Intertidal Rocky Shore Species Identification

Vocabulary flashcards for identifying species commonly found on intertidal rocky shores, including physical descriptions, size, color, habitat, and tidal zones.

Rose Barnacle

20mm diameter, 12mm high. White/rose coloured with 4 main plates into a central opening. Zone & Habitat: Mid – High; found on rocks exposed to waves.

Honeycomb Barnacle (harry)

Very small (about 8mm) barnacles that pack tightly in honeycomb clusters. Zone & Habitat: High; found in areas with high wave action where they pack tightly in areas met by waves.

Blue Periwinkle

A small blue-grey to whitish spiraled sea snail about 10–16 mm in height. Zone & Habitat: High; found clustered in depressions or damp crevices on upper rocks to avoid drying out.

Noddiwinks

Small conical sea snail, about 10–15 mm high which has a greyish-brown shell with spiral ridges. Zone & Habitat: Found in the mid to high zone on rocky shores.

Oyster Borer

A small sea snail typically ranging from 17 mm to 20 mm in height. Zone & Habitat: Mid to Low zones; found on exposed rocks, crevices, and rock pools.

Black Nerite

A shiny black snail common in mid–high shore rock pools and wave-washed ledges. Zone & Habitat: Lives in the high zone on dry, sun-exposed rock faces.

Conniwink

A small brown-striped snail found in moist high-shore crevices and rock pools. Zone & Habitat: Lives in the high zone in moist crevices and small rock pools.

Triton

A large brown ridged snail that hunts other animals in low-shore and shallow subtidal areas. Zone & Habitat: Lives in the low zone in crevices and shallow subtidal areas.

Limpet

A cone-shaped snail that clamps tightly to exposed rocks and grazes algae on the high–mid shore. Zone & Habitat: Lives in the high–mid zone on exposed rock surfaces.

Chiton

An oval creature with eight shell plates that grips tightly to mid–high shore rocks and crevices. Zone & Habitat: Lives in the mid–high zone in crevices and under rocks.

Rock Oyster

A rough-shelled filter feeder that grows in clusters on mid–low shore rocks and ledges. Zone & Habitat: Lives in the mid–low zone attached to rock ledges and hard surfaces.

Sea Urchin

A round spiny animal that hides in low-shore crevices and rock pools. Zone & Habitat: Lives in the low zone in rock pools and shaded crevices.

Common 5-armed sea star

A five-armed predator found under rocks and in mid–low shore pools. Zone & Habitat: Lives in the mid–low zone under rocks and in rock pools.

Waratah Anemone

A deep-red anemone that closes into a blob when exposed and lives in mid-shore crevices. Zone & Habitat: Lives in the mid zone in shaded cracks and small pools.

Cunjevoi

A tough, rubbery sea squirt that forms large colonies on mid–low wave-exposed rock platforms. Zone & Habitat: Lives in the mid–low zone on wave-exposed rock platforms.

Swift footed crab

A fast blue-green crab that darts across mid–high shore rocks and hides in cracks. Zone & Habitat: Lives in the mid–high zone on exposed rocky surfaces and crevices.

Gloomy Octopus

A brown mottled octopus that hides in low-shore pools and rocky dens. Zone & Habitat: Lives in the low zone in rock pools and rocky dens.

Nudibrachs

Brightly coloured soft sea slugs found in low-shore pools and under rocks. Zone & Habitat: Live in the low zone under rocks and among seaweed.

Neptune’s Necklace

A brown bead-chain seaweed common in mid-shore pools and wave-washed areas. Zone & Habitat: Lives in the mid zone around rock pools and wave-washed areas.

Coralline Red Algae

A hard pink-red crusting algae that covers mid–low shore rocks. Zone & Habitat: Lives in the mid–low zone coating rock surfaces.

Sea Lettuce

A bright green sheet-like algae found in nutrient-rich low-shore pools. Zone & Habitat: Lives in the low zone in nutrient-rich rock pools.

Bubble weed

A brown bubble-shaped seaweed attached to low-shore rocks. Zone & Habitat: Lives in the low zone attached to rock surfaces.

Sea velvet

A soft dark-blue velvety algae growing on low-shore rock surfaces. Zone & Habitat: Lives in the low zone on rocky ledges and shallow pools.

Globe algae

Round spongy green balls found in low-shore rock pools. Zone & Habitat: Lives in the low zone in calm rock pools.

Silver Gull

A white and grey coastal gull with a red bill commonly seen around rocky shores. Zone & Habitat: Lives around the shoreline zone feeding on rocky-shore animals and scraps.

Oyster Catcher

A black-and-white or all-black shorebird with a long red bill that feeds on molluscs on rocky coasts. Zone & Habitat: Lives along the shoreline zone feeding on mussels, oysters and rocky-shore invertebrates.

Cormorant

A black or black-and-white diving bird that hunts fish around rocky shores. Zone & Habitat: Lives around the coastal zone diving for fish near rocky shores.