Identificaciones de max_four

Common name: asian shore crab
Location found: in tide pool of Nahant, MA
Habitat types: shallow, hard-bottom substrate, intertidal or subtidal zones, sometimes found in dense groups under rocks, invasive from Maine to North Carolina
Physical description: Small (inch and a half or less in length), square carapace, alternating light and dark bands on legs
Fun fact: May outcompete mud crabs, blue crabs, and lobsters for food and resources

Common Name: Long-clawed Hermit Crab

Scientific Name: Pagurus longicarpus

Location found: Off Canoe Beach in Nahant, MA, at about 10 ft.

Habitat type: P. longicarpus is found in shallow waters from Florida to the Bay of Fundy on the Atlantic Coast of North America. There have also been sightings reported on the northern coasts of South America.

Physical description: P. longicarpus inhabits gastropod shells. Very little of its body is usually visible with the exception of its claws, which are cylindrical and asymmetrical (right is larger than left).

Fun fact: These hermit crabs are opportunistic and will use the shells of periwinkles, dog whelks, mud snails, and augers.

Source: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=158403#notes

Common Name: Orange Sheath Tunicate

Scientific Name: Botrylloides violaceus

Location found: Off Pumphouse Beach in Nahant, MA at about 10 ft.

Habitat type: Natively found on coasts of the Western Pacific, from Siberia to southern China and Japan, B. violaceus has spread to coasts of the northern Atlantic. It is found on hard substrates, and is often a member of fouling communities.

Physical description: Numerous bright orange zooids are found colonially, with a transparent tunic and connecting blood vessels.

Fun fact: B. violaceus is capable of regenerating its entire body after removal of all tissues except for the peripheral vasculature, indicating the presence of totipotent stem cells. Colonial ascidians are the only chordates capable of whole body regeneration.

Source: https://www.revolvy.com/page/Botrylloides-violaceus

Common Name: Red Gilled Nudibranch

Location Found: Off of Canoe Beach, Nahant MA

Habitat Found: Found on seaweeds and rocks from low-tide line to deep water

Physical Description: Red-gilled nudibranchs are characterized by their clustered branchiae (gills) tipped with a white ring.

Fun Fact: Red Gilled Nudibranchs can sequester the nematocysts of their prey to use for defense

Information found in Marine Life of the North Atlantic by Andrew J. Martinez.

Common Name: Blue Mussel

Location Found: Washed up in the wrack line on Canoe Beach, Nahant, MA

Habitat: Blue mussels are usually found in intertidal bed attached to rock or other hard substrates. They are able to withstand cold waters, down to 5 degrees Celcius.

Physical Description: A smooth shell with concentric growth lines, usually dark black to blue/violet in color. The shell also sometimes has byssal threads coming from it to attach to a substrate. Typically up to 10 cm in length with an almost-triangular-shaped shell.

Fun Fact: Blue mussels have statocysts, which are organs that are used for balance and orientation.

Reference: Animal Diversity Web - https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Mytilus_edulis/

Common Name: Tortoiseshell limpet

Scientific Name: Tectura testudinalis

Location found: Tidepool on Pumphouse beach in Nahant, MA.

Habitat type: T. testudinalis is found on rocky substrate from the intertidal zone to 50 m.

Physical description: The shell of T. testudinalis is a shallow light-colored cone with a radial net pattern in dark brown. Adults may grow up to 3 cm in diameter and 1 cm in height.

Fun fact: Tortoiseshell limpets graze on Clathromorphum circumscriptum, a crustose coralline algae. because of this, their radula is much harder than that of other limpets- a 5 on the MOHS scale, rather than a 3.

Source: https://www2.clarku.edu/departments/biology/biol201/2008/VLocker/website/LAcmaea.html

Common Name: Red-gilled Nudibranch

Location Found: On some algae 8 feet deep

Habitat Type: Typically in areas of high current, found on many different substrates, but typically algae

Physical Description: Body is translucent in color with red cerata with a white ring on the tip. Typically 1-2 cm in length and is almost sausage like in shape.

Fun Fact: This nudibranch likes to feed on hydroids

Reference: Biodiversity of the Central Coast - https://www.centralcoastbiodiversity.org/red-gilled-nudibranch-bull-flabellina-verrucosa.html

Also called Sevenspine Bay Shrimp; synonymous with Crangon septemspinosus and Crangon vulgaris
LOCATION: sandy intertidal, Skaket Beach, Orleans MA
HABITAT TYPES: Sandy bottom of tide pools or shallow water. Also found in eelgrass beds.
DESCRIPTION: Long, narrow up to 2 in. Exoskeleton almost translucent at parts, generally pale yellow, green with brown and black spots. First pair of legs claw-like.
FUN FACT: They are nocturnal foragers and spend daytime buried in sand to avoid predators like flounder and Striped Bass.

REFERENCES:
Alden, P., Cassie, B., Forster, R., Leventer, A., Keen, R. and W. B. Zomlefer. "National Audubon Society Field Guide to New England."Chanticleer Press, Inc., 1998.
Martinez, Andrew J. "Marine Life of the North Atlantic: Canada to Cape May." Aqua Quest Publications, 2010.

Common Name: Violet Tunicate/Orange Sheath Tunicate

Location Found: Found submerged off of the dive site Pump House Beach on the East Point of Nahant, MA. Approximately 10 feet of water, many other individuals were abundant in the surrounding area.

Habitat Types: It is found in shallow bays/estuaries, most commonly protected areas, attached to hard substrates.

Physical Description: It is a colonial tunicate that can form a thin flesh covering that can be bulbous in shape, or flat across a substrate. Usually a vibrant yellow-orange coloring.

Fun Fact: Although this specie is now common along the Atlantic coast, it is considered an invasive species as it's native range is only the Pacific Northwest.

Reference: Martinez, "Marine Life of the North Atlantic"

Common Name: Northern Cerianthid

Location Found: Found while diving Pump House Beach off the East Point of Nahant, MA. Found in approximately 23ft of water. Not attached to hard substrate, but buried in the sand/substrate.

Habitat Types: Found in sandy/muddy bottoms from 20' to 1000'+ from the Arctic to Cape Cod.

Physical Description: This species has two whorls of tentacles that are placed near the mouth and to the outside of the mouth. The inside whorl is shorter than the outside whorl. Colors can change on the tentacles and the central column of the species. They can grow to a foot and a half tall and up to 1.5 inches wide, with tentacles extending much further.

Fun Fact: These anemones don't have a pedal disk as they don't attach to hard substrate, but rather bury themselves in sand/silt!

Reference: Martinez, "Marine Life of the North Atlantic"