10-50 cm tall, blades
0.15-2 cm wide.
• Habitat: Common growing on rocks.
Laurencia sp.
LS
• Identification: Erect bushy thalli with
short stubby branches ending in a blunt
tip. Color ranging from brown to rich
red.
• Size: 3-10 cm tall.
• Habitat: Found growing on rocks or
epiphytic.
Rhodophyta
Phylum Rhodophyta
Bladey Red
BR
• Identification: Broad catch all
category for numerous species of red
algae having thin fleshy blades.
• Size: Variable, but can reach 10 cm
tall.
• Habitat: Rocky substrate.
Filamentous red spp.
FR
• Identification: Thin, finely branched
red algae. Frequently forms tufts or
clumps. Common genera include:
Polysiphonia, Ceramium.
• Size: Variable, up to 20 cm tall.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Red Algal Turf
RAT
• Identification: Low growing turf
consisting of polysiphonous filamentous
red algae (e.g. Polysiphonia spp.,
Pterosiphonia spp, Tiffaniella spp.), turf
dwelling invertebrates (e.g. tubiculous
crustacea and polychaetes) and sediments.
• Size: 1 – 3 cm tall.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Phylum Tracheophyta Tracheophyta
Phyllospadix torreyi
Surfgrass
PHTO
• Identification: Bright green narrow wiry
leaves with flowering stems arising from
a densely mingled rhizomous mat.
Separate sexes. Flowers arranged in
spadices.
• Size: leaves 2-4 mm wide, 1-2 m long.
• Habitat: open coast on rocky reefs, low
intertidal to 6 m depth.
Zostera marina
Eelgrass
ZOMA
• Identification: Dull, light green, strap-
like leaves with long flowering stems.
Monecious. Flowers inconspicuous in
spadices.
• Size: leaves 6-12 mm wide, 30-150 cm
long, flowering stems 1-3 m long.
• Habitat: protected sandy flats. Intertidal
to shallow subtidal in bays and estuaries.
Occurring offshore on open coast at
depths of 5–20 m.
Porifera
Phylum Porifera
Spheciospongia confoederata
moon sponge
SC
• Identification: Massive, smooth gray
sponge (leathery in texture) with
numerous crater-like oscula on outer
ridge.
• Size: Up to 70 cm long and 14 cm thick
• Habitat: On rocky reefs.
Tethya aurantia
orange puffball
TEAU
• Identification: Porous, globose sponge
with very rough outer surface. Color
ranges from orange to yellow.
• Size: Diameter at least 8 cm.
• Habitat: On sides of reefs and under
ledges.
Hymenamphiastra cyanocrypta
cobalt sponge
HC
• Identification: Thin, encrusting,
usually, cobalt blue sponge.
• Size: Diameter up to 1 m.
• Habitat:common growing on rocky reef
areas underneath ledges or on sides of
rocks.
Anthozoa
Phylum Cnidaria
Aglaophenia spp.
hydroid
AS
• Identification: Large feather-like brown
plumes consisting of a central stalk
with numerous pinnate branches.
• Size: Plumes to about 12 cm.
• Habitat: Attached to rocky substrate.
Urticina lofotensis
white-spotted rose anemome
URLO
• Identification: Column is very
distinctive red, with white spots.
Tentacles are scarlet to crimson.
• Size: Maximum column diameter to 10
cm.
• Habitat: Attached to rocky substrate.
Urticina piscivora
fish eating anemone
URPI
• Identification: Deep red column with
tentacles that are usually white, but
occasionally red.
• Size: Crown to 8 inches in diameter.
• Habitat: Attatched to rocky substrate.
Anthozoa
Phylum Cnidaria
Anthopleura spp.
aggregating anemone
ANSP
• Identification: Aggregations or solitary
individuals. Color from green to
reddish.
• Size: Maximum tentacular diameter to
10-15 cm.
• Habitat: Attached to rocky substrate,
may be buried in sand.
Corynactis californica
club-tipped anemone
CY
• Identification: Small colonial anemone
with bulbous-tipped tentacles. Color
varies from orange, red, purple, pink, to
almost white.
• Size: Diameter up to 2.5 cm.
• Habitat: attached to rocky substrates.
Astrangia lajollaensis
cup coral
AL
• Identification: Small cup corals form
large colonies. The stony cups are
brownish-orange and tentacles are
yellowish-orange.
• Size: Cups to about 1 cm in
diameter.
• Habitat: on rocky reefs and under
ledges.
Anthozoa
Phylum Cnidaria
Balanophyllia elegans
orange cup coral
BAEL
• Identification: Solitary, orange, cup-
shaped coral with orange tentacles.
• Size: Diameter up to 2.5 cm.
• Habitat: Attached to rocky substrate.
Paracyathus stearnsi
brown cup coral
PAST
• Identification: Small brown solitary
cup corals have long, almost clear,
tentacles.
• Size: Maximum cup diameter of 4
cm.
• Habitat: Attached to rocky
substrate.
Pachycerianthus fimbriatus
tube dwelling anemone
PAFI
• Identification: long, slender outer
tentacles and shorter inner tentacles. Soft
body protected by tube. Tentacles may be
creamy white, brown, black, or orange.
• Size: Height to about 30cm, diameter to
about 38 mm.
• Habitat: Sand and soft mud bottoms
Anthozoa
Phylum Cnidaria
Lophogorgia chilensis
red gorgonian
LOCH
• Identification: Sea fan with red
branches with white polyps. Branches
are not in a single plan.
• Size: Height to about 1 meter.
• Habitat: Attached to rocky substrate.
Muricea fruticosa
brown gorgonian
MUFR
• Identification: Thick brown branches
with white polyps, usually in one
plane. Brown in color.
• Size: Height to about 1 meter.
• Habitat: Attached to rocky substrate.
Muricea californica
california golden gorgonian
MUCA
• Identification: Thick brown branches.
Yellow polyps distinguish it from brown
gorgonian.
• Size: Height to about 1 meter.
• Habitat: Attached to rocky substrate.
Polychaeta
Phylum Annelida
Phragmatopoma californica
Colonial sand tube worm
PA
• Identification: Extensive colonies.
Tubes constructed of cemented sand.
Short lavender tentacles.
• Size: Diameter up to 1 cm.
• Habitat: Honeycomb colonies on or
against rocks in areas of high sand
transport.
Sabellid worm
SABW
• Identification: Worms in the family
Sabellidae that retract into tube when
disturbed. The most commonly
observed species is the feather duster
worm Eudistylia polymorpha which is
identified by it’s plume of branched
gills that vary in color from tan to
orange.
• Size: Crown diameter to 7.5 cm
• Habitat: Attached to rocky substrate.
Diopatra ornata
Ornate tube worm
DIOR
• Identification: Tubes usually
completely covered with attached
pieces of shell, algae, or other debris.
• Size: Tube diameter up to about 2 cm.
• Habitat: On sand or rubble usually near
rocks.
Polychaeta
Phylum Annelida
Salmacina tribranchiata
Fragile tube worm
ST
• Identification: Small whitish tubes that
form tangled complex masses up to a size
of about 20 cm in diameter.
• Size: Tube diameter < 2 mm.
• Habitat: Attached to sides or under rocks.
Gastropda
Phylum Mollusca
Haliotis corrugata
Pink abalone
HACO
• Identification: Shell is almost round, with
corrugated, scalloped edge. Two to four
raised shell holes remain open.
• Size: Length to 25 cm.
• Habitat: In rocky crevices and on sides of
rocks.
Haliotis cracherodii
Black abalone
HACR
• Identification: Shell color ranges from dark
blue to black and shell is smooth. Five to 7
holes are usually open.
• Size: Length to 20 cm.
• Habitat: On rocks and in crevices.
Gastropda
Phylum Mollusca
Haliotis rufescens
Red abalone
HARU
• Identification: Shell usually brick-red,
occasionally with bands of green or white.
Three or four of the holes are open.
• Size: Length to 30 cm.
• Habitat: On rocks, occasionally on sand or
gravel bottoms.
Haliotis kamtschatkana
assimilis
Threaded abalone
HAKA
• Identification: Flat oblong shell with four
to eight open holes that are slightly
raised.
• Size: Length to about 175 mm
• Habitat:on rocks or in crevices
Megathura crenulata
Giant keyhole limpet
MECR
• Identification: Mantle color varies from
black to mottled gray and usually covers
the entire shell. Shell has a large opening
in the center.
• Size: Length of shell to 13 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Gastropda
Phylum Mollusca
Lithopoma undosum
(Formerly Astraea undosum)
Red turban snail
LIGL/S
• Identification: Heavily sculptured spiral
shell that is frequently covered with
encrusting coralline algae. Oval-shaped
operculum has large rough ridges.
• Size: Shell diameter to 110 mm.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Norrisia norrisi
NONO
Norris’s top snail
• Identification: Red-brown flattened
spiral shell with a bright red foot.
• Size: Shell diameter to 5.5 cm.
• Habitat: On kelp and rocky substrate.
Tegula spp.
TESP
Turban snail
• Identification: Shell commonly smooth,
rounded-conical. Color orange, black,
brown or a combination of these. Foot
with dark brown or black sides, white
or cream color below.
• Size: Variable, 1-3 cm.
• Habitat: On kelp and rocky substrate.
Gastropoda
Phylum Mollusca
Serpulorbis squamigerus
scaled worm snail
SE
• Identification: Shell is a partially coiled tube
attached to substrate. No operculum.
Usually occurring in aggregations.
• Size: Length of tube to 12 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky or other hard substrate.
Cypraea spadicea
Chestnut cowry
CYSP
• Identification: Smooth shell with a brown
dorsal surface and white margins on the
ventral side. Foot and mantle are orange-
brown with dark spots.
• Size: Up to 8 cm in length.
• Habitat: On rocky reefs and underneath
ledges.
Kelletia kelletia
Kellet’s whelk
KEKE
• Identification: White or gray, robust shell
with heavy sculpturing crossed by thin
spiral lines. Skin is yellow, mottled with
black and white markings.
• Size: Length of shell to 18 cm.
• Habitat: In kelp beds on rocky and soft
bottoms.
Gastropda
Phylum Mollusca
Small Kelletia-like spp.
SKE
Whelk-like snail
• Identification: Catchall category for
small Kelletia-like snails. May include
juveniles Kelletii or other genera such
as Pteropurpura
• Size: Variable, 1-3 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Ceratostoma foliatum
Leafy hornmouth
CEFO
• Identification: Three distinctive wing-
like processes protrude from the central
shell, one on top and one to each side,
with a tooth on the outside edge of the
opening.
• Size: Length up to 9 cm.
• Habitat: commonly on rocky substrate.
Mitra idae
Ida’s miter
MIID
• Identification: Dark brown, smooth
shell covered with a black
periostracum. The foot is white.
• Size: Up to 8 cm in length.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Gastropda
Phylum Mollusca
Conus californicus
California cone
COCA
• Identification: Smooth light brown
shell with a transparent to white foot
and a black proboscis.
• Size: Up to 4 cm in length.
• Habitat: On sandy and rocky bottoms.
Aplysia californica
California brown sea hare
APCA
• Identification: Color varies from reddish,
brownish, and/or greenish, overlaid with
dark lines and spots.
• Size: Length can exceed 40cm.
• Habitat: Among seaweed, in kelp canopy,
sometimes in sandy areas.
Aplysia vaccaria
California black sea hare
APVA
• Identification: Body dark reddish
brown to black, with white speckled
patches. Distinguished from A..
californica by larger size.
• Size: Length up to 75 cm.
• Habitat: Around kelp beds, rocky and
sandy areas.
Bivalvia
Phylum Mollusca
Crassedoma giganteum
(Formerly Hinnites giganteus)
Rock scallop
CRGI
• Identification: Orange mantle. Adults
cemented to substrate and have thick
valves with spines protruding from ribs.
• Size:. Shell diameter to 20 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Mytilus californianus
MC
California mussel
• Identification: Shell thick, pointed at
anterior end, broadening posteriorly,
sculptured with strong radial ridges and
irregular growth lines. Surface often
eroded or worn. Blue-black in color.
• Size: Length to 13 cm.
• Habitat: Form large beds on rocks and
pilings.
Chaceia ovoidea
CHOV
wart-neck piddock
• Identification: Boring clam, with
siphon sticking out of rock. Siphon
distinct dark brown.
• Size: Shell to 12 cm in length.
Siphon fully extended can reach 1m
in length.
• Habitat: Burrows into clay or shale
reefs.
Bivalvia, Cephalopoda
Phylum Mollusca
Parapholas californica
scaleside piddock
PACA
• Identification: Boring clam, with white
siphon that usually has reddish-brown spots
and blotches.
• Size: Shell length to 15 cm. Siphon can
extend to 15 cm.
• Habitat: Burrows into clay, soft shale and
sandstone reefs.
Octopus spp.
octopus
OCTO
• Identification: Octopus mimic colors and
texture. They always have eight legs.
• Size: Armspan to 300 cm but usually
closer to 30 cm.
• Habitat: Usually found hiding in
crevices and under rocks.
Crustacea
Phylum Arthropoda
Barnacle spp.
barnacle
BA
• Identification: Sessile barnacle, usually
with feeding tentacles out. Plates or
paired beaks cover the opening of the
feeding tentacles.
• Size: Basal diameter ranges from 0.5
cm to 10 cm depending on species.
Height from 0.5 cm to 7.5 cm.
• Habitat: Requires hard substrate to
attach to, such as rock or the shell of
another animal.
Crustacea
Phylum Arthropoda
Panulirus interruptus
California spiny lobster
PAIN
• Identification: Large reddish brown
crustacean with long antennae covered
with small sharp spines. Anterior
portion of the thorax is covered with
sharp spines, large spines on tail`.
Claws absent.
• Size: Length up to 60 cm.
• Habitat: In crevices and underneath
rocks during daytime, forages at night.
Loxorhynchus grandis
Sheep crab
LOGR
• Identification: Large spider crab with
robust, oval carapace covered with
spines and tubercles. Males have larger
chelipeds (claws) than females.
• Size: Carapace up to 16 cm in width.
• Habitat: Common on rocky and soft
bottoms.
Pugettia producta
Kelp crab
PUPR
• Identification: Smooth carapace with
yellowish brown to reddish coloring.
Feeds on algae.
• Size: Carapace width up to 12 cm.
• Habitat: Common on kelp and on rocky
substrate.
Crustacea
Phylum Arthropoda
Cancer spp.
crab
CASP
• Identification: Typical “crab” shape
like you see in the grocery store.
Body and legs may be hairy or
smooth.
• Size: Carapace width 2-18 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky and sand
substrates.
Ectoprocta (Bryozoan)
Phylum Ectoprocta (Bryozoans)
Diaperoecia californica
staghorn bryozoan
DC
• Identification: Colonies in coral-
like masses, with flattened
branches. Color light to dark
yellow.
• Size: Colony height to 10 cm .
• Habitat: On rocks and other hard
substrate.
Bugula neritina
BN
• Identification: Colony bushy, reddish
brown or purple in color.
• Size: Colony 3-10 cm in height.
• Habitat: Found growing on rocks and
in sandy substrate.
Ectoprocta (Bryozoan)
Phylum Ectoprocta (Bryozoans)
Membranipora tuberculata
encrusting bryozoan
MT
• Identification: Small zooids form a
white crustose colony, having a
honeycomb appearance. Usually
epiphytic. Seen here on Macrocystis.
• Size: Variable, can cover most of an
alga, several cm in diameter.
• Habitat: Often found growing on
Macrocystis, Cystiseira, and especially
Gelidium.
Thalamoporella californica
TC
• Identification: Flesh colored colony
dichotomously branched with a basal
crust and many projections.
• Size: Colony varying in size but can
form large mats.
• Habitat: Found growing on rocks and
on some red algae, Gelidium,
Lithothrix, and Gigartina, and
Macrocystis.
Phylum Echinodermata Holothuroidea
Cucumaria piperata
CUPI
• Identification: Small cucumber. 10
branched tentacles. Usually white,
with brown or black speckles.
• Size: Length to about 60 mm.
• Habitat: In rocky areas and crevices.
Holothuroidea
Phylum Echinodermata
Cucumaria salma
sea cucumber
CUSA
• Identification: Body salmon to orange
color with 5 rows of tube feet. Tentacles
black and goldish yellow, with white
banding.
• Size: Length to 15 cm.
• Habitat: In holes and crevices in rocks.
Eupentacta quinquesemita
White sea cucumber
EUQU
• Identification: Small white to yellowish
sea cucumber, cannot completely retract
its long tube feet.
• Size: Length to 10 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Parastichopus californicus
California sea cucumber
PAST
• Identification: Dark red, brown or
yellow sea cucumber has stiff, conical
papillae. Tube feet only on ventral
surface.
• Size: Length to 40 cm.
• Habitat: On rocks and soft substrates.
Echinoidea /Holothuroidea
Phylum Echinodermata
Parastichopus parvimensis
Warty sea cucumber
PAPA
• Identification: Brownish sea cucumber
is covered with small black-tipped
papillae or pseudospines.
• Size: Length to 25 cm.
• Habitat: On soft substrate.
Photo by: Richard Hermann
Pachythyone rubra
PRUB
• Identification: Small brownish white
holothurian, with white to opaque
feeding apendages and protruding tube
feet
• Size: 1cm to 7 cm
• Habitat: on rocky reefs and often feed
upon by Pychnopodia helianthoides
Echinoidea
Lytechinus anamesus
White sea urchin
LA
• Identification: small sea urchin with
sharp, short white spines. Test is
usually white with dark blotches.
• Size: Diameter to about 8 cm.
• Habitat: On soft as well as rocky
bottoms, often aggregate around food
sources.
Echinoidea/ Astroidea
Phylum Echinodermata
Strongylocentrotus purperatus
purple sea urchin
SPL/S
• Identification: Medium sized sea urchin
with short purple spines. Frequently
bores depressions in rocks.
• Size: Diameter to about 5 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Strongylocentrotus franciscanus
red sea urchin
SFL/S
• Identification: Large urchin with sharp,
long spines. Color ranges from red,
red-brown, to dark purple. (Note: small
urchins in foreground are S. purpuratus
• Size: Diameter to 10 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate.
Astroidea
Asterina miniata
AML/S
bat star
• Identification: This webbed sea star
varies greatly in color. Lacks
pedicellariae or spines. Number of
arms usually 5, but can be 4 to 9.
• Size: Diameter to 20 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky and sandy substrates.
Asteroidea
Phylum Echinodermata
Dermasterias imbricata
leather star
DIL/S
• Identification: This sea star feels
smooth and almost leather-like.
• Size: Diameter to 25 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky substrate,
occasionally on sand.
Orthasterias koehleri
Rainbow sea star
OKL/S
• Identification: Vivid color, ranging
from pink with gray to bright red with
yellow banding. Small disk with 5
slender arms.
• Size: Arm radius to 21 cm.
• Habitat: On mud, sand, rock and kelp.
Depths extending to 250 m.
Pisaster brevispinus
short spined sea star
PBL/S
• Identification: This sea star is always
pink. It has short aboral spines.
• Size: Diameter to 60 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky and soft substrates.
Asteroidea
Phylum Echinodermata
Pisaster giganteus
giant spined sea star
PGL/S
• Identification: This sea star has long
uniformly spaced spines with swollen
tips. Each spine is surrounded by a
blue circle.
• Size: Diameter to 60 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky and sand substrates.
Pisaster ochraceus
ochre sea star
POL/S
• Identification: Thick armed star with
numerous small white spines on the
aboral surface arranged in a reticular
pattern. Color varies from dark gray to
orange.
• Size: Diameter to 35 cm.
• Habitat: Low intertidal to shallow
subtidal on rocky habitats.
Pycnopodia helianthoides
sunflower sea star
PHL/S
• Identification: Large sea star has 20 to
24 flexible arms. Juveniles have 5
arms. Color varies from purple to
brown, orange, or yellow.
• Size: Diameter to 90 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky and soft substrates.
Asteroidea
Phylum Echinodermata
Mediaster aequalis
Red seastar
MEAE
• Identification: red in color, smooth
embossed type texture
• Size: up to 14 cm
• Habitat: live on rocky reefs and feed on
a host of other inverts, ascidians,
sponges, etc.
Ophiothrix spiculata
spiny brittle star
OPSP
• Identification: Small brittle star with
long, erect spines on the arms and disc.
Often aggregates.
• Size: Diameter usually < 15 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky and soft substrates.
Ophioplocus esmarki
Smooth brittle star
OPES
• Identification: Relatively smooth, with a large
disc and short spines that can be folded again
the arms. Color brown to gray-brown.
• Size: Diameter to 15 cm.
• Habitat: On rocky and soft substrates.
Chordata
Phylum Chordata
Polyclinum planum
elephant ear tunicate
POPL
• Identification: Ear-like, lobed colony of
zooids attached to substrate by slender
stalk. Brown to yellow color.
• Size: Diameter of lobe to about 20 cm.
• Habitat: Attached to rocky substrate.
Archidistoma psammion
AR
• Identification: Colonies form flat slabs or
oval lobes. Test is firm, leathery to touch.
Color varies from dark brown, purple,
maroon, gray, or whitish. Zooids arranged
in circular systems.
• Size: 1-2 cm thick and can reach 20 cm
long.
• Habitat: On rock surfaces in sand scoured
areas.
Chelyosoma productum
CHPR
• Identification: A small flat tunicate that
occurs in colonies. Often covered with silt
and difficult to see. It is usually a
translucent brown and unlike most
tunicates feels hard to the touch
• Size: zooid diameter ~ 2 cm
• Habitat: on horizontal rock surface
Chordata
Phylum Chordata
Styela montereyensis
stalked tunicate
STMO
• Identification: Long stalked, solitary
tunicate with longitudinal ridges. Color
yellow to dark red-brown.
• Size: Height to about 25 cm.
• Habitat: Attached to rocky substrate.
Squatinidae/Scyliorhinidae/Carcharhinidae
Family Squatinidae
Squatina californica
Pacific angel shark
SCAL
• Identification: Flattened forebody with
large pectoral fins, rear body and base
are tubular, and two dorsal fins near
base of tail.
• Size: 0.6m to 1.5m.
• Habitat: Sandy bottoms near rocky
reefs and kelp beds. Typically found
on bottom, may be partially buried.
Family Scyliorhinidae
Cephaloscyllium ventriosum
Swell shark
CVEN
• Identification: Flattened head, two
dorsal fins located towards back of
body, and dark spots over body.
• Size: 30cm to 1m.
• Habitat: Sand flats, rocky reefs and
kelp beds. Typically found on bottom
in caves or crevices.
Family Carcharhinidae
Triakis semifasciata
Leopard shark
TSEM
• Identification: Short, rounded snout
and dark saddle blotches that run the
length of the body.
• Size: 60cm to 2.1m.
• Habitat: Shallow inshore areas of sand,
rocky rubble and mud flats. Often
found in bays and protected areas.
Myliobatidiae/Batrachoididae/Scorpaenidae
Family Myliobatididae
Myliobatis californica
Bat ray
BRAY
• Identification: Large bulbous head,
long pectoral fins, whip-like tail, and
long venom injecting barb at base of
tail.
• Size: 60cm to 1.8m (wide).
• Habitat: Anywhere from sand and mud
flats to kelp beds. Typically rest on
bottom and more active at night.
Family Batrachoididae
Porichthys notatus
Plainfin midshipman
PNOT
• Identification: Wide, flattened head,
protruding eyes, upturn mouth, rows of
white spots on head and several rows
running the length of the body, and
spiny dorsal fin.
• Size: 5cm to 38cm.
• Habitat: Sand and mud bottoms.
Buried during the day and hover right
above bottom at night.
Family Scorpaenidae
Scorpaena guttata
California scorpionfish
SGUT
• Identification: Spines and short barbels
and skin flaps on head and spots on
head, body and fins.
• Size: 18cm to 43cm.
• Habitat: Recesses on rocky reefs.
Typically lie on bottom nestled in with
debris.
Scorpaenidae
Family Scorpaenidae
Sebastes caurinus
Copper rockfish
SCAU
• Identification: White belly, pale fins,
and dark band that slopes downward
from eye toward pectoral fin. White
lateral line extending from dorsal fin
toward tail
• Size: 25cm to 57cm.
• Habitat: Rocky areas from offshore
reefs to shallow protected bays and
areas of kelp. Found in protected areas,
rest on bottom.
Sebastes serriceps
Treefish
STRE
• Identification: Five to six wide
blackish bars across back and base of
tail, two dark bands from eye to
pectoral fin, and pink lips.
• Size: 15cm to 40cm.
• Habitat: Caves, crevices, and other
protective recesses. Often hidden from
view.
Sebastes chrysomelas
Black and yellow rockfish
SCHR
• Identification: Two dark diagonal
bands extend from lower eye and bright
yellow spots over dark undercolor.
• Size: 15cm to 39cm.
• Habitat: Rocky areas in caves and
crevices. Often rest on bottom.
Scorpaenidae
Family Scorpaenidae
Sebastes carnatus
Gopher rockfish
SCAR
• Identification: Several pale colored
splotches on back, two diagonal bands
extend from lower eye, and pale
blotches on dorsal spines.
• Size: 15cm to 39cm.
• Habitat: Rocky areas in caves and
crevices. Often rest on bottom.
Sebastes atrovirens
Kelp rockfish
SATR
• Identification: Can change color and
markings with background.
• Size: 15cm to 42cm.
• Habitat: Kelp beds and other algae
areas. Typically drift in shaded areas.
Sebastes mystinus
Blue rockfish
SMYS
• Identification: Slightly projected jaw
that extends to midpoint of eye, two to
four curved bands around front of head,
straight and slanted rear edge of anal
fin, and sloping band from eye toward
pectoral fin with a smaller band below.
• Size: 20cm to 53cm.
• Habitat: Kelp forests, shallow reefs
and open water over deep reefs, rarely
in sheltered waters. Found in large
schools with other rockfish.
Scorpaenidae/Hexagrammidae
Family Scorpaenidae
Sebastes serranoides
Olive rockfish
SSER
• Identification: Lighter coloring below
lateral line and several pale spots below
dorsal fin.
• Size: 25cm to 60.6cm.
• Habitat: Open waters over banks, reefs
and descending coastlines. Congregate
in schools.
Family Hexagrammidae
Oxylebius pictus
Painted greenling
OPIC
• Identification: Pointed snout, five to
six dark bands encircle fins and body,
and two pair of cirri between eyes and
dorsal fin.
• Size: 10cm to 25cm.
• Habitat: Shallow rocky areas and
around docks. Typically hover above
bottom or move from perch to perch.
Ophiodon elongatus
Lingcod
OELO
• Identification: Single, whitish lateral
line, large mouth with prominent
canine teeth, and long dorsal separated
by notch just before taller rear dorsal.
• Size: 45cm to 1.5m.
• Habitat: Rocky areas. Either rest on
bottom or patrol territory.
Hexagrammidae/Cottidae
Family Hexagrammidae
Hexagrammos decagrammus
Kelp greenling
HDEC
• Identification: Male: Blue irregular
spots outlined by small dark spots on
head and forebody and a pair of cirri
above eyes. Female: Speckled with
red-brown to gold over a pale
undercolor.
• Size: 25cm to 60.6cm.
• Habitat: Generally kelp beds but also
rocky areas and sand bottoms.
Family Cottidae
Scorpaenichthys marmoratus
Cabezon
SMAR
• Identification: Bulbous head, stout
body, and prominent cirrus above each
eye.
• Size: 40.4cm to 1m.
• Habitat: Rocky bottoms near kelp
beds. Usually rest on bottom.
Leiocottus hirundo
Lavender sculpin
LHIR
• Identification: Slender, tapered
elongated body, first two extremely
long dorsal fin spines form a spike-like
projection, and red to blue spots on
spines of dorsal fins aligned diagonally.
• Size: 10cm to 25cm.
• Habitat: Shallow sand flats and rocky
reefs around kelp beds.
Serranidae
Family Serranidae
Stereolepis gigas
Giant sea bass
SGIG
• Identification: Large mouth, bulky
body, low profile foredorsal fin, tall
soft dorsal, and sizable black spots.
• Size: 60cm to 2.3m.
• Habitat: Rocky bottoms, rocky
outcroppings and kelp forests. Drift in
shaded areas.
Paralabrax clathratus
Kelp bass
PCLA
• Identification: Square cut tail, first two
spines of foredorsal fin short, and large,
pale blotches on back.
• Size: 30cm to 72cm.
• Habitat: Kelp beds, rocky inshore
areas and seaweed flats. Also found in
deeper patch reefs and areas of sand.
Paralabrax nebulifer
Barred sand bass
PNEB
• Identification: Square cut tail, dusky
bars on side, and third foredorsal spine
distinctly longer.
• Size: 25cm to 66cm.
• Habitat: Sandy areas near reefs, rocky
outcroppings and kelp beds. Typically
rest on bottom.
Girellidae/Scorpididae/Embiotocidae
Family Girellidae
Girella nigricans
Opaleye
GNIG
• Identification: Football-shaped profile,
one to three white spots on back, and
bright blue to blue-green eyes.
• Size: 15cm to 66cm.
• Habitat: Shallow rocky reefs and kelp
beds.
Family Scorpididae
Medialuna californiensis
Halfmoon
MCAL
• Identification: Football-shaped profile,
darker coloring on back graduating to
pale shades on sides and a whitish
belly, and a dusky spot on upper-rear
gill cover.
• Size: 15cm to 45cm.
• Habitat: School near kelp beds, oil rigs
and high profile reefs.
Family Embiotocidae
Rhacochilus toxotes
Rubberlip surfperch
RTOX
• Identification: Large, fat lips with
white to pink tint, thin, football-shaped
body, dark bar below front portion of
soft dorsal fin, and spinous dorsal fin
shorter than soft dorsal.
• Size: 20cm to 47cm.
• Habitat: Kelp forests, rocky
outcroppings, jetties and piers.
Embiotocidae
Family Embiotocidae
Embiotoca jacksoni
Black surfperch
EJAC
• Identification: Large lips, thin, football-
shaped body, blue strip along base of
anal fin, and about nine dusky bars on
body.
• Size: 12.6cm to 39cm.
• Habitat: Kelp beds.
Hypsurus caryi
Rainbow surfperch
HCAR
• Identification: Thin, football-shaped
body with a flat belly, bars on back
shaded orange, and a black spot on
upper corner of mouth.
• Size: 12.6cm to 30cm.
• Habitat: Sandy areas, rocky reefs and
around kelp beds.
Embiotoca lateralis
Striped surfperch
ELAT
• Identification: Thin, football-shaped
body and several narrow, iridescent
blue strips separated by wider orange to
copper colored stripes that run laterally.
• Size: 12.6cm to 38cm.
• Habitat: Rocky reefs, kelp forests,
eelgrass, leafy algae areas and
sandy/rocky surf zones.
Embiotocidae
Family Embiotocidae
Brachyistius frenatus
Kelp surfperch
BFRE
• Identification: Thin body, dark areas
on scales that form stripes above
midlateral line, concave head above
eyes, and snout pointed upward due to
prominent lower jaw.
• Size: 9cm to 21.5cm.
• Habitat: Kelp beds.
Damalichthys vacca
Pile surfperch
DVAC
• Identification: Thin, football-shaped
body, deeply forked tail, spinous dorsal
fin lower than soft, dark bar below
front portion of soft dorsal fin, and a
black spot behind corner of mouth.
• Size: 15cm to 44cm.
• Habitat: Rocky reefs, kelp forests,
under docks and around jetties and oil
rigs.
Phanerodon furcatus
White surfperch
PFUR
• Identification: Thin, football-shaped
body, deeply forked tail, and black line
at base of dorsal fin.
• Size: 10cm to 32cm.
• Habitat: Shallow bays, near docks and
jetties, sandy areas, rocky reefs and
around kelp beds.
Pomacentridae/Labridae
Family Pomacentridae
Hypsypops rubicundus
Garibaldi
HRUB
• Identification: Thin, oval-shaped body,
bright orange with a possibility of blue
spots, and deeply notched tail between
two rounded lobes.
• Size: 12.6cm to 35cm.
• Habitat: Rocky reefs and kelp beds.
Chromis punctipinnis
Blacksmith
CPUN
• Identification: Typically blue bordered
tail, anal and dorsal fins and black spots
on scales scattered from mid-body to
tail.
• Size: 10cm to 30cm.
• Habitat: Shallow reefs and rocky areas.
Family Labridae
Pimelometopan pulchrum
California sheephead
SPUL
• Identification: Juvenile: White mid-
body stripe, black spots on rear dorsal
and anal fins and upper base of tail, and
red. Adult: White chin, dark head and
rear body, protruding canine teeth, and
older species form bulbous lump on
nape.
• Size: 30cm to 90cm.
• Habitat: Rocky bottoms, especially
kelp beds.
Labridae/Clinidae
Family Labridae
Oxyjulis californica
Senorita
OCAL
• Identification: White belly, sharp
canine teeth that typically protrude
from mouth, yellow to orange in color,
and large black spot on tail base.
• Size: 8cm to 25cm.
• Habitat: Rocky reefs, kelp beds and
boulder-strewn areas surrounded by
sand.
Halichoeres semicinctus
Rock wrasse
HSEM
• Identification: Terminal Phase: Dark
bar behind pectoral fin and may have
dusky bars on back. Initial Phase: Dark
areas on scales from spotted stripe on
upper side. Juvenile: Two black spots
on dorsal fin and canine teeth protrude
form mouth.
• Size: 30cm to 38cm.
• Habitat: Boulder-strewn areas mixed
with sand and small rocky reefs.
Family Clinidae
Neoclinus blanchardi
Sarcastic fringehead
NBLA
• Identification: Large mouth with jaws
extending almost to gill openings, two
blue with yellow spots on foredorsal
fin, and cirri over eyes.
• Size: 8cm to 30cm.
• Habitat: Hard sand and mud bottoms.
Found in crevices, burrows, holes and
empty shells.
Clinidae
Family Clinidae
Alloclinus holderi
Island kelpfish
AHOL
• Identification: Pale spot extending
from cheek lower rear quarter of eye,
raised rear dorsal fin, pale cover spots
cover body, a row of dark blotches on
upper body, and long pectoral fins.
• Size: 5cm to 10cm.
• Habitat: Rocky coastlines, reefs with
abundant algal growth and kelp beds.
Heterostichus rostratus
Giant kelpfish
HROS
• Identification: Forked tail and an
elongated head with a upturned,
pointed snout.
• Size: 15cm to 61cm.
• Habitat: Kelp beds and areas of leafy
algae growth. Typically found amongst
the blades blending in with
background.
Gibbonsia montereyensis
Crevice kelpfish
GMON
• Identification: Rounded tail fin, short
pectoral fins, soft rays of rear dorsal fin
are spaced more widely towards rear,
and a single row of spots along upper
side.
• Size: 6cm to 15cm.
• Habitat: Rocky areas with numerous
recesses and abundant algae growth.
Typically found in the intertidal zone.
Gobiidae/Bothidae
Family Gobiidae
Coryphopterus nicholsii
Blackeye goby
CNIC
• Identification: Dark to pale tan, black
eye, and black edge of foredorsal fin.
• Size: 4cm to 15cm.
• Habitat: Sandy areas near reefs,
outcroppings and docks. Typically
found in protective recesses.
Lythrypnus dalli
Bluebanded goby
LDAL
• Identification: Bright red with four to
nine bright blue bars and a tall
foredorsal fin.
• Size: 2cm to 6cm.
• Habitat: Open rocky areas.
Family Bothidae
Paralichthys californicus
California halibut
PCAL
• Identification: Large mouth, upper jaw
extends to or behind eye, and tail
arched in middle with outer edges
square cut.
• Size: 38cm to 1.5m.
• Habitat: Flat sandy or mud bottoms.
Rest on bottom usually covered by
bottom material.
Bothidae
Family Bothidae
Citharichthys stigmaeus
Speckled sanddab
CSTI
• Identification: Speckles, often small
blotches, and ventrally compressed.
• Size: 8cm to 18cm.
• Habitat: Gravel, sand and shell rubble
flats. Rest on bottom.