Identificaciones de sahanasimo

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: Atlantic Horseshoe Crab

Location Found: Far up on a sandy beach in Ipswich, MA

Habitat Type: Sandy ocean floor at shallow or deep depths

Physical Description: Shell is brown and shaped like a horseshoe, typically 24 inches long from the middle of the horseshoe to the tip of the telson. Have a set of bookgills on its underside.

Fun Fact: Horseshoe crabs are actually related more closely to spiders than true crabs.

References: The Uncommon Guide to Common Life on Narragansett Bay - http://www.edc.uri.edu/restoration/html/gallery/invert/shoe.htm
National Wildlife Federation - https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Invertebrates/Horseshoe-Crab

Common name: Green Sea Urchin

Location: Tidepool in a crevice

Habitat Type: Rocky intertidal on rocky bottoms and in kelp beds.

Physical Description: spines that are not more than one-third the width of its test. test - greenish brown, spines - green, tube feet - brown

Fun Fact: The roe is a delicacy in Japan.

Marine Life of the Northern Atlantic - Martinez

Species name: Asterias forbesi

Common name: Forbes' Sea Star

Location Found: Canoe Beach, Nahant, MA

Physical description: This sea star ranges form pink to purple in color typically. It's madroporite is a defining characteristic and typically appears orange.

Fun Fact: Sea stars move by using a water vascular system that fills their feet with water to extend the tiny tubes.

Common name: Jonah Crab
Location found: Pumphouse Beach, Nahant, MA
Habitat found: Rocky substrate beneath water.
Physical Description: Oval-shaped carapace with a rough texture and light colored spots, claws with dark brown or black tips.
Fun fact: Jonah crabs can be differentiated from rock crabs by the black tips of their claws.
Reference: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Common name: Flat Periwinkle
Location found: Canoe Beach, Nahant, MA
Habitat type: Found on algae and rocks in rocky intertidal and below.
Physical description: Snail species with a flat and smooth, shiny yellow (with sometimes brown stripes) shell.
Fun fact: Flat periwinkles lay their eggs on seaweed so that when the young hatch, they can immediately start feeding.
Source: Marine Life of the North Atlantic: Canada to Cape May, Andrew J. Martinez
https://www.theseashore.org.uk/theseashore/speciespages/Flat%20Perwinkles.html