Common fish of the sea shore

Look within the rock pools or walk among the shallows and you will often see fish darting off into a crevice or under a rock. Many of the fish found in the intertidal zone have adaptations to help them survive when the tide is out, whilst others can only survive in the pools and shallows.

 Below are images of some of the common fish you may encounter whilst rock pooling in the UK:

Shanny (Lipophrys pholis)



Shanny (Lipophrys pholis)

Gobiidae

Butterfish (Pholis gunnellus)



Stickleback

Stickleback

Worm pipefish (Nerophis lumbriciformis)

Worm pipefish (Nerophis lumbriciformis)

Worm pipefish (Nerophis lumbriciformis)

Common eel (Anguilla anguilla)

Sea scorpian (Taurulus bubalis)

Sea scorpian (Taurulus bubalis)

Sea scorpian (Taurulus bubalis)

Rockling

Suckerfish

Ballen wrasse (Labrus bergylta)

Ballen wrasse (Labrus bergylta)

Ballen wrasse (Labrus bergylta)

Mullet (Chelon spp.)

Common Lichens of the sea shore

Lichens are symbiotic fungi that occur throughout the terrestrial environment and into the intertidal zone where they colonise suitable hard substrates of the upper shore and splash zone.

They are often the defining species of splash zone habitats and come in a variety of forms and colours.

Below are images of the common lichens you may encounter whilst rock pooling around the UK:

  

An orange lichen (Xanthoria parietina).

An orange lichen (Xanthoria parietina).

Black lichen (Lichina pygmaea).

Tar lichen (Verrucaria maura) and an orange lichen.

Tar lichen  (Verrucaria maura) forms a thin black crust over the rock



Above the high tide mark Sea ivory (Ramalina siliquosa) and the orange lichen, Xanthoria parietina occur.

Sea ivory (Ramalina siliquosa)

Sea ivory (Ramalina siliquosa)

Sheep are partial to sea ivory!

Possible Parelle (Ochrolechia parella).



Anaptychia spp.

Common Crustaceans of the shore

Common crustaceans of the rocky shore:

When it comes to rock pooling crustaceans are one of the most popular groups of marine organism; Crabs, Prawns, Shrimps, Sand Hoppers and Sea slaters are all familiar sea side fauna.  Crustaceans are mostly scavengers and will feed across the shore when the tide is in. When the tide is out the best place to look for crabs are under seaweed and beneath boulders, prawns and shrimps are most common in rock pools, sea slaters are usually higher up on the shore darting between crevices, whilst sand hoppers can be found amongst the strandline.

Below are images of the common species of crustacean you may encounter whilst rock pooling on the rocky shores of the UK:

Sea slater (Ligia oceanica) occurs on the uppermost shore and splash zone in and amongst crevices.

Sand hoppers (Taltrid amphipods) occur amongst the strandline of sandy shores.

Amphipods occur across the shore, usually amongst decaying seaweed or under boulders. 

A male and female amphipod embrace. 

Common Prawn (Palaemon spp) occurs in rock pools.

Common Prawn (Palaemon spp) occurs in rock pools.

Hermit crabs (Paguroidea) occur in rock pools.

Hermit crabs (Paguroidea) occur in rock pools.

The Green Shore Crab (Carcinus maenas) occurs across the shore amongst seaweed and beneath boulders.

Green Shore Crab (Carcinus maenas)

Green Shore Crab (Carcinus maenas), showing a defensive display after the boulder under which it was hiding was moved.

Green Shore Crab (Carcinus maenas) amongst anemone tentacles.

Green Shore Crab (Carcinus maenas) burried whilst the tide is out.

Green Shore Crab (Carcinus maenas) burried whilst the tide is out.

Velvet Swimming Crab (Necora puber) occurs under boulders of the mid to lower shore.

Velvet Swimming Crab (Necora puber)

Risso’s Crab (Xantho pilipes) occurs underneath boulders of the lower shore

Montagu’s Crab (Xantho hydrophilus) occurs underneath boulders of the lower shore.

Broad- clawed Porcelain Crab (Porcellana platycheles) occur on the under-side of boulders in the lower shore.

Broad- clawed Porcelain Crab (Porcellana platycheles)

Squat Lobster (Galathea squamifera) occurs underneath boulders of the lower shore.

Dynamene bidentata - Males and female underneath a boulder of the lower shore.

Dynamene bidentata - Males and female underneath a boulder of the lower shore.

Edible Crab (Cancer pagurus) Small specimens may be found underneath boulders of the lower shore.

Edible Crab (Cancer pagurus)Larger specimens are found in the subtidal.

Edible Crab (Cancer pagurus)Larger specimens are found in the subtidal.

Brown Shrimp (Crangron spp) occur in sandy habitats, just where the surf breaks and can become trapped in pools as the tide falls.

Majiidae are a family of crabs some of whom occur in the lower shore amongst algae and beneath boulders.

Common Spider Crab (Maja brachydactyla) occurs subtidally but may be encountered on low spring tides or, washed up on the shore.