Here you will find a list of the animals that can be found living in the vicinity of Westbrook Harbor. Primarily, the focus of this list is upon wildlife that can be found on the beach or in the inter-tidal zone (the region of the ocean that alternates between sandbars at low-tide and open water at high-tide). Some terrestrial creatures are included, but only if they can found living in the immediate vicinity of the shoreline.
In essence, this is only a listing of the species that I or my family have observed along West Beach. However, because Westbrook Harbor is relatively small, it is safe to assume that creatures listed here are found along the entire Westbrook shoreline.
The most challenging aspect of creating this list has involved determining the correct taxonomic names of every creature. Although I am personally familiar with each one, I have grown up referring to many of them by colloquial names. I’ve also found that you don’t appreciate the full breadth of biodiversity in Long Island Sound until you actually try to list everything. For example, while we generally refer to “mussels”, we rarely consider that there are at least three different species along Westbrook; the same goes for “jellyfish”. Finally, each of us tends to pay attention to different types of creatures. I, for one, am familiar with herons and gulls of Westbrook Harbor, but have given little attention to many other bird species that are common in the area. Therefore, the process is made more challenging because I must fill gaps in my own consciousness through further observation.
For these reasons, this list is always being revised and expanded. If you notice any errors or omissions, please send me an email.
KEY
I = Incomplete (a listing I believe to be incomplete as of yet)
N = Not verified (the scientific name listed may be incorrect)
R = Rare (a species that is especially rare along Westbrook)
Crabs (and ‘False’ Crabs)
“True” Crabs
- Atlantic Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus)
- Green Crab (Carcinus maenas) also known as the ‘Red Crab’
- Lady Crab (Ovalipes ocellatus) also known as the ‘Sand Crab’
- Nine-spined Spider Crab (Libinia emarginata)
- Longnose Spider Crab (Libinia dubia)
- Atlantic Rock Crab (Cancer irroratus)
- Japanese Shore Crab (Hemigrapsus sanguineus)
Hermit Crabs I
- Long-clawed Hermit Crab (Pagurus longicarpus)
- Flat-clawed Hermit Crab (Pagurus pollicaris)
Horseshoe Crabs
- Atlantic Horseshoe Crab (Limulus polyphemus)
Other
- Mole Crab (Emerita talpoida)
Clams, Mussels & Oysters
Clams I
- Soft-shell Clam (Mya arenaria) also known as the ‘Steamer’
- Hard-shell Clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) also known as the ‘Quahog’
- Atlantic Jackknife Clam (Ensis directus) also known as the ‘Razor Clam’
Mussels
- Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis)
- Ribbed Mussel (Modiolus demissus)
- Horse Mussel (Modiolus modiolus)
Oysters I
- Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica)
Snails I
- Northern Moon Snail (Euspira heros)
- Common Periwinkle (Littorina littorea)
- Channeled Whelk (Busycotypus canaliculatus)
- Knobbed Whelk (Busycon carica)
Worms I
- Sandworm (Alitta virens)
Birds I
- Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
- Great Egret (Ardea alba)
- Yellow-crested Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)
- American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)
- Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)
Reptiles & Amphibians
- Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) R
Mammals
- Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)