Whiskey Creek Beach 

Clallam Co., WA

Site Description:       

This site is on the north side of the Olympic Peninsula and faces the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  It is a very diverse site with areas of sand, mud, mudstone, cobbles, and large rocks.  Large patches are covered in various types of seaweed and algae.  At the easternmost end is a large rock outcropping with huge boulders.  The beach is over a mile long and the various habitats are interspersed along its length.  The following list also includes some subtidal observances found just offshore.

Google Map
 

                                     
                                                                                    Facing west along the Strait

                                               
                                                                                    Facing east along the Strait     


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

The frequency rating only applies to the intertidal data.  The subtidal list is incomplete and due to the nature of the data, is not rated for frequency.

Intertidal - I
Subtidal - S  

     Bivalves
Adula californiensis  I  [4]
Chlamy hastata  I,S  [4]  (juveniles in tide pools, adults subtidally)  
Clinocardium nuttallii  I,S  [3]
Crassadoma gigantea  I,S  [4]
Crassostrea gigas  I  [3]
Entodesma navicula  I,S  [4]
Humilaria kennerleyi  S     
Kellia suborbicularis  I  [4]
Leukoma staminea  I  [2]  (ridged form in pholad burrows)
Macoma inquinata  I  [3]
Macoma nasuta  I  [3]
Macoma secta  I  [4]
Mactromeris polynyma  I  [4]
Mytilus californianus  I  [4]
Mytilus complex  I  [1]
Penitella penita  I  [4]
Petricola carditoides  I  [4]
Platyodon cancellatus  I  [3]
Pododesmus macrochisma  I  [2]
Saxidomus gigantea  I,S  [2]
Solen sicarius  I  [4]
Tresus capax  I,S  [3]
Tresus nuttallii  I,S  [4]
Zirfaea pilsbryi  I,S  [4]
 
     Gastropods
Acmaea mitra  I,S  [3]
Alia carinata  I  [2]
Amphissa columbiana  I,S  [2]
Calliostoma ligatum  I,S  [2]
Calyptraea fastigiata  I  [4]
Crepidula adunca  I  [2]
Crepidula sp.  I,S  [4]
Diodora aspera  I,S  [2]
Epitonium indianorum  I  [4]
Fusitriton oregonensis  I,S  [4]
Granulina margaritula  S  
Lacuna porrecta  I  [4]
Lacuna variegata  I  [3]
Lacuna vincta  I  [3]
Lirabuccinum dirum  I  [1]
Littorina scutulata  I  [1]
Littorina sitkana  I  [1]
Lottia digitalis  I  [3]
Lottia fenestrata  I  [3]
Lottia instabilis  I,S  [4]
Lottia pelta  I  [1]
Lottia persona  I  [1]
Lottia scutum  I  [1]
Margarites pupillus  I  [3]
Nassarius fossatus  I  [4]
Neostylidium eschrichtii  I  [3]
Nucella canaliculata  I  [3]
Nucella lamellosa  I,S  [2]
Nucella ostrina  I  [1]
Paciocinebrina interfossa  I  [4]
Paciocinebrina lurida  I,S  [4]
Olivella biplicata  I  [3]
Opalia wroblewskyi  I  [3]
Tegula funebralis  I  [4]
Tricolia sp.  I  [4]

     Nudibranchs
Acanthodoris nanaimoensis  I,S  [4]  
Aeolidia papillosa  I  [4]
Antiopella fusca  I  [4]
Apata pricei  S
Cadlina luteomarginata  S  
Diaulula odonoghuei  I  [4]
Doris montereyensis  I  [4]
Doris odhneri  S
Onchidoris sp.  S
Rostanga pulchra  S
Triopha catalinae  S  

     Chitons
Cryptochiton stelleri  I,S  [4]
Cyanoplax dentiens  I  [4]
Katharina tunicata  I  [1]
Lepidozona cooperi  I  [4]
Lepidozona mertensii  I,S  [4]
Mopalia kennerleyi  I  [4]
Mopalia lignosa  I,S  [3]
Mopalia muscosa  I  [2]
Mopalia swanii  I,S  [4]  
Tonicella lineata  I,S  [1]
Tonicella undocaerulea  S      

     Cephalopods
Enteroctopus dofleini  S  


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This page last revised: 9-21-2022