Intertidal Field Guide CABRILLO NATIONAL MONUMENT CABRILLO NATIONAL MONUMENT Intertidal Field Guide About the Field Ecosystem Guide Our Cabrillo Role Guide 1 CABRILLO NATIONAL MONUMENT About the Ecosystem Welcome to one of the world’s rarest moon and sun, the tides predictably flow in ecosystems. This vast expanse, where land and out cyclically creating a low, high, and meets sea, supports a thriving body of middle tidal zone. Each of these zones marine organisms and plants all adapted to supports a distinctive community waiting live under the harsh environmental for you to explore. Use this guide to help pressures characteristic of this area. you in your adventure and discover the Dictated by the gravitational pull of the organisms that call the intertidal home. Intertidal Safety Tips • Remember this area is federally protected; • Waves and algae can make the area taking of any kind is against the law. extremely slippery. Wear sturdy shoes and • Only explore in designated areas. step with caution. • Be respectful of the critters that live here; • Be aware of the incoming tide. Do not avoid disturbing their homes, and only turn your back to the waves and make touch gently with two fingers. sure you can always reach dry land. RETURN TO 2HOME PAGE CABRILLO NATIONAL MONUMENT Field Guide WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT? Invertebrates Marine Plants • Lack a spinal column • Gain nutrients from the sun • May have exoskeleton • Provide food for ecosystem Fish Marine Mammals • Aquatic vertebrates • Breathe air and have hair • Use gills to breathe • Give birth to live young 3 FIELD GUIDE Invertebrates Invertebrates Invertebrates with without Exoskeleton Exoskeleton RETURN TO 4FIELD GUIDE FIELD GUIDE Invertebrates without Exoskeleton FIELD GUIDE Invertebrates without Exoskeleton Aggregating Anemone Black Sea Hare Brooding Anemone FIELD GUIDE FIELDFIELD GUIDE GUIDE FIELDFIELD GUIDE GUIDE FIELD GUIDE FIELD GUIDE AggregatingInvertebrates Anemone without Exoskeleton InvertebratesInvertebratesInvertebrates without BlackExoskeleton without without Sea Hare Exoskeleton ExoskeletonBrooding Anemone Brown Sea Hare InvertebratesInvertebratesDorid Hermissenda without without ExoskeletonExoskeleton FIELD GUIDE FIELD GUIDE FIELD GUIDE Aggregating Anemone Brooding Anemone InvertebratesInvertebrates without Exoskeleton without AggregatingBrownExoskeletonAggregating Sea Anemone AnemoneHare BlackBlackBlackDorid Sea SeaSea Hare HareHare BroodingBroodingHermissenda Anemone Anemone HopkinsInvertebrates Rose AggregatingAggregating Navanaxwithout Anemone Anemone ExoskeletonBlackSolitaryAggregatingBlack Sea Anemone Sea Anemone Hare Hare BroodingBlackBrooding Sea Anemone Anemone Hare Brooding Anemone Aggregating Anemone Aggregating Anemone BlackAggregating Sea Anemone Hare BroodingBlack Sea Anemone Hare HopkinsBrownBrownBrooding SeaSea Rose Anemone HareHare DoridNavanaxNudibranchDoridDorid SolitaryHermissendaHermissenda Anemone Two -Spot Octopus BrownSpanishBrownBlack Sea Sea Sea Shawl Hare HareHare BrownBrownBroodingDorid Sea DoridSea AnemoneHare Hare HermissendaHermissendaDoridDorid HermissendaHermissenda RETURN TO FIELD GUIDE 5 RETURN TO INVERTEBRATES Brown Sea Hare BrownDorid Sea Hare HermissendaHermissendaDoridNudibranch TwoHopkinsHopkinsHopkins-SpotHermissenda Rose Octopus Nudibranch RoseRose SpanishSpanish NavanaxShawlNavanax ShawlNudibranch SolitarySolitary Anemone Anemone HopkinsHopkins Rose Rose HopkinsNavanaxNavanax Rose SolitarySolitaryNavanax Anemone Anemone Solitary Anemone RETURN TO FIELD GUIDE 5 RETURN TO INVERTEBRATES Two -Spot Octopus Hopkins Rose Navanax TwoTwoSolitary--SpotSpot AnemoneOctopusOctopus Spanish Shawl Hopkins Rose HopkinsNavanax Rose TwoSolitary-SpotNavanax Octopus Anemone TwoSpanish-Spot Octopus Shawl SpanishSpanishSpanish Shawl ShawlShawl Two -RETURNSpot Octopus TO FIELD GUIDESpanish5 ShawlRETURN TO INVERTEBRATES RETURN TO FIELD GUIDE 5 RETURN TO INVERTEBRATES RETURN TO FIELD GUIDE RETURNRETURN5 TORETURN FIELD TO GUIDEGUIDE INVERTEBRATES55 RETURNRETURN TO TO INVERTEBRATES INVERTEBRATES RETURN TO FIELD GUIDE 5 RETURN TO INVERTEBRATES RETURN TO FIELD GUIDE 5 RETURN TO INVERTEBRATES Two -Spot Octopus Spanish Shawl Two -Spot Octopus SpanishTwo -Spot ShawlOctopus Spanish Shawl RETURN TO FIELD GUIDE 5 RETURN TO INVERTEBRATES RETURN TO FIELD GUIDE 5 RETURN TO INVERTEBRATES RETURN TO FIELD GUIDE 5 RETURN TO INVERTEBRATES INVERTEBRATES Aggregating Anemone Anthopleura elegantissima Tidal Zone: High to Middle Description: 5-7cm in diameter when open. Closes during low tide and is covered with shells and sand. Distribution: Alaska to Baja California Interesting Facts: To reproduce, individual anemones divide and separate into two new anemones of the same sex. RETURN TO FIELD GUIDE RETURN TO6 INVERTEBRATES WITHOUT EXOSKELETON INVERTEBRATES Solitary Anemone Anthopleura sola Tidal Zone: Low to Subtidal Description: A 7-10 cm disc rimmed with tentacles; usually light green with stripes extending from the center. Distribution: Alaska to Panama Interesting Facts: The stinging cells, or nematocysts, in their tentacles are used to capture food. RETURN TO FIELD GUIDE RETURN TO 7INVERTEBRATES WITHOUT EXOSKELETON INVERTEBRATES Brooding Anemone Eplactis Prolifera Tidal Zone: Low Description: Orange, red, or brown 2 cm disc. Distribution: Alaska to Southern California Interesting Facts: Eggs are fertilized within the body of the adult, then released out of its mouth. RETURN TO FIELD GUIDE RETURN TO 8INVERTEBRATES WITHOUT EXOSKELETON INVERTEBRATES Black Sea Hare Aplysia vaccaria Tidal Zone: Low to Subtidal Description: Dark purple to black sea slug that grows up to 76 cm long. Distribution: Southern California to Baja California Interesting Facts: Unlike the California Sea Hare, this species does not ink. Instead, its primary defense is camouflage. This is the largest of all sea slugs. RETURN TO FIELD GUIDE RETURN TO 9INVERTEBRATES WITHOUT EXOSKELETON INVERTEBRATES Brown Sea Hare Aplysia californica Tidal Zone: Low Description: Rusty brown to red sea slug with dark streaks or spots. 12 cm - 15 cm long. Distribution: Northern California to Baja California Interesting Facts: Gets its coloration from the red algae it eats. This species will ink like an octopus when disturbed. RETURN TO FIELD GUIDE RETURN TO 10INVERTEBRATES WITHOUT EXOSKELETON INVERTEBRATES Dorid Nudibranch Diaulula sandiegensis Tidal Zone: Middle to Low Description: Small, tan-bodied sea slug with dark brown or black rings on its back. Up to 7.6 cm long and 5 cm wide. Distribution: Pacific Coast from Northern Japan to Baja California Interesting Facts: Feeds on sponges found on the undersides of rocks. RETURN TO FIELD GUIDE RETURN TO 11INVERTEBRATES WITHOUT EXOSKELETON INVERTEBRATES Hermissenda Nudibranch Hermissenda crassicornis Tidal Zone: Low Description: Small, 5 cm long sea slug with transparent gray, white, or blue body. The tentacle-like cerata on its back can be red, orange, green, brown, or black. Distribution: Alaska to Baja California Interesting Facts: The tips of the cerata contain stinging cells, or nematocysts. RETURN TO FIELD GUIDE RETURN TO 12INVERTEBRATES WITHOUT EXOSKELETON INVERTEBRATES Hopkins Rose Nudibranch Hopkinsia rosacea Tidal Zone: Low Description: Small sea slug, 2.5 cm in length, with a red body and pink fleshy appendagescovering the body. Distribution: Oregon to Baja California Interesting Facts: This sea slug derives its color from the rose-colored bryozoan, or small encrusting invertebrate, it feeds on. RETURN TO FIELD GUIDE RETURN TO 13INVERTEBRATES WITHOUT EXOSKELETON INVERTEBRATES Spanish Shawl Nudibranch Flabellina Iodinea Tidal Zone: Low to Subtidal Description: A small sea slug about 8 cm long with a bright purple body and orange tentacle-like cerata on its back. The ear-like rhinophores are a deep red color. Distribution: British Columbia to Baja California Interesting Facts: This nudibranch can flatten its body and swim by bending back and forth to propel itself through the water RETURN TO FIELD GUIDE RETURN TO 14INVERTEBRATES WITHOUT EXOSKELETON INVERTEBRATES Navanax Navanax inermis Tidal Zone: Low to Subtidal Description: A 7-10 cm long sea slug that is black with a series of orange, yellow, and blue dashes, spots, and stripes. Distribution: Northern California to Baja California Interesting Facts: This species of sea slug is carnivorous and feeds on soft-bodied snails. Will also expel a yellow ink when threatened. RETURN TO FIELD GUIDE RETURN TO 15INVERTEBRATES WITHOUT EXOSKELETON INVERTEBRATES Two - S p o t O c t o p u s Octopus bimaculoides Tidal Zone: Low to Subtidal Description: The body can be from 5-20 cm in length with arms three-times the length of the body. Has two dark spots ringed with blue below the eyes, hence its name. Distribution: Central California to Baja California Interesting Facts: Masters of camouflage, octopuses can change the color and texture of their skin. They will also release a dark black ink when threatened. RETURN TO FIELD GUIDE RETURN TO 16INVERTEBRATES WITHOUT EXOSKELETON FIELDFIELDFIELDFIELD GUIDEGUIDEGUIDEGUIDE InvertebratesInvertebratesInvertebratesInvertebrates withwithwithwith ExoskeletonExoskeletonExoskeletonExoskeleton SeaSeaSeaSea StarsStarsStarsStars CrustaceansCrustaceansCrustaceansCrustaceans ShelledShelledShelledShelled InvertebratesInvertebratesInvertebratesInvertebrates OtherOtherOtherOther RETURNRETURNRETURNRETURN TOTOTOTO FIELDFIELDFIELDFIELD GUIDEGUIDEGUIDEGUIDE 17171717 RETURNRETURNRETURNRETURN TOTOTOTO INVERTEBRATESINVERTEBRATESINVERTEBRATESINVERTEBRATES RETURN TO FIELD GUIDE 17 RETURN TO INVERTEBRATES