Beachcombers' Checklist

For the Delaware, Maryland, Virginia Beaches

Go to maps of Delaware State Parks

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Before You Go

A small pail, garden trowel, putty knife and magnifying glass, while not necessary, can be useful. The types and numbers of organisms will vary with the weather, seasons, tides and numbers of passersby.

Beachcombing Techniques

• Go slowly, be patient, and look carefully
• Dig into the sand and mud and investigate the water's edge
• Leave organisms in their natural habitat since most can't survive outside their marine environment
• When handling organisms, be gentle
• Be moderate in the nonliving shells and organisms you take home

The Checklist

Feel free to print out this checklist to use as a diary of your beachcombing adventures.

MARINE ALGAE

Sea Lettuce  Hollow Green Weeds  Rockweed  Branching Red Algae

SPONGES

Finger Sponge  Red Beard Sponge 

COELENTERATES

Jellyfish

Mushroom Cap  Lion's Mane  Sea Nettle  Moon Jelly 

Anthozoans

Star Coral  Burrowing Anemones  Frilled Anemone  Ghost Anemone 

COMB JELLIES

Sea Gooseberry  Beroe's Comb Jellies 

MARINE WORMS

Horseshoe Crab Flatworm  Blood Worm  Clam Worm  Plumed Worm

Hard Tube Worms 

MOLLUSKS

Gastropods

Common Periwinkle  Common Slipper Shell  Moon Snail  Oyster Drill

Mud Dog Whelk  Channeled Whelk  Knobbed Whelk  Naked Sea Butterfly 

Bivalves

Blood Ark  Blue Mussel  Ribbed Mussel  Bay Scallop

Common Oyster  Jingle Shell  Hard Shell Clam  Surf Clam

Stout Tagelus  Common Razor Clam  Soft Shell Clam  Angel Wing

False Angel Wing

BRYOZOANS

Bushy Bryozoans  Encrusting Bryozoans 

ECHINODERMS

Sea Cucumbers  Sand Dollar  Asterid Sea Stars 

ARTHROPODS

Merostomata

Horseshoe Crab 

Crustaceans

Acorn Barnacles  Isopods  Beach Fleas  Other Amphipods

Mysid Shrimps  Shore Shrimps  Sand Shrimp  Grass Shrimps

Long-clawed Hermit Crab  Flat-clawed Hermit Crab  Mole Crab (Sand Crab/Flea)

Spider Crab  Blue Crab  Lady Crab  Mud Crabs  Ghost Crab

OTHER POTENTIAL FINDS

Mudsnail Eggcase  Channeled Whelk Eggcase  Knobbed Whelk Eggcase

Horseshoe Crab Eggs  Skate Eggcase  Sea Grapes 

References

• A Field Guide to the Atlantic Seashore by Kenneth L. Gosner
• A Golden Guide to Seashores by Herbert S. Zim, Ph.D.

(Both are available at the Seaside Nature Center in Cape Henlopen State Park).
GO TO CAPE HENLOPEN STATE PARK

 

 

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