Leafy Jewel Box

Coastal Habitats

Leafy jewel boxes are pretty little bivalves. Their two shells, called valves, are covered with plates or frills that look almost like leaves. Red or orange sponges often tint the white valves.

Jewel boxes are attached to the reef by one valve and the other opens like a lid, allowing the animals to filter food from the water.

Animals of the Nearshore Waters

Learn more by clicking on the links below.

Brown Tube Sponge

Red Boring Sponge

Red-Orange Encrusting Sponge

Tree Oyster

Ivory Bush Coral

Cup Coral

Pearly Red Encrusting Bryozoan

Select a coastal habitat:

Salt Marshes
Bays and Estuaries
Jetties
Nearshore Waters
Gulf Waters