The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Biology

Partial list of available species

The species list provided on the following pages is incomplete and includes only those species with which we are familiar. The following indices of relative abundance are used for the listed species:

C = Common; ca. 10 - 50 can be collected in a day.
F = Few; less than 10 can be collected in a day.
R = Rare; collected occasionally
S = Seasonal distribution

The absence of an abundance designation indicates that the species is listed as being present in this area, but has not been collected or observed.

To quickly find these phyla, click: Phylum Ctenophora, Platyhelminthes, Ectoprocta, Annelida, Arthropoda (Subphylum Chelicerata) (Subphylum Crustacea), Mollusca, Echinodermata, Chordata (Subphylum Urochordata) (Subphylum Cephalochordata) (Subphylum Vertebrata)

Phylum

Scientific Name

Common Name

Abundance

Porifera

Class Demospongiae

Cliona sp.

Haliclona permollis

Hymeniacidon heliophila

Cnidaria
Class Hydrozoa

Tubularia crocea

Physalia physalis Portuguese man o'war C/S

Class Scyphozoa

Chrysaora quinquicirrha Sea nettle F/S

Cyanea capillata Lions' mane medusa C/S

Stomolophus meleagris Cannonball jellyfish C/S

Class Anthozoa

Aiptasia pallida Brown anemone C

Anthopleura varioarmata

Astrangia danae

Calliactis tricolor
Tricolor anemone
C/S

Cerianthropsis americanus

Leptogorgia virgulata Sea whip C

Renilla reniformis Sea pansy

Ctenophora
Beroe sp. F

Mnemiopsis leidyi Comb jelly C

Platyhelminthes
Bdelloura candida Horseshoe crab worm
C

Ectoprocta
Class Gymnolaemato

Alcyonidium hauffi

Anguinella palmata

Bugula neretina

Membranipora tenuis

Schizoporella errata

Zoobotryon verticullatum

C = Common; ca. 10 - 50 can be collected in a day.
F = Few; less than 10 can be collected in a day.
R = Rare; collected occasionally
S = Seasonal distribution

The absence of an abundance designation indicates that the species is listed as being present in this area, but has not been collected or observed.

Phylum

Scientific Name

Common Name

Abundance

Mollusca
Class Polyplacophora

Chaetopleura apiculata eastern chiton F

Class Gastropoda

Anachis avara greedy dove-shell

Anachis obesa fat dove-shell C

Aplysia braziliana sea hare R

Armina tigrina striped sea slug F

Batillaria minima false cerith

Bittium varium variable bittium

Bulla occidentalis West Indian bubble

Bursatella leachi ragged sea hare F

Busycon contrarium left-handed whelk, lightning whelk C

Busycon carica knobbed whelk R

Calliostoma euglyptum sculptured top-shell

Cantharus tinctus tinted cantharus C

Cerithdea scalariformis ladder horn shell

Cerithiopsis greeni miniature cerith

Cerithium floridanum Florida cerith

Crepidula aculeata spiny slipper shell

Crepidula fornicata Atlantic slipper shell C

Crepidula plana eastern white slipper shell C

Diodora cayenensis keyhold limpet C

Epitonium angulatum angulate wentletrap

Fasciolaria hunteria banded tulip F

Fasciolaria tulipa true tulip F

Littorina irrorata marsh periwinkle C

Littorina ziczac zebra periwinkle C

Melampus bidentatus common marsh snail C

Melongena corona crown conch C

Mitrella lunata lunar dove-shell C

Modulus modulus Atlantic modulus C

Nassarius obsoleta mud snail C

Nassarius vibex eastern nassa C

Neritina reclivata olive nerite

Neritina virginea virgin nerite

Odostomia impressa impressed odostome C

Oliva sayana olive shell F

Olivella mutica variable dwarf olive

Pleuroploca gigantea horse conch F

Polinices duplicatus shark eye C

Seila adamsi miniature cerith C

Siphonaria pectinata False limpet C

Thais haemastoma floridana Florida rock shell C

Triphora nigrocincta black-lined trifora

Turbo castaneus chestnut turban

Urosalpinx cinerea Atlantic oyster drill C

Class Bivalvia

Abra aequelis common Atlantic abra

Amygdalum papyria paper mussel

Anadara transversa transverse ark

Anomia simplex jingle shell F

Arca zebra zebra turkey wing

Atrina serrata sawtooth pen clam

Barnea costata angel wing F

Brachidontes exustus scorched mussel C

Brachidontes recurvus hooked mussel C

Chione cancellata cross-barred venus C

Congeria leucophaeata Conrads false mussel

Corbula contracta contracted corbula

Crassostrea virginica eastern oyster C

Dinocardium robustum giant Atlantic cockle R

Donax variabilis coquina shell C

Dosina discus disk venus

Ensis minor jackknife clam F

Glycymeris pectinata comb bittersweet

Guekensia demissa marsh mussel C

Laevicardium mortoni Mortons egg cockle

Lithophaga bisulcata mahogany date mussel

Martesia cuneiformis wedge-shaped martesia

Mercenaria campechiensis southern quahog C

Mercenaria mercenaria northern quahog C

Mulinia lateralis dwarf surf clam

Noetia ponderosa pondersous ark F

Ostrea equestris crested oyster F

Polymesoda caroliniana Carolina marsh clam

Pseudocyrena floridana Florida marsh clam F

Rangia cuneata common rangia

Tagelus divisus purplish tagelus

Tagelus plebius stout tagelus

Tellina lineata
rose petal tellin

Class Cephalopoda

Loligunculus brevis R

Octopus vulgaris Atlantic octopus R

C = Common; ca. 10 - 50 can be collected in a day.
F = Few; less than 10 can be collected in a day.
R = Rare; collected occasionally
S = Seasonal distribution

The absence of an abundance designation indicates that the species is listed as being present in this area, but has not been collected or observed.

Phylum

Scientific Name

Common Name

Abundance

Annelida
Class Polychaeta

Chaetopterus variopedatus parchment worm F

Diopatra cuprea tube worm C

Glycera americana blood worm

Sabellaria floridensis

Arthropoda
(Subphylum Chelicerata)
Class Pycnogonida

Phoxichilidium femoratum sea spider

Class Merostomata

Limulus polyphemus horseshoe crab C

Arthropoda
(Subphylum Crustacea)
Order Cirripedia

Balanus balanoides common barnacle C

Balanus eburneus ivory barnacle

Chthamalus fragilis barnacle C

Lepas ansifera gooseneck barnacle F

Order Stomatopoda

Choridella dubia mantis shrimp F

Squilla empusa mantis shrimp F

Order Decapoda

Family Penaidae

Penaeus aztecus brown shrimp C

Penaeus duorarum pink shrimp F

Penaeus setiferus white shrimp C

Family Sergestidae

Acetes americanus carolinae

Lucifer faxoni

Family Palaemonidae

Macrobrachium acanthurus

Palaemonetes intermedius grass shrimp C

Palaemonetes pugio grass shrimp C

Palaemonetes vulgaris grass shrimp C

Family Alpheidae

Alpheus heterochaelis snapping shrimp F

Family Hippolytidae

Hippolysmata wurdemanni veined shrimp F

Tozeuma carolinense arrow shrimp C

Family Callianassidae

Callianassa major ghost shrimp C

Upogebia affinis burrowing shrimp C

Family Porcellanidae

Petrolishthes armatus

Polyonyx gibbesi

Family Paguridae

Clibanarius vittatus striped hermit crab C

Pagurus annulipes hermit crab

Pagurus longicarpus small hermit crab C

Pagurus pollicaris flat-clawed hermit crab C

Family Hippidae

Emerita talpoida mole crab, sand flea C

Family Calappidae

Calappa falmmea box crab R

Hepatus epheliticus calico crab F

Family Portunidae

Arenaeus cribrarius
F

Callinectes ornatus

Callinectes sapidus blue crab C

Portunus gibbesii
C

Portunus sayi ssargassum crab F

Portunus spinimanus
C

Family Xanthidae

Eurypanopeus depressus flat mud crab

Eurytium limosum

Hexapanopeus augustifrons narrow mud crab

Menippe mercenaria stone crab F

Neopanope texana sayi

Panopeus herbstii common mud crab C

Panopeus occidentalis

Rithropanopeus harrisii

Family Pinnotheridae

Pinnotheres ostreum oyster crab F

Pinnotheres maculatus mussel crab

Pinnixa chaetopleura
F

Pinnixa retinens

Family Grapsidae

Pachygrapsus transversue mottled shore crab

Plagusia depressa
F

Sesarma cinereum wharf crab C

Sesarma reticulatum

Family Ocypodidae

Ocypode quadrata ghost crab C

Uca minax red-jointed fiddler C

Uca pugilator sand fiddler C

Uca pugnax mud fiddler C

Family Majidae

Libinia emarginata spider crab C

Class Isopoda

Ligia exotica wharf roach C

C = Common; ca. 10 - 50 can be collected in a day.
F = Few; less than 10 can be collected in a day.
R = Rare; collected occasionally
S = Seasonal distribution

The absence of an abundance designation indicates that the species is listed as being present in this area, but has not been collected or observed.

Phylum

Scientific Name

Common Name

Abundance

Echinodermata
Class Asteroidea

Asterias forbesi common starfish C

Astropecten articulatus

Luidea clathrata lines sea star F

Class Ophyiroidea

Ophiothrix anguluta

Class Echinoidea

Arbacea punctulata purple spined sea urchin C

Lytechinus variegatus variable urchin C

Mellita quinquesperforata sand dollar C

Class Holothuroidea

Thyone briatus common thyone C

Chordata (Subphylum Urochordata)
Class Ascidiacea

Amaroucium stellatum

Didemnum candidum

Ecteinascidia turbinata mangrove tunicate F

Molgula manhattensis C

Styela plicata

Chordata (Subphylum Cephalochordata)
Branchiostoma caribaeum
Caribean lacelet
R

C = Common; ca. 10 - 50 can be collected in a day.
F = Few; less than 10 can be collected in a day.
R = Rare; collected occasionally
S = Seasonal distribution

The absence of an abundance designation indicates that the species is listed as being present in this area, but has not been collected or observed.

Phylum

Scientific Name

Common Name

Abundance

Chordata (Subphylum Vertebrata)
Class Chondrichthyes

Order Squaliformes

Carcharinus leucas bull shark R

Carcharinus limbatis blacktip shark R-F

Carcharinus milberti sandbar shark R

Negaprion brevirostris lemon shark R

Odontaspis taurus sand shark R

Sphyrna lewini scalloped hammerhead R

Sphyrna mokarran great hammerhead R

Sphyrna tiburo bonnethead R

Order Rajiformes

Dasyatis americana southern sting ray R

Dasyatis sabina Atlantic sting ray F

Manta birostris Atlantic manta RS

Raja eglanteria clearnose skate R

Rhinoptera bonasus cownose ray R

Class Osteichthyes

Family Elopidae

Elops saurus ladyfish F

Megalops atlantica tarpon R

Family Anguillidae

Anguilla rostrata American eel R

Family Clupeidae

Brevoortia tyrannus Atlantic menhaden C

Harengula pensacolae scaled sardine C

Opisthonema oglinum Atlantic thread herring C

Family Engraulidae

Anchoa hepsetus striped anchovy F

Anchoa mitchilli bay anchovy F

Family Synodontidae

Synodus foetens inshore lizardfish F

Family Ariidae

Arius felis sea catfish C

Bagre marinus gafftopsail catfish F

Family Batrachoididae

Opsanus tau oyster toadfish F

Family Belonidae

Strongylura marina Atlantic needlefish C

Family Cyprinodontidae

Cyprinodon variegatus sheepshead minnow C

Fundulus grandis Gulf killifish F

Fundulus heteroclitus mummichog C

Fundulus majalis striped killifish F

Family Poeciliidae

Gambusia affinis mosquitofish C

Poecilia latipinna sailfin molly C

Family Atherinidae

Menidia beryllina tidewater silverside C

Family Syngnathidae

Hippocampus erectus lined seahorse R

Syngnathus floridae dusky pipefish F

Family Centropomidae

Centropomus undecimalis snook F

Family Serranidae

Centropristis striata black seabass F

Ephenephelus itajara jewfish R

Ephinephelus striatus Nassau grouper R

Myctoperca microlepis gag F

Family Potmatomidae

Pomatomus saltatrix bluefish C

Family Rachycentridae

Rachycentron canadum cobia RS

Family Echeneidae

Echeneis naucrates sharksucker R

Family Carangidae

Carynx hippos crevalle jack F

Chloroscombrus chrysaurus Atlantic bumper F

Oligoplites saurus leatherjacket R

Selene vomer lookdown F

Trachinotus carolinus Florida pompano C/S

Trachinotus falcatus permit F

Family Coryphaenidae

Coryphaena hippurus common dolphin F

Family Lobotidae

Lobotes surinamensis triple tail R

Family Lutjanidae

Lutjanus campechanus red snapper F

Lutjanus griseus grey snapper C

Lutjanus synagris lane snapper C

Family Gerreidae

Diapterus olisthostomus Irish pompano F

Eucinostomous argenteus spotfin mojarra C

Eucinostomous gula silver jenny C

Gerre cinereus yellowfin mojarra R

Family Pomadasyidae

Orthopristis chrysoptera pigfish C

Family Sparidea

Archosargus probatocephalus sheepshead C

Diplodus holbrooki spot tail pinfish R

Lagodon rhomboides pinfish C

Family Sciaenidae

Bairdiella chrysura silver perch C

Cynoscion nebulosus spotted seatrout C

Cynoscion regalis weakfish CS

Leiostomus xanthurus spot C

Micropogon undulatus Atlantic croaker F

Menticirrhus americanus southern kingfish F

Menticirrhus littoralis gulf kingfish C

Pogonias cromis black drum F

Sciaenops ocellata red drum F

Family Ephippidae

Chaetodipterus faber Atlantic spadefish F

Family Mugilidae

Mugil cephalus striped (black) mullet C

Mugil curema white mullet C

Family Uranoscopidae

Astroscopus y-graecum southern stargazer R

Family Gobiidae

Microgobius gulosus clown goby F

Family Blenniidae

Chasmodes saburrae Florida blenny F

Family Scombridae

Sarda sarda bonito F

Scomberomorus cavalla king mackeral F

Scomberomorus muculatus spanish mackeral F/S

Family Triglidae

Prionotus tribulus bighead searobin F

Family Bothidae

Citharichthys spilopterus bay whiff F

Etropus crossotus fringed flounder F

Paralichthys lethostigma southern flounder F

Paralichthys dentatus summer flounder F

Family Soleidae

Trinectes maculatus hogchoker F

Family Cynoglossidae

Symphurus plagiusa blackcheek tonguefish F

Family Ostraciidae

Acanthostracion quadricornis cowfish R

Family Tetraodontidae

Sphoerodies nephelus Florida puffer F

Family Diodontidae

Chilomycterus schoepfi striped burrfish R

C = Common; ca. 10 - 50 can be collected in a day.
F = Few; less than 10 can be collected in a day.
R = Rare; collected occasionally
S = Seasonal distribution

The absence of an abundance designation indicates that the species is listed as being present in this area, but has not been collected or observed.

Contact us:

The Whitney Laboratory
9505 Ocean Shore Blvd.
St. Augustine, FL 32080

904-461-4000
Fax: 904-461-4052
Email us

Peter A. V. Anderson
Director

Contact Whitney Staff

Member of

Partial list of available species

Phylum

Scientific Name

Common Name

Abundance

Porifera

Cnidaria

Ctenophora

Platyhelminthes

Ectoprocta

Phylum

Scientific Name

Common Name

Abundance

Mollusca

Phylum

Scientific Name

Common Name

Abundance

Annelida

Arthropoda (Subphylum Chelicerata)

Arthropoda (Subphylum Crustacea)

Phylum

Scientific Name

Common Name

Abundance

Echinodermata

Chordata (Subphylum Urochordata)

Chordata (Subphylum Cephalochordata)

Phylum

Scientific Name

Common Name

Abundance

Chordata (Subphylum Vertebrata)

Arthropoda
(Subphylum Chelicerata)

Arthropoda
(Subphylum Crustacea)