Intertidal Fish of the Pacific Northwest

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This page is an attempt to introduce the viewer (you) to the world of marine intertidal fish of the Pacific Northwest. It is by no means meant to be exhaustive, but it is meant to be enjoyable. Thank you for taking the time to read my page(s).

 

Locations:

Definition of a fish:

Fish are (usually) aquatic vertebrates that are cold-blooded and can be generally said to have the following:

  • Gills for breathing
  • Fins (tail is vertical)
  • A lateral line for sensing pressure changes in the water
  • Streamlined bodies

Intertidal fish can vary in size, however most are under 5 inches. This is not an official statistic, but something that I have noticed from my field trips.

Intertidal fish also vary in shape, some being eel like and others being flat. All intertidal fish share the same basic external anatomy, just in different proportions.

A wonderful depiction of the external anatomy of a fish can be found through www.aquaticcommunity.com.

Common Species:

 
 

The intertidal zone can be thought of as:

  • The area between the lowest low tide and the highest high tide
  • Subject to a wide variety of temperatures, salinities, and pH
  • Very difficult to live and reproduce in
  • Not always covered in water
  

 

UWT Marine Ecology 2008 Class Project