What
Common Atlantic Slippersnail (Crepidula fornicata)Observer
gandersonDescription
Collected during a dredge off the back off a fishing boat. The shell was slightly broken when collected but the snail itself remained alive and intact.
What
Blood Ark (Lunarca ovalis)Observer
gandersonDescription
This clam was collected during a dredge off the back of a fishing boat. It is unique due to the fact that it contains hemoglobin, which allows it to have red blood.
What
Sea Vomit (Didemnum vexillum)Observer
gandersonDescription
This colonial tunicate was found surrounding the sea squirt styela clava, which was attached to a buoy off of MBL dock. This particular colonial is a more recent arrival in the area.
What
European Ascidian (Ascidiella aspersa)Observer
gandersonDescription
This sea squirt was collected from beneath MBL dock. It can be identified due its rough texture and is often called the "rough sea squirt".
What
Genus BotrylloidesObserver
gandersonDescription
Collected off of a buoy attached to the MBL dock. This invasive from Japan can be identified by its bright color and the irregular linear nature of its zooids.
Observer
gandersonDescription
Collected using a dredge that ran along the ocean floor while attached to a fishing boat. Identified by its oversized claws that are both longer than its body.
What
Purple-brown Urchin (Arbacia punctulata)Observer
gandersonDescription
Collected by running a dredge off the back of a fishing boat. It was easily identified by its distinct purple color and noted as a female due to the large number of eggs within it.
What
Order PhyllodocidaObserver
gandersonDescription
This dark colored worm was found in brackish water in a creek. It was collected by scooping shovelfuls of substrate into a screen and sifting through to find the organisms. Its particular species could not be identified.
Photos / Sounds
What
Estuary Ragworm (Hediste diversicolor)Observer
gandersonDescription
This colorful worm was found in a brackish creek. It was collected by sifting shovelfuls of substrate through a screen.
What
Eastern Beaded Chiton (Chaetopleura apiculata)Observer
gandersonDescription
This chiton was found attached to a rock in the shallows of Great Harbor. It was collected near a number of hermit crabs and was partially covered by the sand.
What
Northern Moonsnail (Euspira heros)Observer
gandersonDescription
This egg sac of the large northern moon snail was collected using a dredge off the back of a fishing boat that collected items from the ocean floor. This piece of egg sac alone probably contained thousands of eggs.
What
Forbes's Sea Star (Asterias forbesi)Observer
gandersonDescription
This sea star was collected using a dredge that ran across the bottom of the Sound attached to a fishing boat. It was missing one of its arms when it was collected, but appeared to be in the process of beginning to regenerate.
What
Atlantic Rock Crab (Cancer irroratus)Observer
gandersonDescription
This crab was collected by using a dredge that ran along the bottom of the ocean attached to a fishing boat. It was injured by the dredge while being collected but was still alive when samples were taken. It was identified using its color and lack of swimming legs.
What
Portly Spider Crab (Libinia emarginata)Observer
gandersonDescription
This crab was collected by using a dredge off of a fishing boat. It was pulled up alive and identified as a female due to her wide abdomen.
What
American Lugworm (Arenicola cristata)Observer
gandersonDescription
These lugworm egg sacs were fished from the shallows of Great Pond with a net. They float suspended in the water while at this stage in their life.
What
Asian Shore Crab (Hemigrapsus sanguineus)Observer
gandersonDescription
This common and invasive shore crabs was found in the intertidal zone at Stony Beach. They were collected by unearthing rocks, which they often hide beneath.
What
Apohyale prevostiiObserver
gandersonDescription
This gammarid was found beneath rocks in the intertidal zone at Stony Beach. When disturbed, it hopped to escape capture. It was identified by the fact that its second antenna is about 2/3 the length of its first and by its distinctive eye shape.
What
Rough Periwinkle (Littorina saxatilis)Observer
gandersonDescription
This periwinkle was found suctioned on to a rock just above the shoreline at Stony Beach. It can be identified by the grooves in the body whorl and the spiraling, pointed apex.
What
Sea Vase (Ciona intestinalis)Observer
gandersonDescription
Located below the MBL dock attached to a buoy rope along with a variety of sponges and sea squirts.
What
Eastern Mudsnail (Ilyanassa obsoleta)Observer
gandersonDescription
This mud snail was found partially buried in the sand in the shallows of the marsh at low tide.
What
Solitary Glassy-Bubble (Haminella solitaria)Observer
gandersonDescription
This snail can be identified by its delicate and fragile shell that covers its dorsal half. It was collected from muddy sediment found in the shallows of the Little Sippewissett Marsh at low tide.
What
Eastern Sandtick (Edotia triloba)Observer
gandersonDescription
Collected by scooping several shovelfuls of mud into buckets from the shallow water of the marsh. Later, the sediment settled and was sorted through. These isopods look similar to large ticks.
What
Childia groenlandicaObserver
gandersonDescription
Collected by obtaining buckets of muddy sediment from shallow water at marsh. These poured into wider trays and once the mud settled they were sorted through. Individual childia were found using a flash light since they blend in and removed using a pipette.