Marine Invertebrates of Southwestern Australia
This page lists and illustrates some of the marine invertebrates encountered along the coast of southwestern Australia and particularly Perth. The invertebrate fauna of Perth’s coastal waters is incredibly colourful and diverse, and I have tried to identify each of the species shown here to the best of my knowledge. However, many species remain unidentified, in particular among the bristle worms, ascidians and sponges. I suspect that a significant number of the species shown on this page may not even have been scientifically described yet.
The main aim of this page is to help snorkelers and beachgoers with the identification of some of the more commonly encountered marine invertebrates of Perth and southwestern WA. I am hoping to be able to add more species over time and eventually provide some more information about each of the species shown here.
Crabs and Shrimps (Class Malacostraca)
Crabs (Infraorder Brachyura)
(Paranaxia serpulifera)
(Portunus armatus)
(Leptograpsus variegatus)
(Percnon planissimum)
(Ozius truncatus)
(Actaea sp.)
(Seulocia pubescens)
Hermit Crabs (Infraorder Anomura)
(Diogenes sp.)
(Calcinus dapsiles)
Shrimps (Infraorder Caridea)
(Palaemon serenus)
Octopodes and Squids (Class Cephalopoda)
(Octopus djinda)
Slugs and Snails (Class Gastropoda)
Nudibranchs (Order Nudibranchia)
(Chromodoris westraliensis)
(Hypselodoris saintvincentia)
(Hypselodoris sp.)
(Goniobranchus cf. tinctorius)
(Mexichromis macropus)
(Ceratosoma brevicaudatum)
(Dendrodoris krusensternii)
(Dendrodoris arborescens)
(Doriopsilla carneola)
(Atagema intecta)
(Jorunna sp.)
(Melibe cf. viridis)
(Melibe sp.)
Headshield Slugs (Order Cephalaspidea)
(Tubulophilinopsis lineolata)
Sea Hares (Family Aplysiidae)
(Aplysia gigantea)
(Aplysia argus)
(Aplysia oculifera)
(Aplysia reticulata)
(Bursatella hirsuta)
Other Snails
(Scutus antipodes)
(Haliotis roei)
(Turbo kenwilliamsi)
(Lunella torquata)
(Melo miltonis)
(Dicathais orbita)
(Isara chalybeia)
(Austrolittorina unifasciata)
Bivalves (Class Bivalvia)
(Pinna bicolor)
(Family Mytilidae)
(Family Pectinidae)
Chitons (Class Polyplacophora)
(Liolophura hirtosa)
(Ischnochiton contractus)
Soft Corals (Class Octocorallia)
(Carijoa sp.)
(Melithaea sp.)
Corals, Sea Anemones and Zoanthids (Class Hexacorallia)
Hard Corals (Order Scleractinia)
(Plesiastrea versipora)
(Favites sp.)
(Homophyllia australis)
Sea Anemones (Order Actiniaria)
(Actinia tenebrosa)
(Anemonia cf. mutabilis)
(Anemonia cf. mutabilis)
(Isanemonia australis)
(Oulactis mcmurrichi)
(Aulactinia veratra)
(Exaiptasia diaphana)
(Anthothoe albocincta)
(Heteractis aurora)
Zoanthids (Order Zoantharia)
(Isaurus cliftoni)
(Zoanthus praelongus)
Jellyfish (Class Scyphozoa)
(Aurelia cf. aurita)
(Chrysaora kynthia)
(Phyllorhiza punctata)
Comb Jellies (Class Tentaculata)
(Bolinopsis sp.)
Hydroids (Class Hydrozoa)
Sea Stars (Class Asteroidea)
(Coscinasterias muricata)
(Meridiastra gunnii)
(Meridiastra occidens)
(Nepanthia crassa)
(Luidia australiae)
(Astropecten preissi)
(Astropecten vappa)
(Astropecten sp.)
(Pentagonaster duebeni)
(Anthenea australiae)
Sea Urchins and Sand Dollars (Class Echinoidea)
(Heliocidaris erythrogramma)
(Holopneustes porosissimus)
(Protenaster australis)
(Phyllacanthus irregularis)
(Peronella lesueuri)
Sea Cucumbers (Class Holothuroidea)
(Australostichopus mollis)
(Cercodemas anceps)
(Neoamphicyclus sp.)
(Family Phyllophoridae)
Feather Stars (Class Crinoidea)
(Cenolia trichoptera)
Bristle Worms (Class Polychaeta)
Order Sabellida
(Serpula sp.)
(Family Serpulidae)
(Sabellastarte sp.)
(Family Sabellidae)
(Family Sabellidae)
(Branchiomma sp.)
Order Spionida
(Polydorella sp.)
Flatworms (Class Polycladida)
(Maritigrella fuscopunctata)
(Pseudobiceros splendidus)
Sea Squirts (Class Ascidiacea)
Order Stolidobranchia
(Pyura sp.)
(Herdmania grandis)
(Herdmania momus)
(Polycarpa viridis)
(Styela plicata)
(Botrylloides sp.)
(Botrylloides sp.)
(Symplegma brakenhielmi)
(Symplegma sp.)
Order Phlebobranchia
(Phallusia obesa)
(Ecteinascidia sluiteri)
Order Aplousobranchia
(Aplidium clivosum)
(Aplidium sp.)
(Synoicum sp.)
(?Synoicum sp.)
(Lissoclinum sp.)
(Family Didemnidae)
(Family Didemnidae)
(Family Didemnidae)
(Sycozoa cerebriformis)
(Distaplia stylifera)
(Distaplia bermudensis)
(Clavelina moluccensis)
Unidentified Ascidians
Sponges (Class Demospongiae)
Order Tethyida
(Tethya sp.)
(Tethya sp.)
(Tethya sp.)
Order Clionaida
(Cliona sp.)
Order Chondrillida
(Chondrilla australiensis)
Order Chondrosiida
(Chondrosia ramsayi)
Order Suberitida
(Terpios granulosa)
Order Haplosclerida
(Family Chalinidae)
(Family Chalinidae)
Unidentified Sponges
Calcareous Sponges (Class Calcarea)
Order Clathrinida
(Leucaltis nodusgordii)
(Leucetta chagosensis)
Order Leucosolenida
(Sycon capricorn)
(Sycon sp.)
(Sycon sp.)
Unidentified Calcareous Sponges
Moss Animals (Class Bryozoa)
Order Leucosolenida
Entoprocts (Class Entoprocta)
