Life on the Lower Shore

The most showy specimens in this seaweed garden are not all plants at all. The tentacles of the snakelocks anemone could be mistaken for a delicate seaweed frond, but that would be a dangerous mistake for a small animal to make.
The snakelocks anemone packs powerful punch, strong enough to affect humans (it is, after all, a close relative of jellyfish). It is usually safe to touch them with your finger, but more sensitive parts of the body should certainly be kept clear - bear this in mind before sitting in a rock pool! Small children in particular can react severely to the sting.

The anemone puts this sting to good use, catching and paralysing unsuspecting animals, which are then swallowed whole and slowly digested. Some spider crabs have apparently learnt to counter the anemone's venom and can be found happily tucked in beneath the tentacles.

Several other crabs frequent this part of the shore, usually staying hidden under stones, though you can often spot them by peering under the overhanging ledges. (If you can hold your breath, put on a pair of goggles or a diving mask, lie down on the edge of the ledge and stick your head in the water to see under the overhang - everything will be upside down, but that doesn't matter, a lot of things living there are upside down anyway, hanging from the roof.)