Neah Bay

Clallam Co., WA

Site Description:       

Neah Bay is at the far northwest corner of the Olympic Peninsula.  It faces north into the Strait of Juan de Fuca  where the Strait meets the Pacific Ocean.   The beach habitat in this area is a typical mix of sand, pebbles, rocks and boulders.  A breakwater made of large boulders extends out into the bay.  Neah Bay is on the Makah Indian Reservation and collecting is not allowed.

Google Map
 
                         
                                                           Neah Bay - east side of breakwater


Species List:

     Following is a list of mollusk species observed at this location by members and associates of the club.  This is by no means a complete list of the species which may occur at this site.  Revisions and additions to the data are made as we acquire new information.   When a site contains more than one very distinctive type of habitat or if multiple sites were included in a single location, then a species list for each is included.
    We indicate frequency of occurrence based on our observations.  This is an indicator of how likely it is that you may be able to find this species yourself and is not a formal population survey.  

     Frequency Code:  (Based on the assumption that you are looking in the appropriate location where the species
                                          likes to live - on rocks, in sand, etc.  Some populations fluctuate seasonally.  Ours are based
                                          on the spring/summer seasons.)
     [4] - Rare - very difficult to find, maybe only a couple found after repeated visits to the site
     [3] - Uncommon - difficult to find, may not see on every trip but dedicated searching may turn up a few
     [2] - Common - easy to find, should locate a number of them on any given day
     [1] - Abundant - very easy to find, large numbers should be seen on every trip

Data is all intertidal unless noted.

The majority of the data comes from the breakwater.  

     Bivalves
Crassadoma gigantea  [3]
Entodesma navicula  [3]
Hiatella arctica  [2]
Leukoma staminea  [3]
Macoma inquinata  [3]
Magallana gigas  [4]
Musculus taylori (at Waddah Is.)
Mytilus californianus  [1]
Mytilus complex  [1]
Saxidomus gigantea  [3]
 
     Gastropods
Acmaea mitra  [2]
Amphissa columbiana  [2]
Boreotrophon multicostatus  [4]
Callianax baetica  [3]
Callianax biplicata  [3]
Callianax strigata  [4]
Calliostoma ligatum  [2]
Ceratostoma foliatum  [2]
Crepidula adunca  [4]
Crepidula nummaria  [3]
Crepipatella lingulata  [4]
Diodora aspera  [2]
Epitonium tinctum  [4]
Fissurellidea bimaculata  [4]
Lacuna porrecta  [4]
Lacuna vincta  [2]
Lirabuccinum dirum  [4]
Lirularia succincta  [4]
Littorina scutulata  [1]
Littorina sitkana  [1]
Lottia digitalis  [2]
Lottia instabilis  [3]
Lottia pelta  [1]
Lottia persona  [2]
Lottia scutum  [2]
Kurtziella crebricostata  [4]
Margarites pupillus  [2]
Marsenina rhombica  [4]
Marsenina stearnsi  [4]
Nucella canaliculata  [3]
Nucella lamellosa  [4]
Nucella ostrina  [2]
Paciocinebrina interfossa  [4]
Paciocinebrina lurida  [3]
Paciocinebrina sclera  [4]
Oenopota tabulata  [4]
Tegula funebralis  [2]
Tegula pulligo  [4]
Trichotropis cancellata  [3]
Turbonilla sp.  [4]

     Nudibranchs/Sea slugs
Aldisa albomarginata  [4]  (subtidal only)
Aldisa cooperi  [4]  (subtidal only)
Corambe steinbergae  [4]  (subtidal only)
Cuthona divae  [4]  (subtidal only)
Dendronotus venustus  [4]  (subtidal only)
Diaulula odonoghuei  [4]
Diaulula sandiegensis  [4]  (subtidal only)
Dirona albolineata  [4]  (subtidal only)
Eubranchus rustyus  [4]  (subtidal only)
Flabellinopsis iodinea  [4]  (subtidal only, only in very warm years)
Geitodoris heathi  [4]  (subtidal only)
Hermissenda crassicornis  [3]  (subtidal only)
Limacia cockerelli  [4]  (subtidal only)
Meliba leonina  [4]  (subtidal only)
Onchidella carpenteri  [4]
Peltodoris nobilis  [3]  (subtidal only)
Tochuina gigantea  [4]
Triopha catalinae  [4]  (subtidal only)
Triopha maculata  [4]  (subtidal only, only in very warm years)
Tritonia sp.  [4]  (subtidal only)
Zelentia pustulata  [4]  (subtidal only)
 
     Chitons
Cyanoplax dentiens  [4]
Dendrochiton flectens  [4]
Lepidozona cooperi  [4]
Lepidozona mertensii  [3]
Mopalia ferreirai  [4] (subtidal only)
Mopalia hindsii  [4]
Mopalia kennerleyi  [3]
Mopalia lignosa  [3]
Mopalia muscosa  [3]
Mopalia spectabilis  [4]
Placiphorella velata  [3]
Tonicella lineata  [3]
Tonicella cf. venusta  [4]

     
    
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This page last revised: 7-2-2024