Oregon Coast Aquarium Oregon Coast Aquarium Species List (23/11/25)

Northwest_FIsh_Keeping

Northwest_FIsh_Keeping

Well-Known Member
I managed to make one last trip for the year to arguably one of the best Aquariums in the country. Despite it being smaller than a lot of other Aquariums in the country, OCA punches much above of it's weight in terms of species on exhibit and the design of the exhibits.
  • One of the best Seabird exhibits in general in the whole country (a huge walkthrough aviary with 6 species of Seabird)
  • 1 of 3 Aquariums in the US to exhibit Broadnose Sevengill Sharks
  • 1 of 2 Aquariums in the US to exhibit Tope/Soupfin Sharks (also having the greater number of individuals)
  • Home to "Skinny", the oldest Harbor Seal in human care who I believe is 50 years old now
  • Some of the better and definitely more naturalistic marine mammal exhibits in the country, compared to other Aquariums, and more
The place tends to be overlooked as it's about 3 hours away from the other major AZA Zoological facility in the state (the Oregon Zoo in Portland), but it's definitely worth the drive out to the coast (and Newport is actually pretty developed for being a "beach town").
  • Species in Green are those that are on exhibit, but not signed
  • Species in Red are those that are NOT on exhibit, but are signed
As of November 23rd, 2025:

'Cafe Moon Jelly Tank' | The first exhibit you technically come across, since it's right at the entrance in the commodities area
  • Greater Moon Jellies (Aurelia labiata)
'Freshwater Streams' | An artificial Freshwater stream you see when you enter the main outside area of the Aquarium, there aren't any live animals in here, but I believe sometimes native frogs can be seen in it

'Sandy Coast' | The first major gallery, all three buildings (Sandy Coast, Rocky Coast, Connected Coast, and the Jellies Gallery which is apart of Connected Coast) are connected to one another, with Sandy Coast being the first to enter. This area displays animals that are found in Sand Flats, Sediment pilings, and Seagrass beds
  • Graceful Kelp Crab (Pugettia gracilis)
  • Pacific Staghorn Sculpin (Leptocottus armatus)
  • Aggregating Anemones (Anthopleura elegantissima)
  • Striped Sun Star (Solaster stimpsoni)
  • Rough Keyhole Limpits (Diodora aspera)
  • Vermilion Sea Stars (Mediaster aequalis)
  • California Spot Prawns (Pandalus platyceros)
  • Mossy Chitons (Mopalia muscosa)
  • Silver Surfperches (Hyperprosopon ellipticum)
  • Striped Surfperches (Embiotoca lateralis)
  • Pile Surfperches (Phanerodon vacca)
  • Shiner Surfperches (Cymatogaster aggregata)
  • Black Rockfishes (Sebastes melanops)
  • Quillback Rockfishes (Sebastes maliger)
  • China Rockfishes (Sebastes nebulosus)
  • California Halibut (Paralichthys californicus)
  • Pacific Tomcod (Microgadus proximus)
  • Giant Plumose Anemones (Metridium farcimen)
  • Green Sea Urchins (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis)
  • Pink Sea Stars (Pisaster brevispinus)
  • Dungeness Crab (Metacarcinus magister)
  • White-spotted Rose Anemones (Cribrinopsis albopunctata)
  • Splitnose Rockfishes (Sebastes diploproa)
  • Orange Sea Pens (Ptilosarcus gurneyi)
  • Tube-dwelling Anemones (Pachycerianthus fimbriatus)
  • Sand Star (Luidia foliolata)
  • Pacific Sanddabs (Citharichthys sordidus)
  • C-O Soles (Pleuronichthys coenosus)
  • English Soles (Parophrys vetulus)
  • Northern Anchovies (Engraulis mordax)
  • Pacific Sand Sole (Psettichthys melanostictus)
  • Leather Sea Stars (Dermasterias imbricata)
  • Bay Pipefishes (Syngnathus californiensis)
  • Tubesnouts (Aulorhynchus flavidus)
  • Three-spined Sticklebacks (Aulorhynchus flavidus)
  • Sitka Shrimps (Heptacarpus sitchensis)
  • Lewis' Moonsnail (Neverita lewisii)
  • Un-ID'd Crabs that I can't find an ID for
  • Copper Rockfishes (Sebastes caurinus)
  • Pacific Hairy Hermit Crab (Pagurus hirsutiusculus)
  • Penpoint Gunnels (Apodichthys flavidus)
  • Saddleback Gunnels (Pholis ornata)
  • Crescent Gunnels (Pholis laeta)
  • Eccentric Sand Dollars (Dendraster excentricus)
  • Fluffy Sculpins (Oligocottus snyderi)
  • Spiny Pink Scallops (Chlamys hastata)
  • California Mussels (Mytilus californianus)
  • Buffalo Sculpin (Enophrys bison)
  • Sailfin Sculpin (Nautichthys oculofasciatus)
  • Northern Clingfish (Gobiesox maeandricus)
  • Common Blue Mussels (Mytilus edulis)
  • Silverspotted Sculpins (Blepsias cirrhosus)
  • Tubenose Poachers (Pallasina barbata)
'Rocky Coast' | The second gallery in this area, this building showcases various animals that are found on the Rocky Coasts from Washington to Northern California. It's home to a large touch pool in the center that is home to a variety of species (majority unsigned) so I could be missing a couple but this should include a lot of them.
  • Giant Pacific Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini)
  • False Ochre Sea Stars (Evasterias troschelii)
  • Ochre Sea Stars (Pisaster ochraceus)
  • Bat Sea Stars (Patiria miniata)
  • Painted Anemones (Urticina crassicornis)
  • White-spotted Rose Anemones (Cribrinopsis albopunctata)
  • Ochre Sea Stars (Pisaster ochraceus)
  • Leather Sea Stars (Dermasterias imbricata)
  • Bat Sea Stars (Patiria miniata)
  • Giant Green Anemones (Anthopleura xanthogrammica)
  • Purple Sea Urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus)
  • Green Sea Urchins (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis)
  • California Sea Cucumbers (Apostichopus californicus)
  • Gumboot Chitons (Cryptochiton stelleri)
  • Red Abalones (Haliotis rufescens)
  • Rough Keyhole Limpets (Diodora aspera)
  • Strawberry Anemones (Corynactis californica)
  • Stalked Tunicate (Styela montereyensis)
  • Widow Rockfishes (Sebastes entomelas)
  • Rosy Rockfish (Sebastes rosaceus)
  • Quillback Rockfish (Sebastes maliger)
  • Rock Greenling (male) (Hexagrammos lagocephalus)
  • Kelp Greenling (male) (Hexagrammos decagrammus)
  • Buffalo Sculpins (Enophrys bison)
  • Fish-eating Anemones (Urticina piscivora)
  • Red Whip Gorgonians (Callistephanus spauldingi)
  • (I think the Kelp is fake)
  • Red Irish Lords (Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus)
  • Kelp Greenling (female) (Hexagrammos decagrammus)
  • Blue Rockfish (Sebastes mystinus)
  • China Rockfish (Sebastes nebulous)
  • Giant Green Anemones (Anthopleura xanthogrammica)
  • Purple Sea Urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus)
  • Giant Spined Sea Stars (Pisaster giganteus)
  • Bat Sea Stars (Patiria miniata)
  • Ochre Sea Stars (Pisaster ochraceus)
  • Gumboot Chitons (Cryptochiton stelleri)
  • Pacific Rock Crab (Romaleon antennarium)
  • Kelp Crab (Pugettia producta)
  • Aggregating Anemones (Anthopleura elegantissima)
  • Sunflower Sea Stars (Pycnopodia helianthoides)
  • Pacific Spiny Lumpsuckers (Eumicrotremus orbis)
  • Grunt Sculpins (Rhamphocottus richardsonii)
  • Purple Hydrocorals (Stylantheca papillosa)
  • Sea Raspberries (coral) (Gersemia rubiformis)
  • Heart Crab (Phyllolithodes papillosus)
  • Giant Acorn Barnacles (Balanus nubilus)
  • Cabezons (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus)
  • Decorator Crab (Oregonia gracilis)
  • Giant Plumose Anemones (Metridium farcimen)
  • Strawberry Anemones (Corynactis californica)
  • Veiled Chitons (Placiphorella velata)
  • Giant Rock Scallops (Crassadoma gigantea)
  • Six-rayed Sea Star (Leptasterias hexactis)
  • Plumose Anemones (Metridium senile)
  • Monkeyface Pricklebacks (Cebidichthys violaceus)
  • High Cockscomb (Anoplarchus purpurescens)
  • Black Pricklebacks (Xiphister atropurpureus)
  • Rough Puff Sponges (Phylum: Porifera)
  • Tennis Ball Sponges (Phylum: Porifera)
  • Hairy Triton Snails (most likely Fusitriton oregonensis)
  • Rock Scallops (Crassadoma gigantea)
  • California Sea Cucumber (Apostichopus californicus)
  • Giant Green Anemones (Anthopleura xanthogrammica)
  • Northern Clingfishes (Gobiesox maeandricus)
  • Sharp-nosed Crab (Scyra acutifrons)
  • California Sea Cucumber (Apostichopus californicus)
  • Giant Plumose Anemones (Metridium farcimen)
  • Plumose Anemones (Metridium senile)
'Connected Coasts' | The third building in this walkthrough, this gallery showcases species mainly from the Indo-Pacific and California coasts to show how species on opposite sides of the world face the same global challenges. The main attractions in this gallery are the huge artificial Coral Reef, California Kelp Forest, and Mangrove Lagoon tank.
  • Honeycomb Morays (Gymnothorax favagineus)
  • Zebra Morays (Gymnomuraena zebra)
  • Undulated Morays (Gymnothorax undulatus)
  • Panther Grouper (Cromileptes altivelis)
  • Porcupine Pufferfish (Diodon holocanthus)
  • Snowflake Moray (Echidna nebulosa)
  • Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfishes (Dendrochirus brachypterus)
  • Pencil Urchin (Heterocentrotus mamillatus)
  • Pajama Cardinalfish (Sphaeramia nematoptera)
  • Yellow Watchman Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus)
  • Neon Goby (Elacatinus genie)
  • Scopas Tangs (Zebrasoma scopas)
  • Sixline Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia)
  • Bristle-tail Filefish (Acreichthys tomentosus)
  • Maxima Clams (Tridanca maxima)
  • various coral species such as Green Star Polyps, Hammers, Cespitularia, Xenia, etc
  • Pot-bellied Seahorses (Hippocampus abdominalis)
  • Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus)
  • Flag Rockfish (Sebastes rubrivinctus)
  • Seniorita Wrasses (Oxyjulis californica)
  • Halfmoons (Medialuna californiensis)
  • California Moray (Gymnothorax mordax)
  • California Spiny Lobster (Panulirus interruptus)
  • Barred Knifejaw (Oplegnathus fasciatus)
  • Blue Spotted Maskray (Neotrygon kuhlii)
  • Blue Spotted Ribbontail Ray (Taeniura lymma)
  • Gem Tangs (Zebrasoma gemmatum)
  • Silver Monos (Monodactylus argenteus)
  • Banggai Cardinalfishes (Pterapogon kauderni)
  • Engineer Goby (Pholidichthys leucotaenia)
  • Goldspotted Rabbitfish (Siganus punctatus) (moved to the large, artificial reef tank it looks like)
  • Blue-Green Chromis (Chromis viridis)
  • Naso Tangs (Naso lituratus)
  • Pink Speckled Shrimp Goby (Cryptocentrus leptocephalus)
  • Falco Hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys falco)
  • Red Mangrove Trees (the big ones are fake, but there are some real trees in the back) | (Rhizophora mangle)
  • McCosker's Flasher Wrasses (Paracheilinus mccoskeri)
  • Melanurus Wrasses (Halichoeres melanurus)
  • Ignitus Anthias (males and females) (Pseudanthias ignitus)
  • Longnose Hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus)
  • Sixline Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia)
  • Bristle-tail Filefish (Acreichthys tomentosus)
  • Royal Gramma (Gramma loreto)
  • Scopas Tangs (Zebrasoma scopas)
  • Ocellaris Clownfish ('snowflake' morph) (Amphiprion ocellaris) (moved to the large, artificial reef tank it looks like)
  • various corals such as Acropora, Torches, Hammers, Leathers, Montipora, Duncans, Goniopora, etc)
  • Yellow Tangs (Zebrasoma flavescens)
  • Sailfin Tangs (Zebrasoma veliferum)
  • Vlamingi Tang (Naso vlamingi)
  • Naso Tangs (Naso litratus)
  • Purple Tangs (Zebrasoma xanthurum)
  • Blue Hippo Tangs (Paracanthurus hepatus)
  • Tomini Tangs (Ctenochaetus tominiensis)
  • Gold Rim Tangs (Acanthurus japonicus)
  • Orange Shoulder Tang (Acanthurus olivaceus)
  • Clown Tang (Acanthurus lineatus)
  • Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator)
  • Maculosus Angelfish (Pomacanthus maculosus)
  • Coral Beauty Angelfish (Centropyge bispinosa)
  • Keyhole Angelfish (Centropyge tibicen)
  • Bellus Angelfishes (males and females) (Genicanthus bellus)
  • Pyramid Butterflyfishes (Hemitaurichthys polylepis)
  • Lemon Butterflyfishes (Chaetodon miliaris)
  • Three Stripe Damselfishes (Dascyllus aruanus)
  • Wedgetail Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus rectangulus)
  • Blue Streak Cleaner Wrasses (Labroides dimidiatus)
  • Quoy's Parrotfish (Scarus quoyi)
  • Harlequin Tusk (Choerodon fasciatus)
  • Orange Spotted Rabbitfish (Siganus guttatus)
  • Goldspotted Rabbitfish (Siganus punctatus)
  • Dispar Anthias (males and females) (Pseudanthias dispar)
  • Lyretail Anthias (males and females) (Pseudanthias squamipinnis)
  • Ocellaris Clownfishes (Amphiprion ocellaris)
  • Ocellaris Clownfish ('snowflake' morph) (Amphiprion ocellaris)
  • Coral Grouper (Cephalopholis miniata)
'Jellies' Gallery | A dimly lit room with 4 Tanks that exhibit Jellies from around the world. This space is connected to the rest of the buildings, but considered it's own gallery. I like how they seemed to take inspiration from a lot of other Aquarium's Jelly exhibits as each tank is a different shape to give them some character
  • Pacific Sea Nettles (Chrysaora fuscescens)
  • South American Sea Nettles (Chrysaora plocamia) (The biggest ones I've ever seen at any aquarium)
  • Greater Moon Jellies (Aurelia labiata)
  • Red-eyed Medusas (Polyorchis penicillatus)
  • Halimedusa typus (no common name) (very rare Hydrozoan that is only found in Oregon and California, live individuals weren't really collected until a few years ago when they got redescribed so to see them in an Aquarium is super, super cool)
'Oregon's Tidepools' | This isn't an official exhibit since it's not listed on the map, however this is apart of the large rock structure in the outside areas of the aquariums that has the running waterfall. This area houses species that are commonly found in tidepools in the region, though none of the species are signed so I could be missing a couple. However, from what I saw:
  • Painted Greenling (Oxylebius pictus)
  • Giant Green Anemones (Anthopleura xanthogrammica)
  • Aggregating Anemones (Anthopleura elegantissima)
  • Purple Sea Urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus)
  • Red Sea Urchins (Mesocentrotus franciscanus)
  • Giant Rock Scallops (Crassadoma gigantea)
  • Ochre Sea Stars (Pisaster ochraceus)
'Seabird Aviary' | Well known for being one of the best Seabird exhibits in the country, it's the best Seabird Aviary I've personally seen, both in terms of size and collection. There's plenty of room for the birds to fly, tons of nesting space, two separate water features on each side, it's outdoors, and more. This used to be home to the only breeding pair of Black Oystercatcher's in captivity, however one of the birds was either moved or passed away since then as there's only one male now.
  • Tufted Puffins (Fratercula cirrhata)
  • Horned Puffins (Fratercula corniculata)
  • Common Murres (Uria aalge)
  • Pigeon Guillemots (Cepphus columba)
  • Rhinoceros Auklets (Cerorhinca monocerata) (OCA is 1 of 3 places globally to exhibit the species. The other 2 being Seattle Aquarium and Alaska Sealife Center, Aquarium of the Pacific apparently has a few behind the scenes but they're not out on public view)
  • Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani)
'Turkey Vultures' | Not the usual bird species you'd expect to find at an aquarium, this is a rescued individual that the aquarium took in back in 2009. The species is found throughout Oregon, so it allows the aquarium to educate about scavengers. (The brother passed away back in April so it's just the 1 individual left, I'm unsure if the aquarium is planning on acquiring another for the meantime)
  • Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura)
'Southern Sea Otters' | An outdoor exhibit home to the Aquarium's three rescued Southern Sea Otters. They help educate guests about the history of how Sea Otters were wiped entirely out of Oregon and what role they play in the ecosystem.
  • Southern Sea Otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) (all males)
'Pinnipeds' | An outdoor exhibit home to the Aquarium's Harbor Seals and California Sea Lions. According to the site there are 5 Harbor Seals and 2 Sea Lions. This includes 'Skinny', who is currently THE OLDEST living Harbor Seal in captivity at 49 years old. She still looks very lively, so I'm optimistic in saying she has a high chance of living to 51, which would then make her the oldest in recorded history (current record is 50). The Aquarium also says she's aging surprisingly well for her age, so we'll see in two years hopefully.
  • Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina)
  • California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus)
'Passages of the Deep' | The main attraction of the aquarium, this gallery is separated into 3 distinct tunnels that each mimic a different ecosystem found off the coast. These are the largest exhibits in the Aquarium, and home to some of the rarest species in the US. \

'Orford Reef' mimics a coastal Rocky Reef with dock pilings and artificial items that you would find near boat docks and places closer to tourist sites. It's the smallest of the 3 tunnels, and home to mainly various species of Rockfishes.
  • Wolf Eels (Anarrhichthys ocellatus)
  • Ocean Whitefish (Caulolatilus princeps)
  • Striped Surfperch (Embiotoca lateralis)
  • Kelp Greenling (Hexagrammos decagrammus)
  • Kelp Bass (Paralabrax clathratus)
  • Quillback Rockfishes (Sebastes maliger)
  • Tiger Rockfishes (Sebastes nigrocinctus)
  • Blue Rockfishes (Sebastes mystinus)
  • Canary Rockfishes (Sebastes pinniger)
  • Black Rockfishes (Sebastes melanops)
  • Vermilion Rockfishes (Sebastes miniatus)
  • Black and Yellow Rockfishes (Sebastes chrysomelas)
  • Yellowtail Rockfishes (Sebastes flavidus)
  • China Rockfishes (Sebastes nebulosus)
  • Rosy Rockfishes (Sebastes rosaceus)
  • Bull Kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana)
  • Ochre Sea Stars (Pisaster ochraceus)
  • Bat Sea Stars (Patiria miniata)
  • Leather Sea Stars (Dermasterias imbricata)
  • Strawberry Anemones (Corynactis californica)
  • Giant Green Anemones (Anthopleura xanthogrammica)
  • Giant Plumose Anemones (Metridium farcimen)
  • Fish-eating Anemones (Urticina piscivora)
  • White-spotted Anemones (Cribrinopsis albopunctata)
'Halibut Flats' mimics Oregon's continental shelf where most of the substrate is made up of sand, mud, and sediment. A huge artifical shipwreck acts as cover for many of the species here. Just like it's name, this exhibit is home to the massive Pacific Halibut and Sturgeon. (Normally there are Skates in here, specifically Big Skates, but at the time of visiting, they sadly didn't have any on exhibit)
  • White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) (signed as 'Sturgeon')
  • Green Sturgeons (Acipenser medirostris) (OCA is the only other aquarium besides us at Seattle to display the species to my knowledge) (signed as 'Sturgeon')
  • Pacific Halibuts (Hippoglossus stenolepis)
  • Starry Flounders (Platichthys stellatus)
  • Cabezon (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus)
  • Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus)
  • Ocean Whitefish (Caulolatilus princeps)
  • Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria)
  • Yelloweye Rockfishes (Sebastes ruberrimus)
  • Tiger Rockfishes (Sebastes nigrocinctus)
  • Blue Rockfishes (Sebastes mystinus)
  • Canary Rockfishes (Sebastes pinniger)
  • Black Rockfishes (Sebastes melanops)
  • Vermilion Rockfishes (Sebastes miniatus)
  • China Rockfishes (Sebastes nebulosus)
  • Gopher Rockfishes (Sebastes carnatus)
  • Yellowtail Rockfishes (Sebastes flavidus)
  • Copper Rockfishes (Sebastes caurinus)
  • Bocaccio Rockfishes (Sebastes paucispinis)
  • Giant Acorn Barnacles (Balanus nubilus)
  • Giant Plumose Anemones (Metridium farcimen)
  • Red Whip Gorgonians (Callistephanus spauldingi)
'The Open Sea' is the Aquarium's flagship exhibit that mimics the Open Sea off of the Oregon Coast. Housing all of the Sharks, including some true rarities such as the Broadnose Sevengill Shark and Tope Shark. Along with Bat Rays, large schools of Fish, and the largest group of Leopard Sharks in an Aquarium I've ever seen
  • Broadnose Sevengill Sharks (Notorynchus cepedianus) (OCA is 1 of 3 aquariums in the US to exhibit the species. The other 2 being Monterey Bay and Aquarium of the Bay)
  • Tope / School Sharks (Galeorhinus galeus) (OCA is 1 of 2 aquariums in the US to exhibit the species. The other being the Aquarium of the Bay, this critically endangered species is a true rarity. OCA has 3 individuals (possibly a fourth but I couldn't get a good look at the fourth one to tell for sure. They have the greater amount of individuals as AOB only has 1 to my knowledge.
  • Leopard Sharks (Triakis semifasciata) (I lost count since there are so many, but I wouldn't be surprised if they have the largest number in the US as they definitely have more than Monterey Bay too. I wouldn't be surprised if there were between 12 to 20 in here)
  • Pacific Spiny Dogfishes (Squalus suckleyi)
  • Bat Rays (Myliobatis californica) (Home to a breeding population since there were a ton of juveniles and babies in here, also confirmed by a staff member that they do breed within the exhibit)
  • Yellowtail Amberjacks (Seriola lalandi)
  • Pacific Mackerel (Trachurus symmetricus)
  • Pacific Sardines (Sardinops sagax)
  • Northern Anchovies (Engraulis mordax)
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the review and the species list. The one time I visited this aquarium was in 1994. I think the general layout is much the same. I don't remember there being many tropical species, so maybe that was added later? They also had not built the orca exhibit for Keiko yet, which is now the Open Sea complex. The sea bird aviary was still the highlight exhibit of the aquarium back then also. The sea otter and pinniped exhibits were the same as now. There was an outdoor octopus tank also. It sounds like that is no longer present.
 
@Northwest_FIsh_Keeping Oops, I see that I made a similar comment on your last species list of the Oregon Aquarium. Ugh. Getting old.

Do you know when the outdoor octopus tank was removed from Oregon Aquarium? From your species list it looks like they have an indoor octopus space now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top