24 ANIMALS OF THE SEASHORE 



and the Lady Crab (Ovalipes ocellatus) burrow into 

 the sand close to low water mark. Among the mol- 

 lusks the Surf Clam (Mactra solidissima), the Moon 

 Snail (Polinices duplicatus) and the tiny Wedge Clam 

 (Donax fossor) often live along sandy beaches. 



Many animals of the shallow sea zone, or the 

 off shore communities, are often found on the beach 

 where they have been carried by the waves. If one 

 walks along one of the New Jersey beaches after a 

 severe storm, he is apt to find a great variety of 

 strange sea animals that have been washed either 

 living or dead upon the beach. 



After one storm the beach may be strewn with 

 thousands of Red Sponges (Microciona prolifera) car- 

 ried from the oyster grounds of Delaware Bay. 

 After another storm one may find instead a 

 great many tropical species carried from the Gulf 

 Stream which lies about 100 miles off shore. 

 The Portuguese Man of War (Physalia pelagica), the 

 Gulf Weed Crab [Planes minutus), and other unusual 

 specimens are among the rarer visitors to the New 

 Jersey coast. 



New England is noted for its " stern and rock- 

 bound coast," New Jersey for its sandy beaches. 

 Certain species of sea animals are usually found 

 associated with rocks and would not be expected 

 along the sandy coast of New Jersey. However, in 

 recent years, rock jetties and breakwaters have been 

 built at a number of places along the coast of that 

 state and thus homes are provided for some of these 

 rock-loving species. Among the New England 

 species that are seldom found in New Jersey waters 

 except on the "Rock Piles" are the Periwinkles 

 (Littorina litorea, L. rudis and L. palliata) and the Rock 

 Barnacle (Balanus balanoides) . 



