SEASHORE
Crabs and Their Relatives
Common Hermit Crab
The Hermit Crab has no shell of its own to
protect its body,so it finds an empty shell to
live in. When it outgrows the shell, it finds
a new one. It can be found in rock pools.
Common Lobster
Small Common Lobsters are sometimes
found in rock pools on the lower shore.
Most lobsters, though, crawl along the
seabed in deep waters.
Blue Swimming Crabs
This crab can be found on the lower shore.
It has a hairy shell and its back legs
are flattened for swimming.
Shore Crab
The Shore crab has a smooth, broad shell.
Young ones often have pretty markings.
It is common on both sandy and rocky
shores. When the tide is out, it hides
from seabirds in the mud.
Edible Rock Crab
Large Edible Rock Crabs live in deep water,
but you can see small ones in rock pools,
under rocks or buried under the sand on
the lower shore. As you can guess from
their name, these crabs can be eaten.
Squat Lobster
This is not a true lobster, but a relative.
It is found under rocks and stones on the
lower shores. Its first pair of walking
legs have very long pincers.
Sea Lice
For this animal, look in breakwaters and on rocks
above the high tide level on the upper shore.
It is nocturnal - it comes out at night to feed.
Sand Shrimp
This shrimp is common in sandy estuaries.
It has broad, flattened claws on its front legs.
People catch shrimps and prawns to eat.
Acorn Barnacle
Barnacles stick to rocks and build a hard shell
around themselves, like a wall. They are a very
common sight on rocks. The Acorn Barnacle
has a diamond-shaped opening.
Common Prawn
This creature is common in shallow water
and you can sometimes find it in rock
pools. Like all prawns and shrimps,
its feelers are longer than its body.
Seeds of Knowledge
