The Chesapeake Bay is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. In fact, the Bay is home to over 3,600 species of plants and animals that live in the water and on the land. As an estuary, the Bay supports many different habitats, from freshwater marshes to the open waters of the Bay. As a result, the Bay supports species that can be found in freshwater, saltwater, and species that migrate between several different systems. Even though many of the species found in the Bay are not well known, each of these species – from the smallest algae to the biggest fish – play an important role in the Bay ecosystem.

For more information on the many species of plants and animals in the Bay, the following sections provide an overview of the plants and animals such as underwater grasses, mollusks, sponges, and jellyfish.

Other Animals

Other Plants

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For more information, contact the Chesapeake Bay Program Office:
410 Severn Avenue, Suite 109, Annapolis, MD 21403 / Tel: (800) YOUR-BAY / Fax: (410) 267-5777.

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Last modified: 11/14/01