Best Northeast Pacific

The purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) is a marine echinoderm found along the eastern Pacific coast from British Columbia to Baja California. Described by William Stimpson in 1857, it inhabits rocky intertidal and subtidal zones and feeds primarily on kelp and other algae. Its genome...

The red sea urchin (Mesocentrotus franciscanus) is a large echinoderm species native to the northeastern Pacific Ocean, ranging from Alaska to Baja California. It inhabits rocky seafloors and kelp forests, where it grazes heavily on macroalgae. Recognized as the largest species of sea urchin, its sp...

The Pacific sand dollar, Dendraster excentricus, is an irregular sea urchin native to sandy coastal habitats of the northeastern Pacific Ocean. Its flattened test bears a five-petaled pattern, while the off-center position of features reflected in the name excentricus distinguishes it from more symm...

The California two-spot octopus, Octopus bimaculoides, is a small cephalopod native to coastal waters of the eastern Pacific, including southern California and Baja California. It is named for the blue-ringed eyespot located beneath each eye and commonly occupies rocky reefs and intertidal habitats....

Opisthoteuthis californiana is a deep-sea cephalopod commonly called a flapjack octopus and classified within the family Opisthoteuthidae. It has a soft, gelatinous body, a web connecting its arms, and a pair of small fins; when resting, its flattened form contributes to the common name. It inhabits...

The big skate (Beringraja binoculata) is the largest species of skate found in North American waters, capable of reaching over two meters in width. This demersal fish inhabits the eastern Pacific Ocean, ranging from the waters of Alaska down to Baja California. They are typically found on the seaflo...

Octopus bimaculatus, commonly called the California two-spot octopus, is a cephalopod found along the Pacific coast of California and Baja California. It is identified partly by a pair of blue, chain-patterned false eyespots below its actual eyes, although it can rapidly alter its coloration and ski...

Octopus rubescens ranges along the Pacific coast from Alaska to Baja California and is a common intertidal and subtidal species recognized by its mottled reddish-brown skin.

The pelagic red crab (Pleuroncodes planipes) is a species of squat lobster found predominantly in the eastern Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California. The species is uniquely adapted to a free-swimming oceanic lifestyle, spending much of its life cycle in the water column rather than strictly...

Doryteuthis opalescens is a species of small squid in the family Loliginidae native to the eastern Pacific Ocean, ranging from Alaska to Baja California. Known as the California market squid, it supports a major commercial fishery, particularly in Monterey Bay and around the Channel Islands. The spe...

The longnose skate (Raja rhina) is a cartilaginous fish native to the eastern Pacific Ocean, ranging from the Bering Sea and Alaska down to Baja California. This benthic species inhabits continental shelf and slope environments, typically residing at depths ranging from shallow coastal waters down t...

Cobb Seamount is a prominent submarine volcano and guyot located in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of the northwestern United States. Formed during the Quaternary period, it features a remarkably shallow summit that approaches the ocean surface. This unique topography supports highly productive and...

The California spiny lobster (Panulirus interruptus) is a large clawless lobster native to the eastern Pacific from Monterey Bay to Mexico, distinguished by interrupted grooves on its abdomen and supporting a historically significant California fishery.

Allocentrotus fragilis is a species of sea urchin recognized for its delicate, fragile test, primarily found in the deep waters of the Pacific.

A deep-sea octopus described from specimens collected off the California coast, inhabiting soft sediment benthic environments at depths beyond the photic zone.

A small octopus described by Berry in 1911 from California, inhabiting rocky coastal and subtidal waters along the northeastern Pacific coast of North America.

A Pacific octopus of moderate size named in honor of a collector, found in shallow coastal and reef habitats across the Indo-Pacific and described in the early 20th century.

A deep-sea squid documented in 2012 for indiscriminate mating behavior, with males depositing spermatophores on both female and male conspecifics.