- SEA LIFE, Rockpool Explorer
The amazing micro-habitats full of incredible creatures!
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!
If you're exploring Rockpools at the beach, remember these important rules:
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Safety first: Make sure you’re with an adult and only explore when the tide is going out. Wear non-slip shoes.
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Be kind to creatures: Put any rocks back carefully and try not to the disturb creatures you find. Never take them home with you!
Starfish
Starfish are found in every ocean in the world! There are over 2000 known species, each one is full of surprises!
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!
Did you know?
- 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!
- Most starfish have 5 arms but some species can have up to 24! Starfish have hundreds of little tube feet which they use to walk, stick to rockfaces and respire!
- They can eject part of their stomach out of their body to digest food much bigger than their mouth? And then suck it all back in... Gross!
Sea Anemone
Sea Anemones look like colourful, underwater blooms, getting their name from the anemone flower but be careful, Sea Anemones are great predators - their stinging tentacles help Anemones catch tiny plankton which they draw into 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.
