Jellyfish, Shrimp, Isopods, Amphipods, Octopus, Squid, Cuttlefish, Moving Sea Shells, Sea Spiders
that was a mouthful but we will break it down, just read the below descriptions to work out what type of species you have, and see if it then matches up with the pictures
Transparent blob, may not move if washed up, with tentacles – Jellyfish
Curious creatures, can be transparent, striped or sand coloured, with legs underneath body, spikes forward on their head and small claws – Shrimp
Looks like an insect bug under rocks or swimming in the water, will likely be one of these two – Isopod/Amphipod
Can be many colours, soft body, tenactles – Octopus/Squid/Cuttlefish
Seen a shell wiggling, plenty of life live in shells (scroll down to sea) – Moving Seashells?
Looks like a land spider but smaller body and paler in colour – Sea Spider
Scroll through the species I have found and photographed rockpooling so far, or search in the bar below.
If I haven’t documented the species you are looking for be sure to check back soon as I update the site reguarily with my new finds!
Jellyfish
Sea Gooseberry – Pleurobrachia pileus
Sea Gooseberry - Pleuobrachia pileus These little blobs of jelly bring me so much joy - I cannot even express it! Incredible creatures, who float about in the ocean and use their long tentacles (which disintergrate when washed up) to ensanre food and...
Moon Jellyfish- Aurelia aurita
Moon Jellyfish - Aurelia aurita This delicate beauty can sometimes be found washed up on beaches, or floating in a rockpool - brought in by the tide. They have 4 beaituful white/pinkish rings in the center and are usually no bigger than a ceral bowl. A real...
Lionsmane Jellyfish – Cyanea capillair
Lionsmane Jellyfish - Cyanea capillair Ever need inspiration for an idea, ask these seasquirts! Aptly named the light bulb seasquirt because, well look at them they look just like a lightbulb! How amazing, and always such a fun find when your rockpooling. Its also one...
Shrimp
Brown Shrimp – Crangon Crangon
Brown Shrimp - Crangon crangon Why is it that everything sand coloured is so hard to spot on the rockyshore? Oh yeah thats right, its so they don't get eaten! Unlike the common prawns you can see on the rockyshore which are big, and although seethrough have...
Isopods and Amphipods
Amphipods
Amphipods Amphipods are curious little critters - with over 9,900 species described worldwide! Some in the UK include sandhoppers, which can often be seen jumping through the seaweed washed up on the shore. Although they may look like little aliens, a good way...
Isopods (Idotea chelipes)
On the rocky shore we can often get distracted with crazy crabs, the fabulous fish or the amazing anemones (who said learning alteration in GCSE English would be useless... Ay?!). But the rocky shore and all marine habitats are so much more than just the obvious big...
Octopus/Squid/Cuttlefish aka Cephalopods
Little cuttlefish – Sepiola atlantica
Little Cuttlefish - Sepiola atlantica LOOK AT THIS CUTENESS! The Little cuttlefish is a very rare joy, now I have never actually seen this in a rockpool, you are far more likely to find them in them snorkelling or slighty offshore - but you never know! And...
Moving Seashells
Common cockle – Cerastoderma edule
Common Cockle - Cerastoderma edule Common Cockle is a staple of any sandy shore. Cockles live in the sand, but everyone who has walked along the beach and taken notice of washed up shells would have noticed cockle shells. But if you look walk on sandy shores when the...
Sea Spiders
Sea Spiders
Sea Spiders Yes, you get spiders in the sea! No, they are not posinous! No, they wont harm you! In fact they are a rather curious bunch of creatures, whose favourite food to hunt down are bryozoans and hydroids, species that do not even move. To find...
No content from this website can be taken, alterred or used without permission – please contact marinemumbles@gmail.com for any queries. All content belongs to Elizabeth Mills, except where stipulated.