Cape Cod Sea Life

Cape Cod is an island off the coast of Massachusetts. It is known for its beautiful beaches and as a vacation spot for Presidents of the US. The sea life in and around our area includes hermit crabs, horseshoe crabs, blue crabs, quahogs, razor clams, sand dollars, and jellyfish.

Hermit crabs go from shell to shell throughout their lives. You can find them at low tide in tidal creeks. Horseshoe Crabs, also called king crab, have existed for millions of years. Fossil horseshoe crabs date from five million years. ago. Their shells resemble brown helmets.  Because the spines on their legs “chew” their food, they can only eat while moving. Long used for bait and fertilizer, a substance in their blood has been used for pharmaceutical research since 1964. A portion of their blood can be extracted from them and then they can be returned to the water. This procedure is not done in Massachusetts however. Blue Crabs, an edible crab, are very common on Cape Cod, on the edges of salt marshes, or on the ocean shore. The meat of this crab is sold commercially or as "soft crabs" just after the shell has been shed before the new shell hardens.

  One type of shellfish that reside in the Cape Cod waters are the Quahogs, Cape Cod’s signature mollusk. Named by the American Indians and used by them as "wampum" or money, they are also called "little neck clams". You can try to find them just below the sand and mud surface between low and high tides. Many people like to harvest Quahogs during the summer, but to do so, you must have a town fishing license from the town you are a resident of or visiting. Many people eat quahogs raw. Mature quahogs are best for making clam chowder.

Sand Dollars are invertebrates that have a flat, circular outer shell. The shell has many perforations that form a symmetrical petal-like design. Commonly found on sandy bottoms in shallow water, they obtain food by engulfing sand from which they extract small plants and animals. 

  Many kinds of jellyfish reside in the Cape’s water’s also. Not really fish they are relatives of sea anemones and corals. They are invertebrates, are more than 95% water. They have existed for over 650 million years and predate even the first sharks on our planet. Jellyfish have long tentacles with toxins inside that can kill or stun their prey. When stung, people often develop red welts and/or suffer allergic reactions as well. If you are stung apply vinegar or alcohol immediately. Next make a paste of meat tenderizer and water to the skin. The tenderizer will break down the proteins that make up the toxins an provide some relief from the pain.

Hope you enjoy these facts about some of Cape Cod’s sea life.   

horseshoe crab

hermit crab

jellyfish

quahog

sand dollar

Hope you enjoyed these facts and pictures about some of Cape Cod’s sea life.