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On the Bottom

The benthos, or bottom community is probably the richest area of life in Greenwich Bay. The benthic community can be divided into two related subcommunities. Epifauna (animals) and epiflora (plants) live on top of the bottom, and infauna live in the sediments.

Epifauna

Epifauna include many species of fish and crabs:

Windowpane Flounder

Winter Flounder

Skate

Blue Crab

Cancer Crab

Green Crab

Mud Crab

Infauna

Infauna includes a variety of species, including clams and other mollusks, worms, and amphipods—tiny crustaceans that resemble shrimp. Greenwich Bay is perhaps best known for one particular member of the infauna—the quahog.

This illustration by Steven P. Silvia shows some common infauna species that might be found in Narragansett Bay and in Greenwich Bay. Species that are especially common in Greenwich Bay are the tube-dwelling amphipod, Ampelisca, and of course, Mercenaria mercenaria.

A. Tube-dwelling amphipods, Ampelisca B. Benthic amphipod in filter-feeding position (Leptocheirus pinguis) C. Ice cream cone worm, Pectinaria gouldii D. Coot clams, Mulinia lateralis E. Hermit crab, Pagarus longicarpus F. Quahog, Mercenaria mercenaria G. Shimmy worm, Nephtys incisa H. Mantis shrimp, Squilla empusa I. Mud snail, Ilyanassa trivittatas J. Worm casting K. Macoma clam, Macoma balthica L. Nematode worms M. Nut clams, Nucula proxima

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