First
we will provide two lists of some mollusks found on Sunset Beach.
Below, we will provide information on how to find them.
Sunset
Beach, NC, Brunswick Co. marine mollusks, phylogenetic order;
152 species
| |
|
Nucula
proxima Say, 1822 Atlantic Nutclam
Nuculana acuta (Conrad, 1831) Pointed Nutclam
Brachidontes exustus (Linnaeus, 1758) Scorched Mussel
Geukensia demissa (Dillwyn, 1817) Ribbed-mussel
Lioberus castanea (Say, 1822) Chestnut Mussel
Modiolus squamosus Beauperthuy, 1967 Southern Horsemussel
Musculus lateralis (Say, 1822) Lateral Mussel
Mytella charruana (d'Orbigny, 1846) Charrua Mussel
Anadara brasiliana (Lamarck, 1819) Incongruous Ark
Anadara floridana (Conrad, 1869) Cut-ribbed Ark
Anadara transversa (Say, 1822) Transverse Ark
Arca imbricata Bruguière, 1789 Mossy Ark
Lunarca ovalis (Bruguière, 1789) Blood Ark
Arcopsis adamsi (Dall, 1886) Cancellate Ark
Noetia ponderosa (Say, 1822) Ponderous Ark
Glycymeris americana (DeFrance, 1826) Giant Bittersweet
Pteria colymbus (Röding, 1798) Atlantic Wing-oyster
Pinctada imbricata Röding, 1798 Atlantic Pearl-oyster
Atrina rigida (John Lightfoot, 1786) Stiff Penshell
Atrina serrata (G. B. Sowerby I, 1825) Sawtooth Penshell
Limaria pellucida (C. B. Adams, 1846) Antillean Fileclam
Argopecten gibbus (Limnaeus, 1758) Atlantic Calico Scallop
Anomia simplex d'Orbigny, 1842 Common Jingle
Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin, 1791) Eastern Oyster
Ostreola equestris (Say, 1834) Crested Oyster
Plicatula gibbosa Lamarck, 1801 Atlantic Kittenpaw
Divalinga quadrisulcata (d'Orbigny, 1842) Cross-hatched
Lucine
Parvilucina crenella (Dall, 1901) Many-line Lucine
Diplodonta notata Dall and Simpson, 1901 Marked Diplodon
Aligena elevata (Stimpson, 1851) Eastern Aligena
Lepton lepidum (Say, 1826) Graceful Lepton
Mysella casta (A. E. Verrill and Bush, 1898) Pure Mysella
Pleuromeris tridentata (Say, 1826) Threetooth Carditid
Crassinella lunulata (Conrad, 1834) Lunate Crassinella
Dinocardium robustum (Lightfoot, 1786) Atlantic Giant Cockle
Laevicardium serratum (Linnaeus, 1758) Eggcockle
Trachycardium egmontianum (Shuttleworth, 1856) Florida Pricklycockle
Trachycardium muricatum (Linnaeus, 1758) Yellow Pricklycockle
Mulinia lateralis (Say, 1822) Dwarf Surfclam
Raeta plicatella (Lamarck, 1818) Channeled Duckclam
Spisula raveneli (Conrad, 1831) Southern Surfclam
Solen viridis Say, 1822 Green Jackknife
Ensis megistus Pilsbry and McGinty, 1943 Minor Jackknife
Angulus sybariticus (Dall, 1881) Sybaritic Tellin
Angulus texanus (Dall, 1900) Texas Tellin
Angulus versicolor (DeKay, 1843) Many-colored Tellin
Eurytellina alternata (Say, 1822) Alternate Tellin
Macoma tenta (Say, 1838) Elongate Macoma
Merisca aequistriata (Say, 1824) Striate Tellin
Scissula iris (Say, 1822) Rainbow Tellin
Strigilla surinamensis Boss, 1972 Surinam Strigilla
Donax parvulus Philippi, 1849 Little Coquina
Donax variabilis Say, 1822 Variable Coquina
Abra aequalis (Say, 1822) Atlantic Abra
Cumingia tellinoides (Conrad, 1831) Tellin Semele
Semele proficua (Pulteney, 1799) Atlantic Semele
Tagelus plebeius (Lightfoot, 1786) Stout Tagelus
Polymesoda caroliniana (Bosc, 1801) Carolina Marshclam
Chione elevata (Say, 1822) Cross-barred Venus
Dosinia discus (Reeve, 1850) Disk Dosinia
Lirophora latilirata (Conrad, 1841) Imperial Venus
Macrocallista nimbosa (Lightfoot, 1786) Sunray Venus
Mercenaria campechiensis (Gmelin, 1791) Southern Quahog
Mercenaria mercenaria (Linnaeus, 1758) Northern Quahog
Puberella intapurpurea (Conrad, 1849) Lady-in-waiting Venus
Timoclea grus (Holmes, 1858) Gray Pygmy-venus
Petricolaria pholadiformis (Lamarck, 1818) False Angelwing
Paramya subovata (Conrad, 1845) Subovate Softshell
Sphenia dubia (H. C. Lea, 1843) Dubious Sphenia
Caryocorbula barrattiana C. B. Adams, 1852 Truncate Corbula
Caryocorbula contracta Say, 1822 Contracted Corbula
Corbula dietziana C. B. Adams, 1852 Rosy Corbula
Cyrtopleura costata (Linnaeus, 1758) Angelwing
Martesia cuneiformis (Say, 1822) Wedge Piddock
Nototeredo knoxi Bartsch, 1917 Foliaceous Shipworm
Diodora cayenensis (Lamarck, 1822) Cayenne Keyhole Limpet
|
Echinolittorina
interrupta (Philippi, 1856) Interrupted Periwinkle
Litiopa melanostoma Rang, 1829 Sargassum Snail
Cerithium muscarum Say, 1832 Fly-specked Cerith
Cerithium atratum (Born, 1778) Dark Cerith
Vermicularia knorrii (Deshayes, 1843) Florida Wormsnail
Vermicularia spirata (Philippi, 1836) West Indian Wormsnail
Littoraria irrorata (Say, 1822) Marsh Periwinkle
Cyclostremiscus pentagonalis (Gabb, 1873) Trilix Vitrinella
Episcynia inornata (d'Orbigny, 1842) Fringed Vitrinella
Bostrycapulus aculeatus (Gmelin, 1791) Spiny Slippersnail
Calyptraea centralis (Conrad, 1841) Circular Chinese-hat
Crepidula convexa Say, 1822 Convex Slippersnail
Crepidula fornicata (Linnaeus, 1758) Slipper Limpet
Crepidula plana Say, 1822 Eastern White Slippersnail
Neverita duplicata (Say, 1822) Shark Eye
Sigatica carolinensis (Dall, 1889) Carolina Moonsnail
Sinum perspectivum (Say, 1831) White Baby Ear
Tectonatica pusilla (Say, 1822) Miniature Moonsnail
Semicassis granulata granulata (Born, 1778) Scotch Bonnet
Melanella hypsela (A. E. Verrill and Bush, 1900) Sharp
Eulima
Epitonium angulatum (Say, 1831) Angulate Wentletrap
Epitonium apiculatum (Dall, 1889) Semismooth Wentletrap
Epitonium cf. albidum (d'Orbigny, 1842) cf. Bladed Wentletrap
Epitonium humphreysii (Kiener, 1838) Humphrey's Wentletrap
Epitonium multistriatum (Say, 1826) Many-ribbed Wentletrap
Epitonium novangliae (Couthouy, 1838) New England Wentletrap
Epitonium occidentale (Nyst, 1871) Fine-ribbed Wentletrap
Epitonium rupicola (Kurtz, 1860) Brown-band Wentletrap
Eupleura caudata (Say, 1822) Thick-lip Drill
Hexaplex fulvescens (G. B. Sowerby II, 1834) Giant Eastern
Murex
Stramonita haemastoma floridana (Conrad, 1837) Florida
Rocksnail
Urosalpinx cinerea (Say, 1822) Atlantic Oyster Drill
Gemophos tinctus (Conrad, 1846) Tinted Cantharus
Hesperisternia multangula (Philippi, 1848) Ribbed Cantharus
Busycon carica (Gmelin, 1791) Knobbed Whelk
Busycon sinistrum Hollister, 1958 Lightning Whelk
Busycotypus canaliculatus (Linnaeus, 1758) Channeled Whelk
Busycotypus spiratus (Lamarck, 1818) Pear Whelk
Ilyanassa obsoleta (Say, 1822) Eastern Mudsnail
Ilyanassa trivittata (Say, 1822) Three-line Mudsnail
Nassarius acutus (Say, 1822) Sharp Nassa
Nassarius vibex (Say, 1822) Bruised Nassa
Fasciolaria hunteria (G. Perry, 1811) Eastern Banded Tulip
Fasciolaria tulipa (Linnaeus, 1758) True Tulip
Triplofusus giganteus (Kiener, 1840) Horse Conch
Astyris lunata (Say, 1826) Lunar Dovesnail
Columbella mercatoria (Linnaeus, 1758) West Indian Dovesnail
Costoanachis avara (Say, 1822) Greedy Dovesnail
Costoanachis sertulariarum (d'Orbigny, 1841) Florida Dovesnail
Costoanachis translirata (Ravenel, 1861) Well-ribbed Dovesnail
Parvanachis obesa (C. B. Adams, 1845) Fat Dovesnail
Suturoglypta iontha (Ravenel, 1861) Lineate Dovesnail
Oliva sayana Ravenel, 1834 Lettered Olive
Olivella mutica (Say, 1822) Variable Dwarf Olive
Olivella cf. prefloralia Olsson and Harbison, 1953 cf.
Rice Olive
Prunum apicinum (Menke, 1828) Common Atlantic Marginella
Terebra concava (Say, 1826) Concave Auger
Terebra dislocata (Say, 1822) Eastern Auger
Cerodrillia bealiana Schwengel and McGinty, 1942 Beal's
Drillia
Cryoturris dorvilliae (Reeve, 1845) Dorvill's Mangelia
Kurtziella atrostyla (Tryon, 1884) Brown-tip Mangelia
Nannodiella vespuciana (d'Orbigny, 1847) Vespucci's Dwarf-turris
Rubellatoma rubella Bartsch and Rehder, 1939 Red-brown
Mangelia
Splendrillia moseri (Dall, 1889) Moser's Drillia
Boonea impressa (Say, 1822) Impressed Odostome
Chrysallida nioba (Dall and Bartsch, 1911) Niobe Odostome
Eulimastoma weberi (Morrison, 1965) Weber's Odostome
Fargoa buijsei (de Jong and Coomans, 1988) Buijse's Odostome
Turbonilla (Pyrgiscus) buteonis Bartsch, 1909 Hawk Turbonille
Turbonilla (Pyrgiscus) wrightsvillensis E. Powell, 1981
Carolina Turbonille
Turbonilla (Pyrgiscus) caroliniana Holmes, 1859 Incised
Turbonille
Acteon candens Rehder, 1939 Rehder's Baby-bubble
Rictaxis punctostriatus (C. B. Adams, 1840) Pitted Baby-bubble
Acteocina canaliculata (Say, 1826) Channeled Barrel-bubble
Aplysia brasiliana Rang, 1828 Mottled Seahare
Octopus vulgaris Lamarck, 1798 Common Octopus
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Sunset
Beach, NC, Brunswick Co. marine mollusks, alphabetized by
vernacular or lay name; 151 species
|
|
Alternate
Tellin
Angelwing
Angulate Wentletrap
Antillean Fileclam
Atlantic Abra
Atlantic Calico Scallop
Atlantic Giant Cockle
Atlantic Kittenpaw
Atlantic Nutclam
Atlantic Oyster Drill
Atlantic Pearl-oyster
Atlantic Semele
Atlantic Wing-oyster
Beal’s Drillia
Blood Ark
Brown-band Wentletrap
Brown-tip Mangelia
Bruised Nassa
Buijse's Odostome
Cancellate Ark
Carolina Marshclam
Carolina Moonsnail
Carolina Turbonille
Cayenne Keyhole Limpet
cf. Bladed Wentletrap
cf. Rice Olive
Channeled Barrel-bubble
Channeled Duckclam
Channeled Whelk
Charrua Mussel
Chestnut Mussel
Circular Chinese-hat
Common Atlantic Marginella
Common Jingle
Common Octopus
Concave Auger
Contracted Corbula
Convex Slippersnail
|
Crested
Oyster
Cross-barred Venus
Cross-hatched Lucine
Cut-ribbed Ark
Dark Cerith
Disk Dosinia
Dorvill’s Mangelia
Dubious Sphenia
Dwarf Surfclam
Eastern Aligena
Eastern Auger
Eastern Banded Tulip
Eastern Mudsnail
Eastern Oyster
Eastern White Slippersnail
Eggcockle
Elongate Macoma
False Angelwing
Fat Dovesnail
Fine-ribbed Wentletrap
Florida Dovesnail
Florida Pricklycockle
Florida Rocksnail
Florida Wormsnail
Fly-specked Cerith
Foliaceous Shipworm
Fringed Vitrinella
Giant Bittersweet
Giant Eastern Murex
Graceful Lepton
Gray Pygmy-venus
Greedy Dovesnail
Green Jackknife
Hawk Turbonille
Horse Conch
Humphrey’s Wentletrap
Imperial Venus
Impressed Odostome
|
Incised
Turbonille
Incongruous Ark
Interrupted Periwinkle
Knobbed Whelk
Lady-in-waiting Venus
Lateral Mussel
Lettered Olive
Lightning Whelk
Lineate Dovesnail
Little Coquina
Lunar Dovesnail
Lunate Crassinella
Many-colored Tellin
Many-line Lucine
Many-ribbed Wentletrap
Marked Diplodon
Marsh Periwinkle
Miniature Moonsnail
Minor Jackknife
Moser's Drillia
Mossy Ark
Mottled Seahare
New England Wentletrap
Niobe Odostome
Northern Quahog
Pear Whelk
Pitted Baby-bubble
Pointed Nutclam
Ponderous Ark
Pure Mysella
Rainbow Tellin
Red-brown Mangelia
Rehder’s Baby-bubble
Ribbed Cantharus
Ribbed-mussel
Rosy Corbula
Sargassum Snail
Sawtooth Penshell
|
Scorched
Mussel
Scotch Bonnet
Semismooth Wentletrap
Shark Eye
Sharp Eulima
Sharp Nassa
Slipper Limpet
Southern Horsemussel
Southern Quahog
Southern Surfclam
Spiny Slippersnail
Stiff Penshell
Stout Tagelus
Striate Tellin
Subovate Softshell
Sunray Venus
Surinam Strigilla
Sybaritic Tellin
Tellin Semele
Texas Tellin
Thick-lip Drill
Three-line Mudsnail
Threetooth Carditid
Tinted Cantharus
Transverse Ark
Trilix Vitrinella
True Tulip
Truncate Corbula
Variable Coquina
Variable Dwarf Olive
Vespucci's Dwarf-turris
Weber's Odostome
Wedge Piddock
Well-ribbed Dovesnail
West Indian Dovesnail
West Indian Wormsnail
White Baby Ear
Yellow Pricklycockle
|
|
Everyone
can do this! Here is one beachcomber's story.
In
18 weeks I found 149 species of mollusks on the eastern end of
Sunset Beach. I found
the octopi, sea hares and Scotch Bonnets earlier. I did this in
two ways.
1.
Inspecting Seaweed
For
two years I have been inspecting seaweed. My goal is to find microscopic
animals to study and to save for researchers. During most of that
time, I used only my hands and normal vision. Since mid-June I
have used a 5X Luxor illuminating magnifier. It increased my ability
to find items in the seaweed tremendously. I purchased professional
forceps to be able to extract minute, fragile animals.
When
a man-made object such as fishing line or an elastic hairband is in
the ocean, one type of seaweed after another gets ensnarled in it.
Soon there is a big clump bursting with marine life - exactly what
I want. It will be brimming with small gastropod shells with tiny
hermit crabs residing within them. Amphipods, called skeleton shrimp,
crawl on my fingers and hands. They look like very thin beige sugar
ants. There are many other animals such as brittle stars, isopods,
worms, mollusks, barnacles and sea spiders.
I
do not walk in the ocean. The seaweed I find is in the last wave or
on the beach. At home, before I begin checking it, I place four Petrie
dishes to my right with ocean water in them. The water helps me release
the small animal or shell that I found from the forceps and lets it
live. Doing that allows me to photograph live animals later through
my microscope. I begin with Petrie dishes for mollusks (seashells),
worms, brittle stars, and amphipods and isopods. I add additional
dishes if needed. One evening, I found 600 shells.
I
knowingly take home seaweed with small hermit crabs inside empty seashells
because I am searching for animals for researchers and studying. After
I spend up to four hours going to the beach, walking, and coming home,
and then several more hours inspecting seaweed, the animals are not
in good enough health to return to the ocean. Despite the demise of
hermit crabs, I save mollusk shells for facilities that want micromollusk
collections.
2.
Sieving
Because
seaweed disappeared after July, I began using a child's plastic sieve,
the type included in a net bag of beach toys. I pick up debris at
the edge in the scallops made by the ocean at the eastern point. After
filling the sieve, I carry it to the edge of the water and swish it
back and forth to remove the sand. Then I transfer the micromullusks
to a plastic container.
Some
are as small as 2.00 mm wide. Once home, I re-sieve through a series
of laboratory sieves recently ordered via the Internet.
Dr.
Harry Lee, an outstanding malacologist, has identified the mollusks
for me. I can never thank him for his months of patience and work.
While much work remains on my webpages, I have begun to post microscope
photos on my website. No shell more than one-fourth of an inch wide
fits within the frame of my camera when I take a photo through my
microscope. The photo of the Rainbow Tellin below demonstrates that.
Rainbow Tellins are so thin that even when intact with both valves,
the only way to pick them up at home is by wetting my finger. Here
is a photo.
Sample
Photos
| Epitonium
humphreysii |
|
|
Aceteocina
canaliculata |
|
|
Lunarca
ovalis |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ilyanassa
trivittata |
|
|
Anadara
transversa |
|
|
Echinolittorina
interrupta |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Epitonium
rupicola |
|
|
Urosalpinx
cinerea |
|
|
Nassarius
acutus |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Musculus_lateralis |
|
|
Olivella
mutica |
|
|
Lioberus
castanea |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Turbonilla
caroliniana |
|
|
Tectonatica
pusilla |
|
|
Olivella
cf. prefloralia |
|
|
