Did you know that squid are more closely related to clams than fish? And that horseshoe crabs are more closely related to spiders than to other types of crabs?

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Sea Grant Program sponsors the Beachcomber’s Companion© website, which offers information about Atlantic coast marine invertebrates—animals without backbones that live in saltwater.

The site offers virtual beachcombing, e-postcards, and a link to order the waterproof and portable Beachcomber’s Companion© cards, featuring 50 common Atlantic coast marine invertebrates, beautifully illustrated (and scientifically accurate), and held together with a clip. Packaged in a mesh collecting bag, each set comes with a special marking pencil for the checklist card. Cards provide common and scientific names for each organism, along with classification information, details on size, shape, and color, and where to look for it. Fun and strange facts for each organism are also included.

http://www.beachcomberscompanion.net/