Common Name | Scientific Name | Notes |
Class Gastropoda – Limpets, Snails and Nudibranchs | | |
Family Acmaeidae – Plate Limpets | | |
Atlantic Plate Limpet | Testudinalia testudinalis | |
Family Trochidae – Top Shells | | |
Obscure Solarelle | Solariella obscura | very rare; one found in 1958. |
Family Lacunidae – Lacuna Shells | | |
Common Northern Lacuna | Lacuna vincta | |
Family Calyptraeidae – Cup-and-Saucer Limpets | | |
Common Atlantic Slipper | Crepidula fornicata | on Nomans Land |
Convex Slipper | Crepidula convexa | |
Eastern White Slipper | Crepidula plana | also on Nomans Land |
Striate Cup-and-Saucer Limpet | Crucibulum striatum | very rare |
Family Rissoidae – Cingulas | | |
Pointed Cingula | Cingula aculeus | uncommon to rare |
Chestnut Alvania | Alvania castanea | |
Carinate Alvania | Alvania pelagica | |
Family Littorinidae - Periwinkles | | |
Smooth Periwinkle | Littorina obtusata | also on Nomans Land |
Northern Rough Periwinkle | Littorina saxatilis | |
Common Periwinkle | Littorina littorea | also on Nomans Land |
Marsh Periwinkle | Littorina irrorata | uncommon |
Family Triforidae - Triforas | | |
Black-lined Trifora | Trifora nigrocincta | uncommon |
Family Janthinidae – Purple Snails | | |
Common Purple Sea Snail | Janthina janthina | rare |
Globe Purple Sea Snail | Janthina globosa | very rare; two found in 1959 |
Family Aporrhaidae – Pelican’s Foot | | |
American Pelican’s Foot | Aporrhais occidentalis | very rare; one found in 1960 |
Family Naticidae – Moon Shells | | |
Common Northern Moon Shell | Lunatia heros | also on Nomans Land |
Shark Eye | Polinices duplicatus | |
Immaculate Moon Shell | Polinices immaculatus | rare |
Spotted Northern Moon Shell | Lunatia triseriata | uncommon; on Nomans Land |
Southern Miniature Natica | Natica pusilla | uncommon |
Arctic Natica | Natica clausa | very rare; found 1873 |
Family Buccinidae - Whelks | | |
Waved Whelk | Buccinum undatum | uncommon; on Nomans Land |
Pygmy Colus | Colus pygmaea | very local and rare |
Northern Colus | Colus islandicus | rare |
Brown-corded Neptune | Neptunea decemcostata | uncommon |
Family Melongenidae – Crown Conchs | | |
Knobbed Whelk | Busycon carica | on Nomans Land |
Channeled Whelk | Busycon canaliculatum | |
Family Muricidae – Drills and Rock Shells | | |
Atlantic Oyster Drill | Urosalpinx cinereal | also on Nomans Land |
Thick-lipped Drill | Eupleura caudata | |
Atlantic Dogwinkle | Nucella lapillus | on Nomans Land |
Family Nassariidae – Mud Snails | | |
New England Nassa | Nassarius trivittatus | on Nomans Land |
Common Eastern Nassa | Nassarius vibex | rare |
Eastern Mud Nassa | Nassarius obsoletus | |
Family Columbellidae – Dove Shells | | |
Well-ribbed Dove Shell | Anachis translirata | also on Nomans Land |
Greedy Dove Shell | Anachis avara | |
Lunar Dove Shell | Mitrella lunata | |
Family Epitoniidae - Wentletraps | | |
Greenland Wentletrap | Epitonium greenlandicum | uncommon |
Brown-banded Wentletrap | Epitonium rupicola | rare |
Champion’s Wentletrap | Epitonium championi | |
Family Turritellidae – Worm Shells | | |
Spiral Worm Shell | Vermicularia spirata | |
Alternate Bittium | Bittium alternatum | |
Family Cerithiidae – Cerith Shells | | |
Adam’s Miniature Cerith | Seila adamsi | rare |
Awl Miniature Cerith | Cerithiopsis subulata | rare |
Green’s Miniature Cerith | Cerithiopsis greeni | rare |
Brown Sargassum Snail | Litiopa melanostoma | rare; only on Sargassum weed |
Family Turridae – Mangelia Shells | | |
Plicose Mangelia | Mangelia plicosa | uncommon |
Waxy Mangelia | Mangelia cerina | uncommon |
Violet Mangelia | Curitoma violacea | uncommon |
Lora Turret | Propebela lora | |
Harpshell Turret | Proebela harpularia | very rare; found off Gay Head 1871, 1880, 1881 |
Family Pyramidellidae – Odostomes and allies | | |
Fat Odostome | Odostomia gibbosa | |
Half-smooth Odostome | Odostomia seminuda | |
Double-sutured Odostome | Odostomia bisuturalis | |
Bush’s Odostome | Odostomia bushiana | rare |
Three-lined Odostome | Odostomia trifida | uncommon |
Snowy Turbonille | Turbonilla nivea | rare |
Verrill’s Turbonille | Turbonilla verrilli | rare; the type specimen taken at Martha’s Vineyard. |
Elegant Turbonille | Turbonilla elegantula | very rare |
Varied Turbonille | Turbonilla stricta | uncommon |
Carolina Turbonille | Turbonilla caroliniana | uncommon |
Interrupted Turbonille | Turbonilla interrupta | |
Mighel’s Turbonille | Turbonilla mighelsi | rare |
Long Pyram | Sayella producta | rare |
Stimpson’s Pyram | Stilifer stimpsoni | rare |
Olive Mellanella | Mellanella oleacea | |
Conoidal Eulima | Melanella conoidea | rare |
Family Amnicolidae – River Dwellers | | |
Totten’s Hydrobia | Hydrobia totteni | |
Family Caecidae – Tiny Tubular Snails | | |
Beautiful Little Caecum | Cuecum pulchellum | |
Cooper’s Atlantic Caecum | Caecum cooperi | rare |
Family Acteonidae – Baby-Bubbles | | |
Adam’s Baby-Bubble | Acteon punctostriatus | very rare; one found c. 1960 |
Family Atydae – Paper-Bubbles | | |
Eastern Paper-bubble | Haminoea solitaria | |
Atlantic Paper-bubble | Haminoea succinea | uncommon to rare |
Quadrate Paper-bubble | Philine quadrata | |
Family Retusidae – Barrel-Bubbles | | |
Channeled Barrel Bubble | Retusa canaliculata | rare |
Arctic Barrel Bubble | Retusa obtusa | |
Family Acteocinidae – Barrel-Bubbles | | |
Brown’s Barrel-Bubble | Cylichna alba | |
Oryza Barrel-Bubble | Acteocina oryza | rare |
Family Ellobiidae – Salt Marsh Snails | | |
Common Salt Marsh Snail | Melampus bidentatus | |
Family Aplysiidae – Sea-hares | | |
Willcox’s Sea-hare | Aplysia willcoxi | uncommon; one found in 1968 |
Family Cymbulidae – Pteropods | | |
Shoe-shaped Pteropod | Corolla calceola | very rare; found once off Gay Head |
Family Spiratellidae – Pteropods | | |
Retrovert Pteropod | Spiratella retroversa | rare; found in late 1800’s and in 1964 |
Family Plakobranchidae - Sea Slugs | | |
Eastern Emerald Elysia | Elysia chlorotica | Found in Menemsha Pond (iNaturalist) |
Family Clionidae – Sea Butterflies | | |
Naked Sea Butterfly | Clione limacina | |
Family Cavolinidae – Pteropods | | |
Three-toothed Cavoline | Cavolina tridentata | rare |
Straight-needle Pteropod | Creseis acicula | very rare; found in 1871 |
Family Pleurobranchiidae - Nudibranchs | | |
Atlantic Pleurobranch | Pleurobranchus tarda | found on Sargassum weed in Vineyard Sound |
Family Corambidae - Nudibranchs | | |
Obscure Nudibranch | Corambe obscura | |
Family Dorididae – Nudibranchs | | |
White Dorid | Lamellidoris muricata | |
Family Polyceridae – Nudibranchs | | |
Rim-backed Nudibranch | Polycera dubia | |
Family Fionidae – Nudibranchs | | |
Atlantic Blue Fiona | Fiona pinnata | |
Family Dotodae – Nudibranchs | | |
Coronate Doto | Doto coronata | |
Family Okeniidae – Okenias | | |
Modest Okenia | Okenia modesta | uncommon and off Nomans Land |
Family Dendronotidae – Nudibranchs | | |
Frond Eolis | Dendronotus frondosus | |
Family Scyllaeidae – Nudibranchs | | |
Sargassum Nudibranch | Scyllaea pelagica | found on Sargassum weed in Vineyard Sound |
Family Aeolidiidae – Nudibranchs | | |
Papillose Eolis | Aeolidia papillosa | |
Family Tergipedidae – Nudibranchs | | |
Johnston’s Balloon Eolis | Tergipes despectus | |
Balloon Eolis | Tenellia adspersa | rare; found in 1881 |
Family Glaucidae – Nudibranchs | | |
Blue Glaucus | Glaucus marinus | in ocean off south coast |
Crested Glaucis | Cratena pilata | rare; found in 1873 |
Family Flabellinidae - Nudibranchs | | |
Red-gilled Nudibranch | Flabellina gracilis | |
Red-gilled Nudibranch | Coryphella verrucosa | |
Salmon-gilled Nudibranch | Coryphella salmonacea | |
Dwarf Balloon Eolis | Eubranchus exiguus | |
Painted Balloon Eolis | Eubranchus pallidus | |
Class Amphineura – Chitons | | |
Family Ischnochitonidae - Chitons | | |
Common Eastern Chiton | Chaetopleura apiculata | |
Class Scaphopoda – Dentaliums and Tusk Shells | | |
Family Dentaliidae - Tusks | | |
Stimpson’s Tusk | Antalis entalis | very rare; one known specimen found c.1940’s |
Class Pelecypoda – Clams, Oysters, Scallops, etc. | | |
Family Solemyacidae – Awning Clams | | |
Atlantic Awning Clam | Solemya velum | |
Family Arcidae – Ark Shells | | |
Transverse Ark | Anadara transversa | |
Blood Ark | Anadara ovalis | uncommon to rare |
Ponderous Ark | Noetia ponderosa | |
Family Mytilidae - Mussels | | |
Blue Mussel | Mytilus edulis | on Nomans Land |
Black Mussel | Musculus niger | |
Smooth Mussel | Musculus laevigata | uncommon |
Northern Horse Mussel | Modiolus modiolus | uncommon; also on Nomans Land |
Atlantic Ribbed Mussel | Modiolus demissus | also on Nomans Land |
Glandular Bean Mussel | Crenella glandula | |
Family Pectinidae - Scallops | | |
Atlantic Bay Scallop | Aequipecten irradians | on Nomans Land |
Atlantic Deep Sea Scallop | Placopecten magellanicus | |
Iceland Scallop | Chlamys islandica | uncommon |
Family Anomiidae – Jingle Shells | | |
Common Jingle | Anomia simplex | also on Nomans Land |
Prickly Jingle | Anomia aculeate | uncommon |
Family Ostreidae - Oysters | | |
Eastern Oyster | Crassostrea virginica | |
Family Crassatellidae – Triangular Shells | | |
Lindsley’s Crassinella | Crasinella mactracea | uncommon |
Family Carditidae - Carditas | | |
Northern Cardita | Venericardia borealis | uncommon; on Nomans Land |
Family Diplodontidae – Cleft Clams | | |
Atlantic Cleft Clam | Thyasira trisinuata | uncommon |
Family Lucinidae – Lucinas | | |
Northeast Lucina | Lucinoma filosa | |
Cross-hatched Lucina | Divaricella quadrisulcata | uncommon |
Family Cardiidae – Cockle Shells | | |
Morton’s Egg Cockle | Laevicardium mortoni | |
Northern Dwarf Cockle | Cerastoderma pinnulatum | |
Family Nuculidae – Nut Clams | | |
Atlantic Nut Clam | Nucula proxima | |
Delphinula Nut Clam | Nucula delphinodonta | rare; found off Gay Head |
Family Nuculanidae - Yoldias | | |
File Yoldia | Yoldia limatula | uncommon |
Short Yoldia | Yoldia sapotilla | |
Family Astartidae - Astartes | | |
Chestnut Astarte | Astarte castanea | on Nomans Land |
Waved Astarte | Astarte undata | uncommon |
Squarish Astarte | Astarte quadrans | |
Family Pleurophoridae – Black Clams | | |
Ocean Quahog | Arctica islandica | uncommon on shore |
Family Veneridae – Venus Clams | | |
Northern Quahog | Mercenaria mercenaria | on Nomans Land |
Morrhua Venus | Pitar morrhuana | rare |
Amethyst Gem Clam | Gemma gemma | |
Family Leptonidae – Nestler Clams | | |
Atlantic Flat Lepton | Mysella planulata | |
Northern Lepton | Mysella bidentata | rare; found in 1875 |
Eastern Aligena | Aligena elevata | uncommon |
Family Petricolidae – False Angel Wing | | |
False Angel Wing | Petricola pholadiformis | |
Family Pholadidae – Boring Clams and Piddocks | | |
Fallen Angel Wing | Barnea truncata | uncommon |
Great Piddock | Zirphaea crispata | rare to very rare |
Angel Wing | Cyrtopleura costata | uncommon |
Family Tellinidae - Tellins | | |
Northern Dwarf Tellin | Tellina agilis | uncommon |
Delicate Tellin | Tellina tenella | rare |
Tenta Macoma | Macoma tenta | rare |
Balthic Macoma | Macoma balthica | uncommon |
Family Semelidae - Semeles | | |
Tellin-like Cumingia | Cumingia tellinoides | |
Family Corbuldae – Basket Clams | | |
Contracted Corbula | Corbula contracta | rare |
Family Sanguinolariidae – Long Siphon Clams | | |
Stout Tagelus | Tagelus plebeius | also on Nomans Land |
Purplish Tagelus | Tagelus divisus | very rare |
Family Solenidae – Razor Clams | | |
Atlantic Razor Clam | Siliqua costata | rare |
Common Razor Clam | Ensis directus | |
Green Jackknife Clam | Solen viridis | rare |
Family Mactridae – Surf Clams | | |
Stimpson’s Surf Clam | Spisula polynyma | |
Atlantic Surf Clam | Spisula solidissima | found on Nomans Land |
Dwarf Surf Clam | Mulinia lateralis | |
Family Hiatellidae – Saxicaves | | |
Arctic Saxicave | Hiatella arctica | extremely rare; found once in October 1958 |
Family Myacidae – Soft-shell Clams | | |
Soft-shell Clam | Mya arenaria | |
Family Thraciidae – Thracias | | |
Conrad’s Thracia | Thracia conradi | |
Northern Thracia | Thracia septentrionalis | rare |
Family Periplomatidae – Spoon Clams | | |
Lea’s Spoon Clam | Periploma leanum | |
Paper Spoon Clam | Periploma papyratium | |
Family Mesodesmatidae – Wedge Clams | | |
Arctic Wedge Clam | Mesodesma arctatum | uncommon |
Family Teredinidae – Shipworms | | |
Common Shipworm | Teredo navalis | uncommon; also on Nomans Land |
Family Lysonidae – Lysonias | | |
Glassy Lyonsia | Lyonsia hyalina | uncommon |
Family Pandoridae - Pandoras | | |
Gould’s Pandora | Pandora gouldiana | uncommon |
Class Cephalopoda – Squid, Octopus, and Cuttlefish | | |
Family Spirulidae – Spirulas | | |
Common Spirula | Spirula spirula | very rare |
Family Loliginidae – Long-finned Squid | | |
Atlantic Long-finned Squid | Loligo pealeii | common seasonally |
Family Ommastrephidae – Short-finned Squid | | |
Short-finned Squid | Illex illecbrosus | uncommon in Vineyard Sound |
Family Argonautidae – Nautiluses | | |
Common Paper Nautilus | Argonauta argo | extremely rare; the northernmost known locality for this tropical species. |
Family Octopodidae - Octopusses | | |
Offshore Octopus | Bathypolypus arcticus | uncommon; usually in deep ocean water; a small one found in Menemsha Pond in October 1988. |
Common Atlantic Octopus | Octopus vulgaris | one taken in Vineyard Sound 1876 |