Rockpools

Rockpools are amazing micro-habitats full of incredible creatures!

  • SEA LIFE, Rockpool Explorer

Rockpool Creatures

Have you ever wanted to know what a Skate Ray egg feels like? Or perhaps touch a Shark egg? At our Rockpool, you can do both! Our experts will be on hand to help you discover these fascinating habitats and the incredible creatures that thrive within them.

Animal care

What is a rockpool?

Rockpools are made from water left behind when the tide goes out. Lots of different creatures live in these shallow pools – they all need to be tough to adapt to different temperatures and waves crashing overhead!

Rockpools are found all over the UK coastline, and they made very interesting homes for sea creatures...

Carcinus Maenas

Hermit Crab

Hermit Crabs are crustaceans, just like Lobsters and Shrimp. Unlike other crabs, Hermit Crabs have soft bodies, so they protect themselves by living inside discarded sea snail shells.

As they grow, they move into larger shells — and if two Hermit Crabs want the same shell, they may even fight over it! Hermit Crabs are also known for being “right-handed”, with a larger right pincer used to help close off their shell when hiding from predators.

Some Hermit Crabs even form special partnerships with sea anemones, which live on their shells and help protect them in exchange for food scraps.

Star Fish

Starfish

Starfish are found in every ocean in the world! There are over 2000 known species, each one is full of surprises!

Did you know that a starfish can drop an arm at will if it needs to? If one is grabbed by a hungry predator they will drop it off and make their escape, eventually growing a new arm to replace it.

Starfish have no brain, heart or blood! What they do have is a specialised stomach. They can eject part of it out of their body to digest food much bigger than their mouth, and then suck it all back in to finish digesting it... Gross!

Anemone Red

Sea Anemone

Sea Anemones look like colourful, underwater blooms and they got their name from the anemone flower.
They are in fact animals and are closely related to Jellyfish and Corals. They have no brain, heart or blood, but that doesn't stop them from being great predators!

Stinging tentacles help Anemones to catch tiny plankton which they draw in to their mouth. 

If you go to the seaside it's always wise to look but don't touch as other species can give you a nasty sting, such as the beautiful, purple Snakelock Anemone.

Did you know?

7256 Protoreaster Nodosus

Most starfish have 5 arms but some species can have up to 24!

Jewel Anemone Corynactics

Jewel Anemones are a beautiful coldwater species. They reproduce by splitting in half!

Common Starfish

Starfish have hundreds of little tube feet which they use to walk, stick to rockfaces and respire!

9601 1 Did You Know That Jellyfish Aren T Really Fish At All They Re More Similar To Coral And Sea Anemones Cropped

Anemones have long arms called tentacles that help them catch tiny bits of food and plankton floating in the water.

Mermaids Purse

Mermaids Purses

You might spot a Mermaid's purse whilst visiting our rockpools! They don’t belong to Mermaids though. They are in fact ray eggs! Yes- much like a Chicken, Skate rays will lay these eggs which look a little like seaweed. They have small hooks on the end of them which help them to hang onto weeds in the ocean and camouflage. The little ray will develop in the middle of the egg and when they are ready, pop- out they come! These egg shells they often end up in rockpools or washed up on the beach! 

Rockpool Safety

If you’re exploring Rockpools at the beach, remember these important rules:

  1. Safety first: Make sure you’re with an adult and only explore when the tide is going out. Wear non-slip shoes.
  2. Be kind to creatures: Put any rocks back carefully and try not to the disturb creatures you find. Never take them home with you!
  3. Leave nothing behind: Take all your waste back home with you, or use bins provided on the beach side. 
  4. Observe and discover: Make the most of your adventures and learn about nature and its amazing creatures!

Discover more about rockpool safety in the UK with the Seashore code here

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