Kalaloch to Ruby Beach

Jefferson Co., WA

Site Description:       

This location is a ten mile section of beach midway along the west coast of the Olympic Peninsula facing the Pacific Ocean.  Ruby Beach is at the north end of this section.  This area is part of the Olympic National Park and also the Quillayute Needles National Wildlife Refuge.  The beaches along here are typical coastal beaches consisting mostly of gravel with sand exposed at low tide.  There are also large outcroppings of rock jutting into the water at intervals along the beach.  As with all ocean beaches, be aware of incoming tides which can trap you on the wrong side of these headlands.  

Google Map
 

                                  Ruby Beach

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 to live - on rocks, in sand, etc.)
     [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


This is only a sampling of data from this area and is very incomplete.  Due to the nature of the data, this list will not be rated for frequency of occurrence.

     Bivalves
Mytilus californiensis  
Mytilus complex  
Penitella penita
Petricola carditoides
Siliqua patula
Tresus capax
 
     Gastropods
Caesia fossatus
Callianax biplicata
Lacuna vincta
Littorina scutulata
Lottia digitalis  
Lottia fenestratus  
Lottia pelta  
Lottia persona
Nucella lamellosa
Nucella ostrina
 
    
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This page last revised: 12-24-2009