Porcelain Crab
A small crab, covered in hairs, with very broad front claws. The Porcelain Crab (also known as the 'Broad-clawed Porcelain Crab') lives under rocks, among mud and gravel, on the middle and lower shore. This crab filter feeds.
Crustaceans provide a vital link in the food chain for many of our rarer species. Our seas and coastline are in need of protection if we are to keep our marine wildlife healthy. The Wildlife Trusts are working with fishermen, researchers, politicians and local people towards a vision of 'Living Seas', where marine wildlife thrives. This work has recently had a massive boost with the passing of the Marine Bill, promising sustainable development of the UK's marine environment. Do your bit for our Living Seas by supporting your local Wildlife Trust.
Spiny Lobster
A large crustacean, the Spiny Lobster is covered in jagged spines and lacks the large grabbing pincers of the Common Lobster. Spiny Lobsters live in crevices and caves amongst rocks from the low tide mark and deeper.
Numbers of Spiny Lobster have been depleted by overfishing, but research from the Mediterranean suggests that numbers recover well in protected areas. The Wildlife Trusts are working with fishermen, researchers, politicians and local people towards a vision of 'Living Seas', where marine wildlife thrives. This work has recently had a massive boost with the passing of the Marine Bill, promising Marine Protected Areas in the UK. Do your bit for our Living Seas by supporting your local Wildlife Trust.
Lobster
A large crustacean, Lobsters are very familiar animals with big front pincers and a long body. They live in crevices and caves amongst rocks from the low tide mark and deeper. Common Lobsters are scavengers and use their pincers to manipulate food - differing in size, one is used for crushing and the other for cutting.
Numbers of Common Lobster have been depleted by overfishing. The Wildlife Trusts are working with fishermen, researchers, politicians and local people towards a vision of 'Living Seas', where marine wildlife thrives. This work has recently had a massive boost with the passing of the Marine Bill, promising sustainable development of the UK's marine environment. Do your bit for our Living Seas by supporting your local Wildlife Trust.
Sand-hopper
A marine crustacean, the Sand-hopper is a close relative of the freshwater shrimp that is often caught when pond-dipping. Sand-hoppers live under seaweed and rocks around the tide line, where they feed on rotting seaweed and animals. Adults spend the winter in a dormant state, buried in the sand at depths of up to 50 cm above the spring tide mark.
Our seas and coastline are in need of protection if we are to keep our marine wildlife healthy. The Wildlife Trusts are working with fishermen, researchers, politicians and local people towards a vision of 'Living Seas', where marine wildlife thrives. This work has recently had a massive boost with the passing of the Marine Bill, promising sustainable development of the UK's marine environment. Do your bit for our Living Seas by supporting your local Wildlife Trust.
Sea Slater
A marine crustacean, the Sea Slater is a close relative of the terrestrial woodlouse. It lives in crevices and under rocks, coming out at night to feed on anything it can find.
Our seas and coastline are in need of protection if we are to keep our marine wildlife healthy. The Wildlife Trusts are working with fishermen, researchers, politicians and local people towards a vision of 'Living Seas', where marine wildlife thrives. This work has recently had a massive boost with the passing of the Marine Bill, promising sustainable development of the UK's marine environment. Do your bit for our Living Seas by supporting your local Wildlife Trust.
Acorn Barnacle
The commonest barnacle found around our shores, the Acorn Barnacle lives attached to any hard substrate, including rocks, the legs of piers, old boats and even other animals. They are filter feeders, picking plankton and detritus out of the water. Found around the low tide mark.
Our seas and coastline are in need of protection if we are to keep our marine wildlife healthy. The Wildlife Trusts are working with fishermen, researchers, politicians and local people towards a vision of 'Living Seas', where marine wildlife thrives. This work has recently had a massive boost with the passing of the Marine Bill, promising sustainable development of the UK's marine environment. Do your bit for our Living Seas by supporting your local Wildlife Trust.
Goose Barnacle
Goose Barnacles live attached to rocks, wooden ships or objects floating out at sea. They have a long, fleshy 'neck' with hard shells at the end protecting the main body of the animal. They filter feed on plankton and detritus.
Our seas and coastline are in need of protection if we are to keep our marine wildlife healthy. The Wildlife Trusts are working with fishermen, researchers, politicians and local people towards a vision of 'Living Seas', where marine wildlife thrives. This work has recently had a massive boost with the passing of the Marine Bill, promising sustainable development of the UK's marine environment. Do your bit for our Living Seas by supporting your local Wildlife Trust.
Cuttlefish
Cuttlefish are relatives of squid and octopuses - a group of molluscs known as cephalopods. The Common Cuttlefish is a predator, feeding on molluscs, young fish and crabs. It lives in water up to 200 metres deep but comes into shallow water to breed. When cuttlefish die, the large, chalky internal shell, known as 'cuttlebones' often wash up on the beach.
Cuttlefish provide a vital link in the food chain for many of our rarer species. Our seas and coastline are in need of protection if we are to keep our marine wildlife healthy. The Wildlife Trusts are working with fishermen, researchers, politicians and local people towards a vision of 'Living Seas', where marine wildlife thrives. This work has recently had a massive boost with the passing of the Marine Bill, promising sustainable development of the UK's marine environment. Do your bit for our Living Seas by supporting your local Wildlife Trust.
Piddock
The piddocks are a strange group of clam-like shellfish that burrow into soft rocks and even wood. Their long, oval shells are rough, chalky white in colour and often quite brittle when washed up on the beach. They live their entire lives within their burrows.
Molluscs provide a vital link in the food chain for many of our rarer species. Our seas and coastline are in need of protection if we are to keep our marine wildlife healthy. The Wildlife Trusts are working with fishermen, researchers, politicians and local people towards a vision of 'Living Seas', where marine wildlife thrives. This work has recently had a massive boost with the passing of the Marine Bill, promising sustainable development of the UK's marine environment. Do your bit for our Living Seas by supporting your local Wildlife Trust.
Razor Shell
Razor Shells are very recognisable with their long, narrow, rectangular clam shells. They live buried upright in soft sand around the low tide mark and beyond, with their siphons just at the surface, filter feeding on plankton and detritus. After storms they are sometimes washed up in enormous 'wrecks'.
Molluscs provide a vital link in the food chain for many of our rarer species. Our seas and coastline are in need of protection if we are to keep our marine wildlife healthy. The Wildlife Trusts are working with fishermen, researchers, politicians and local people towards a vision of 'Living Seas', where marine wildlife thrives. This work has recently had a massive boost with the passing of the Marine Bill, promising sustainable development of the UK's marine environment. Do your bit for our Living Seas by supporting your local Wildlife Trust.
