List of British Isles rockpool life
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![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Aberdour_Bay%2C_Rock_pool_-_geograph.org.uk_-_825647.jpg/310px-Aberdour_Bay%2C_Rock_pool_-_geograph.org.uk_-_825647.jpg)
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[]
Fish[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Coryphoblennius_galerita.jpg/220px-Coryphoblennius_galerita.jpg)
Coryphoblennius galerita
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/Echiichthys_vipera.jpg/220px-Echiichthys_vipera.jpg)
Echiichthys vipera, the lesser weever
- 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[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Kalamar.jpg/220px-Kalamar.jpg)
Sepia officinalis, the common cuttlefish
- Cephalopods
- Common cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis
- Curled octopus, Eledone cirrhosa
- Common octopus, Octopus vulgaris
- Little cuttle, Sepiola atlantica
- Scaphopods
- Tusk shell,
- Gastropods
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/Common_limpets1.jpg/220px-Common_limpets1.jpg)
Patella vulgata, the common limpet
- Keyhole limpet,
- Slit limpet,
- Tortoiseshell limpet, Acmaea tessulata
- Common limpet, Patella vulgata
- Flat topshell, Gibbula umbilicalis
- Thick topshell,
- Common topshell,
- Common periwinkle, Littorina littorea
- Flat periwinkle,
- 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,
- Golden banded wedge bean clam, Donax vittatus
- Razor shell, Pharus legumen
- Pod razorshell, Ensis ensis
- Pod razorshell, Ensis siliqua
- Thin tellin clam,
- Baltic tellin clam, Macoma balthica
- Ocean quahog, Arctica islandica
- Venus clam, Dosinia lupinus
- Venus clam,
- 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,
- Piddock, Pholas dactylus
- European flat oyster, Ostrea edulis
- Flat oyster,
- Great scallop, Pecten maximus
- Queen scallop, Aequipecten opercularis
- Scallop,
Arthropods[]
Crustaceans[]
Tigriopus brevicornis, tidepool copepods in their habitat
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Carcinus_maenas.jpg/220px-Carcinus_maenas.jpg)
Carcinus maenas, the shore crab
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Pagurus_bernhardus.jpg/220px-Pagurus_bernhardus.jpg)
Pagurus bernhardus, the common hermit crab
- 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[]
- Springtail, Anurida maritima
Cnidarians[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Aberdour_Bay%2C_Beadlet_anemone_in_rock-pool_-_geograph.org.uk_-_824529.jpg/220px-Aberdour_Bay%2C_Beadlet_anemone_in_rock-pool_-_geograph.org.uk_-_824529.jpg)
Actinia equina, the beadlet anemone
- Sea anemones
- Beadlet anemone, Actinia equina
- Strawberry anemone
- 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,
- Blue jellyfish, Cyanea lamarckii
- Mauve stinger, Pelagia noctiluca
- Hydrozoa
Echinoderms[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Asterias_rubens.jpg/220px-Asterias_rubens.jpg)
Asterias rubens, the common starfish
- 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[]
- Green leaf worm, Eulalia viridis
- Aphrodita aculeata
Nemertea[]
- Ribbon Worm Lineus longissimus
Wrag worm Blood worm
Sponges[]
- Breadcrumb sponge, Halichondria panicea
- Purse sponge, Sycon raphanus
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Membranipora_membranacea.jpg/220px-Membranipora_membranacea.jpg)
Sea-mat
Bryozoa[]
- Moss animal, Flustra foliacea
- Sea-mat, Membranipora membranacea
Tunicates[]
- Golden star ascidian Botryllus schlosseri
- Vase tunicate Ciona intestinalis
Plants[]
Algae[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Pelvetia_canaliculata.jpg/220px-Pelvetia_canaliculata.jpg)
Pelvetia canaliculata
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Wrack%2C_species_unknown_-_geograph.org.uk_-_224120.jpg/220px-Wrack%2C_species_unknown_-_geograph.org.uk_-_224120.jpg)
Ascophyllum nodosum
- 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,
- 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
- Corallina officinalis
- Leathesia difformis
- Prasiola stipitata
- Colpomenia peregrina
Lichens[]
References[]
- Barratt, John H.; Yonge, C. M. (1958). Collins Pocket Guide to the Sea Shore. William Collins, Sons.
Related[]
Collections Botaniques de l'Université de Bourgogne Rockpooling: The Guide to Finding Marine Creatures
External links[]
Categories:
- Ecology of the British Isles
- Lists of biota of the British Isles