Sandy Shores

Don't be fooled by what you don't see... Oregon's sandy shores are teeming with life, but most of it is hidden from sight.A shoreline is how most human beings experience the ocean. Standing with your feet in the sand and staring out at the waves has inspired everything from epic poems to artistic masterpieces. It is from this vantage point that we can first experience the awe and mystery of the ocean. Our Sandy Shores exhibit helps our visitors to not only recreate that awe-inspired feeling, but to understand the complexity of this teeming but narrow ecosystem where the land meets the water.


Here, much of the life is hidden beneath the sand or in the cracks between rocks. Many surf zone animals bury themselves to escape the drying sun and the sharp eyes of shorebirds and marine predators. The animals of the sandy shores can also be so tiny they almost escape observation, but even the smallest still play a vital role in nature’s constant cycle of life.


One of the highlights of the Sandy Shores gallery includes a freestanding pier pilings exhibit. This 4,730-gallon tank replicates the unique habitat formed by docks and piers where anemones and mussels encrust the human-made features and Dungeness Crabs scuttle along the bottom. Nearby, a separate exhibit replicates the constant ebb and flow of the surf against a tide pool filled with anemones, sculpins and oysters. Other exhibits display the natural habitats of the delicate Sea Pen and the curious-looking flatfish. In all, the gallery holds thirteen separate exhibits.

Oceans Today kiosk in action.The OCEAN TODAY kiosk provides near-real-time updates on weather and conservation issues from all over the world courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the form of videos and interactive programs.  The kiosk also provides a feature called "Oregon Today" which provides information of local interest dealing with our coastal waters, beaches and marine wildlife. All the features change regularly, so check them out during your next visit to the Aquarium!  The kiosk's technology, which includes interactive touch-screens, was donated by Panasonic to the Aquarium through its affiliation with the Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers.


What Lives Here

  • American Beach Grass

    American Beach Grass

    This plant is not part of an Aquarium exhibit, but is rather a wild species which lives in on the sandy shores of Oregon. It is included here as part of the Aquar... more

  • Bay Pipefish

    Bay Pipefish

    Visitors to the Aquarium often have to look very carefully to spot the delicate, bright-green bodies of our resident Bay Pipefish. These tiny creatures, which ar... more

  • Dungeness Crab

    Dungeness Crab

    Oregon is famous for its Dungeness crabs. These crustaceans are harvested all along the coast in waters less than 300 feet (91 meters) deep. The crabs are disting... more

  • European Beach Grass

    European Beach Grass

    This plant is not part of an Aquarium exhibit, but is rather a wild species which lives in on the sandy shores of Oregon. It is included here as part of the Aquar... more

  • Giant Acorn Barnacle

    Giant Acorn Barnacle

    The Giant Acorn Barnacle is the largest of the white barnacles. It resembles a shrimp standing on its head with surrounding plates that form a shell (carapace). T... more

  • Helmet Crab

    Helmet Crab

    The Helmet Crab has an almost pentagonal-shaped body or carapace. The carapace, claws and legs are covered with stiff bristles and the lateral margin of the carap... more

  • High Cockscomb

    High Cockscomb

    The High Cockscomb is a small, ray-finned fish that looks similar to a tiny eel. This animal rarely reach lengths in excess of 20 cm and can be identified by thei... more

  • Lewis's Moon Snail

    Lewis's Moon Snail

    This is the largest living marine snail, having a shell diameter from 2.25 – 5.5 inches (5.7 – 14 cm). The shell is almost round, large, thick and yellowish-white... more

  • Northern Anchovy

    Northern Anchovy

    The anchovy is one of the better known fish species in the Aquarium collection, mostly due to their popularity as a human food source. They are also an important ... more

  • Pacific Herring

    Pacific Herring

    In its multitude of forms, herring is an important food source for both human and non-human animals. These sleek, silvery fish move in vast schools and attract a ... more

  • Sand Dollars

    Sand Dollars

    Sand dollars are shaped like flattened Sea Urchins. They have tube feet and spines so small and closely packed that the living animal looks and feels like velvet.... more

  • Sea Pen

    Sea Pen

    Sea pens resemble old-fashioned ostrich plume pens when they are fully expanded. They range from pale pink to bright orange in color. Although they may look decid... more

  • Shiner Perch

    Shiner Perch

    Shiner Perch are a common fish in coastal areas and estuaries all along Oregon. They have elongated bodies with bright silver scales that have a more greenish ti... more

  • Speckled Sanddab

    Speckled Sanddab

    Speckled Sanddabs are flattened, oval-shaped fish, with both eyes on the left side. They are closely related to other flatfish like halibut. When Sanddabs hatch,... more

  • Starry Flounder

    Starry Flounder

    Starry Flounders are flatfish. They are easily recognized by the markings on the dorsal, anal and tail fins which are white to orange with black bands or stripes.... more

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