Below is the list of invertebrates and algae species that are monitored as part of REEF's Volunteer Fish Survey Project in California. For most species, the count data is: Single (1), Few (2-10), Many (11-100), Abundant (>100). For some species, a simple Presence / Absence count is used. (they are noted below)

List of Species Monitored Since 2006

ANNELIDA

  • Christmas Tree Worm, Spirobranchus spinosus
  • Colonial Sand-Tube Worms, Phragmatopoma californica
  • Feather Duster  Worms, Eudistylia polymorpha

ARTHROPODA

  • Brown Rock Crab, Cancer antennarius
  • Coonstripe Shrimp, Pandalus gurneyi/P. danae
  • Masking/Sheep Crab, Loxorhynchus crispatus/L. grandis
  • Northern Kelp Crab, Pugettia producta
  • Red Rock Shrimp, Lysmata californica
  • Spiny Lobster, Panulirus interruptus

BRYOZOA

  • Fluted Bryozoan, Primavelans insculpta
  • Lacy Bryozoan, Phidolopora labiata
  • Northern Staghorn Bryozoan,  Heteropora pacifica
  • Southern Staghorn Bryozoan, Diaperoecia californica

CNIDARIA

  • Strawberry Anemone, Corynactis californica *(Presence/Absence)
  • Tube-Dwelling Anemone, Pachycerianthus fimbriatus
  • White-Spotted Anemone, Urticina lofotensis
  • Brown Gorgonian, Muricea fruticosa
  • California Golden Gorgonian, Muricea californica
  • Orange Cup Coral, Balanophyllia elegans
  • Purple Hydrocoral, Stylaster californicus
  • Red Gorgonian, Leptogorgia chilensis

ECHINODERMATA

  • California Sea Cucumber, Parastichopus californicus
  • Warty Sea Cucumber, Parastichopus parvimensis
  • Bat Star, Asterina miniata
  • Giant Spined Star, Pisaster giganteus
  • Leather Star, Dermasterias imbricata
  • Spiny Brittlestar, Ophiothrix spiculata
  • Sunflower Star, Pycnopodia helianthoides
  • Crowned Urchin, Centrostephanus coronatus
  • Eccentric Sand Dollar, Dendraster excentricus
  • Purple Urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus
  • Red Urchin, Strongylocentrotus franciscanus
  • White Urchin, Lytechinus anamesus

MOLLUSCA

  • Opalescent Nudibranch, Hermissenda crassicornis
  • Red Sea Hare, Aplysia californica
  • San Diego Dorid, Diaulula sandiegensis
  • Sea Lemon, Peltodoris nobilis
  • Spanish Shawl,  Flabellina iodinea
  • Red Octopus, Octopus rubescens
  • Two-Spot Octopus, Octopus bimaculatus
  • Chesnut Cowry, Cypraea spadicea
  • Giant Keyhole Limpet, Megathura crenulata
  • Kellet's Whelk, Kelletia kelletii
  • Lewis' Moon Snail,  Euspira lewisii
  • Red Turban Snail, Lithopoma gibberosum
  • Wavy Turban Snail, Lithopoma undosum
  • Green Abalone, Haliotis fulgens
  • Pink Abalone,  Haliotis corrugata
  • Red Abalone, Haliotis rufescens
  • Gumboot Chiton, Cryptochiton stelleri
  • Rock Scallop, Crassedoma giganteum

PORIFERA

  • Cobalt Sponge, Hymenamphiastra cyanocrypta *(Presence/Absence)
  • Orange Puffball Sponge, Tethya aurantia
  • Red Volcano Sponge, Acarnus erithacus

UROCHORDATA

  • Club Tunicate (non-native), Styela clava
  • Light-Bulb Tunicate, Clavelina huntsmani
  • Stalked Tunicate, Styela montereyensis

ALGAE

  • Asian Kelp Wakame (non-native)** , Undaria pinnatifida
  • Bull Kelp, Nereocystis luetkeana
  • Giant Kelp, Macrocystis integrifolia/M. pyrifera
  • Northern Sea Palm,  Pterygophora californica
  • Oarweed, Laminaria farlowii
  • Southern Sea Palm, Eisenia arborea
  • **For more information on the invasive wakame kelp, visit the Undaria fact page.