Invertebrates
See our handy guide to critters found in local homes and our Central Coast Butterfly FAQ. Browse the insects and other terrestrial arthropods we’ve identified. Check out local marine invertebrates, particularly bivalve mollusks and intertidal organisms.
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Orange invertebrate
What did I find right near the wharf?
Curator Response
Hi Louis,
Thanks for sending us your vividly orange find! This appears to be a tunicate in the genus Metandrocarpa (possibly Metandrocarpa dura). Take a look at similar observations on iNaturalist here.
We’ve previously answered a question about a very common kind of tunicate found in our area, Aplidium californicum, commonly known as Pacific Sea Pork. Tunicates have a surprising family tree; you can read more about it in that previously answered question.
Stay curious,
Associate Curator of Invertebrate Zoology Vanessa Delnavaz, M.A., and Sea Center School & Community Programs Specialist Kennedy Rivera
