Intertidal Zones (Varying with Tide)
* Low Tide Zone (Closest to the Ocean):
* Fish: Various small fish like blennies, gobies, and sculpins hide in crevices.
* Crustaceans: Crabs (hermit crabs, shore crabs), lobsters, shrimp, barnacles, and isopods.
* Mollusks: Snails (whelks, limpets, periwinkles), mussels, oysters, and chitons.
* Echinoderms: Starfish, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers.
* Worms: Polychaetes, flatworms, and marine worms.
* Mid Tide Zone (Exposed More Often):
* Sea Anemones: These colorful, stinging animals attach to rocks.
* Sea Stars: Starfish are predators and scavengers.
* Sea Urchins: These spiny creatures graze on algae.
* Limpets: These snails graze on algae and cling tightly to rocks.
* High Tide Zone (Rarely Submerged):
* Barnacles: Filter feeders attached to rocks.
* Littorinid Snails: Small snails that can withstand drying out.
* Isopods: Small crustaceans that can roll into a ball.
* Shorebirds: Sandpipers, plovers, and other birds that feed on invertebrates.
Other Rocky Shore Inhabitants:
* Seaweeds (Algae): Important primary producers that provide food and shelter for many animals.
* Sponges: Filter feeders that live in crevices and on rocks.
* Bryozoans: Tiny colonial animals that form crusts on rocks.
Adapting to the Harsh Environment:
* Tolerance to Salinity: Animals must cope with varying salt concentrations as the tides change.
* Desiccation Resistance: Animals need to survive periods of dryness when exposed to air.
* Wave Action: Animals must hold on tight or find shelter from strong waves.
* Predation: Predators abound, so animals have developed defenses like shells, spines, and camouflage.
Rocky shores are fascinating microcosms of life, showcasing the incredible diversity and adaptations of creatures in a challenging environment.