PISCO

1
PISCO Swath Invert Identification
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Patiria (Asterina) miniata Bat star, very
abundant at many sites, highly variable in color
and pattern. Typically has 5 rays, but can be
found with more or less.
3
Patiria (Asterina) miniata Bat star Abundant at
many sites, highly variable in color and pattern.
Typically has 5 rays, but can be found with more
or less.
4
Lonhart/MBNMS
Dermasterias imbricata Leather star Very smooth,
five rays, mottled aboral surface
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Dermasterias imbricata Leather star Very smooth,
five rays, mottled aboral surface
6
Lonhart/MBNMS
Dermasterias imbricata Leather star Very smooth,
five rays, mottled aboral surface
7
Mediaster aequalis Orange star with five rays,
large marginal plates, very flattened. Can be
mistaken for Patiria miniata
8
Lonhart/MBNMS
Mediaster aequalis Orange star with five rays,
large marginal plates, very flattened. Can be
mistaken for Patiria miniata
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Henricia leviuscula Blood star Long, tapered
rays, orange or red, patterned aboral surface
similar to ringlets. Usually has 5 rays.
10
King/MBNMS
Henricia leviuscula Blood star Long, tapered
rays, orange or red, patterned aboral surface
similar to ringlets. Usually has 5 rays.
11
Lonhart/MBNMS
Henricia leviuscula Blood star Long, tapered
rays, orange or red, patterned aboral surface
similar to ringlets. Usually has 5 rays.
12
King/MBNMS
Orthasterias koehleri Northern rainbow
star Mottled red, orange and yellow, large, long
thick rays
13
King/MBNMS
Orthasterias koehleri Northern rainbow
star Mottled red, orange and yellow, large, long
thick rays
14
Lonhart
Pisaster brevispinus Short-spined star Large,
pale pink in color, often on sand, thick rays
15
Pisaster giganteus Giant-spined star Large,
purple pedicellaria with purple spines, thick rays
16
Lonhart/MBNMS
Pisaster giganteus Giant-spined star Large,
purple pedicellaria with purple spines, thick rays
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Efird
Pisaster giganteus Giant-spined star Large,
purple pedicellaria with purple spines, thick rays
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Pycnopodia helianthoides Sunflower star Very
large, gt20 rays, very soft and flexible, purple
or orange
19
Lonhart/MBNMS
Pycnopodia helianthoides Sunflower star Very
large, gt20 rays, very soft and flexible, purple
or orange
20
Efird
Pycnopodia helianthoides Sunflower star Very
large, gt20 rays, very soft and flexible, purple
or orange
21
Pisaster ochraceus Ochre star Orange or purple
color, five rays, white stubby spines
22
Pisaster ochraceus Ochre star Orange or purple
color, five rays, white stubby spines
23
Pisaster ochraceus Ochre star Orange or purple
color, five rays, white stubby spines
24
Lonhart/MBNMS
Parastichopus californicus Spiky
cucumber Papillae are fleshy and flexible, light
brown
25
Lonhart/MBNMS
Parastichopus californicus Spiky
cucumber Papillae are fleshy and flexible, light
brown
26
Lonhart/MBNMS
Parastichopus californicus Spiky
cucumber Papillae are fleshy and flexible, light
brown
27
King/MBNMS
Parastichopus parvimensis Warty cucumber Papillae
are small, small black marking
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Parastichopus parvimensis Warty cucumber Papillae
are small, small black marking
29
Cucumaria miniata Embedded cucumber Orange body
and tentacles
30
Lonhart/MBNMS
Cucumaria miniata Embedded cucumber Orange body
and tentacles
31
Lonhart/MBNMS
Cucumaria miniata Embedded cucumber Orange body
and tentacles
32
Strongylocentrotus purpuratus Purple urchin Green
when young, not as large as adult red urchins
33
Lonhart/MBNMS
Strongylocentrotus purpuratus Purple urchin Green
when young, not as large as adult red urchins
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Strongylocentrotus franciscanus Red urchin Solid
red to black underwater, largest in the region
35
Lonhart/MBNMS
On the left, a red urchin (Strongylocentrotus
franciscanus) shares a crevice with two purple
urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus).
36
Corynactis californica Strawberry or club-tipped
anemone Red, orange or pink, white tentacles with
bulbous tips, in dense clusters
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Efird
Corynactis californica Strawberry or club-tipped
anemone Red, orange or pink, white tentacles with
bulbous tips, in dense clusters
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Aplysia californica California sea hare Burgundy
red with black mottling, up to size of football,
called a hare due to large ears
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Dendronotus iris Burgundy red, no mottling, many
branched cerata, up to 15 cm long
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Cypraea (Zonaria) spadicea Chestnut
cowry Golden-brown top, very smooth, uncommon in
central CA
41
Cypraea (Zonaria) spadicea Chestnut
cowry Golden-brown top, very smooth, uncommon in
central CA and Lithopoma gibberosum on right
42
Lonhart/MBNMS
Ceratostoma foliatum Leafy hornmouth Three
varices (wings), tooth at aperture, white shell
with brown banding if not encrusted with epibionts
43
Pteropurpura macroptera Similar to Ceratostoma,
but much smaller and no tooth. When you see this
many in an aggregation, it is typically NOT
Ceratostoma.
44
Lonhart/MBNMS
Crassedoma giganteum Giant Pacific rock
scallop One valve attached, highly ribbed, many
marginal eyes, up to 12 cm in diameter
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King/MBNMS
Crassedoma giganteum Giant Pacific rock
scallop One valve attached, highly ribbed, many
marginal eyes, up to 12 cm in diameter
46
Cryptochiton stelleri Gumboot chiton Deep red
color, to 40 cm
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Cryptochiton stelleri Gumboot chiton Deep red
color, to 40 cm
48
Lonhart/MBNMS
Cryptochiton stelleri Gumboot chiton Deep red
color, to 40 cm
49
Haliotis rufescens Red abalone Most common,
bright red lip of shell, margin of foot and
mantle are solid black
50
Kelletia kelletii Kellets whelk Natural shell
color white with brown lines, usually covered
with green and pink algae, yellow foot with black
lines and white spots, large
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Kelletia kelletii Kellets whelk Natural shell
color white with brown lines, usually covered
with green and pink algae, yellow foot with black
lines and white spots, large
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Female laying egg cases
Kelletia kelletii Kellets whelk Natural shell
color white with brown lines, usually covered
with green and pink algae, yellow foot with black
lines and white spots, large
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Lithopoma gibberosum Red turban snail Reddish
shell but often overgrown, operculum is smooth
and calcareous
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Lithopoma gibberosum Red turban snail Reddish
shell but often overgrown, operculum is smooth
and calcareous
55
Megathura crenulata Giant keyhole limpet Solid
black or cream with dark lines
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Megathura crenulata Giant keyhole limpet Solid
black or cream with dark lines
57
King/MBNMS
Megathura crenulata Giant keyhole limpet Solid
black or cream with dark lines
58
Lonhart/MBNMS
Balanus nubilus Giant Acorn Barnacle Filter
feeder. It is a common inhabitant of vertical
rock walls on offshore pinnacles that receive
high water flow.
59
Lonhart/MBNMS
Balanus nubilus Giant Acorn Barnacle Filter
feeder. It is a common inhabitant of vertical
rock walls on offshore pinnacles that receive
high water flow.
60
Loxorhynchus crispatus Decorator crab Very
camouflaged when young, large when older, can
look like other spider crabs
61
Loxorhynchus crispatus Decorator crab Very
camouflaged when young, large when older, can
look like other spider crabs
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Loxorhynchus grandis Sheephead crab Very large,
downward-hooked rostral spines, bumpy carapace
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Loxorhynchus grandis Sheephead crab Very large,
downward-hooked rostral spines, bumpy carapace
64
Mimulus foliatum Spider crab Large chelipeds,
broad wings on carapace
65
King/MBNMS
Mimulus foliatum Spider crab Large chelipeds,
broad wings on carapace
66
Pugettia producta Northern kelp crab Golden brown
or red, smooth clean carapace, often on kelp
67
Pugettia producta Northern kelp crab Golden brown
or red, smooth clean carapace, often on kelp
68
Pugettia richii Spider crab Red, bumpy carapace,
often decorated with algae, anterior spines
69
Pugettia richii Spider crab Red, bumpy carapace,
often decorated with algae, anterior spines
70
Pugettia richii Spider crab Red, bumpy carapace,
often decorated with algae, anterior spines
71
Scyra acutifrons Sharp-nose crab Heavily
decorated, large, spade-like rostrum, can be
confused with juvenile Loxorhynchus crispatus
72
Styela montereyensis Stalked tunicate Can be
smooth or covered with epibionts
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Styela montereyensis Stalked tunicate Can be
smooth or covered with epibionts
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Tethya aurantia Orange puffball sponge Solitary
or in clumps, can be partially overgrown
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Tethya aurantia Orange puffball sponge Solitary
or in clumps, can be partially overgrown
76
Tethya aurantia Orange puffball sponge Solitary
or in clumps, can be partially overgrown
77
Metridium farcimen (giganteum) Giant
metridium White or light yellow column, white
tentacles, very large
78
Metridium farcimen (giganteum) Giant
metridium White or light yellow column, white
tentacles, very large
79
King/MBNMS
Tealia (Urticina) lofotensis Strawberry
anemone Red column with white dots, large
80
Tealia (Urticina) lofotensis Strawberry
anemone Red column with white dots, large
81
King/MBNMS
Urticina piscivora (Star?)Fish-eating
anemone Solid red column, white or red tentacles
82
Urticina piscivora Fish-eating anemone Solid red
column, white or red tentacles
83
Urticina piscivora Fish-eating anemone Solid red
column, white or red tentacles
84
King/MBNMS
Urticina piscivora Fish-eating anemone Solid red
column, white or red tentacles
85
Lonhart/MBNMS
Anthopleura sola Solitary anemone Has radiating
lines on the oral disk, often has debris on the
column
86
Lonhart/MBNMS
Anthopleura sola Solitary anemone Has radiating
lines on the oral disk, often has debris on the
column
87
Lonhart/MBNMS
Anthopleura xanthogrammica Large green
anemone Green oral disk, no lines
88
Lonhart/MBNMS
Stylaster californicus California hydrocoral
89
Lonhart/MBNMS
Stylaster californicus California hydrocoral