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 boulders at Playa Estacion, Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico.

It should be used to complete lab activity 9.4.

Isognomon janus
	"Purse shell" Phylum  Mollusca Class  Pelecypoda Order   Pterioida Family   Isognomonidae
Morphology Very thin, elongate, pale tan shell with 7-9 pits along hinge margin Feeding Filter feeder Defense Shell and ability to live in tight spaces Reproduction Separate sexes and spawning Habitat Under rocks and in crevices in sandy or muddy areas of the intertidal and shallow subtidal Distribution Lower Pacific Baja, throughout the Gulf of California, south along Mexico's Pacific coast Other

Barbatia reeveana
	"Reeve's ark shell" Phylum  Mollusca Class  Pelecypoda Order   Arcoida Family   Arcidae
Morphology Large, white, ribbed shell with dark brown, fuzzy periostracum. Shape often distorted from growing between rocks. Feeding Filter feeder Defense Shell and ability to live in tight spaces Reproduction Separate sexes and spawning Habitat Under rocks in sandy or muddy areas of tidal flats and subtidally in lagoons Distribution Lower Pacific Baja, throughout the Gulf of California, south to Peru Other

Stenoplax conspicua
	"Conspicuous chiton" Phylum  Mollusca Class  Polyplacophora Order   Chitonida Family   Ischnochitonidae
Morphology Elongate; pink brown or green brown shell; fleshy girdle surrounding the shell plates with short spines; over 2 inches long. Feeding Scrapes algae from rocks. Defense Strongly clings to rocks and is protected by eight, overlapping shelly plates Reproduction Spawning Habitat Under intertidal rocks. Distribution Northern and central Gulf of California. Other

Chiton virgulatus
	"Striped chiton" Phylum  Mollusca Class  Polyplacophora Order   Chitonida Family   Chitonidae
Morphology Elongate; dark olive brown shell; fleshy girdle surrounding the shell plates with alternating dark and light bands; about 1.25 to 2.5 inches long. Feeding Scrapes algae from rocks. Defense Strongly clings to rocks and is protected by eight, overlapping shelly plates Reproduction Spawning Habitat Under intertidal rocks. Distribution Lower west coast of Baja California to the northern region of the Gulf of California. Other Most common chiton in the Gulf of California

Nerita funiculata
	"Small nerite" Phylum  Mollusca Class  Gastropoda Order   Archeogastropoda Family   Neritidae
Morphology Globular shell, black to gray, with spiral ribs. Inner lip of aperture with small nodules. Tight fitting operculum forms water tight seal. Commonly 0.75 inches in diameter. Feeding Scrapes algae from rocks. Defense Active on tops of rocks at low tide Reproduction   Habitat On rocks at high tide levels. Distribution Outer coast of Baja California, through the Gulf to Peru. Other Gregarious found in clumps of up to several hundred individuals.

Nerita scabricosta
	"Rough-ribbed nerite" Phylum  Mollusca Class  Gastropoda Order   Archaeogastropoda Family   Neritidae
Morphology Globular shell, black to gray, with spiral ribs. Inner lip of aperture with 4 large teeth. Tight fitting operculum forms water tight seal. Commonly 1.5 inches in diameter Feeding Scrapes algae from rocks. Defense Live high in the intertidal Reproduction   Habitat On rocks at high tide levels. Distribution Outer coast of Baja California, through the Gulf to Equador. Other Snail increases in size as one moves south in the Gulf.

Turbo fluctuosus
	"Turban shell" Phylum  Mollusca Class  Gastropoda Order   Archeogastropoda Family   Turbinidae
Morphology Top-shaped shell with a heavy calcarous operculum. Color is variable, from bright orange to dark green. Commonly 2.5 inches. Feeding Grazes on algae. Defense Closes its shell aperature with a hard, calcareous operculum Reproduction   Habitat Abundant on rocky shores. Distribution Throughout the Gulf of California and south to Peru and Ecuador Other Operculum is collected for jewelry. Best observed at night.

Columbella fuscata
	"Dove shell" Phylum  Mollusca Class  Gastropoda Order   Neogastropoda Family   Columbellidae
Morphology Red brown shell with green to brown periostracum and purple white aperture. Feeding Tear off bits of seaweed Defense Shell with narrow aperture Reproduction Seperate sexes, attach egg capsules to seaweeds Habitat Under intertidal rocks and in tidepools Distribution Lower Pacific Baja, throughout the Gulf of California, south to Peru Other

Diadora inaequalis
	"Orange keyhole limpet" Phylum  Mollusca Class  Gastropoda Order   Archaeogastropoda Family   Fissurellidae
Morphology Opening at top of cap-shaped shell; fleshy orange mantle; broad in middle and constricted at both ends. Feeding Graze on microscopic algae on rocks. Defense Clamp tightly to rocks and are protected by shell Reproduction Habitat Found on the underside of rocks in the intertidal. Distribution Throughout the Gulf of California, south to Galapagos Islands. Other

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.