WHAT ARE THOSE STRANGE CREATURES CLINGING TO THE ROCKS DURING A LOW TIDE?

The purpose of this website is to help identify the unusual intertidal (between the tides) animals that might be discovered when exploring the rocky shores of the southern Oregon coast during a low tide.  I hope the photos and the accompanying descriptions of these animals and a little information about each one of them will encourage you to explore the tide-pools and rocky intertidal areas of this remote southwestern corner of Oregon.

Click on each category (top right sidebar) and scroll down to see the various intertidal species. 

As the tide goes out, water is captured in crevices and holes, creating large and small tide-pool "aquariums." If you keep very still and look closely, you will probably see some very interesting creatures in these unique habitats. The bright orange frilled animals in the photo are Red Sea Cucumbers (Cucumaria miniata), the purple spikey animals are Purple Sea Urchins (Stronglyocentrotus purpuratus), and the green flower-like animals are Giant Green Anemones (Anthopleura xanthogrammica).

A very low-tide also provides access to rocks and caves, normally covered by water during a high tide.  In addition to the large, bright sea stars (they aren't called starfish any more!) in the photo below, there is a multitude of other animals clinging to these shear rock faces, waiting for the tide to reverse.

Intertidal organisms have to withstand harsh and varied environmental conditions: pounding surf (see below), hours without any water at all, baking sun, voracious predators, and copious amounts of rain diluting the salinity of smaller tide-pools during low-tides.  The unique, resilient intertidal species are specially adapted to these brutal challenges.  The southern Oregon coast has huge populations and a wide diversity of intertidal species waiting to be discovered...come and explore!

Comments

[Bill Curtis]

Sandy - the photography and descriptions are wonderful!!!

Good work!

Bill Curtis

[jewett rae]

Thanks. This is helpful.

[Sheri]

Awesome! I have been in Oklahoma for 4 years caring for my senior mother. She is gone and I am looking to relocate in Gold Beach. I raised my family in Eugene and got to live in Sisters for a year before I came here. I love Sisters. But I have been looking at Gold Beach and being an outdoors gal and a photographer I am certain it will be Gold Beach. Plus the family voted for the Coast!!! I was raised partly at Vandenberg AFB where we did a lot of climbing on the rocks where there were tide pools as a child. I am thrilled at the thought of making GB my home next year. And thank you for this site. It is so beautiful and maybe I will get to meet you next year! We can take a hike and take photographs. Who knows! Anyway - lovely site. Thank you, Sheri