Marine taxa - Invertebrates

Molluscs, Crustaceans, Echinoderms, Cnidarians (corals, anemones, etc.), Sponges and Worms

These listings have been combined from a variety of sources and references covering different phyla and orders. Some groupings are for convenience, the listings are not intended to be comprehensive, and may contain errors. The highlighted items are jumps to thumbnail pages containing one or more images of members of the grouping.

 

Phylum Mollusca (Molluscs) : 50,000+ species

Aplacophora (Solenogasters)

Polyplacophora (Chitons)

  • Chitonidae
  • Cryptoplacidae

 

Gastropoda (Snails and Slugs) : 30,000 species

  • Strombidae (Conchs & Strombs)
  • Cypraea (Cowries)
  • Ovulidae (Allied Cowries)
  • Cassidae (Helmet shells)
  • Naticidae (Moon shells)
  • Harpidae (Harps)
  • Toinnidae (Tun shells)
  • Eulimidae (Parasitic gastropods)
  • Epitoniidae (Wentletraps)
  • Muricidae (Murex shells)
  • Volutidae (Volutes))
  • Olividae (Olive shells)
  • Conidae (Cone shells)
  • Aglajidae (Aglajids)
  • Gastropoteridae (Sap-sucking slugs)

Notaspidea (Sidegill slugs)

Sacoglossa

 

Nudibranchia (Nudibranchs)

 

 

Bivalvia (Bivalves) : 7,700 species

  • Pinnidae
  • Spondylidae (Thorn oysters)
  • Pteriidae (Winged oysters)
  • Limidae (File clams)
  • Cardiidae

 

Ostreacea

  • Ostreidae
  • Tridacnidae (Giant clams)

 

Cephalopoda (Nautilus, Octopus, Squids) : 600 species

 

Sub-Phylum Crustacea (Crustaceans)  :  39,000+ species

Class: Copepoda (Copepods)

Class: Cirripedia (Barnaces)

Class: Ostracoda (Ostracods)

Class: Stomatopoda (Mantis Shrimp)

  • Gonadactylidae
  • Lysiosquillidae
  • Odontodactylidae
  • Protosquillidae
  • Pseudosquillidae
  • Squillidae

 

Class: Isopoda (Isopods)

Class: Amphipoda (Amphipods, Skeleton shrimp)

 

Class: Decapoda (Shrimp, prawns, lobsters, crabs)

 

Sub-Class: Palinura (Lobsters)

  • Palinuridae (Spiny lobsters)
  • Scyllaridae (Slipper lobsters)

 

Sub-Class/Infra-order: Anomura (Hermit crabs, Squat lobsters, Porcelain crabs)

Sub-Class/Infra-order: Brachyura (Sponge crabs, Box crabs, Coral crabs, Decorator crabs, etc.)

  • Raninidae (Spanner crabs)
  • Dorippidae (Dorippid crabs)
  • Trapeziidae (Coral crabs)
  • Hymenosomatidae (Spider crabs)
  • Majidae (Decorator crabs)
  • Latreillidae (Arrow crabs)
  • Portunidae (Swimming crabs)
  • Xanthidae (Dark finger crabs)
  • Eumedonidae (Urchin Crabs)
  • Parthenopidae (Elbow crabs)
  • Grapsidae (Shore crabs)
  • Other (Unidentified crabs)

 

Phylum Echinodermata (Sea Stars, Crinoids, Urchins, Holothurians)  : 6,000+ species

Class: Crinoidea (Crinoids) : 550 species

  • Comasteridae (Bushy feather stars)
  • Mariametridae
  • Colobometridae

 

Class: Asteroidea (Sea Stars) : 1,500 species

 

Class: Ophiuroidea : 2,000 species

  • Gorgonocephalidae (Basket stars)
  • Ophiomyxidae
  • Ophiotrichidae
  • Ophiocomidae
  • Ophiodermatidae
  • Ophiuridae
  • Amphiuridae
  • Ophiactidae

 

Class: Echinoidea (Sea Urchins) : 950 species

  • Cidaridae
  • Echinothuriidae (Leather sea urchins)
  • Diadematidae
  • Temnopleuridae
  • Toxopneustidae (Toxic sea urchins)
  • Parasaleniidae
  • Echinometridae
  • Echinoneidae
  • Clypeasteridae
  • Clypeasteridae
  • Spatangidae
  • Brissidae
  • Scutellidae

 

Class: Holothuroidea (Sea cucumbers)

  • Holothuriidae (Common sea cucumbers)
  • Stichopodidae
  • Cucumariidae (Short sea cucumbers)
  • Phyllophuriidae
  • Synaptida

 

Phylum Cnidaria (formerly Coelenterata) - Corals, jellyfish, anemones  : 9,000+ species

Class: Hydrozoa : 2,700 species

Hydroida (Hydroids)

  • Tubulariidae
  • Halocordylidae
  • Solanderiidae
  • Zancleidae
  • Eudendriidae
  • Hydractiniidae
  • Lofoeidae
  • Plumulariidae

 

Milliporina (Fire Corals)

Stylasterina (Lace Corals)

  • Stylasteridae
    • Stylaster
    • Distichopora

     

Class: Scyphozoa (Jellyfish) : 200 species

 

Class: Anthozoa (Corals and anemones) : 6,000 species

Subclass: Zoantharia (Hexacorals, anemones, black corals)

Zoanthidea (Anemone-like anthozoans)

Actinaria (Sea anemones)

 

Scleractinia (Hard Corals)

  • Pocilloporidae
    • Polcillopora (Cauliflower coral)
    • Seriatopora (Needle coral)
    • Stylophora (Cat's paw coral)
  • Acroporidae (Staghorn corals)
  • Poritidae
    • Alveopora (Daisypot coral, Flowerpot coral)
    • Goniopora (Daisypot coral, Flowerpot coral)
    • Porites (various)
      • Porites sp.
    Agariciidae
    • Pachyseris (Phonograph coral, Rugosa coral)
    • Pavona (Lettuce coral, leaf coral)
    • Agaricia (Lettuce coral, leaf coral)
    • Leptoseris (Lettuce coral, scroll coral)
  • Fungiidae (Mushroom corals)
    • Ctenactis
    • Fungia (Mushroom coral, plate coral)
    • Halomitra
    • Heliofungia (Plate coral)
    • Herpolitha (Tongue coral, slipper coral)
    • Ctenactis (Tongue coral)
    • Polyphyllia
    • Lithophyllon (Encrusting fungia)
    • Cyclosteris (Mushroom coral, plate coral)
  • Oculinidae
  • Pectinidae
  • Mussidae
  • Faviidae (Honeycomb corals)
    • Diploastrea (Moon coral)
    • Echinopora (Hedgehog coral)
    • Favia (Honeycomb coral, moon coral)
    • Favites (Honeycomb coral, moon coral)
    • Goniastrea (Honeycomb coral)
    • Diploria (Brain coral)
    • Leptoria (Brain coral)
    • Moseleya
    • Platygyra (Brain coral)
  • Caryophylliidae
    • Euphyllia (Torch coral, anchor coral)
    • Catalaphyllia (Elegance, Wonder, Ridge Coral)
    • Physogyra
    • Plerogyra
  • Flabellidae
    • Flabellum
  • Dendrophylliidae (Crater corals)
    • Balanophyllia (Turret coral)
    • Dendrophyllia (Turret coral)
    • Tubastraea (Orange cup coral)
    • Turbinaria (Scroll coral, vase coral)
  • Other (classification unclear)
    • Stylocoeniella (Thorn coral)
    • Madracis (Finger coral)
    • Stephanocoenia (Star coral)
    • Palauastrea ramosa (Finger coral)
    • Alveopora (Daisy coral)
    • Sidastrea (Star coral)
    • Psammocora (Cat's paw)
    • Coscinaraea (Plate coral)
    • Gardinoseris (Favites, Honeycomb coral)
    • Coeloseris
    • Podabacia
    • Halomitra pileus
    • Sandalolitha
    • Polyphyllia
    • Lithactinia
    • Diaseris
    • Lithophyllon
    • Cycloseris
    • Pterogyra (Bubble coral, Grape coral)
    • Physogyra (Bubble coral, Grape coral)
    • Nemenzophyllia turbida (Fox coral, ridge coral)
    • Meandrina (Butterprint brain coral)
    • Eusmillia (Smooth flower coral)
    • Dichocoenia (Star Coral, elliptical star coral)
    • Dendrogyra (Pillar coral)
    • Galaxea (Crystal coral, starburst coral)
    • Acrhelia (Bush coral)
    • Cladocora (Ivory tube coral)
    • Solenastrea (Star coral, knobby star coral)
    • Oculina (Ivory bush coral)
    • Oulastrea
    • Leptastrea
    • Cyphastrea
    • Manicina
    • Trachyphillia
    • Colpophyllia
    • Oulophyllia
    • Caulastrea
    • Erythrastrea
    • Montastrea
    • Diploastrea
    • Goniastrea
    • Diploria
    • Leptoria
    • Platygyra
    • Merulina
    • Scapophyllia
    • Hydnophora
    • Paraclavarina
    • Pectinia
    • Mycedium
    • Oxypora
    • Echinophyllia
    • Acanthastrea (Pineapple coral, Artichoke coral)
    • Isophyllastrea (Pineapple coral, Polygonal coral)
    • Mussismilia (Flower coral)
    • Isophylllia sinuosa (Cactus coral)
    • Symphyllia
    • Mycetophyllia
    • Lobophyllia
    • Scolymia
    • Cynarina
    • Blastomussa
    • Duncanopsammia

     

Corallimorpharia (Corallimorphs)

Ceriantharia (Tube-dwelling anemone-like anthozoans)

  • Cerianthidae
  • Arachnanthidae

 

Antipatharia (Black Coral

 

Subclass: Alcyonaria (Octocorals)

Alcyonacea (Soft Corals)

  • Clavulariidae
    • Clavularia (Clove polyp, Anthelia)
  • Tubiporidae (Organ pipe corals)
    • Pachyclavularia
    • Tubipora (Organ pipe coral)
  • Alcyoniidae (Leather corals)
    • Cladiella
    • Eleutherobia
    • Minabea
    • Lobophytum (Devil's hand)
    • Sarcophyton
    • Sinularia
  • Neptheidae (Tree soft corals)
    • Capnella
    • Dendronephthya
    • Chironephthya
    • Lemnalia
    • Litophyton
    • Nephthea
    • Paralemnalia
    • Scleronephthya (Strawberry corals)
    • Stereonephthya
    • Capnella
  • Nidaliidae
    • Chironephthya
    • Nidalia
    • Siphonogorgia
  • Xeniidae (Flower soft corals)
    • Anthelia
    • Cespitularia
    • Heteroxenia
    • Sympodium
    • Xenia
  • Briareidae (Encrusting sheet corals)
    • Briareum (Green star polyp)
  • Other
    • Carijoa sp.
    • Coelogorgia
    • Sinularia
    • Dampia
    • Lemnalia
    • Paralemnalia
    • Neospongodes
    • Cavernularia
    • Virgularia
    • Erythropodium

     

Gorgonacea (Sea fans, sea whips)

  • Subergorgiidae (Gorgonian fans)
  • Melithaeidae (Sea fan)
  • Aganthogorgiidae (Spiny gorgonian fans)
    • Acalycigorgia
    • Muricella
  • Anthothelidae
    • Alertigorgia
  • Plexauridae (Caribbean only)
    • Echninogorgia
    • Pseudoplexaura
  • Gorgoniidae (Gorgonian bush corals)
    • Rumphella (Sea rod, sea whip)
  • Elisellidae (Whip corals)
    • Ctenocella
    • Elisella (Sea whip)
    • Junceela (Sea whip)
  • Other
    • Nephthyigorgia
    • Anthelia
    • Cespitularia
    • Diodogorgia
    • Iciligorgia
    • Echinomuricea
    • Menella (Sea fan)
    • Pacifigorgia
    • Guaiagorgia (Blue sea whip)
    • Phyllogorgia
    • Pseudopterogorgia
    • Pterogorgia
    • Pinnigorgia
    • Isis
    • Clathraria (Sea fan)

    •  

Coenothecalia (Blue Corals)

  • Helioporidae (Blue corals)
    • Heliopora

    •  

Pennatulacea (Sea Pens)

Phylum Porifera (Sponges) : 5,000+  species

 

Phylum Urochordata - Ascidiacea (Ascidians, tunicates) : 5,000+  species

 

 

Phylum Annelida (Segmented worms) : 12,000+ species

 

Phylum Platyhelminthes (flatworms) : 18,000+ species

  • Turbellaria (Free-living flatworms) : 3,000 species

 

Phylum Bryozoa (moss animals) : ?? species

 

 

 

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