Custom Species Lists
The over 1800 taxa of benthic infaunal invertebrates listed below were collected as part of the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Marine Sediment Monitoring Program (MSMP). This program, initiated in 1989, is one component of the Puget Sound Ecosystem Monitoring Program, a collaborative effort dedicated to monitoring environmental conditions in Puget Sound.
Benthic infaunal invertebrates, often referred to as benthos, are tiny animals, including worms, clams, snails, shrimp, crabs, brittle stars, and many others, that live in the sand and mud at the bottom of Puget Sound. Benthos are an essential link in the Puget Sound food chain, and changes in their community structure and functional groups are an indicator of sediment quality and overall environmental condition. Ecology’s MSMP samples and characterizes the benthos in eight Puget Sound regions and six urban bays on an annual rotational basis, and tracks changes over time that may be due to man-made (for example, toxic chemicals) or natural environmental stressors. Ecology and the Puget Sound Partnership recognize the benthos as one of many Vital Sign Indicators for Puget Sound.
To study the benthos, Ecology relies on taxonomic specialists to identify each animal collected to the lowest possible phylogenetic classification, usually the genus and species level. To preserve this knowledge, and ensure standardized taxonomy for the future of the benthos program, Ecology staff have recently started working with regional taxonomists to create a “voucher sheet”, or a taxonomic description compiled from the scientific literature, for each of our over 1800 taxa. Voucher sheets and taxonomy workshop notes describing Puget Sound benthos that have been generated to date are available in Ecology’s Taxonomic Guides to Benthic Invertebrates of Puget Sound. Also available will be species information drawn from the Encyclopedia of Life.
You can learn more about the benthos in Ecology’s blog. Browse keywords Eyes Under Puget Sound and benthic invertebrates. See also Flickr photos.
For further information, contact Maggie Dutch, Washington State Department of Ecology, margaret.dutch@ecy.wa.gov, 360-407-6021.
Benthic invertebrates of Puget Sound
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[no common name]
(Melita sulca) -
[no common name]
(Melitidae) -
[no common name]
(Melphidippa amorita) -
[no common name]
(Melphidippa borealis) -
[no common name]
(Melphidippa sp) -
[no common name]
(Melphisana bola) -
[no common name]
(Membranipora membranacea) -
[no common name]
(Mesochaetopterus sp) -
[no common name]
(Mesochaetopterus taylori) -
[no common name]
(Mesocrangon munitella) -
[no common name]
(Metacarcinus magister) -
[no common name]
(Metaphoxus frequens) -
[no common name]
(Metasychis disparidentatus) -
[no common name]
(Meterythrops robustus) -
[no common name]
(Metopa dawsoni) -
[no common name]
(Metopa sp) -
[no common name]
(Metopella sp) -
[no common name]
(Metridia pacifica) -
[no common name]
(Metridium senile) -
[no common name]
(Metridium sp) -
[no common name]
(Microclymene caudata) -
[no common name]
(Microjassa litotes) -
[no common name]
(Microjassa sp) -
[no common name]
(Microphthalmus sczelkowii) -
[no common name]
(Microphthalmus sp) -
[no common name]
(Microphthalmus sp 1) -
[no common name]
(Micropodarke dubia) -
[no common name]
(Micropora coriacea) -
[no common name]
(Microporella sp) -
[no common name]
(Microporella umbonata) -
[no common name]
(Microporella vibraculifera) -
[no common name]
(Microspio pigmentata) -
[no common name]
(Micrura alaskensis) -
[no common name]
(Micrura sp) -
[no common name]
(Mitrocomella polydiademata) -
[no common name]
(Modiolus modiolus) -
[no common name]
(Modiolus sp) -
[no common name]
(Molgula pugetiensis) -
[no common name]
(Molgulidae) -
[no common name]
(Molpadia intermedia) -
[no common name]
(Molpadia sp) -
[no common name]
(Monocorophium acherusicum) -
[no common name]
(Monocorophium carlottensis) -
[no common name]
(Monocorophium insidiosum) -
[no common name]
(Monocorophium sp) -
[no common name]
(Monoculodes sp) -
[no common name]
(Monostylifera) -
[no common name]
(Monticellina cryptica) -
[no common name]
(Monticellina dorsobranchialis) -
[no common name]
(Monticellina secunda) -
[no common name]
(Monticellina serratiseta) -
[no common name]
(Monticellina sp) -
[no common name]
(Monticellina sp N1) -
[no common name]
(Monticellina tesselata) -
[no common name]
(Mooresamytha bioculata) -
[no common name]
(Mopalia cirrata) -
[no common name]
(Mopalia imporcata) -
[no common name]
(Mopalia lignosa) -
[no common name]
(Mopalia sp) -
[no common name]
(Munna fernaldi) -
[no common name]
(Munna sp) -
[no common name]
(Munnidae) -
[no common name]
(Munnogonium sp) -
[no common name]
(Munnogonium tillerae) -
[no common name]
(Munnopsurus sp) -
[no common name]
(Muricidae) -
[no common name]
(Musculus discors) -
[no common name]
(Musculus sp) -
[no common name]
(Musculus taylori) -
[no common name]
(Mya sp) -
[no common name]
(Mycale sp) -
[no common name]
(Myosoma spinosa) -
[no common name]
(Myrianida sp) -
[no common name]
(Myriochele heeri) -
[no common name]
(Myriochele olgae) -
[no common name]
(Myriochele sp) -
[no common name]
(Myriochele striolata) -
[no common name]
(Myriozoella plana) -
[no common name]
(Mysida) -
[no common name]
(Mysidae) -
[no common name]
(Mysidella americana) -
[no common name]
(Mysis litoralis) -
[no common name]
(Mytilidae) -
[no common name]
(Mytilimeria nuttallii) -
[no common name]
(Mytilus sp) -
[no common name]
(Myxicola infundibulum) -
[no common name]
(Myxilla incrustans) -
[no common name]
(Naineris quadricuspida) -
[no common name]
(Naineris uncinata) -
[no common name]
(Neaeromya compressa) -
[no common name]
(Neaeromya rugifera) -
[no common name]
(Nebalia pugettensis Cmplx) -
[no common name]
(Nebalia sp) -
[no common name]
(Nellobia eusoma) -
[no common name]
(Nemertea) -
[no common name]
(Nemocardium centifilosum) -
[no common name]
(Neocrangon communis) -
[no common name]
(Neomysis kadiakensis) -
[no common name]
(Neomysis mercedis) -
[no common name]
(Neomysis rayii)
Pages
Search for Species
Utilizing double quotes for exact terms can narrow your search results. Ex. A common name search of Northwestern Sedge matches 'Northwestern Sedge' and 'Northwestern Showy Sedge'. Typing "Northwestern Sedge" return only 'Northwestern Sedge'.
- Abarenicola claparedi - (Rough-skinned lugworm)
- Abarenicola pacifica - (Pacific lugworm)
- Abarenicola sp.
- Abies amabilis - (Pacific Silver Fir)
- Abies concolor - (White Fir)
- Abies grandis - (Grand Fir)
- Abies lasiocarpa - (Subalpine Fir)
- Abies lasiocarpa var. lasiocarpa - (Subalpine Fir)
- Abies procera - (Noble Fir)
- Abietinaria sp
Species Lists
External links
- BirdWeb
- Burke Museum
- Native plant list (King County)
- Puget Sound Ecosystem Monitoring Program
- USGS: Nonindigenous Aquatic Species in Puget Sound
- Washington Herp Atlas
- Washington Invasive Species Council
- Washington Natural Heritage Program
- Washington Natural Heritage Program species lists
- World Register of Marine Species