Long Island Sound supports a wide diversity of species. Over 1,200 species of invertebrates and 170 species of fish live in Long Island Sound. In addition, sea birds, sea turtles and marine mammals also inhabit the Sound for all or part of the year. The tables below contains a sampling of species that have been found in the waters of Long Island Sound.
- Vascular Plants: 1 (eelgrass)
- Sponges: 28
- Bryozoans: 56
- Algae: 352
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Red Beard Sponge (Microciona prolifera) |
Blood Sea Star (Henricia sanguinolenta)
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- Echinoderms: 41
- Sea Stars & Brittle Stars: 10
- Sea Urchins: 4
- Sand Dollars: 1
- Sea Cucumbers:
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- Cnidarians: 95
- Jellyfish: 8
- Anemones: 14
- Corals:1
- Worms: 84
- Flatworms: 11
- Tapeworms: 4
Paddle Worm (Phyllodoce spp.)
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Frilled Anemone (Metridium senile) |
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Bay Scallops (Argopecten irradians)
Threeline mudsnail (Ilyanassa trivittata)
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- Molluscs: 183
- Mussels: 9
- Scallops: 1
- Oysters: 1
- Snails: 48
- Squid: 2
Red-gilled Nudibranch
(Coryphella verrucosa rufibranchialis)
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- Arthropods: 65
- Horseshoe Crab: 1
- Sea Spiders: 8
- Water Mites: 2
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Flat-clawed Hermit Crab (Pagurus pollicaris) |
Molted shells of rock crabs (Cancer irroratus)
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- Crustaceans: 327
- Water Fleas: 7
- Barnacles: 10
- Crabs: 43
American Lobster (Homarus americanus) |
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Skate (Raja spp.)
Winter Flounder (Pleuronectes americanus)
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- Fishes: 174
- Sharks: 10
- Skates: 5
- Rays: 3
- Sturgeon: 2
- Eels: 2
- Herring: 9
- Anchovies: 2
- Hake: 4
- Pipefish & Seahorses: 2
- Flounder: 8
A sea raven (Hemitripterus americanus) swallows a newly
molted American lobster
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Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
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- Reptiles (all sea turtles): 5
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- Birds: 92
- Loon: 2
- Frigate: 1
- Geese: 3
- Swans: 2
- Ducks: 29
- Hawks: 1
- Eagle: 1
- Gulls: 12
- Terns: 8
- Puffin
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Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii; photo
credit: Pat Lynch, USGS) |
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A harp seal (Phoca groenlandica), rarely
observed in the LIS, rests on an ice sheet up the Connecticut River
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- Mammals: 26
- Whales: 13
- Dolphin: 7
- Seals: 4
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Underwater Tour
