Sitka  

Baranof Island, Alaska

Site Description:       

Sitka is on the west side of Baranof Island and faces Sitka Sound, a large inlet off of the Pacific Ocean.  The beaches in and around Sitka are a typical mix of cobble and sand with some rock outcroppings.  There are also numerous tiny islands, just offshore from Sitka.

 
Google Map


                 photos not taken at low tide


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.  
Some populations fluctuate seasonally.  Ours are based
                                          on the spring/summer seasons.
)
     [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

Data is all intertidal unless noted.

Due to the nature of the data, this list will not be rated for frequency of occurrence.  It is also a very incomplete list.

     Bivalves
Clinocardium nuttallii
Crassadoma gigantea
Diplodonta impolita
Gari californica
Leukoma staminea
Macoma inquinata
Modiolus modiolus
Mya truncata
Mytilus trossulus
Panopea generosa
Parvilucina tenuisculpta
Pododesmus macrochisma
Saxidomus gigantea
Simomactra falcata (observed subtidally by diver)
Tresus capax
 
     Gastropods
Acmaea mitra
Alia carinata
Amphissa columbiana
Buccinum baeri
Buccinum scalariforme  (subtidal from fishermen)
Ceratostoma foliatum
Crepidula adunca
Epitonium tinctum
Eulithidium pulloides
Fusitriton oregonensis
Granulina margaritula
Haliotis kamtschatkana

Homalopoma luridum
Lacuna vincta
Limneria prolongata
Lirobittium attenuatum
Lirobuccinum dirum
Littorina scutulata
Littorina sitkana
Lottia pelta
Lottia persona
Lottia scutum
Margarites helicinus
Margarites pupillus
Nassarius mendicus
Neptunea lyrata 
Nucella canaliculata
Nucella lamellosa
Nucella lima
Nucella ostrina
Paciocinebrina interfossa
Puncturella cucullata
Odostomia sp.
Oenopota elegans
Olivella baetica (observed subtidally by diver)
Olivella biplicata (observed subtidally by diver)

Tegula funebralis
Tegula pulligo
Trichotropis cancellata

     Chitons
Lepidozona mertensii
Mopalia lignosa
Mopalia spectabilis
Schizoplax brandtii
Tonicella lineata
Tonicella undocaerulea



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This page last revised: 10-17-2022