The rockpools of the British Isles are a feature of rocky shores and have a particular life of their own. Conditions within them are different from the open sea, as they are exposed to increased sunlight, as well as predation from land-based animals and accidental damage from tourism. Some, such as those in Wembury Marine Centre, are formally protected.
Animals[edit]
Fish[edit]
- Common goby, Pomatoschistus microps
- Giant goby, Gobius cobitis Not Ireland
- Painted goby, Pomatoschistus pictus
- Rock goby, Gobius paganellus
- Sand goby, Pomatoschistus minutus
- Two-spotted goby, Gobiusculus flavescens
- Shanny, Lipophrys pholis
- Long-spined sea scorpion, Taurulus bubalis
- Five-bearded rockling, Ciliata mustela
- Butterfish, Pholis gunnellus
- Snake pipefish, Entelurus aequoreus
- Tompot blenny, Parablennius gattorugine
- Montagu's blenny, Coryphoblennius galerita
- Small-headed clingfish, Apletodon dentatus [1] Not Ireland
- Two-spotted clingfish, Diplecogaster bimaculata[2]
- Corkwing wrasse, Crenilabrus melops
- Great pipefish, Syngnathus acus
- Sea stickleback, Spinachia spinachia
- Lumpsucker, Cyclopterus lumpus
- Lesser weever, Echiichthys vipera
- Common dragonet, Callionymus lyra
Molluscs[edit]
- Cephalopods
- Common cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis
- Curled octopus, Eledone cirrhosa
- Common octopus, Octopus vulgaris
- Little cuttle, Sepiola atlantica
- Scaphopods
- Tusk shell, Antalis entalis
- Gastropods
- Keyhole limpet, Diodora apertura
- Slit limpet, Eumarginula reticulata
- Tortoiseshell limpet, Acmaea tessulata
- Common limpet, Patella vulgata
- Flat topshell, Gibbula umbilicalis
- Thick topshell, Monodonta lineata
- Common topshell, Calliostoma zizyphynum
- Common periwinkle, Littorina littorea
- Flat periwinkle, Littorina littoralis
- Rough periwinkle, Littorina saxatilis
- Dogwhelk, Nucella lapillus
- Netted Dogwhelk Nassarius reticulatus
- Common sea slug, Aeolidia papillosa
- Jorunna nudibranch Jorunna tomentosa
- Orange-clubbed nudibranch Limacia clavigera
- Rough-mantled doris Onchidoris bilamellata
- Whip fan nudibranch Tritonia nilsodhneri
- Necklace moon snail, Euspira catena
- Bivalves
- Blue mussel, Mytilus edulis
- Cockle, Cerastoderma edule
- Rough cockle, Acanthocardia tuberculata
- Prickly cockle, Acanthocardia echinata
- Bean clam, Donax semistriatus
- Golden banded wedge bean clam, Donax vittatus
- Razor shell, Pharus legumen
- Pod razorshell, Ensis ensis
- Pod razorshell, Ensis siliqua
- Thin tellin clam, Angulus tenuis
- Baltic tellin clam, Macoma balthica
- Ocean quahog, Arctica islandica
- Venus clam, Dosinia lupinus
- Venus clam, Chamelea striatula
- Striped venus clam, Chamelea gallina
- Smooth clam, Callista chione
- Pullet carpet clam, Venerupis corrugata
- Rayed trough clam, Mactra stultorum
- Cut trough clam, Spisula subtruncata
- Surf clam, Spisula solida
- Otter clam, Lutraria lutraria
- Otter clam, Lutraria angustior
- Piddock, Pholas dactylus
- European flat oyster, Ostrea edulis
- Flat oyster, Ostrea lamellosa
- Great scallop, Pecten maximus
- Queen scallop, Aequipecten opercularis
- Scallop, Aequipecten heliacus
Arthropods[edit]
Crustaceans[edit]
- Sea slater, Ligia oceanica
- Barnacles
- Acorn barnacle, Semibalanus balanoides
- Copepods
- Tidepool copepod, Tigriopus brevicornis
- Crabs
- Broad-clawed porcelain crab, Porcellana platycheles
- Edible crab, Cancer pagurus
- Shore crab, Carcinus maenas
- Common hermit crab, Pagurus bernhardus
- European spider crab, Maja squinado
- Small hermit crab, Diogenes pugilator
- Velvet crab, Necora puber
- Hairy crab, Pilumnus hirtellus
- Circular crab, Atelecyclus rotundatus
- Sandy swimming crab, Liocarcinus depurator
- Masked crab, Corystes cassivelaunus
- Short-legged spider crab, Eurynome aspera
- Furrowed crab, Xantho incisus
- Long-legged spider crab, Macropodia rostrata
- Great spider crab, Hyas araneus
- Long-clawed porcelain crab, Pisidia longicornis
- Prawns and shrimp
- Common prawn, Palaemon serratus
- Rockpool prawn, Palaemon elegans
- Brown shrimp, Crangon crangon
- Lobsters and squat lobsters
- Black squat lobster, Galathea squamifera
- European lobster, Homarus gammarus
- Scampi, Nephrops norvegicus
Insects[edit]
- Springtail, Anurida maritima
Cnidarians[edit]
- Sea anemones
- Beadlet anemone, Actinia equina
- Strawberry anemone Actinia fragracea
- Snakelocks anemone Anemonia sulcata
- Dahlia anemone Urticina felina
- Elegant anemone Sagartia elegans
- Jellyfish
- Common jellyfish, Aurelia aurita
- Compass jellyfish, Chrysaora hysoscella
- Lion's mane jellyfish, Cyanea capillata
- Dustbin-lid jellyfish, Rhizostoma pulmo
- Jellyfish, Rhizostoma octopus
- Blue jellyfish, Cyanea lamarckii
- Mauve stinger, Pelagia noctiluca
- Hydrozoa
- Sea fur, Obelia
- Sea hedgehog hydroid, Halecium muricatum
- Clava
- Oaten pipes hydroid, Tubularia indivisa
Echinoderms[edit]
- Starfish
- Common starfish, Asterias rubens
- Cushion starfish, Asterina gibbosa
- Spiny starfish, Marthasterias glacialis
- Common brittle star, Ophiothrix fragilis
- Serpent star, Ophiura ophiura
- Sea urchins
- Edible sea urchin, Echinus esculentus
- Purple sea urchin, Paracentrotus lividus
- Green sea urchin, Psammechinus miliaris
- Purple heart urchin, Spatangus purpureus
- Sea potato, Echinocardium cordatum
Worms[edit]
- Green leaf worm, Eulalia viridis
- Spirorbis borealis
- Aphrodita aculeata
Nemertea[edit]
- Ribbon worm, Lineus longissimus
- Ragworms, Nereididae
- Bloodworms, Glyceridae
Sponges[edit]
- Breadcrumb sponge, Halichondria panicea
- Purse sponge, Sycon raphanus
Bryozoa[edit]
- Moss animal, Flustra foliacea
- Sea-mat, Membranipora membranacea
Tunicates[edit]
- Golden star ascidian, Botryllus schlosseri
- Vase tunicate, Ciona intestinalis
Plants[edit]
Algae[edit]
- Beanweed, Scytosiphon lomentaria
- Bootlace weed, Chorda filum
- Dulse, Rhodymenia palmata
- Grass kelp, Enteromorpha intestinalis
- Green hairweed, Chaetomorpha linum
- Maiden's hair, Ectocarpus siliculosus
- Hen pen, Bryopsis plumosa
- Landlady's wig, Ahnfeltia plicata
- Peacock's tail, Padina pavonia
- Sea lettuce, Ulva lactuca
- Rockweed, Fucus distichus
- Sea noodle, Nemalion helminthoides
- Sea oak, Halidrys siliquosa
- Sea sorrel, Desmarestia ligulata
- Thongweed, Himanthalia elongata
- Velvet horn, Codium tomentosum
- Bladder wrack, Fucus vesiculosus
- Channelled wrack, Pelvetia canaliculata
- Knotted wrack, Ascophyllum nodosum
- Spiral wrack, Fucus spiralis
- Rainbow wrack, Cytoseira tamariscifolia
- Brown forking weed, Bifurcaria bifurcata
- Coral weed, Corallina officinalis
- Common green branched weed, Cladophora rupestris
- Sea beech, Delessaria sanguinea
- Sea cauliflower, Leathesia difformis
- Sea cellophane, Monostroma grevillei
- Prasiola stipitata
- Punctaria latifolia
- Oyster thief, Colpomenia peregrina
Lichens[edit]
References[edit]
- Barratt, John H.; Yonge, C. M. (1958). Collins Pocket Guide to the Sea Shore. William Collins, Sons.
Related[edit]
Collections Botaniques de l'Université de Bourgogne Rockpooling: The Guide to Finding Marine Creatures