Introduced Species in or Near the Salish Sea:

Since human activity involves moving from place to place, we often purposely or accidentally introduce species to places where they did not exist before.  Many of these alien or xenobiotic species die out quickly.  Some of them, however, reproduce and grow aggressively and become Invasive.  Invasive species may cause ecological disruption by competition with native species and changing ecosystem structure, and may cause significant economic losses as well.

This web page serves as a list of many of the introduced marine species found in the Pacific Northwest, especially the Salish Sea.  I have tried to list as many introduced marine species from this area as possible.  Species of concern to the State of Washington are also listed, even though populations may not currently be established here.  Species for which there is a web page within the Salish Sea Invertebrates web site have a link to that page.

There are many other web sites dealing with introduced marine species in the Pacific Northwest.  Follow this link to many of these sites.
 
 
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Main Page Alphabetic Index Systematic Index Glossary Websites about Pacific Northwest
Introduced Marine Species

Introduced Marine Species in the Pacific Northwest:

Note:  Some of these species are NATIVE here but have become invasive introduced species elsewhere.  These species are also included in this list but that fact is noted.
Families from my main list are included, with links.  However, if no species is listed under that family I do not know of any introduced species from that family in the Pacific Northwest.    
Jump directly to list of groups in phylum:
Phylum Annelida Phylum Chordata, Subphylum Urochordata Phylum Entoprocta Phylum Phoronida
Phylum Arthropoda Phylum Cnidaria Phylum Hemichordata Phylum Platyhelminthes
Phylum Brachiopoda Phylum Ctenophora Phylum Kinorhyncha Phylum Porifera
Phylum Bryozoa Phylum Echinodermata Phylum Mollusca Phylum Sipuncula
Phylum Chaetognatha Phylum Echiura Phylum Nemertea

Phylum Annelida

  1. Class Polychaeta
  2. Order Capitellida
  3. Family Arenicolidae

  5. Family Maldanidae

  7. Order Eunicida
  8. Family Eunicidae

  10. Order Phyllodocida
  11. Superfamily Aphroditidacea
  12. Family Aphroditidae

  14. Family Polynoidae
  16. Superfamily Nephtyidacea
  17. Family Nephtyidae

  19. Superfamily Nereidacea
  20. Family Nereidae
  22. Superfamily Phyllodocidacea
  23. Family Hesionidae

  25. Order Sabellida
  26. Family Sabellidae
  27. Family Serpulidae
  28. Serpula vermicularis
  29. Order Terebellida
  30. Family Terebellidae
Phylum Arthropoda
  1. Subphylum Crustacea
  2. Class Malacostraca
  3. Subclass Eumalacostraca
  4. Superorder Eucarida
  5. Order Decapoda
  6. Suborder Pleocyemata
  7. Infraorder Anomura
  8. Superfamily Galatheoidea
  9. Family Porcellanidae
  10. Petrocheles australiensis: The spiny porcelain crab, an Australian species listed as invasive by the WA State Dept of Fish and Wildlife
  11. Superfamily Paguroidea
  12. Family Diogenidae
  13. Paguristes frontalis: A S Australian hermit crab listed as an invasive species by the WA State Dept of Fish and Wildlife
  14. Family Lithodidae
  15. Family Paguridae
  16. Infraorder Astacidea
  17. Superfamily Nephropoidea
  18. Family Nephropidae
  19. Subfamily Nephropinae
  20. Homarus americanus: American lobster
  21. Infraorder Brachyura
  22. Superfamily Cancroidea
  23. Family Atelecyclidae

  25. Family Cancridae
  26. Metacarcinus magister: Dungeness crab (Native here and important commercially in the Pacific Northwest but introduced elsewhere)
  27. Superfamily Portunoidea
    1. Family Portunidae
    2. Carcinus maenas
  28. Superfamily Grapsoidea
  29. Family Grapsidae
  30. Family Varunidae
  31. Cyclograpsus granulatus: Rough shore crab, a Hawaiian crab listed as an invasive species by the WA State Dept of Fish and Wildlife
  32. Eriocheir japonica
  33. Eriocheir sinensis: Chinese mitten crab. 
  35. Superfamily Majoidea
  36. Family Epialtidae (keyed under family Majidae)
  38. Family Majidae
  40. Family Oregoniidae (keyed under family Majidae)

  42. Superfamily Pinnotheroidea
  43. Family Pinnotheridae
  44. Superfamily Portunoidea
  45. Family Portunidae
  46. Carcinus maenas: Green Crab.  Information on this species can be found at the University of Washington/WA Sea Grant Green Crab Page
  48. Superfamily Xanthoidea
  49. Family Xanthidae
  50. Rhithropanopeus harrisii: Harris or estuarine mud crab. 

  52. Infraorder Caridea
  53. Family Alpheidae
  54. Alpheus euphrosyne:  The green snapping shrimp, an Indo-Pacific shrimp listed as an invasive species by the WA State Dept of Fish and Wildlife

  56. Family Crangonidae
  58. Family Hippolytidae
  60. Family Palaemonidae
  61. Palaemon macrodactylus: migrant prawn or oriental shrimp. 
  63. Family Pandalidae
  65. Family Pasiphaeidae
  66. Infraorder Palinura
  67. Family Palinuridae
  68. Jasus edwardsii:  An Indo-Pacific 'Southern rock lobster' listed as the invasive species J. novaehollandiae by the WA State Dept of Fish and Wildlife

  70. Infraorder Thalassinidea
  71. Superfamily Callianassoidea
  72. Family Callianassidae
  73. Biffarius arenosus:  The sand ghost shrimp, a S Australian species listed as an invasive species by the WA State Dept of Fish and Wildlife

  75. Family Upogebiidae

  77. Superorder Peracarida
  78. Order Amphipoda
  79. Suborder Caprellidea
  80. Infraorder Caprellida
  81. Family Aeginellidae
  83. Family Caprellidae

  85. Suborder Gammaridea

  87. Family Ampithoidae


  90. Family Hyalidae
  91. Family Melitidae
  92. Gammarella berringar: A S Australian amphipod listed as an invasive species by the WA State Dept of Fish and Wildlife

  94. Family Talitridae

  96. Order Isopoda
  97. Suborder Anthuridea
  98. Family Anthuridae
  99. Mesanthura astelia: The patterned anthurid, an English species listed as invasive by the WA State Dept of Fish and Wildlife
  100. Suborder Epicaridea
  101. Family Bopyridae

  103. Suborder Flabellifera
  104. Family Cirolanidae
  105. Family Sphaeromatidae
  106. Sphaeroma quoyanum: A Tasmanian burrowing isopod listed as invasive by the WA State Dept of Fish and Wildlife

  108. Suborder Oniscoidea
  109. Family Ligiidae
  111. Suborder Valvifera
  112. Family Idoteidae
  114. Order Mysida
  115. Suborder Mysina
  116. Family Mysidae

  118. Class Maxillopoda
  119. Subclass Thecostraca
  120. Infraclass Cirripedia
  121. Superorder Rhizocephala
  122. Order Akentrogonida
  123. Family Clistosaccidae

  125. Order Kentrogonida
  126. Family Sacculinidae
  127. Loxothylacus panopaei:  Native here but introduced elsewhere
  128. Superorder Thoracica
  129. Order Pedunculata
  130. Suborder Scalpellomorpha
  131. Family Scalpellidae

  133. Suborder Lepadomorpha
  134. Family Lepadidae

  136. Order Sessilia
  137. Suborder Balanomorpha
  138. Superfamily Balanoidea
  139. Family Archaeobalanidae

  141. Family Balanidae
  142. Balanus glandula: Acorn barnacle. Native here but introduced elsewhere
  143. Superfamily Tetraclitoidea
  144. Family Tetraclitidae
  145. Tetraclitella purpurascens:  The rosette barnacle, an Australian species listed as invasive by the WA State Dept of Fish and Wildlife

Phylum Brachiopoda
  1. Class Articulata
  2. Order Telotremata
  3. Family Laqueidae

Phylum Bryozoa (Ectoprocta)
  1. Class Gymnolaemata
  2. Order Cheilostomata
  3. Suborder Anasca
  4. Family Bugulidae

  6. Family Calloporidae

  8. Family Hincksinidae

  10. Family Membraniporidae
  11. Membranipora membranacea: Native here but introduced elsewhere
  12. Suborder Ascophora
  13. Family Schizoporellidae

  15. Order Ctenostomata
  16. Suborder Euctenostomata
  17. Family Alcyonidiidae

  19. Family Flustrellidridae

  21. Class Stenolaemata
  22. Order Cyclostomata
  23. Suborder Articulata
  24. Family Crisiidae

  26. Suborder Cerioporina
  27. Family Heteroporidae

  29. Suborder Rectangulata
  30. Family Lichenoporidae

Phylum Chordata
  1. Subphylum Urochordata
  2. Class Ascidiacea
  3. Order Enterogona
  4. Suborder Aplousobranchia
  5. Family Clavelinidae
  6. Aplidium californicum: Native here but introduced elsewhere
  7. Family Didemnidae
  8. Didemnum vexillum
  9. Diplosoma listerianum
  10. Order Phlebobranchia
  11. Family Ascidiidae
  12. Family Cionidae
  13. Ciona intestinalis
  14. Ciona savignyi
  15. Family Corellidae
  16. Corella inflata: Native here but introduced farther south
  17. Family Perophoridae
  18. Perophora japonica
  19. Order Stolidobranchia
  20. Family Molgulidae
  21. Molgula manhattensis
  22. Family Pyuridae
  23. Family Styelidae
  24. Botrylloides violaceus
  25. Botryllus schlosseri
  26. Styela clava

Phylum Cnidaria
  1. Class Anthozoa
  2. Subclass Alcyonaria (Octocorallia)
  3. Order Pennatulacea
  4. Suborder Subselliflorae
  5. Family Pennatulidae

  7. Subclass Ceriantipatharia
  8. Order Ceriantharia
  9. Family Cerianthidae

  11. Subclass Zoantharia
  12. Order Actniniaria
  13. Family Actiniidae
  15. Family Actinostolidae
  17. Family Metridiidae
  19. Order Corallimorpharia

  21. Order Scleractinia
  22. Family Dendrophyllidae

  24. Order Zoanthidea

  26. Class Hydrozoa
  27. Order Chondrophora
  28. Family Vellelidae

  30. Order Hydroida (Polyps)(Medusae)
  31. Suborder Athecata (Anthomedusae)
  32. Family Hydractiniidae
  33. Family Pandeidae

  35. Family Polyorchidae

  37. Suborder Limnomedusae
  38. Family Olindiasidae

  40. Suborder Thecata (Leptomedusae)
  41. Family Aequoreidae

  43. Family Aglaopheniidae

  45. Family Campanulariidae
  46. Family Mitrocomidae

  48. Class Scyphozoa
  49. Order Semaeostomeae
  50. Family Cyaneidae

  52. Family Pelagiidae

  54. Family Ulmaridae
  55. Order Stauromedusae
  56. Suborder Eleutherocarpida
  57. Family Lucernariidae

Phylum Ctenophora
  • Class Tentaculata
  • Order Cydippida
  • Family Pleurobrachiidae

  • Pleurobrachia bachei: Sea gooseberry. Native here but introduced elsewhere
  • Order Lobata
  • Family Bolinopsidae


    •  

       


    Phylum Echinodermata
    1. Class Asteroidea
    2. Order Forcipulatida
    3. Suborder Aseriadina
    4. Family Asteriidae
    5. Order Platyasterida
    6. Family Luidiidae

    8. Order Spinulosida
    9. Suborder Eugnathina
    10. Family Pterasteridae

    12. Family Solasteridae
    13. Suborder Leptognathina
    14. Family Echinasteridae
    15. Order Valvatida
    16. Suborder Granulosina
    17. Family Asterinidae

    19. Family Goniasteridae

    21. Family Asteropseidae

    23. Class Crinoidea
    24. Subclass Articulata
    25. Order Comatulida
    26. Family Antedonidae

    28. Class Echinoidea
    29. Subclass Euechinoidea
    30. Order Clypeasteroida
    31. Suborder Scutellina
    32. Family Dendrasteridae

    34. Order Echinoida
    35. Family Strongylocentrotidae
    36. Class Holothuroidea
    37. Order Aspidochirotida
    38. Family Stichopodidae

    40. Order Dendrochirotida
    41. Family Cucumariidae
    42. Family Psolidae
    43. Family Sclerodactylidae

    45. Class Ophiuroidea
    46. Order Ophiurida
    47. Suborder Gnathophiurina
    48. Family Amphiuridae

    50. Family Ophiactidae

    52. Family Ophiocomidae

    54. Suborder Ophiurina
    55. Infraorder Chilophiurina
    56. Family Ophiuridae
    57. Subfamily Ophiurinae

    59. Order Phrynophiurida
    60. Suborder Eurylina
    61. Family Gorgonocephalidae

    Phylum Echiura
    1. Order Echiuroinea
    2. Family Echiuridae

    4. Order Xenopneusta
    5. Family Urechidae



    Phylum Entoprocta
    1. Order Coloniales
    2. Family Barentsiidae

    4. Order Solitaria
    5. Family Loxosomatidae



    Phylum Hemichordata
    Class Enteropneusta
    Family Harrimaniidae



    Phylum Mollusca

    1. Class Bivalvia
    2. Subclass Anomalodesmata
    3. Order Pholadomyoida
    4. Family Lyonsiidae
    5. Subclass Lamellobranchia
    6. Superorder Heterodonta (Eulamellibranchia)
    7. Order Myoida
    8. Suborder Myina
    9. Family Hiatellidae

    11. Family Myidae
    12. Mya arenaria: Softshell clam.
    13. Suborder Pholadina
    14. Family Pholadidae
    15. Order Veneroida
    16. Family Cardiidae

    18. Family Chamidae

    20. Family Cultellidae

    22. Family Mactridae

    24. Family Montacutidae

    26. Family Petricolidae

    28. Family Psammobiidae:
    29. Nuttallia obscurata: Purple mahogany clam. 
    30. Family Tellinidae
    31. Family Veneridae
    32. Mercenaria mercenaria: Northern quahog. 
    33. Venerupis philippinarum: Japanese littleneck, Manila clam. 
    34. Superorder Pteriomorpha
    35. Order Mytiloida
    36. Family Mytilidae
    37. Mytilus galloprovincialis: Mediterranean mussel
    38. Order Ostreoida
    39. Suborder Pectinina
    40. Family Anomiidae

    42. Family Ostreidae
    43. Crassostrea gigas: Pacific giant oyster. 
    44. Family Pectinidae
    46. Family Propeamussidae
    47. Subclass Protobranchia
    48. Order Nuculoida(Palaeotaxodonta)
    49. Family Yoldiidae
    51. Order Cryptodonta (Solemyoida)
    52. Family Solemyidae

    54. Class Cephalopoda
    55. Subclass Coleoidea
    56. Superorder Decabrachia
    57. Order Sepiolida
    58. Family Sepiolidae
    59. Subfamily Rossinae

    61. Order Teuthida
    62. Family Ommastrephidae
    63. Dosidicus gigas: Jumbo squid. 
    64. Superorder Octobrachia
    65. Order Octopoda
    66. Family Octopodidae
    68. Class Gastropoda
    69. Subclass Gymnomorpha
    70. Order Onchidiacea
    71. Family Onchidiaceae

    73. Subclass Opisthobranchia
    74. Order Cephalaspidea
    75. Family Atyidae

    77. Order Notaspidea
    78. Family Pleurobranchiidae

    80. Order Nudibranchia
    81. Suborder Aeolidacea
    82. Superfamily Euolidoidea
    83. Tribe Cleioprocta
    84. Family Aeolididae

    86. Family Facelinidae

    88. Suborder Arminacea
    89. Superfamily Euarminoidea
    90. Family Arminidae

    92. Superfamily Metarminoidea
    93. Family Dironidae
    95. Suborder Dendronotacea
    96. Family Dendronotidae

    98. Family Tritoniidae

    100. Suborder Doridacea
    101. Family Archidorididae
    102. Family Goniodorididae

    104. Superfamily Anadoridoidea
    105. Tribe Non-Suctoria
    106. Family Polyceridae

    108. Superfamily Eudoridoidea
    109. Family Discodorididae
    110. Superfamily Eudoridoidea
    111. Family Cadlinidae

    113. Family Onchidorididae

    115. Family Rostangidae

    117. Order Sacoglossa
    118. Family Elysiidae

    120. Subclass Prosobranchia
    121. Order Archaegastropoda
    122. Suborder Pleurotomariina
    123. Family Fissurellidae
    124. Family Haliotidae
    125. Suborder Trochina
    126. Family Trochidae
    127. Order Mesogastropoda
    128. Suborder Taenioglossa
    129. Family Batillariidae
    130. Batillaria attramentaria: Japanese false cerith. 
    131. Family Calyptraeidae
    132. Family Capulidae

    134. Family Cerithidiidae

    136. Family Cymatiidae

    138. Family Epitoniidae
    139. Family Hipponicidae

    141. Family Littorinidae
    142.  Subfamily Lacuninae of Family Littorinidae (formerly Family Lacunidae)

    144. Family Naticidae

    146. Family Velutinidae

    148. Order Neogastropoda
    149. Suborder Rachiglossa
    150. Family Buccinidae
    151. Family Columbellidae (Pyrenidae)

    153. Family Muricidae
    154. Family Nassariidae

    156. Family Neptuneidae
    157. Family Nucellidae
    158. Family Olividae

    160. Order Patellogastropoda
    161. Suborder Nacellina
    162. Family Acmaeidae

    164. Family Lottiidae
    166. Class Polyplacophora
    167. Order Neoloricata
    168. Suborder Acanthochitona
    169. Family Acanthochitonidae

    171. Suborder Ischnochitonina
    172. Family Ischnochitonidae
    173. Family Mopaliidae

    174.
      Phylum Nemertea
      1. Class Anopla
      2. Order Heteronemertea
      3. Family Baseodiscidae

      5. Family Lineidae
      6. Order Palaeonemertea
      7. Family Tubulanidae

      9. Class Enopla
      10. Order Hoplonemertea
      11. Suborder Monostilifera
      12. Family Emplectonematidae

      Phylum Platyhelminthes
      1. Class Turbellaria
      2. Order Polycladida
      3. Family Stylochidae

      Phylum Porifera
      1. Class Demospongiae
      2. Subclass Ceractinomorpha
      3. Order Halochondriida
      4. Family Myxillidae

      6. Order Haplosclerida
      7. Family Haliclonidae

      9. Order Poecilosclerida
      10. Family Mycalidae

      12. Subclass Tetractinomorpha
      13. Order Axinellida
      14. Family Axinellidae
      15. Order Choristida
      16. Family Geodiidae

      18. Order Hadromerida
      19. Family Suberitidae

      Phylum Sipuncula
      1. Class Sipunculidea
      2. Order Sipunculida
      3. Family Golfingiidae
      4. Family Phascolosomatidae

     
       


    Authors and Editors of Page:
    Dave Cowles (2013):  Created original page
     

    Salish Sea Invertebrates web site provided courtesy of Walla Walla University