Loliginidae

Freshwater Bay, WA, subtidal Penrose Point State Park, WA, intertidal and shallow subtidal
a dying squid probably Doryteuthis eggs, laid in shallow water at high tide

Octopodidae

Low Point, WA, subtidal Anacortes, WA, very low intertidal, octopus den

Enteroctopus dofleini (Wülker, 1910)
Giant Pacific Octopus
intertidal to 1500m north Mexico to north Alaska; Japan; Siberia size to 7.3m
This is the world's largest octopus species. It is rare to see the animal intertidally, but on a good low tide, one can sometimes find its dens.
(previous name - Octopus dofleini)

Sepiolidae

Freshwater Bay, WA, subtidal West Seattle, WA, subtidal Chemainus, BC, subtidal, eggs

Rossia pacifica S.S. Berry, 1911
Stubby Squid
subtidal to 600m north Mexico to north Alaska; Korea; Japan to Siberia size to 15cm
This small species can change color instantaneously and shoots a blob of ink as it shoots away from divers.
(synonym - Rossia borealis)

Fissidentalium megathyris (Dall, 1890)
Costate Tuskshell
found below 1000m, eastern Pacific

Vashon Island, WA, subtidal
a "squid pen" which is a residual shell inside the squid's mantle.

Doryteuthis opalescens (Berry, 1911)
Opalescent Squid or California Market Squid
pelagic size to 28cm
north Mexico to south Alaska
The eggs of this species are occasionally seen in the low intertidal. Subtidally they can be found in very large masses. The squid live less than a year.
(previous name - Loligo opalescens)

Rhabdidae

juveniles
Rhabdus rectius (Carpenter, 1865)
Western Straight Tuskshell
Peru to Alaska

all Freshwater Bay, WA, subtidal
Octopus rubescens Berry, 1953
Pacific Red Octopus
intertidal to 300m north Mexico to central Alaska size to 50cm
This species is very rarely seen intertidally. It can be differentiated from a young Giant Pacific Octopus by the three "eyelashes" below each eye.

Ommastrephidae

washed ashore at Port Hardy, BC
Dosidicus gigas (d'Orbigny, 1935)
Humboldt Squid or Jumbo Squid
subtidal to 500m size to 400cm
Chile to California, but now spreading north and have been found as far as Alaska
This is the second largest squid in our area. Usually found in large groups.
(previous name - Ommastrephes gigas)

Pulsellidae

Pulsellum salishorum Marshall, 1980
Salish Toothshell
eastern Pacific

Gadila aberrans (Whiteaves, 1887)
Aberrant Toothshell
south California to Alaska

Gadilidae

Cadulus californicus
Pilsbry & Sharp, 1898
Californian Cadulus
south California to south BC

Dentaliidae

Antalis pretiosa (Sowerby, 1860)
Indian Money Tusk
north Mexico to south Alaska

Chaetodermatidae

Chaetoderma cf argenteum Loven, 1844
Glistenworm
California to Alaska

Aplacophora, Cephalopods and Scaphopods

(Oregon to Southeast Alaska)

Click on thumbnails to enlarge. Scale line in photo equals 1cm unless otherwise specified.

These species are all subtidal and generally only seen by divers. Full habitat range is listed.