A couple of months ago, during a helpfully low tide, I went to
Calshot Beach (Hampshire, southern England) with a group from the
Southampton Natural History Society to see what intertidal and saltmarsh beasts we could discover. With few if any of us being marine/littoral specialists, there was a good chance that we would expand our joyous wildlife experience with some new species (well, new to us anyway).
Although many of our findings were invertebrates, one early specimen was a plant, the Perennial Glasswort
Salicornia perennis.
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On the saltmarsh, Perennial Glasswort showing tiny scale-like leaves. |
From there, interest moved onto the invertebrates - some annotated examples as follows - enjoy!
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Tapes decussatus, the Cross-cut Carpet Shell from the strandline |
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Above and below, two colour forms of the Dahlia Anemone Urticina felina. The upper specimen was around 10-12cm across, the lower one around 8cm. Splendid creatures.
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The splendid Snakelocks Anemone Anemonia viridis, around 8-10cm across.
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Not the usual type of seashell, but the shell of a Haminoea sea-slug. Around 1.5cm, several found on the strandline. |
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A N.American introduction, the Quahog Mercenaria mercenaria, carrying another one from across the pond, a Slipper Limpet Crepidula fornicata as well as some tiny Spirorbis worms.
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Though not in edible condition, an Edible Crab Cancer pagurus with various hitchhikers...
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To finish, above and below views of the Turban Top Shell Gibbula magus - I particularly like the sculptural form of this shell.
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