Lmst

They are egg cocoons!

So... there are segmented worms called ragworms and that live in the sand and they make these egg cocoons.

#wildislands #theguernseyscientist #rockpooling #earthday

It may surprise you to learn that ascidians or sea squirts (Tunicata) such as these are chordate animals, like humans.

In their early life stages they have larva with tails, the beginnings of a backbone, and gills - which are then reabsorbed/lost when they anchor their heads to a surface!

#Rockpooling #Tidepooling #Ascidian #Macrophotography

A photograph of a 'sea tulip', which is a ribbed fleshy sac on a stalk, attached to a seaweed-covered rock.

A photograph of a blue sac-shaped organism with an open tube at one end, attached to a seaweed-covered rock.

Sea Slater. Ardnamurchan #RockPooling #photograph

Ban them! #rockpooling

Hundreds of fascinating jellyfish-like creatures wash up on Cornwall beach

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/hundreds-fascinating-jellyfish-like-creatures-8449203

#Cornwall #Beach #Hydrozoans #MarineLife #RockPooling

Rainbow sea slug (babakina anadoni) spotted in Falmouth rock-pool

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/crazy-looking-rainbow-sea-slug-8437371

#Falmouth #Cornwall #MarineLife #SeaSlug #RockPool #RockPooling

We're half way through #HalfTerm week and, with warmer weather, it's a great time to get out and explore #nature. Has anyone been #RockPooling? If you're going, don't forget to check tide times and stay safe.

Rockpool #KidsTShirt:
https://muddybadger.co.uk/product/rockpool-t-shirt

Image of a crab, seahorse and fish swimming in front of seaweed. The background is black.

When I first saw this prawn (Palaemon sp.) in the rockpools last year, I though I’d stumbled on a new species! But alas no. This poor chap is infected with a fungus Inodosporus octosporus, which has caused his insides to turn a milky white. The common name of this infection is, in fact, milk disease!

#marinebiology #marinebiologyuk #northnorfolkcoast #northsea #sea #ocean #biology #wildlife #nature #intertidal #rockpools #rockpooling #prawn #fungi #fungus

Underwater - a stripy prawn has a milky white mass inside its transparent body

The velvet swimming crab aka devils crab (Necora puber) has a bit of a rep. I don’t think the devil bit in the name helps! Admittedly, they do seem a little aggressive when you come across them! I’m always impressed with their ‘I’m bigger than you!’ attitude 😍

#marinebiology #marinebiologyuk #northnorfolkcoast #northsea #sea #ocean #biology #wildlife #nature #intertidal #rockpools #rockpooling #crab #crabs

A small purple-brown crab sits in Elizabeth’s open hand. It’s claws are erect as it tries to make itself large.

A common brittlestar (Ophiothrix fragile). Unlike starfish, a brittlestar’s arms don’t have organs in them, and are primarily used for locomotion. To be a total hypocrite, I wouldn’t recommend handling brittlestars as their arms break very easily. These were held briefly for identification and a video for my records and then gently placed back.

#marinebiology #northsea #sea #ocean #biology #wildlife #nature #intertidal #rockpools #rockpooling #brittlestar

https://youtu.be/jnA8r6m02ig

Pennant’s swimming crab (Portumnus latipes). Something I don’t see very often in the intertidal, like, this is it, just the once. When you regularly explore rocky shores, you start to notice the subtle differences between species, and it’s always exciting to see something new!

#marinebiology #marinebiologyuk #northnorfolkcoast #northsea #sea #ocean #biology #wildlife #nature #intertidal #rockpools #rockpooling #crab #crabs

A brown and white mottled crab sits on a black background. It is photographed from above. It’s last legs have flattened ends, like paddles.

Common hermit crabs (Pagurus bernhardus) always seem to be hungry. These guys are working hard to pluck organic matter from the water to consume. Link to YouTube video below ⬇️

#marinebiology #marinebiologyuk #northnorfolkcoast #northsea #sea #ocean #biology #wildlife #nature #intertidal #rockpools #rockpooling #hermitcrab #hermitcrabs

https://youtu.be/ZofNbv0Nt3E

I was so spoilt this year with stalked jellyfish. The only species I’ve seen here in North Norfolk is this one, Calvadosia campanulata. It definitely paid off snorkelling as much as I could over summer and autumn!

#marinebiology #marinebiologyuk #northnorfolkcoast #northsea #sea #ocean #biology #wildlife #nature #intertidal #rockpools #rockpooling #snorkeling

Underwater - a radially symmetrical polyp sits on a green seaweed blade. It is trumpet-shaped and pink in colour.

Three years ago, if you’d asked me to name some animals found in rockpools, I sure as heck wouldn’t have mentioned sea squirts. Now, they’re one of my favourite animals and at West Runton, there’s at least 10 different species! This one is Sidnyum turbinatum.

#marinebiology #marinebiologyuk #northnorfolkcoast #northsea #sea #ocean #biology #wildlife #nature #intertidal #rockpools #rockpooling #seasquirt #tunicate

Underwater - bunches of small, vase-shaped sea squirts with lacy openings at the top. Peach in colour.

The tentacles of a juvenile beadlet anemone (Actinia equina) are lusciously protected from drying out with a film of water and mucus.

#marinebiology #marinebiologyuk #northnorfolkcoast #northsea #sea #ocean #biology #wildlife #nature #intertidal #rockpools #rockpooling #seaanemone

A close up of a small sea anemone. It’s tentacles are pressed down by a transparent film that domes over them. The tentacles are red.

Gosh, December went quick! We’re nearing the end of my 2022 favourite photos round up, so I’m going to have to start doubling up! 😆 It’s been a good year for photos! Here are some cute faces. The first is an adorable isopod from the Jaera albifrons group. Second is a polychaete ragworm, I think Perinereis cultrifera.

#marinebiology #marinebiologyuk #northnorfolkcoast #northsea #sea #ocean #biology #wildlife #nature #intertidal #rockpools #rockpooling #isopod #worm

Underwater - A segmented, woodlouse-looking animal looks up at the camera. It is brown with a green stripe running the length of its back.

Underwater - looking down on the head end of a segmented worm. It has several head appendages and dark patches over it’s eyes. It is browny green in colour with red lines running the length of its back.

Only 5 days left of my 2022 favourite photos round up! This is a egg capsule of A flat periwinkle (either Littorina fabalis or obtusata). Look closely and you can see the little shells of the babies!

#marinebiology #marinebiologyuk #northnorfolkcoast #northsea #sea #ocean #biology #wildlife #nature #intertidal #rockpools #rockpooling #periwinkle

A close up of a flat brown seaweed blade. On top sits a transparent gelatinous dome. The dome is packed tightly with very tiny periwinkle shells.

Sticking with the mollusc theme, here’s another favourite pic from 2022. A Goniodoris nodosa #nudibranch from my local rockpools.

#marinebiology #marinebiologyuk #northnorfolkcoast #northsea #sea #ocean #biology #wildlife #nature #intertidal #rockpools #rockpooling #seaslug

Underwater- a white and frilly sea slug hangs upside down from a brown seaweed

I had to include the one and only dotted sea hare (Aplysia punctata) I’ve seen at West Runton in my fav photos roundup. This was waaaay back in January! It’s a juvenile (I believe these can get quite big) and rather than sea slugs, these are actually sea snails! They have a shell, but it’s on the inside. Isn’t that cool!? Adorable.

#marinebiology #northnorfolkcoast #northsea #sea #ocean #biology #wildlife #nature #intertidal #rockpools #rockpooling #seahare #seasnail

Underwater - a red, slug-looking animal about 2cm long, sits on a hand. It has ‘horns’ on the very front of its face and ‘horns’ behind its eyes. On its back is a raised and slightly pointed flap, before its tail end tapers into a point.

I had to include another beadlet anemone (Actinia equina) in my 2022 favourite photos roundup! This individual has it’s beautiful tentacles on full show. Delightful!

#marinebiology #marinebiologyuk #northnorfolkcoast #northsea #sea #ocean #biology #seaanemone #wildlife #nature #intertidal #rockpools #rockpooling

#rockpooling

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