sunflower sea star

The Salish Sea is rich with marine life, from the beaches along the Straight of Juan de Fuca to the protected estuarine lagoons. Upon setting food on the shores, one is bound to encounter some of the thousands of species of animals that call the Salish Sea home. From crabs, shrimp, and sea stars, to molluscs, worms, and even cephalopods like the giant Pacific octopus, this EZ ID Guide is designed to make even the most novice beachcomber feel like an expert at species identification.

red starfish

How to use this guide: Browse by picture or lookup the common or scientific name by using the search tool in the upper right of the table below. Try sorting and filtering the list by using the links in the upper left of the table. Scroll down to see more items in the list.