Be sure to write about what you are learning in the lab section of your notebook. You will be expected to answer questions about the lab activity during the lab self test and lab quiz. It helps to have your text and coloring books open beside you for support.

This picture gallery summarizes the biota found under beachrock overhangs at Playa Estacion, Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico.

It should be used to complete lab activity 9.2.

Leucetta losangelensis
	"Breadcrumb sponge" Phylum  Porifera Class  Calcarea Order   Leucosoleniida Family   Leucosoleniidae
Morphology Typically small and white, with a fingerlike growth pattern and large excurrent pores (oscula). Its calcareous rods in its skeleton makes this sponge rough and sandpapery to the touch. Feeding Filter feeding Defense Unpalatable Reproduction Asexual budding and sexual spawning Habitat Rocky intertidal. Found in narrow crevices between boulders and also under rocks. Distribution Southern California to the Gulf of California Other Most common calcareous sponge of the Gulf of California

Geodia mesotriaena
	"Fuzzy gray sponge" Phylum  Porifera Class  Demospongiae Order   Choristida Family   Geodiidae
Morphology Its color varies from white, gray, brown to purple on the outside and white or pale cream inside. The sponge spreads laterally into a massive cake, often forming very large colonies. Topped by leathery with many excurrent openings (oscula). A distinctive feature of this sponge is that the large pores(oscula) are restricted to sieve plates, which are leathery discs about 2-3 sm in diameter, with many openings. Its internal chambers shelter many other creatures including small porcelain crabs, brittle stars, and segmented worms. Feeding Filter feeding Defense Unpalatable Reproduction Asexual budding and sexual spawning Habitat Lives in the lowest tidal area under boulders. Distribution From southern Alaska to the Gulf of California. Other Predators are few including some nudibranchs and brittle stars. Its internal chambers shelter many other creatures including small porcelain crabs, brittle stars, and segmented worms.

Tethya aurantia
	"Golf ball sponge" Phylum  Porifera Class  Demospongiae Order   Hadromerida Family   Tethyidae
Morphology Golf-ball shaped, yellow-orange, warty sponge. It has root-like processes at its base that attach it to rock surfaces. Inside it has tough fibers that radiate out from the center. One to three inches in diameter. Feeding Filter feeding Defense Unpalatable Reproduction Asexual budding and sexual larval production Habitat On the undersides of rocks, rocky overhangs, caves and crevices in the lower intertidal and shallow subtidal Distribution Throughout the world's oceans including the Gulf of California Other Contain a layer of symbiotic algae just below their surface

Aglaophenia diegensis
	"Ostrich plume hydroid" Phylum  Cnidaria Class  Hydrozoa Order   Hydroida Family   Plumulariidae
Morphology Delicate yellowish-tan to brown feather-like plume that grows singly or in small clumps. Each plume has a center ridge to which a few small seed-shaped reproductive bodies are attached. Grows tall to 150 mm. Feeding All polyps share a common hollow gut for digestion. Defense Has stinging cells that when touched, are irritating. Reproduction The thickened parts on the individual stalk indicate mature gonozoids which repture and release medusae into the ocean. When the medusae reproduce, the larvae settle to the bottom, attach and become ostrich plumes again. Habitat Growing around the edge of a tidepool attached to rocks, shells, ledges, and pilings. Distribution Alaska to Ecuador and throughout the Gulf of California Other Most common intertidal hydroid of the Gulf of California

Bunodosoma californica
	"Warty anemone" Phylum  Cnidaria Class  Anthozoa Order   Actiniaria Family   Actiniidae
Morphology Large and solitary. Brownish-red or orange - tenacles may be red, brown or green. Its column is covered with bumps or warts randomly placed.  Feeding Paralyzes its prey with stinging cells in their tentacles. Defense Can release stinging cells (nematocysts) and will retract when touched. Reproduction Spawning Habitat Rocky intertidal areas. Distribution Gulf of California, Baja ranging to Bahia Magdalena. Other Perhaps the most abundant large anemone found in the gulf.

Octopus fitchi
	"Fitch's octopus" Phylum  Mollusca Class  Cephalopoda Order   Octopoda Family   Octopodidae
Morphology Small, reddish brown octopus with an elongate body 0.5 to 1.25 inches long with 8 arms 2.5 to 3 times the length of the body. Feeding Carnivorous on invertebrates especially crabs and other crustacea Defense Can change color to match its background and can hide in cramped spaces. Can swim by jet propulsion and can bite. Reproduction Male transfers sperm to female using a specialized arm. Female deposits eggs singly on undersides of rocks. Planktonic larvae. Habitat Under rocks in the subtdial and intertidal Distribution Northern Gulf of California Other Has a reputation for biting and some people may be allergic to its salivary venom.

Bugula neritina
	"Bushy moss animal" Phylum  Bryozoa Class  Gymnolaemata Order   Cheilostomata Family   Anascidae
Morphology Pale to dark reddish-brown or purplish erect and branching bryozoan that is bushy. The bushes are colonies. Each branch is composed of many tiny skeletal boxes each which houses a tiny tentaculate individual. Feeding Filter Feeding Defense Individuals can withdraw into their hard skeletal boxes. Reproduction Fertilized eggs are held in brood cells. Larvae are released into the plankton. Habitat Intertidal to subtidal Distribution Throughout the world's oceans including the Gulf of California Other

Watersipora arcuata
	"Encrusting moss animal" Phylum  Bryozoa Class  Gymnolaemata Order   Cheilostomata Family   Microporellidae
Morphology Black encrusting bryozoan with red fringe. The flat encrustations are colonies composed of many tiny skeletal boxes each which houses a tiny tentaculate individual. Feeding Filter Feeding Defense Individuals can withdraw into their hard skeletal boxes. Reproduction Fertilized eggs are held in brood cells. Larvae are released into the plankton. Habitat Intertidal to subtidal Distribution Other

Othilia tenuspina
	"Black-tipped starfish" Phylum  Echinodermata Class  Asteroidea Order   Spinulosa Family   Echinasteridae
Morphology Brownish-gray with dark red-black tipped rays, the ventral side is yellowish-orange. On the rays are small spines. Feeding They invert their stomachs, engulf their prey, and begin the digestion process while their stomach is still outside their body. Defense A creamy fluid is secreted from pores in the rays when the animal is disturbed.  Reproduction A synchronized release of sperm and eggs into the water. This is triggered by the previous release of a chemical substance, called a pheromone, into the water, signaling everyone to get ready for the "big day". Habitat Found on rocks at the low tide level where there is some current. Distribution Northern Gulf of California, sporadically in the southern Gulf Other Can regenerate into a whole animal if at least 1 arm and 1/5 disk is present.

Polyclinum laxum
	"Black, colonial tunicate" Phylum  Chordata Class  Ascidiacea Order   Enterogena Family   Polyclinidae
Morphology Generally forms a smooth, raised colony, dark brown to black, with yellow to white individuals arranged in oval or circular groups. Usually 5 - 10 cm across. Individually they are transparent, stiff, and are covered by a jellylike tunic. Feeding Filter small particles from the water using a sticky, basket-like pharynx. Defense Produce distasteful biochemicals Reproduction Produce planktonic "tadpole" larvae that have chordate characteristics. Habitat Live on the surfaces or undersides of rocks Distribution Gulf of California Other Common inhabitant of Puerto Penasco.