The sea-shore is the place where the sea meets the land. There are usually sandy beaches and rocks at the sea-shore.
We are lucky in Ireland to have lots of beaches. There are lots of tiny animals living under the sand and along the rocks. The beach is so much fun to explore!
Typical rockpool area at the sea-shore
Do you know any of the animals that live along the shore? Here are three examples.
Common starfish
Photograph of a common starfish
Taken by Kieran Boyce, Dublin University Sub-Aqua ClubCommon starfish
Taken by Kieran Boyce, Dublin University Sub-Aqua Club
Taken by Kieran Boyce, Dublin University Sub-Aqua Club
Common starfish
Photograph of a common starfish
Taken by Kieran Boyce, Dublin University Sub-Aqua Club
A star fish looks like a star! It usually has five arms, but some starfish have more.
Did you know that if a star fish loses one of its arms, it can grow it back again?!
The rocks at this rockpool are covered in barnacles
Have you ever seen cone-shaped shells on the rocks? Tiny animals called barnacles live underneath these shells.
Barnacles only come out from their shell when they are covered in water.
Red Blenny
Taken by Ian Lawlor, Dublin University Sub-Aqua Club
Red Blenny
Taken by Ian Lawlor, Dublin University Sub-Aqua Club
Taken by Ian Lawlor, Dublin University Sub-Aqua Club
Red Blenny
Taken by Ian Lawlor, Dublin University Sub-Aqua Club
Blennies are tiny animals with long bodies. They live in shallow water along the sea-shore. Some blennies are very colourful. Others have a spots or stripes. This helps them to hide in their habitat.
Blennies have teeth that grow in their lips. These help them to eat plants that grow on rocks.