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Introducing the Puget Sound Benthos Toolbox
September 6, 2023 Blog post:
Our list of Puget Sound invertebrates is over 1,200 and growing! We have compiled photos, descriptions, and reference materials of all documented invertebrates in a new interactive dashboard.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/september-2023/introducing-the-puget-sound-benthos-toolbox
"Everyday chemicals” found at the bottom of Puget Sound
January 7, 2022 Blog post:
Our Marine Sediment Monitoring Team spent almost a decade sampling the muck under Puget Sound to measure chemical contaminants. Here's what they found.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/january-2022/everyday-chemicals”-found-at-the-bottom-of-puget-s
Studying Puget Sound benthos
April 7, 2014 Blog post:
Our sediment team scientists examine the benthic community condition throughout Puget Sound and look at changes over time.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/april-2014/eyes-under-puget-sound-studying-puget-sound-bentho
It's field work time!
May 1, 2018 Blog post:
Sediment monitoring field season is a perfect opportunity to talk about how we collect Puget Sound critters.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/may-2018/eyes-under-puget-sound-it-s-field-work-time
Our taxonomists “name that species!”
May 29, 2015 Blog post:
Meet the two new taxonomists that recently joined the monitoring team, Dany Burgess and Angela Eagleston.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/may-2015/eyes-under-puget-sound-our-taxonomists-name-that-s
Our sediment monitoring team contributes to the Smithsonian’s Global Genome Initiative
April 24, 2019 Blog post:
Our scientists use DNA barcoding to identify Puget Sound benthic invertebrates. This work is a collaboration for the Global Genome Initiative.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/april-2019/our-sediment-monitoring-team-contributes-to-the-sm
Making a stink: the Pacific stinkworm
June 10, 2016 Blog post:
When disturbed, Travisia pupa, the stinkworm, as its name suggests, gives off a pungent odor similar to rotting garlic.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/june-2016/eyes-under-puget-sound-critter-of-the-month-the
All you need is mud! The sea mouse is muddy but mighty
February 9, 2018 Blog post:
The sea mouse may be brown and fuzzy, but that is about all it shares with its mammalian namesake. Believe it or not, the sea mouse is actually a marine segmented worm, or polychaete.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/february-2018/eyes-under-puget-sound-critter-of-the-month-the
If the spirit moves (mud): The burrowing ghost shrimp
October 24, 2022 Blog post:
Fall’s chill is in the air and decorations are going up all over town. Meanwhile, under the mud of Puget Sound, there’s a critter that stays in its costume all year long – the burrowing ghost shrimp.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/october-2022/if-the-spirit-moves-mud-the-burrowing-ghost-shrimp
We’re bubbling over with joy for the bubble snails
March 14, 2024 Blog post:
Did you know that March contains not one but TWO bubble-themed holidays? Not to be left out of the fun, this month’s Critter is the bubbliest of them all: the bubble snails.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/march-2024/we-re-bubbling-over-about-the-bubble-snails
Our scientists contribute to “global biodiversity library”
August 30, 2019 Blog post:
Last week I was in sunny Los Angeles for the third and final west coast invertebrate “bioblitz” of the summer — the LA Urban Ocean Expedition (LAUOE).
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/august-2019/our-scientists-contribute-to-global-biodiversity-l
Put a bow on it: Elevate your gift-wrapping game with the ribbon worms
December 22, 2020 Blog post:
This year, when you spend more time wrapping your holiday gifts than picking them out, think about a group of critters who have taken their gift-wrapping game to the next level: the ribbon worms.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/december-2020/put-a-bow-on-it-elevate-your-gift-wrapping-game-wi
Ring in the New Year with the black-eyed hermit crab
January 6, 2017 Blog post:
The black-eyed hermit is never far from home, because it carries it along. Hermit crabs find protection from predators inside empty snail shells.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/january-2017/eyes-under-puget-sound-critter-of-the-month-blac
Flora or fauna? The tube-dwelling anemone lights up the Sound with its "blooms"
June 5, 2017 Blog post:
Meet the tube-dwelling anemone, a delicate blossom at the bottom of Puget Sound.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/june-2017/eyes-under-puget-sound-critter-of-the-month-tube
Think pink: bloodworms rule the beaches of South Sound
August 31, 2018 Blog post:
Bloodworms are a type of polychaete, or marine segmented worm, in the family Glyceridae.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/august-2018/eyes-under-puget-sound-critter-of-the-month-bloo
What's bugging Puget Sound benthos?
November 30, 2021 Blog post:
Ecology’s Marine Sediment Monitoring Team tracks the health of the sediments and invertebrates at the bottom of Puget Sound. They've been on the decline for decades – what could be contributing?
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/november-2021/what-s-bugging-puget-sound-benthos
Things that go bump in the night: the sea spiders look a fright
October 26, 2017 Blog post:
Sea spiders have segmented bodies, hard exoskeletons, and long, thin legs like land spiders, but they are not closely related.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/october-2017/eyes-under-puget-sound-critter-of-the-month-the-s
The dove snails bring peace and good shell to all
December 19, 2018 Blog post:
Dove snails don't look much like their avian namesake – except for the teardrop shape of their shells.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/december-2018/eyes-under-puget-sound-critter-of-the-month-dove
Stuck at home? Get cozy like the tunicate amphipod
April 23, 2020 Blog post:
Meet the tunicate amphipod, a critter that embraces the comforts of home like no other.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/april-2020/stuck-at-home-get-cozy-like-the-tunicate-amphipod
Babies of the Benthos – Crab edition
April 29, 2022 Blog post:
Many invertebrates allow their young to fend for themselves in the water column, and our beloved Puget Sound crabs are no exception...but they are anything but claws-off when it comes to parenting.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/april-2022/babies-of-the-benthos-crab-edition
Babies of the Benthos – Worm Edition
April 6, 2021 Blog post:
In this Critter edition, let’s dive into the “birds and the bees” of benthic worms, and the resulting faces that only a mother (or an invertebrate taxonomist) could love.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/april-2021/babies-of-the-benthos-worm-edition
These worms are boring! ... into oyster shells, that is
September 26, 2021 Blog post:
Shell-boring worms make their homes in mollusc shells. These parasites are sometimes called mud blister worms, because the burrows that they create inside the shells fill with mud and detritus.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/september-2021/these-worms-are-booooring-into-oyster-shells-that
The brittle stars embody nature's fragility...and resilience
March 28, 2018 Blog post:
The brittle stars truly are in a class all their own.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/march-2018/eyes-under-puget-sound-critter-of-the-month-the
May the ‘stache be with you – celebrate Movember with the shovelhead worm
November 16, 2020 Blog post:
This month, let’s pay homage to the most fan-stache-tic of facial adornments (and be mindful of Movember’s mission) with Puget Sound’s mustachioed mud-dweller: the shovelhead worm.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/november-2020/may-the-‘stache-be-with-you-celebrate-movember-w
Meow we’re talking…about the catworms
June 22, 2022 Blog post:
June is National Adopt-a-Cat Month. But what about the benthic version of our purrrfect pals? Let me tell you a tail of the catworms...
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/june-2022/meow-we-re-talking…about-the-catworms
Celebrate Pride! The ornate tube worm sports all the colors of the rainbow
June 27, 2019 Blog post:
Our benthic taxonomists share details on critters in sediment habitats, including life history, and the role each critter plays in the community. This month's focus is the Ornate Tube Worm.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/june-2019/celebrate-pride-the-ornate-tube-worm-sports-all-t
The seed shrimp are more than meets the eye
April 1, 2016 Blog post:
This month we bring you an entire group of nifty little critters collectively known as the ostracods, or seed shrimp.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/april-2016/eyes-under-puget-sound-critter-of-the-month-the-se
Shifting sands: The sand star is born to run
May 3, 2016 Blog post:
If you’ve ever been to an aquarium or explored a tide pool, then this Critter of the Month is no stranger to you!
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/may-2016/eyes-under-puget-sound-critter-of-the-month-the
Having a bad hair day? The hair worms can relate
October 31, 2016 Blog post:
The hair worms belong to a family of polychaetes called Cirratulidae, and their tangled hairs are actually branchiae, external gills that occur in pairs along their bodies.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/january-2017/eyes-under-puget-sound-critter-of-the-month-the
The dumbbell worm is no dummy
June 12, 2015 Blog post:
The dumbbell worm is tiny, ranging from 15 to 20 millimeters long and about 5 millimeters wide. It belongs to class Polychaeta, within the phylum Annelida.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/june-2015/critter-of-the-month-the-dumbbell-worm
Pea crabs, the ultimate unwelcome houseguests
August 19, 2016 Blog post:
Pea crabs are very tiny. They can be found inside oysters, marine worms, or — especially in the Pacific Northwest —in ghost shrimp burrows.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/august-2016/eyes-under-puget-sound-critter-of-the-month-the-p
Stretch it out: The squat lobster finds strength in flexibility
December 29, 2022 Blog post:
It’s almost January, which for many, means healthy New Year’s resolutions. This month’s critter varies its routine to stay in shape year-round, in order to adapt to life in a changing ocean.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/december-2022/stretch-it-out-the-squat-lobster-achieves-peak-fle
The spiny pink scallop is ready for sweater weather
September 26, 2019 Blog post:
This particular scallop is known for its bright color and the prominent spines that adorn the ribs running down its shell.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/september-2019/the-spiny-pink-scallop-ready-for-sweater-weather
Life is stressful at the bottom of Bellingham Bay
January 8, 2014 Blog post:
The communities of small invertebrates, also known as benthos, living in the sand and mud at the bottom of Bellingham Bay are showing signs of stress.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/january-2014/eyes-under-puget-sound-life-is-stressful-at-the-bo
Bad to the bone: The skeleton shrimps are drop-dead cool
October 29, 2018 Blog post:
If you can put aside their alien appearance, skeleton shrimp are fascinating creatures.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/october-2018/eyes-under-puget-sound-critter-of-the-month-the
The "unicorn" shrimp is pure magic
June 13, 2018 Blog post:
Nebalia pugettensis is a tiny crustacean that lives on the sea floor, with a horn-like rostrum and leg-like appendages that function as lungs.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/june-2018/eyes-under-puget-sound-critter-of-the-month-neba
Beware of cute little monsters: The jelly-dwelling anemone has a spooky secret
October 28, 2020 Blog post:
Step aside, Alien. Puget Sound has its very own version of this famous parasitic predator, but without the terrifying claws or fangs.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/october-2020/beware-of-cute-little-monsters-the-twelve-tentacle
Explore your sweet (or bitter) side this Valentine’s Day with the western bittersweet
February 13, 2020 Blog post:
This Valentines day, celebrate our most complicated emotions and learn more about the western bittersweet.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/february-2020/explore-your-sweet-or-bitter-side-this-valentine
A moment in the sun for the common sun star
August 11, 2017 Blog post:
With its bright sun-like appearance, the common sun star is one of the more beautiful creatures in Puget Sound.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/august-2017/eyes-under-puget-sound-critter-of-the-month-comm
Here comes the sun! The golden petal worm shines like the rays of the spring sun
June 18, 2020 Blog post:
This month’s critter has a set of flowery petals that shine through the dark waters of Puget Sound like the golden rays of the sun.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/june-2020/here-comes-the-sun-the-golden-petal-worm-shines-l
The gaper clams live in the shadows of giants
July 27, 2021 Blog post:
Nothing says “summer” like digging for clams in Puget Sound, but finding a gaper clam often brings disappointment. Geoduck hunters, don’t despair — the humble gaper is a treasure in its own right.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/july-2021/the-gaper-clam-lives-in-the-shadows-of-giants
The striped nudibranch: Don’t mess with this ferocious sea slug!
July 30, 2019 Blog post:
Nudibranchs, or sea slugs, are the elegant, marine-dwelling cousins of the slimy brown slugs you find in your garden.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/july-2019/the-striped-nudibranch-don-t-mess-with-this-feroci
Riddle me this: What is a glistenworm?
July 15, 2016 Blog post:
The glistenworm is a shell-less, footless mollusk that burrows into marine sediments by digging with the shield around its mouth.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/july-2016/eyes-under-puget-sound-critter-of-the-month-the
Don’t go breaking my heart, crab!
February 10, 2021 Blog post:
As rare and wondrous as true love itself, the heart crab maintains a quiet existence, delighting the hearts of those lucky enough for a chance encounter.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/february-2021/don-t-go-breaking-my-heart-crab
Bend, but don’t break: The bamboo worms flex and flourish
June 22, 2021 Blog post:
Since June encompasses three outdoorsy occasions, let’s get our hands dirty and talk about an incredible group of animals that resemble a truly incredible plant: the bamboo worms.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/june-2021/bend-but-dont-break-the-bamboo-worms-have-a-tough
Got New Year’s resolutions? The two-tentacled hydroid proves that change is possible
January 13, 2021 Blog post:
Beneath the waters of Puget Sound, the two-tentacled hydroid proves that it’s possible to make a completely fresh start, while still keeping a few of those old bad habits.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/january-2021/got-new-year-s-resolutions-the-two-tentacled-hydro
Dark got you down? Shine a little light with the lamp shells
November 23, 2021 Blog post:
It's that special time of year when we feel like we dwell in darkness 24 hours a day. Let’s shed a little light on the gloom with this month’s critter group: the lamp shells.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/november-2021/dark-got-you-down-shine-a-little-light-with-the-la
Sound-to-table? The sweet potato sea cucumber is a produce impersonator
October 11, 2016 Blog post:
With its smooth, plump body, this month’s critter bears a resemblance to items you might find in a grocery store. Meet Molpadia intermedia, the Sweet Potato Sea Cucumber.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/october-2016/eyes-under-puget-sound-critter-of-the-month-swee
The cactus worm is on point and looking sharp
January 29, 2016 Blog post:
This month’s critter may look like a cross between a worm and a cactus, but it is actually neither.
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/january-2016/critter-of-the-month-the-cactus-worm
Brighten your holiday season with the northern opalescent nudibranch
December 11, 2019 Blog post:
This month’s aquatic critter looks like a luminous holiday spirit carrying dozens of flickering candles. Definitely don’t try this at home, no matter how festive the effect might be!
https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/december-2019/brighten-your-holiday-season-with-the-northern-opa
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