Wildlife Species Library

Invertebrates

Ash-black Slug

Limax cinereoniger

Meet the undisputed heavyweight champion of the mollusk world. The Ash-black Slug is a gentle, forest-dwelling giant ...

Invertebrates

Azure Vase Sponge

Callyspongia plicifera

A living neon masterpiece of the Caribbean, the Azure Vase Sponge is famous for its glowing blue hues and its role as...

Invertebrates

Black Slug

Arion ater

The undisputed titan of the garden floor, the Black Slug is a master of moisture and a crucial, if misunderstood, mem...

Invertebrates

Blue Land Crab

Cardisoma guanhumi

Meet the blue-hued giant of the coastal garden. A master of the night and a champion burrower, the Blue Land Crab is ...

Invertebrates

Blue-rayed Limpet

Patella pellucida

Often called the 'jewel of the kelp forest,' this tiny snail features glowing neon blue stripes that look more like f...

Invertebrates

brown bryozoan

Bugula neritina

The Brown Bryozoan is a master of the underwater world, forming intricate, purple-tinged colonies that look more like...

Invertebrates

Brown Shrimp

Crangon crangon

The ultimate master of coastal camouflage, the Brown Shrimp is a fascinating nocturnal dweller of the sandy shallows....

Invertebrates

Cylindrical Papershell

Anodontoides ferussacianus

A delicate architect of the stream bed, the Cylindrical Papershell is a vital indicator of water health in North Amer...

Invertebrates

Eastern Elliptio

Elliptio complanata

The quiet guardian of our waterways, the Eastern Elliptio is North America's most common freshwater mussel. Its beaut...

Invertebrates

Eastern Floater

Pyganodon cataracta

The Eastern Floater is the unsung hero of our waterways, a master filter-feeder that cleans our ponds while moving si...

Invertebrates

Fatmucket

Lampsilis siliquoidea

Meet the Fatmucket, a freshwater master of disguise that uses a lifelike 'fish lure' to ensure the survival of its yo...

Invertebrates

Fingered Limpet

Lottia digitalis

The Fingered Limpet is a rugged survivor of the Pacific surf, known for its distinctive ribbed shell and its incredib...

Invertebrates

Giant Barrel Sponge

Xestospongia muta

The 'Redwood of the Reef,' this ancient giant can live for two millennia, acting as a massive living filter that sust...

Invertebrates

Graceful Rock Crab

Metacarcinus gracilis

Elegant and agile, the Graceful Rock Crab is a common but often overlooked resident of Pacific bays. Known for its di...

Invertebrates

Green Finger Sponge

Iotrochota birotulata

A striking architect of the Caribbean reefs, the Green Finger Sponge is famous for its long, velvety branches and its...

Invertebrates

Green Sea Urchin

Psammechinus miliaris

The Green Sea Urchin is a master of the rocky shoreline, known for wearing shells as hats and grazing through tide po...

Invertebrates

Indo-Pacific Giant Barrel Sponge

Xestospongia testudinaria

Ancient, enormous, and essential, the Indo-Pacific Giant Barrel Sponge is a living skyscraper of the sea. These 'redw...

Invertebrates

Loggerhead Sponge

Spheciospongia vesparium

The 'apartment building' of the ocean, the Loggerhead Sponge is a massive, barrel-shaped filter feeder that provides ...

Invertebrates

Pacific Purple Sea Urchin

Strongylocentrotus purpuratus

A vibrant purple sentinel of the Pacific shoreline, this spiny invertebrate is famous for its ability to carve its ow...

Invertebrates

Pimpleback

Pustulosa pustulosa

A master of the riverbed, the Pimpleback is a bumpy, heavy-shelled mussel that serves as a vital indicator of water h...

Invertebrates

Pink Vase Sponge

Niphates digitalis

A masterpiece of marine architecture, the Pink Vase Sponge is a vibrant, living filter that provides a home for the C...

Invertebrates

Pistolgrip

Quadrula verrucosa

The Pistolgrip is a master of disguise on the riverbed, sporting a rugged, bumpy shell that looks more like a piece o...

Invertebrates

Plate Limpet

Lottia scutum

The Plate Limpet is the unsung architect of the rocky shoreline, a master of suction that navigates the turbulent Pac...

Invertebrates

Red Triangle Slug

Triboniophorus graeffei

Australia's largest native land slug is a colorful forest cleaner, famous for the striking red triangle on its back a...

Invertebrates

rock-pool shrimp

Palaemon serenus

The rock-pool shrimp is a translucent marvel of the Australian shoreline, famous for its 'red-handed' appearance and ...

Invertebrates

Rugose Squat Lobster

Munida rugosa

With its vibrant orange armor and exceptionally long, slender claws, the Rugose Squat Lobster is a master of the rock...

Invertebrates

Spanish Slug

Arion vulgaris

The Spanish Slug is a resilient and fascinating wanderer of the night. Known for its vibrant colors and incredible ap...

Invertebrates

Spotted Spiny Lobster

Panulirus guttatus

A nocturnal jewel of the Caribbean reefs, the Spotted Spiny Lobster transforms the dark seafloor into a theater of in...

Invertebrates

Stinker Sponge

Sarcotragus fasciculatus

A hardy survivor of the Mediterranean seabed, the Stinker Sponge is a master of chemical defense and a vital filter f...

Invertebrates

Stovepipe Sponge

Aplysina archeri

The Stovepipe Sponge is a towering architectural marvel of the Caribbean reefs, growing in vibrant lavender clusters ...

Invertebrates

Tortoiseshell Limpet

Testudinalia testudinalis

The Tortoiseshell Limpet is a master of the rocky Atlantic coast, sporting a beautifully patterned shell that provide...

Invertebrates

Winged Mapleleaf

Quadrula fragosa

Meet one of the rarest inhabitants of the Mississippi basin, the Winged Mapleleaf. This ancient bivalve is a living f...

Invertebrates

Yellow Cellar Slug

Limacus flavus

The Yellow Cellar Slug is a fascinating, yellow-mottled scavenger that thrives in the damp shadows of our backyards. ...