Tacoma Narrows

     Bivalves
Chlamys hastata  [3]
Hiatella arctica  [3]
Humilaria kennerleyi  [4]
Macoma inquinata  [4]
Mya truncata  [4]
Mytilus complex  [2]
Panopea generosa  [4] (very low tide, subtidal)
Pododesmus macrochisma  [3]
Saxidomus gigantea  [4]
Zirfaea pilsbryi  [3] (very low tide, subtidal)







     Gastropods
Amphissa columbiana  [2]
Calliostoma ligatum  [3]
Ceratostoma foliatum  [3]
Cryptonatica affinis  [4]
Diodora aspera  [3]
Lacuna vincta  [4]
Littorina scutulata  [2]
Lottia digitalis  [2]
Lottia pelta  [2]
Lottia persona  [3]
Lottia aff. rosacea  [4]
Lottia scutum  [4]
Margarites pupillus  [3]
Nassarius mendicus  [4]
Nucella lamellosa  [2]
Nucella ostrina  [3]
Puncturella cucullata  [4]
Trichotropis cancellata  [3]

     Nudibranchs/Sea slugs
Cadlina luteomarginata  [4]
Diaulula odonoghuei  [4]
Hermissenda crassicornis  [4]
Onchidoris bilamellata  [3]

     Chitons
Cryptochiton stelleri  [4]
Cyanoplax dentiens  [3]
Cyanoplax fernaldi  [3]
Dendrochiton flectens  [4]
Lepidozona mertensii  [4]
Lepidozona retiporosa  [4]
Mopalia imporcata  [4]
Mopalia kennerleyi  [3]
Mopalia lignosa  [3]
Mopalia muscosa  [4]
Mopalia spectabilis  [3]
Mopalia swanii  [4]
Mopalia vespertina  [4]
Tonicella insignis  [4]
Tonicella lineata  [2]
Tripoplax trifida  [4]

Penrose Point and Tacoma Narrows 

Pierce Co., WA

Site Description:       

     Our sites on this page represent Carr Inlet and the Tacoma Narrows.  Penrose Point State Park is on Mayo Cove on the west side of Carr Inlet, due west of Tacoma, WA.  It is a muddy sand beach with some rubble.  An extensive spit reaches out into the cove and it is exposed at low tide.  The spit is made of siltstone lightly covered in sand and rubble. There are also a few large boulders.  
     East of Carr Inlet is the Tacoma Narrows which is bordered on one side by the city of Tacoma.  Our site is on the east side of the Narrows, just north of the bridge.  This side of the channel is lined with a seawall of large boulders.  The steep drop of intertidal boulders into a deep channel allows for a habitat where some normally subtidal species can be found on good low tides.  There are some flatter graveled areas below in the seawall in some spots. Close to the bridge are some mud areas visible at very low tide.
 

Google Map
 

                                        Penrose Point State Park


                                                                    Tacoma Narrows
                                          
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 tolive - 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.