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Tide Pool Critters

Level 1 Tidepool Creatures	Level 1 Creatures are easier to find.	Click on the Creature to learn more
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Level 2 Tidepool Creatures	Click on the creature to learn more.
Some parts of the beach are higher than others,. This means that the water reaches some parts, but not others; and some parts may be below the water except during minus tides. This creates four zones or regions of the beaches, called Intertidal Zones.Splash Zone, High Tide Zone, Middle Tide Zone, Low Tide Zone		Tidepools are pools left behind when the ocean recedes at low tide. The pools may be trapped in the hollows of rocks, between rock piles, or sometimes in the sand Lots of critters and plants can be seen in these pools.REMEMBER DO NOT TOUCH OR REMOVE!!
Level 3	Level 3	Level 3
Level 4	Level 4	Harder to see
Level 5	Level 5	Level 5 Harder to find
Level 6	Level 6	Level 6

The Hermit crab often inhabits empty Turban Shells. It's named a hermit because it is constantly scavenging and looking for a home.
Also known as Acorn barnacles. They do not tolerate the time when the tide is out as well as Buckshot barnacles, so you won't find them high on the rocks.

These are small kelps growing in clumps in exposed rocky areas.

Black turban snail is found in the intertidal zone. The snail feeds mostly on algae.

Sea anemones digestion is so powerful it can swallow a crab whole and spit out its stripped shell 15 minutes later

Periwinkles-Littorina (shore dwellers) are hard to distinguish on the rocks. Even though these are marine animals, they keep as far away as possible from the sea, and use just enough sea water to wet their gills

Shore crab . Intertidal zone. The flattened shape of the shell is ideal for clinging to rocks. The crab is mostly nocturnal, but can be lured out for food.

Sea lettuce is common in the Upper intertidal zone. This algae is heavily grazed by other animals.

Mussel. A bivalve mollusk that adheres to rocks with strong thread-like tendrils. It tolerates heavy surf well.

Rough limpets get eaten by crabs and starfishes, as well as oystercatchers (bird) and turnstones (bird).

The kelp snail has a tough time in heavy surf but they are equipped to stick to rocks to avoid being pulled out to sea.

chiton - information coming soon.....

Coralline algae has a defense to keep it from being eaten. It has a calcareous (hard) coating which makes it difficult to eat.

rock louse is a typical animal of the Splash Zone. It is mainly nocturnal.

gooseneck barnacle- information coming soon.....

sculpins can survive out of water, during low tide, in a moist hidden spot until the high tide returns.

Tube snail - information coming soon.....

sea urchins eat through rocks using their teeth and spines to make a protective hollow.

sea fingers - information coming soon.....

sand castle worm - information coming soon.....

sea hares If every Sea Hare egg survived, before the third generation, the tidepools would be six feet deep in sea hares.

Giant keyhole Limpets have their own navigational tool that guides them back to the exact spot each day.

opaleye - information coming soon.....

wavy top turban shell - information coming soon.....

purple olive shell - information coming soon.....

sea palm - information coming soon.....

octopus-Two-spot Octopus ink can temporarily paralze the smelling organs of a moray eel.

ochre sea stars only need to pry open a bi-valve's shell the thickness of 1/100 of an inch to inset their stomach and turn their prey into a gooey mass.

Brittle star - information coming soon.....

Abalone - information coming soon.....

Bat star - information coming soon.....