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Chapter Four

Flora andFauna

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American kestrel Falco sparveriusThis bird is a small falcon that is about the size of a jay. It isalso known as the Sparrow Hawk.

American oystercatcher Haematopus palliatusThis is a larger shorebird, up to twenty-one inches, with along bright orange- red beak and orange legs. This bird isvery common in shelly/sandy areas and is known for beingnoisy.

Barn owl Tyto albaA common owl, this is the only owl with a light colored, heartshaped face. It has dark eyes and no ear tufts.

Barred owl Strix variaThis owl can reach up to twenty-four inches, and is greyish-brown in color. This owl prefers wooded areas.

Black-Crowned night heron Nyctiocorax nyctiocoraxThese birds are characterized by their squat bodies, and redeyes. They feed mostly at dusk, therefore they appearinactive during the day. They roost in trees, on shores andin marshes.

Black skimme r Rhynchops nigerThis distinctive black-and-white bird, with a knife-like redbill tipped in black, nests on sand fill from newly dredgedareas. The lower bill is slightly longer than the upper . Theyare most likely to be seen skimming along the top of thewater with the lower bill in the water to catch fish.

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Birds

American oystercatcher

Barn owl

Barred owl

Black-crowned night heron

Black skimmer

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Blue-winged teal Anas discorsThis is a small marsh duck that prefers fresher water estua-rine areas. The male is characterized by a white facialcrescent and a large chalky blue patch on the forewing.

Boat-tailed grackle Quiscalus majorLarge, iridescent blackbird with a long tail. Prefers coastalareas.

Boat-tail grackle

Brown pelican Pelecanus occidentalisOne of the larger, well known shorebirds, pelicans have awingspan of up to six and one half feet. They are known fordiving headfirst into water to catch food (fish).

Canada goose Branta canadensisThis large black-and-white bird can be recognized by itscharacteristic “honking” call and V-shaped migratory flights.Canada goose populations have been reduced because ofnesting habitat destruction in the upper northeast andCanada.

Cardinal Richmondena cardinalisThe state bird of North Carolina feeds on the fruits of shrubthicket plants, grapes , blackberries, and insects. Adultfemales are brownish, with the males being bright red.

Cedar waxwing Bombycilla cedrorumA small, sleek, crested, brown bird with a yellow band at thetip of the tail. This bird tends to flock in big groups Theirfavorite foods include berries and insects.

Blue-winged teal

Canada goose

Birds

Cedar waxwing

Brown pelican

Cardinal

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Clapper rail Rallus longirostrisThis large gray-brown bird , about the size of a hen , is alsoknown as a “marsh hen “. They prefer to run or creepthrough the marsh rather than fly.

Common loon Gavia immerLarge swimming birds that fly slower than ducks, havenoticably setback legs, which are used as rudders in thewater. Common in winter.

Common tern Sterna hirundoSmall tern with a black capped head and a red/dark orangebill. Very common along the coast, and easily mistaken for aforester’s tern.

Double-crested cormorant Phalacrocorax auritusCommon swimming bird has a long snake-like neck. Thisbird is often seen perched on pilings, docks and rocks,spreading its wings to dry.

Dowitcher Limnodromus griseusA medium sized (up to twelve inches), rusty colored wadingbird. Has a long beak that it uses like a sewing machine toprobe the mud for invertebrates.

Dunlin Calidris alpinaThis smaller (up to nine inches) wading bird is noted for itsslight downward droop at the tip of the beak In the winter(when it is common to the US coast) it has a rusty-red backand black patch on the belly.

Dunlin

Common tern

Double-crested comorant

Birds

Clapper rail

Common loon

Dowitcher

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Birds

Great blue heron Ardea herodiasThis large gray-blue wading bird has a yellowish bill . Itcaptures fish by patiently watching shallow waters thensnapping up the prey with great accuracy.

Great egret Casmerodius albusThis tall white wading bird is known for its yellow bill andblack legs and feet.

Great horned owl Bubo virginianuA very large owl with ear tufts, this owl can reach twenty-five inches tall. These birds are barred beneath and have adistinct white throat bib.

Green heron Butorides straitusThis heron is smaller and very dark in color. It has shortgreenish-yellow or orange legs and prefers more inlandwaters than the other herons.

Great egret and snowy egret

Green heron

Great horned owl

Birds

God wit Limosa fedorathis larger wading shorebird winters on the Eastern AtlanticCoast. It is known for its long, slightly upturned bill.

Great blue heron

Godwit

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Laughing Gull Larus atricillaThis relatively small gull earns its name from the sound that itmakes – seemingly laughing at everything. In the summer theentire head is black, and along with its small size , it is easilyrecognizable.

Least tern Terna albifronsThis very small tern has a yellow bill and feet. In the winter itis hard to tell apart from other terns except for the yellowfeet.

Little blue heron Florida caeruleaThis is a petite heron, usually slate-blue- grey as an adult,but white as an immature bird. They wade on long legs andhunt for fish and small invertebrates.

Hooded merganser Lophodytes cucullatusThe male has a white fan shaped crest on a black head and thefemale has a tawny crest on a dusky head. The male has awhite breast with two black bars whereas the female is small and dusky. They are diving ducks.

Kingfisher MegaceryleThis greyish-blue bird is a solitary bird that perches above waterwaiting to catch fish. These birds eat fish and small insects.

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Birds

Hooded merganser

Laughing gull Kingfisher

Least tern

Little blue heron

Herring gull

Herring Gull Larus argentatus A common gull with flesh-colored legs. The herring gull is awinter scavenger and helps clean the beaches of dead plantand animal matter.

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Long-billed curlew

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Northern pintail Anas acutaThis slender duck has a very pointed tail, especially themales. It is known to feed on seeds of aquatic plants and, inwinter, on small aquatic animals, such as snails or small crabs

Birds

Louisiana heron Hydrandassa tricolorThis heron is also known as the tri-color heron. It has a darkback and wings and white belly and rump It hunts small fishand invertebrates in the shallows.

Mallard duck Anas platyrhynchosMales and females look different, with males having a glossygreen head and a white ring around the neck. The female isbrownish. Both have orange feet. Very common in ourcoastal areas.

Northern flicker Colaptes auratuKnown as a yellow-shafted flicker, this bird is in the samefamily as woodpeckers. It has a tan colored face with a redcrescent on the nape and a black patch on the chest. It hasgolden yellow under the wings and tail.

Louisiana heron

Mallard duck

Northern flicker Northern pintail

Long-billed curlew Numensuis americanusThis shorebird can obtain a size of twenty six inches and hasa very long sickle shaped, down-curved bill.

Birds

118Birds

Painted bunting Passerina ciriOne of the most brightly colored birds in North America, thissummer resident primarily eats insects, wild fruits and theseeds of weeds.

Peregrine falcon Falco perigrinusThick , heavy dark “side burns” under each eye, this falconis characterized by the darker, greyer back. He is barredand spotted underneath.

Piping plover Charadrius melodusThis small peep is a sand colored bird of no more thanabout 7 inches. In the winter months this birds legs are adark yellow and the bill is dark. A dark ring around the neckhelps identify it.

Painted bunting

Piping plover

Osprey

Osprey Pandion haliaetusThis summer resident of estuarine areas is dark with a whiteunderbody. Ospreys feed almost entirely on fish by hoveringover water and diving headfirst upon the prey, which iscaptured with sharp claws called talons.

Peregrine falcon

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Red-tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensisNamed for its red tail that is easier to see in flight, this hawkfeeds on small rodents and large insects.

Ring-billed gull Larus delawarensisThis gull is smaller than many of the gulls, and the adults arewhite with gray wings and backs. The bill is yellow with aring around the tip.

Redhead Aytha americansThis duck, distinguished by the males’ brick-red head,yellow eyes and bluish bill., has suffered from overhuntingand habitat destruction. It primarily feeds at night on aquaticweeds and nests in marshes.

Prothonotary warbler Protonotaria citreaThis yellow bird is commonly found in wooded swamps andfeeds mainly on insects.

Redhead

Red-bellied woodpecker Melanerpes carolinusThis woodpecker is a permanent resident of wooded andswampy areas. It has a black and white striped back and ared cap on the head . The red on the belly can very seldombe seen.

Birds

Red-tailed hawkRing-billed gull

Prothonotary warbler

Red-bellied woodpecker

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Shoveler Anas clypeataThis duck has an obviously large bill, which it uses forfeeding in the water, shifting food from the mud it dredgesup.The males have green heads, while the females are anindescript brown. In flight there is a blue mark on the wings.

Royal tern Sterna maximaThis is a large tern that has an orange bill and a black creston the head. Common in tidal areas along the coast.

Sandwich tern Sterna sandvicensisThis tern is commonly found nesting in areas where there areroyal terns.They have black bills with a yellow tip.

Seaside sparrow Ammospiza maritimaThis small bird favors the marsh for feeding on young crabsand snails. Like the clapper rail, it often runs rather than flies.

Sedge wren Cistothorus platensisAlso known as the short billed marsh wren, this wren iscommon in the grassy marshes of North Carolina. This birdhas an upturned tail and a short bill and feeds on insects.

Royal tern

Sandwich tern

Sedgewren

Shoveler

Birds

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Snowy egret Egretta thula A white heron with a slender black bill and yellow feet.. Atthe turn of the century this bird was hunted almost to extinc-tion for its plumage.

Whimbrel Numensius phaeopus A migrating shorebird, this long-legged bird eats fiddlercrabs and other small invertibrates.

White ibis Eudocimus albusThis wading bird is unique in that is has a long decurved redbill and legs. The body is white except in immatures, which isdarker.

Willet Catoptrophorus semipalmatusThis vocal bird nests in the dense upper marsh grasses, and iseasily identified in flight by a striking black and whitepattern on its wings.

Yellow-rumped warbler Dendroica coronataAlso known as the Myrtle warbler.This is a common winterresident, with the yellow rump being easy to identify . It alsohas yellow patches on the head and sides. This little birdfeeds on the berries of the bayberry and wax myrtle, bothcommon plants in the estuary.

Snowy egret

Whimbrel

White ibis

Willet Yellow-rumped warbler

Birds

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Atlantic croaker micropogonias undulatus One of the most common estuarine fishes on the Atlanticcoast. This fish was so named because of the croakingsound it makes.

Atlantic menhaden Brevoortia tyrannus More pounds of menhaden are caught per year than anyother fish. Other names for this fish are pogy, bunker andfatback. The fish is used for bait and processed and usedfor pet food and fishmeal. The oil is used for making paintand cosmetics.

Atlantic needlefish strongylura marinaThis fish has a long narrow body, with an elongated jaw fullof teeth. Needlefish are very common and can be seen atnight around piers, pilings and jetties.

Atlantic silverside Menidia menidiaSmall schooling fish found along sandy seashores. They areimportant as baitfish

Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxrhynchusOnce a very important and common fish along the Eastcoast, the sturgeon has declined due to over fishing, waterquality, and damming of rivers and streams. These fish canreach weights of 800 pounds.

Bighead searobin prionotur tribulusThis broad-headed, bottom dwelling fish uses its lower finsto “walk” along the bottom in search of food. The searobinin not usually eaten in this area.

Atlantic croaker

Atlantic menhaden

Atlantic needlefish

Atlantic sturgeon

Bighead searobin

Fish

Atlantic silverside

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Bluefish Pomatomus saltatrixThis ocean fish comes into estuarine areas to feed and is veryaggressive when in large schools, snapping at anything thatmoves including bathers.

Bluegill Lepomis machrochirus A common and popular freshwater species, this is one ofmany panfish found in Currituck Sound.

Bullhead Ictalurus sppA scavenger and close relative of the catfish . The fish hasso-called “whiskers” (properly known as barbles) that aid insensing bottom conditions in muddy water.

Butterfish Peprilus triacanthus One of the few animals that feed on jellyfish. These small(fourteen inches maximum) fish travel in schools.

Channel catfish Ictalurus puctatusThis fish is widelydistributed in warm, fresh water areasthroughout the east coast. Known as a great sportfish andpopular to eat, this fish has been introduced into other areas.

Clearnose skate Raja eglanteriaThis skate is one of the most common in the southeasternUnited States.The name is derived from the clear spaces oneither side of the snout. They also have spines on themidridge of the back and a few on the pectoral fins and nearthe eyes. Sport fishermen consider them a nuisance.

Bullhead

Butterfish

Channel catfish

Fish

Bluefish

Bluegill

Clearnose skate

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Conger eel Conger oceaniusThe conger eel has an elongated snout, and a large dorsalfin. This eel can reach lengths of 5-7 feet and is common ininshore waters of the Atlantic coast.

Dusky pipefish Syngnathus floridaeThis olive-brown fish can grow up to 10 inches. The bodyand tail are divided into rings. This is a popular aquariumfish.

Hogchoker Trinectes maculatusThis fla tfish is very unique in that it has a texture that feelslike it is hairy.The rough scales make these fish able to stickto almost anything. This is an inshore fish that only obtains alength of 8 inches.

Inshore lizardfish Synodus foetensThis small fish has a long body, a pointed head and sharpteeth.

Conger eel

Dusky pipefish

Hogchoker

Inshore lizardfish

Fish

Killifish Fundulus sppThis one to four inch fish lives in very shallow tidal watersand creeks and can withstand low oxygen that can occur inisolated pools on hot summer days.

Largemouth bass micropterus salmoidesThis is typically a freshwater species, but can tolerate the lowsalinity waters of Currituck Sound. Some specimens of thispopular sport fish grow larger than 10 pounds.

Killifish

Largemouth bass

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Mosquitofish Gambusia affinisThis small silvery fish, with a black diamond pattern, prefersareas with dense vegetation. They are important in mosquitocontrol.

Northern pipefish Syngnathus fuscusThis dark pipefish can grow to one foot in length and havefrom 30-36 tail rings.

Northern puffer Sphoeroides maculatusPuffers are named for their abilitly to swallow water or airand become very round and large, a habit that scare offpredators. They are also very poisonous when eaten.

Oyster toad Opsanus tauA fish with an attitude! He is a belligerent, bottom-lurkerwho prefers reefs, jetties and wrecks. He can live amonglitter and tolerate polluted water.

Pigfish Othopristis chrysopteraA hardy fish with a dorsal fin spotted with bronze. He alsohas a yellow tail with a dusky tip.

Pinfish Lagodon rhomboidesOther names for this fish are porgy, scup, bream, shiner andsailors choice. It has a distinctive black spot behind the gillcover.

Northern pipefish

Northern puffer

Oyster toad

Mosquitofish

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Pigfish

Pinfish

Fish

Lined seahorse Hippocampus erectusThe seahorse swims erect with head bent downward and tailcurled. The male has a brood pouch and incubates the eggs.

Lined seahorse

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Planehead filefish Monacanthus hispidusFilefish are also known as “leatherjackets”. They havesmall, turretlike eyes that are capable of rotatingindependently.

Smooth dogfish shark Mustelus canis Abundant Atlantic coast shark weighing about 3 pounds.It feeds on crabs, lobsters and small fish.

Southern flounder Paralichthys lethostigmaThis flounder is abundant in the South Atlantic and is alsoknown as a southern fluke.

Southern stingray dasyastis americanaThis is the most common stingray in the estuary along ourcoast. It can reach a size of 6 feet across.

Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus maculatusThis is a staple food fish of the southern waters. It hasbeen known to jump into boats.

Spot Leiostomus xanthurusThis fish averages 8inches with a head like a croaker and aspot justbehind the gill edge.

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Planehead filefish

Smooth dogfish shark

Southern stingray

egg case

Spanish mackerel

Southern flounder

Spot

Fish

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Summer flounder Paralichthys dentatusAlso known as a fluke, this flounder has a very large mouthwith prominent canine teeth. The eyes are usually on the leftside.

White catfish Ictalurus catusThis is a fresh water bottom fish that will inhabit low-salinityestuaries. Although it eats other fish it also eats mayfly larvaeand pondweed. This has become a popular eating fish.

White mullet Mugil curemaIn the fall, the young mullet leave the estuaries and migratealong the beaches.The fishermen see the schools of fish andset their nets around them. Because of the enormous weightof the fish, trucks and tractors are used to pull in the net.

White perch Morone americanusThis is a popular commercial fish. It lives in brackish or freshwater. During the spawning season a 10 inch female may lay230,000 eggs which may incubate for as long as 6 days incooler water or 30 hours in warmer water.

Windowpane flounder Scophthalmus aquosusA bottom dwelling flatfish, this flounder has eyes and colorpatterns on the left side. This good eating fish grows to 18inches and can live in water as deep as 150 feet.

White catfish

White perch

Windowpane flounder

Striped bass Morone saxatilis Another popular game fish in Currituck Sound, this fishspend part of their life in the ocean and then swims up riversto spawn.

Striped mullet Mugiil cephalusThis fish is a vegetarian and lives on grasses. Instead of astomach it has a gizzard comparable to that of a chicken.

Striped bass

Fish

Striped mullet

Summer flounder

White mullet

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Anole

Anole Anolis carolinensisThis arboreal lizard canchange color from a light green to adull olive or brown, depending on the situation. When themale is courting he extends his bright pink throat fan.

Atlantic bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatusThismarine mammal must periodically come to the surface tobreathe air. They often visit the estuary with theiryoung to catch fish.

Corn snake Elaphe guttataThis is a beautiful, secretive snake that often hides in stumpholes and in burrows of other animals.

Cotton mouse Peromyscus gossypinusThis nocturnal rodent is a skillfull climber and a strongswimmer. He needs these skills to survive in the wet areas inwhich he lives.

Diamondback terrapin Malaclemlys terrapinThi sturtle, with a distinctive shell that has diamond-shaped scales, consumes dead fish, crustaceans andmollusks. It is often seen in brackish water estuaries.

Atlantic bottlenose dolphin

Corn snake

Cotton mouse Diamondback terrapin

Vertebrates

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Eastern box turtle Terapene caarolinaThe shell ont his turtle is brown, mottled with yellow ororange. You can normally tell a male by his red eyes.

Eastern cottontail SylvilagusfloridanusThis is a common rabbit. It is active at night, and prefersgrazing on dune grass and young shoots.

Eastern cottontail

Eastern glass lizard

Vertebrates

Easterm glass lizard Ophisaurus ventrallisThis large legless lizard lays her eggs in a shallow depressionunder a log and remains with them until they hatch.

Feral horse Equus caballusFeral horses are domesticated horses that have been left toturn wild. They have adapted to eating cordgrass and someflowering plants. When the freshwater springs run dry, theyare able to find and dig for water.

Gray fox Urocyon cinereoargenteasOften the gray fox is misidentified as a red fox due to thefact he has reddish patches of fur on the flanks, neck, legsand underside of the tail. The gray fox can be identified bythe black tip of his tail.

Gray foxFeral horse

Eastern box turtle

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Marsh rabbit

Green tree frog Hyla cinereaThese frogs are well camouflaged and rest motionless duringthe day.

Green turtle Chelonia mydasThis large sea turtle migrates long distances across open sea,but spends most of his time in shallow water feeding on eelgrass.

House mouse Mus musculusThis mouse lives in close association with humans. He likesto live where food and nesting space is available. They haveas many as 13 littlers a year consisting of 3-12 in a litter.

Loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta carettaThis marine turtle commonly grows to 300 pounds. One ofits favorite foods is jellyfish. The female nests on the barrierisland beaches.

Green turtle

House mouse

Green tree frog

Vertebrates

Loggerhead sea turtle

Marsh rabbit Sylvilagus palustrisThis mammal is commonly found in wet areas where it feedson grasses. Its brown fur provides camouflage from preda-tors.

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Meadow mouse Microtus pennsylvanicaThis small nocturnal rodent feeds on dune grasses and digsburrows beneath grass clumps.

Mink Mustela visonMink have very lustrous fur. They sometimes make theirhomes in abandoned beaver dens.

Muskrat OndontraThis large rodent has glossy brown fur. They are excellentswimmers and can swim forward or backward.

Norway rat Rattus norvegicusTthis large rat can grow up to 18” long. It lives in a tunnelsystem with 10 to 12 other individuals in a cooperativesociety.

Nutria Myocastor coypusThis large rodent often floats just under the water with onlyhis eyes and nose exposed. The nutria is native to SouthAmerica and was first introduced here on the Gulf ofMexico.

Raccoon Procyon lotorThis common nocturnal mammal lives in wooded areas andforages in the salt marshes for shellfish, crab and fish.

Mink

Muskrat

Norway rat

Nutria

Vertebrates

Meadow mouse

Raccoon

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River otter Lutra canadensisThis otter has webbed feet and a long thick tail. He swimsrapidly and on land runs quickly.

Snapping turtle Chelydra serpentinaThese big turtles can weigh up to 57 pounds. On land theyare very aggressive and will bite.

Toad Bufo sppThis amphibian spends the first part of its life as a gill-breathing tadpole in pond waters. Adult toads may travelmiles over land to find new ponds for breeding.

Virginia opossum Didelphis virginianaThis abundant marsupial is nocturnal and lives a solitary lifeexcept for mating.

White-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianusThis animal forages the marsh for grasses and other plants.Young spotted deer, known as fawns, are protected frompredators because they have no scent.

Snapping turtle

Vertebrates

River otter

Toad

Virginia opossum

White-tailed deer

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Arrow shrimp Tozeuma carolinensisThis is a very elongated shrimp with a long rostrum that livesin grass beds. Usually camouflaged in red, green or brown.

Atlantic auger Terebra dislocataThis intertidal mollusk lives in sandy or muddy areas. Thissnail isunder 2 inches long.

Atlantic bay scallop Argopecten irradians concentricusA mollusk that depends on eelgrass beds for survival duringearly development. The scallop can”jet-propel” itself byrapidly closing its shells and pushing backward. The bivalvealso has small blue “eyes” which primarily sense differencesbetween light and dark.

Atlantic razor clam Ensis directusThis long bivalve has a rectangle shape and is found on tidalflats.This is considered to be an edible bivalve, but is notwidely harvested for this.

Atlantic oyster drill Urosalpinx cinereaThis carnivore is a big threat to the oyster population be-cause they prey on oysters by “drilling” a hole through theshell with its tongue or radula, and devours the soft fleshinside.

Arrow shrimp

Atlantic auger

Atlantic oyster drill

Invertebrates

Atlantic bay scallop

Atlantic razor clam

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Banded tulip Fasciolaria lilium hunteria This predatory mollusk can bore through shells of variousspecies and then consume the soft animal inside. The spiralline on its shell is the most reconizable feature for identifica-tion.

Beach flea Talorchestria longicornisThis amphipod scavenger of the upper beach lives in drift linedebris or sand burrows.

Blood worm Glycera americanaThese segmented worms are known to eject their stomachand attach their four jaws to feed on small marine inverte-brates.

Blue Crab Callinectes sapidusThe blue crab is named for the color of his claws. This is animportant commercial species especially when molting or inthe “soft shell’ stage.

Brackish-water fiddler Uca minaxThis fiddler has reddish joints and lives in saltmarsh cordgrassor needlerush.

Beach flea

Invertebrates

Baby’s ear Sinum perspectivumThis predatory snail lives on sandy bottoms, usuallyburried. The body cannot contract all the way into the shell.

Baby’s ear

Banded tulip

Bloodworm

Blue crabBrackish-water fiddler

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Channeled whelk Busycon canaliculatumThis is one of the most common whelks in North Carolina.This is a large snail often obtaining a length of 12 inches.

Comb jelly Mnemiopsis sp Although gelatinous like a jellyfish, this very different animaldoes not sting. It is a voracious predator consuming fish andother comb jellies.

Common starfish Asterias forbesiiMore properly known as a sea star because it is an echino-derm, not a fish. A starfish moves by sets of tube feet andpreys on mollusks which it can open with its strongappendages.

Coquina Donax variabilisHundreds of these tiny clams can be seen on the sand after awave washes over the beach. Their multi-colored shells areusually an inch or less in length.

Comb jelly

Invertebrates

Brittle star Ophiophragnus wurdemaniThe small brittle star lives in the interdial mud. It can becream, grey or brown in color.

Cannonball jellyfish StomolophusThis jellyfish is a large, firm jelly. The bottom usually is areddish-brown with no tentacles underneath. It is not astinging variety.

Brittle star

Cannonball jellyfish

Channeled whelk, egg case

Common starfish

Coquina

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Flat-clawed hermit crab Pagurus longicarpusThis crab is characterized by large flat claws, the right usuallybeing somewhat larger.

Ghost crab Ocypode quadrataThis crustacean is most active at night when it scavenges thebeach for dead and decaying matter. It moves side-ways .The ghost crab has eyes perched on stalks so it can see frombehind mounds of sand.

Giant Atlantic cockle Dinocardium robustumThis large bivalve prefers sand flats where they can burrow.It has an extensive foot that is used for burrowing.

Giant Atlantic cockle

Invertebrates

Digger wasp Bembex spThis insect nests in the dune sands and captures other insectsto feed its larvae.

Eastern oyster Crassostrea virginicaThe oyster is a very important commercial seafood species.Young oysters, known as spat, are mobile but eventuallyattach to a hard surface where they spend the rest oftheir lives.

False angel wing Petricola pholadiformisThe elongated shell of this bivalve is white with sharpridges. It can be found intertidally burrowed in peator clayish mud with only one end exposed.

Eastern oyster

False angel wing

Flat-clawed hermit crab

Ghost crab

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Keyhole urchin Mellita quinquiesperforataThis is commonly called a sand dollar. This organism isfound on sand bottoms where it shuffles through loosesediments feeding on diatoms and other micro-organisms.The live animal is a brown felt with very short spines.

Knobbed whelk Busycon caricaThis whelk is a common snail in North Carolina’s estuaries.This predator has knobs on the top spiral and the openingis to the right.

Knobbed whelk

I nvertebrates InvertebratesInvertebrates

Goose barnacle Lepas anatiferaThis barnacle is a crustacean related to shrimp and crabsbut highly modified for a sedentary existence. They arecovered with hard limey plates, four of which are moveableand serve as doors. They attach themselves to hardsurfaces.

Grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugioA very common shrimp in estuaries. They are small andtransparent.

Horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemusNot really a crab but more closely related to spiders, thisancient animal looks formidable. The males are alwayssmaller than the females.

Keyhole limpet Diodora cayensis A single shelled mollusk that lives in the intertidal zone, thisanimal can clamp its shell very tightly to a hard surface forprotection against predators.

Goose barnacle

Grass shrimp

Horseshoe crab

Keyhole limpet

Keyhole urchin

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Mole crab Emerita talpoidaThis small crustacean is sometimes called a “sand fiddler”.They burrow in the wet sand of ocean beaches.

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Invertebrates

Lettered olive Oliva sayana A long snail that has a zig-zag pattern on its shell. It can beup to 3 inches long.

Lightning whelk Busycon contrariumThis common snail is very similar to the knobbed whelkexcept that the opening is to the left.

Lugworm Arenicola marinaThis segmented worm isbrown-green and can usually befound burrowed in the mud on the tidal flats. It lays a longmass of egg cases that are connected to the burrow by oneend.

Mantis shrimp Squilla empusaThis is a larger shrimp with large powerful claws. They arefierce predators.

Marsh periwinkle. Littorina irrorataThis pale-colored snail grazes on algae-coated stalks of saltmarsh cordgrass.

Lettered olive

Lightning whelk

Lugworm

Mantis shrimp

Marsh periwinkle Mole crab

139Invertebrates

Moon jelly Aurelia auritaThis is a harmless jellyfish with a transparent body and smalltentacles.

Moon snail Polinices duplicatusThis snail has a greyish shell that swirls to the center andresembles an eye.

Mud fiddler Uca pugnazThis small crustacean burrows into the marsh sediments andfeeds on organic material scraped from the soil.

Northern quahog clam Mercenaria mercenariaThis very important commercial mollusk is able to bury in thesediments by digging with structures known as “feet”

Parchment tube worms Chaetopterus variopedatuThis polychaete worm lives in a tube with chimneys protrud-ing above the sediment surface. Though seldom seen, whenthe worm is visable its luminescent body is distinctive.

Pink shrimp Penaaeus These larger shrimp are commonly harvested for commercialuse. As young they live in estuaries and as adults they migrateout to sea.

Moon jelly

Moon snail and egg case

Mud fiddler

Northern quahog clam

Parchment tube worms

Pink shrimp

140Invertebrates

Red beard sponge Microciona proliferaThis primative multicellular animal has a red crusty body. Itis porous so that plankton and detritus can be drawn in.

Ribbed mussel Geukensis demissa A marsh bivalve distinguished by its prominent radial ribsanchors itself with strong threads to salt marsh cordgrass andother objects.

Rock barnacle Balanus sp A crustacean that anchors to one spot to feed on planktonand detritus. The barnacle’s body consists of six calcareousplates and feathery appendages.

Sand fiddler crab Uca pugilator Like its low marsh counterpart, the male crab has one largeand one small claw while the female has two small claws.The large claw is to attract the females to the “nuptialchamber”.

Sand shrimp Crangon semtemspinosaThis small shrimp is a more Northern shrimp that livesprimarily in the estuaries. It normally grows no larger than 3inches.

Purple sea urchin Arbacia punctulata A very common urchin that has reddish-purple spines. Theanimal attaches itself to hard surfaces where it grazes onalgae and sponges.Purple sea urchin

Redbeard sponge

Ribbed mussel

Rock barnacle

Sand fiddler crab

Sand shrimp

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Vegetation

Invertebrates

Sea pork Amaroucium spThis colonial tunicate is primarily a subtidal species. When itdies, the colorful zooids pop out and the tunic bleaches acreamy white, hence the name sea pork.

Sea squirt Styela plicataThe sea squirt is closely related to fish because it had aprimitive spinal cord in its early stages. The grape -likeclusters of adults squirt water when disturbed.

Sea whip Leptogorgia virgulataThis soft coral is usually fan or bush shaped. It is foundintertidally , often attached to hard surfaces, and can beyellow, purple, orange or red. The outer crust is hard likecoral protecting the polyps inside.

Southern quahog Mercinaria campenchiensisThis bivalve is almost identical to the northern quahog exceptit is larger and thicker. The inside lacks the purple colorationseen in the northern species.

Saw-toothed pen shell Atrina serrata This uniquebivalve is fan shaped and found on tidal flats and insea grass beds. This bivalve is found with just a smallportion of the wide part of its shell exposed above themud.

Sea anemone Aiptasia sppThis is a soft-bodied, columnar animal with unbrancedtentacles. Typicalanemones have an oral disk surrounded byrings of stinging tentacles..

Saw-toothed pen shell

Sea anemone

Sea pork

Sea squirt

Sea whip

Southern quahog

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Stone crab Menippe mercinariaThese crabs are known for their thick shells and hefty claws.Younga re typically found offshore, while adults move intoestuaries and burrow in the mud.

Striped hermit crab Clibanarius vittatusThis hermit crab is one of the larger hermit crabs that occu-pies larger snail shells. It has brown and white stripes on the claws.

Sunray venus Macrocallista nimbosaThis clam has a bright purplish sunburst design on its shell. Itprefers to live in clean sandy flats where the waveaction is not too heavy.

Velvet ant Dasymutilla spThis wingless, furry wasp can inflict a painful sting. Its hairybody insulates itfrom the heat.

White sea urchin Lytechinus variegatusOften thought to be dangerous because of its pin-cushionappearance, this relative of a starfish primarily feeds onalgae, bottom- dwelling invertebrates, and dead fish.

Stone crab

Striped hermit crab

Sunray venus

White sea urchin

Invertebrates

Speckled crab Arenaeus cribrariusThis small crab is usually greyish or tan with white spots. Itlives buried in the sand in the intertidal zone.

Spider crab Libinia emarginataThese crabs are known for their long legs ( up to one foot)and live in the intertidal zone. They are brownish with hairygrowths covering the shell.

Speckled crab

Spider crab

143Vegetation

ssss

lob

American beach grass Ammophila breviligulataThis primary dune grass is used to try to stabilize dunes. Thisis a northern grass that is not as common in North Carolina.

Bacopa Bacopa monnieriThis perennial herb can be found along edges of brackish tofreshwater marshes. It has small white flowers in the summerand fall.

Bald cypress Taxodium distichumThis coniferous tree is one of the few trees that toleratesconstant water, including brackish water. This tree obtainsheights upwards of 140 feet and its primary characteristic isthe “knees” which arise from the roots of the trees.

Bayberry Myrica pensylvanicaThis evergreen is found in the northern sections of the NorthCarolina coast. It has larger berries than its close relative, thewax myrtle, and the berries are used for candles.

Beach morning glory Ipomoea pes-capraeLong prostrate runner with round, smooth, succulent leavesand funnel-shaped purple flowers.

American beach grass

Bacopa

Bald cypress

BayberryBeach morning glory

144

Catbriar

Black gum Nyssaceae sylvaticaThis common deciduous tree has broad leaves and lives inmoist soil such as swamps and wetlands.

Black needlerush Juncus roemerianus Looking like a darning needle with a sharp point, this rushchanges from green to gray with age, giving dense maturestands a dark appeareance.

Vegetation

Cattail

Bulrush

Broomsedge Andropogon virginicusThis hardy grass invades disturbed areas in both the CoastalPlain andthe Piedmont.

Bulrush Scirpus spp Also known as “three-square”because many of the plantshave triangular stems.This is not a grass nor a true rush, butmore properly classified as part of the sedge family.

Broomsedge

Catbriar Smilax bona-noxA woody low-climbingvine with spiny green stems. Youngshoots are edible.

Cattail Typha sppThis common marsh plant is not a grass, despite its long,ribbon-like leaves. It has prominent “furry” brown clusters offruits which resemble a tail.

Black needlerush

Black gum

145

Croton Croton punctatusThis flowering weed is in the poinsettia family. Croton likes awarm climate .

Vegetation

Gaillardia

Disticulus Distichlis spicataThis grass can be found abundantly in salt marshes and thesurrounding areas. This grass does not get very tall, but caneasily be identified by all of the leaves growing in one plane.

Duck potato Sagittaria falcataThis plant is distinguished by its three petaled white flowers.It is an example of an emergent, a plant that is rooted in thepond bottom and grows above the water surface.

Dune spurge Euphorbia polygonifoliaThis plant, a relative of the poinsettia, is found along coastaldunes.

Eastern red cedar Juniperus virginiana This normally tall tree grows shrubby on dunes. The maleflowers are golden brown and the female flowers are purplish.The cones are berry-like and dark blue.

Gaillardia Gaillardia pulchella A relative of the sunflower, this introduced wildflower mayhave bright red or yellow flowering heads.

Eastern red cedar

Dune spurge

Duck potato

Disticulus

Croton

146

Glasswort southern

Giant cordgrass Spartina cynosuroidesThis coarse grass often grows more than six feet tall.

Live oak

Vegetation

Hercule’s club

Groundsel tree

Glasswort Salicornia virginicaThis saltmarsh plant is a low-growing perennial that isfleshy. Often it grows in mats along high tide areas of thesaltmarsh.This salty tasting plant can be used in salads. Itturns to a brilliant red in the fall.

Glasswort southern Salicornia perennisThis salt-marsh plant, also called pickleweed, is a low-growing edible plant.

Groundsel tree Baccharis halimifoliaThis shrub , or small tree,also called Silverling, grows onthe edges of salt marsh or dunes.In summer the upper planthas clusters of tiny buds on long stems. A member of theAster family.

Hercule’s club Zanthoxylum clava-herculisThis shrub or small tree has sharp spines on trunk andbranches. It has large groups of white or greenish-whiteflowers in large groups.

Live Oak Quercus virginianaThis oak with thick, leathery elliptical leaves may live forhundreds of years and grow very large in diameter.

Glasswort

Giant cordgrass

147

Poison ivy Rhus radicansThis very common plant is found in drier, upland areas,including dunes. Contact with the plant results in blistering ofthe skin in many people.

Poison ivy

Vegetation

ccccc

Pennywort Hydroocotyle bonariensis A creeping herb in the same family as the carrot, this planthas a characteristic round leaf and can densely cover opensandy areas..

Pennywort

Panic grass Panicum spThis medium size grass can grow to be several feet tall. It iscommon in salt marshes and upper tidal marshes.

Marsh mallow Hibiscuss moscheutosThis tall plant is easily recognized by its saucer size flowers.

Marsh elder Iva imbricateThis shrub of the upper marsh can be distinguished by theserrated edges of its thick, succulent leaves.

Loblolly pine Pinus taedaA common pine of the Piedmont, this tree does well in mari-time forests where there is little salt spray and an opencanopy.

Marsh elder

Loblolly pine

Marsh mallow

Panic grass

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Saltmarsh cordgrass Spartina alternifloraThe decomposed remains of this grass are a primary foodsource for estuarine organisms. This grass grows 5 feet tall.

Saltmeadow hay Spartina patensThis thin grass can grow in dense clumps. Wind-blownswirls of it are called “cowlicks”.

Sand primrose Oenothera humifusaThis low-growing plant with four yellowish petals has well-developed tap roots to reach and store water.

Sassafras Sassafras albidumA low growing tree found throughout eastern North Carolina,this tree has flowers in March and April before the leavessprout. The roots are used for making root beer.

. Sassafras

Vegetation

Saltmarsh cordgrass

Prickly pear

Red bay

Saltmeadow hay

Prickly pear Opuntia humifusaFound in dry, sandy areas of North Carolina, this flat, fleshycactus has very broad lobes as well as spines. The peeledfruit is edible.

Red bay Persea borboniaThis evergreen has broad leaves and small flowers. Alsoknown as a swamp bay, this tree prefers very wet soil.

Reed Phragmites communismOften more than six feet tall, this grass is common throughoutthe world in disturbed marsh areas and filled sites.

Reed

149

Sea ox-eye Borrichia frutescensThis plant resembles a small sunflower with thick waxyleaves.Typically it is found growing above the high tideline in dense colonies.

Sea rocket Cakile harperiThis short, flowering plant is found growing in the uppersalt marsh and along coastal beaches.

Sea oats Uniola paniculataThis grass is the primary dune builder of the NorthCarolina coast. These plants have extensive rootsand runners.

Sea rocket

Sea oats

Sea ox-eye

Sea lavender Limonium carolinianumBest known by its delicate purple flowers, when not inbloom this plant can be recognized by its basal leaveswhich form a rosette.

Sea elder Iva imbricateThis salt-spray tolerant, succulent member of the asterfamily occasionally grows at the very front of the dunes

Sea beach amaranth Amaranthus pumilusThis low growing plant is rare in North Carolina. Ittends to be seen on beach dunes growing low to theground.

Sea lavender

Sea elder

Seabeach amaranth

Vegetation

150

Yaupon Ilex vomitoria Female plants of this large shrub, produce bright red berries.Its elliptical leaves can be used to make a strong tea.

Yucca Yucca filamentosaThis plant known as Spanish bayonet, has sharp pointedleaves. The flowers are white, bell-shaped and edible.

YauponYucca

Was myrtle Myrica cerifera A hardy shrub that has berries and leaves that are aromaticwhen crushed.

Wax myrtle

Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefoliaThis climbing vine has leaflets attached to a stem, like fingersare attached to the palm of a hand. Its fleshy blue to blackfruits are produced in the fall.Virginia creeper

Sweet gum Liquidambar styracifluaThis broad leafed deciduous tree is found in tidalswamps and wetlands.The spiny fruit balls identify thistree.

Sweet gum

Seaside goldenrod Solidago sempervirensA tall forb with clusters of showy yellow flowers, this plant isvery attractive to insects.

Seaside Goldenrod

Vegetation

151

Bushy pondweed Najas guadalupensisThis sub-merged water plant is rooted on the bottom ofshallow, relavtively fresh water. This plant is leafyand has small flowers in the summer.

Chenille-weed seaweed Dasya sppBushy , purple to red, and freely branched this is abundant inthe winter in our area.

Deadman’s fingers Codium spp This tubular green algaegrows in branching clusters that look like the fingers of ahand. Large clumps of this seaweed can break off andchoke shellfish beds.

Dictyota Dictyota dictyotaThis common brown algae of estuarine areas is easilyrecognized by the regularly forking or dichotomousbranching of the plant body.

Bushy pondweed

Chenille-weed seaweed

Deadman’s fingers

Dictyota

Ectocarpus ectocarpus sppBrown algae.

Ectocarpus

Aquatic vegetation

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Sago pondweed

Sago pondweed Potamogeton pectinatusThis plant is found rooted in fresh and brackish shallowwater. The stems are long and thin with the leaves also beinglong and thin.

Peacock’s tail Padina vickersias It has leafy, fanlike fronds growing on intertidal rocks orother hard surfaces

Peacock’s tail

Hypnea Hypnea spp A densly branched plant commonly found in the summermonths on jetties and rocks.

Hypnea

Eurasian water-milfoil Myriophyllum spicatumThis aquatic weed has grown extensively since beingintroduced into Currituck Sound .Eurasian water-milfoil

Eelgrass Zostera marinaAlthough its flowers are difficult to see, this is an estuarineflowering plant.Dense colonies of this ecologically importantplant provide cover for fish and shellfish and serve as foodfor waterfowl.

Eelgrass

Aquatic vegetation

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Wild celery Vallisneria americansAlso called “tape grass”because of its ribbon-like leaves, thisaquatic plant is a favorite food of migratory water fowl.

Widgeongrass Ruppia maritimaOnly common seagrass with many leaves extending from asingle stalk.

Water lily Nymphaea odorataThe large flat leaves of this plant float on the surface ofponds. Its pink or white flowers bloom from June to Sep-tember.

Sewing thread seaweed Gracilaria sppThis red algae has an intricate, highly branched plant body.Like other algae, it contains chlorophyll, but pigments deter-mine its color.

Sea lettuce Ulva lactuca This thin green algae is grown in the Orient for use in soups

Sea lettuce

Sea hair

Sea hair Enteromorpha sppThis filamentous, green alge is found in the intertidal zone onhard substrates and can tolerate wide ranges of salinity andwater levels.

Sewing thread seaweed

Water lily

Widgeongrass

Wild celery

Aquatic vegetation

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GlossaryEcology- science in which the relationship of animals and their environment is studied

Ecosystem- all the communities that live in an area together with the abiotic factors in theenvironment

Abiotic factors- a nonliving part in the environment

Barrier islands- a long, narrow wave-built island separated from the mainland by a lagoon

Inlet- waterway that joins the ocean to a sound

Tidal flats- sandy or muddy area between barrier islands and the mainland that is covered bywater during high tide and wsposed at low tide.

Maritime forest- forest shaped by salt spray and winds off the ocean

Basin- a structure used for holding water (natural or man made)

Physical weathering- disintegration of exposed objects caused by wind, waves, etc.

Chemical weathering- decomposition of earth’s material at or near the surface

Labrador current- cold water current that flows south from the North Atlantic

Gulf stream- a northward moving current up the eastern coast of the U.S. consisting ofwarmer water (compared to surrounding water

Habitat- a place where a particular plant or animal lives

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Succession- act of following a sequence or order

Erosion- slow decomposition of an object exposed to earth’s factors

Detritus - decomposed plant material

Feral- a once domesticated animal turned wild

Salt pan- an undrained natural depression in which water gathers and leaves a deposit of saltevaporation

Swale- a low lying or depressed and often wet stretch of land

Brackish- somewhat salty

Aquifer- water reserve

Sedge- A local term for a pond or swale. It is dominated by vegetatively by marsh grass.

Invertebrate- animal without a backbone

Jetty- a structure built from the shore into a body of water to protect a harbor or a navigablepassage from being shoaled by deposition of longshore drift material

Polychaeta-class of annelid worms that includes most of the marine segmented worms

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Guidelines for Visitors

The North Carolina Coastal Reserve has many beautiful, intriguing areas to visit.However, these natural areas have characteristics for which visitors should be prepared. Allhabitats, particularly the marshes, thickets, and forests, have insects. Chiggers, ticks, no-see-ums, and mosquitoes can be especially bothersome in the summer. Extensive wet and muddyareas (and razor-sharp oysters) make closed-toed shoes essential. The sun can be harsh at alltimes of the year, so appropriate clothing and sunscreen are appropriate.

To protect the plants, animals, lands, and waters of the reserve, visitors are askedto follow the rules described below.

• Target shooting, hydraulic clam dredging, use of vehicles outside of specified upland routes,and illegal fishing, hunting, and trapping are not allowed in the reserve.

• Research projects and equipment must not be disturbed.• Camping is only allowed on Masonboro Island site.• Personal property not authorized by the Division of Coastal Management may not

be kept in the reserve for more than two days.• Non-game animals must not be disturbed or taken from the reserve. Vegetation

may not be cut or altered unless it is necessary for a research or education project approved by the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve.• Written permission from NCNERR is required for all scientific research projects and

collection activities.• Polluting the waters of the reserve, by disposing of solid and liquid wastes, for example, is

prohibited.• Activities that would disturb the natural condition and animals of the reserve are not

allowed. Prohibited activities include mining, using the land for commercial orindustrial purposes, timber harvesting, ditching and draining and making excessive amountsof noise.

. Pets should be kept on a leash at all times.• Fires are allowed only below the mean high tide mark. Pits must be filled with beach sand.