Whiskey Creek Beach 

Clallam Co., WA

Site Description:       

This site is on the north side of the Olympic Peninsula and faces the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  It is a very diverse site with areas of sand, mud, mudstone, cobbles, and large rocks.  Large patches are covered in various types of seaweed and algae.  At the easternmost end is a large rock outcropping with huge boulders.  The beach is over a mile long and the various habitats are interspersed along its length.  The following list also includes some subtidal observances found just offshore.

Google Map
 

     
                                  Facing west along the Strait                                                                               Facing east along the Strait     


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

Some species have been seen both intertidally and subtidally.  Species for which we only have subtidal data are noted.

     Bivalves
Adula californiensis  [4]
Chlamy hastata  [4]  
Clinocardium nuttallii  [3]
Crassadoma gigantea  [4]
Crassostrea gigas  [3]
Entodesma navicula  [4]
Humilaria kennerleyi  [4]  (found while diving offshore)
Kellia suborbicularis  [4]
Leukoma staminea  [2]  (ridged form in pholad burrows)
Macoma inquinata  [3]
Macoma nasuta  [3]
Macoma secta  [4]
Mactromeris polynyma  [4]
Mytilus californianus  [4]
Mytilus complex  [1]
Penitella penita  [4]
Petricola carditoides  [4]
Platyodon cancellatus  [3]
Pododesmus machrochisma  [2]
Saxidomus gigantea  [2]
Solen sicarius  [4]
Tresus capax  [3]
Tresus nuttallii  [4]
 
     Gastropods
Acmaea mitra  [3]
Alia carinata  [2]
Amphissa columbiana  [2]
Caesia fossatus  [4]
Callianax biplicata  [4]
Calliostoma ligatum  [2]
Calyptraea fastigiata  [4]
Chlorostoma funebralis  [4]
Crepidula nummaria  [4]
Diodora aspera  [2]
Fusitriton oregonensis  [4]
Garnotia adunca  [2]
Lacuna variegata  [3]
Lacuna vincta  [4]
Lirabuccinum dirum  [1]
Littorina scutulata  [1]
Littorina sitkana  [1]
Lottia digitalis  [3]
Lottia fenestrata  [3]
Lottia instabilis  [4]
Lottia pelta  [1]
Lottia persona  [1]
Lottia scutum  [1]
Margarites pupillus  [3]
Nucella canaliculata  [3]
Nucella lamellosa  [2]
Nucella ostrina  [1]
Ocinebrina interfossa  [4]
Ocinebrina lurida  [4]
Opalia borealis  [3]
Stylidium eschrichtii  [3]
Tricolia sp.  [4]

     Chitons
Cryptochiton stelleri  [4]
Katharina tunicata  [1]
Lepidozona cooperi  [4]
Lepidozona mertensii  [4]  (found while diving offshore)
Mopalia lignosa  [3]
Mopalia muscosa  [2]
Tonicella lineata  [1]    

     Nudibranchs
Acanthodoris hudsoni  [4]  (found while diving offshore)
Acanthodoris nanaimoensis  [4]  (found while diving offshore)
Doris montereyensis  [4]

Doris odhneri  [4]  (found while diving offshore)
Triopha catalinae  [4]  (found while diving offshore)

     Cephalopods
Enteroctopus dofleini  [4]  (found while diving offshore)

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This page last revised: 6-4-2010