Best Intertidal

The purple sea urchin, described by Stimpson in 1857, is a marine echinoderm native to the eastern Pacific Ocean that serves as a foundational model organism in developmental biology.

Nereocystis luetkeana, or bull kelp, is an annual brown kelp found along the Pacific coast of North America from Alaska to California. It has a long, whip-like stipe and a hollow gas-filled float from which ribbon-like blades extend, and it can reach about 36 m in length. The species forms dense sur...

Pyropia tenera, formerly known as Porphyra tenera, is a species of edible red algae belonging to the Bangiaceae family. It grows naturally in the cold, shallow intertidal waters of the Pacific Ocean, primarily around Japan, China, and Korea. The species is characterized by its thin, flat, and transl...

The shingle urchin is an Indo-Pacific echinoderm recognized by its flattened, scale-like spines, a key adaptation that allows it to cling tightly to rocks in wave-pounded intertidal zones.

Dendraster excentricus, commonly known as the eccentric sand dollar, is a heavily studied irregular sea urchin found along the North American Pacific coast.

Colobocentrotus mertensi is a highly modified sea urchin adapted to crashing surf, known for its flat, shingled, and heavily armored physical form.

Palmaria palmata, commonly known as Dulse, is a red seaweed found growing on rocks in the cold waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. It has been harvested for centuries as a food source, particularly in coastal regions like Ireland, Scotland, and Iceland. The alga is consumed dried or fresh and is kno...

The Sea Palm (Postelsia palmaeformis) is a distinctive brown kelp species found on wave-exposed rocky shores along the Pacific coast of North America. It is the only kelp that grows vertically with a palm-like shape, featuring a flexible stipe that holds up its fronds against strong wave action. Thi...

Irish Moss, or Chondrus crispus, is a species of red algae found abundantly along the rocky Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America. This seaweed thrives in the intertidal and shallow subtidal zones and is characterized by its fan-shaped, cartilaginous fronds. It is heavily harvested because it...

Oarweed, scientifically known as Laminaria digitata, is a large brown marine algae that forms dense subtidal forests along the rocky coastlines of the North Atlantic Ocean. The species is identifiable by its long, flat, finger-like fronds that emerge from a central stipe anchored to the substrate. I...

Egregia menziesii, commonly known as feather boa kelp, is a species of brown algae in the family Lessoniaceae. It is native to the rocky coastlines of the Pacific Ocean along western North America, ranging from Alaska to Baja California. The kelp is characterized by a single long, cylindrical stipe...

Chondracanthus chamissoi is a species of red macroalgae widely distributed along the Pacific coast of South America, particularly in Peru and Chile. Known locally as yuyo, this seaweed grows in subtidal and lower intertidal rocky zones and is harvested both from wild populations and through structur...

Postelsia palmaeformis, commonly known as the sea palm, is a brown alga endemic to the wave-swept rocky shores of the northeastern Pacific coast of North America. It is the sole species in its genus and features a distinctive morphology that closely resembles a miniature palm tree. This intertidal k...

The Sally Lightfoot crab, Grapsus grapsus, is an intertidal shore crab found along the Pacific coasts of the Americas and on offshore islands including the Galápagos. Adults have conspicuous red, orange, yellow, and blue coloration, while younger individuals are darker and better camouflaged against...

Knotted wrack is a large, long-lived brown seaweed species found along the rocky, sheltered shores of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is easily identified by its olive-brown fronds and distinct air bladders, which allow the algae to float during high tide to access sunlight. The species is commercially...

Ulva lactuca, commonly known as sea lettuce, is a widely distributed green macroalga found in coastal marine and brackish waters globally. It features thin, translucent, sheet-like fronds that are only two cells thick and can grow up to 30 centimeters in length. As an edible seaweed, it is harvested...

Himanthalia elongata, commonly known as sea spaghetti, is a species of brown macroalgae native to the rocky coasts of the North-East Atlantic Ocean. The seaweed is distinguished by its long, strap-like reproductive fronds that extend from a small, button-shaped base, typically growing in the lower i...

"Osmundea pinnatifida" is a species of small red algae commonly found on the lower rocky shores of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is the currently accepted taxonomic name for the seaweed historically known as "Laurencia pinnatifida." In culinary traditions, particularly in the British Isles and Atlant...

Hormosira banksii, commonly known as Neptune's necklace, is a brown alga found along the southern coastlines of Australia and New Zealand. It is recognized by its distinctive chains of bead-like, water-filled vesicles that help the alga retain moisture during low tide exposure on intertidal rocky sh...

Laurencia papillosa is a red alga in the family Rhodomelaceae, widely distributed in tropical and subtropical coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific and other warm seas. It grows on rocky substrates in intertidal and shallow subtidal zones. Species of Laurencia are known for producing a diverse array of...

Fucus vesiculosus, commonly known as bladderwrack, is a brown macroalga widespread across the rocky intertidal coasts of the North Atlantic Ocean, including the shores of Europe and eastern North America. The species is characterized by its flattened, dichotomously branched fronds bearing paired, ga...

Porphyra purpurea is a marine red alga belonging to the order Bangiales, commonly found in the intertidal zones of the North Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America. It features a thin, broad, and translucent foliose thallus that attaches to rocks. Historically, it has been harvested as a tradit...

The Red Rock Crab, scientifically known as Romaleon productus, is a large marine crustacean native to the Pacific coast of North America, ranging from Alaska to Baja California. It is easily identified by its characteristic brick-red shell and its large, powerful claws that feature distinct black ti...

The Atlantic ghost crab (*Ocypode quadrata*) is a pale, sand-colored crustacean predominantly found on sandy beaches along the eastern coast of the Americas. It is distinguished by its remarkable running speed, capable of reaching speeds up to 10 miles per hour, which allows it to rapidly evade pred...

The Puget Sound king crab (*Lopholithodes mandtii*) is a large marine crustacean native to the cold coastal waters of the North American Pacific, from Alaska to California. It is easily recognized by its uniquely textured, bulky exoskeleton, which is covered in distinctive spikes and bumps. This spe...

Colpomenia peregrina is a species of brown macroalgae belonging to the order Scytosiphonales. It is widely distributed and commonly found in intertidal zones around the world, where it grows attached to rocks or other algae. The species is characterized by its small, hollow, and globular thallus, wh...

Padina pavonica, commonly known as peacock's tail, is a brown macroalgae found in the Mediterranean Sea and the tropical Atlantic Ocean. This marine plant features distinct fan-shaped fronds that grow attached to shallow rocky substrates. It is notably rare among algae because it deposits calcium ca...

Fucus distichus is a species of brown macroalgae widely distributed across the rocky coastal shores of Arctic and subarctic regions in the Northern Hemisphere. This marine algae is highly adapted to survive in harsh environmental conditions, exhibiting a strong tolerance to freezing temperatures, ex...

The Atlantic Rock Crab (Cancer irroratus) is a marine crustacean found along the Atlantic coast of North America from Labrador to South Carolina. Recognizable by its nine marginal teeth on each side of the carapace and yellowish-red shell that can reach up to 13 centimeters in width, it inhabits roc...