These little critters are related to the woodlice you find in your garden and play a very important role on rocky shores.

A bizarre half lobster/half crab, this squat lobster is one of the true stunners of the rocky shore!

Found on rocky shores and seabeds, the Keyhole limpet gets its name from the little hole at the tip of its shell.

Their long narrow shells are a common sight on our shores, especially after storms, but the animals themselves live buried in the sand.

This grass-green seaweed is sometimes known as Grass Kelp and grows on pretty much every shore in the UK.

This slim fish is usually found on gravelly parts of the seabed, close to shore, but can turn up in rockpools.

This sponge is found on rocky shores around the UK and looks like a thick bready crust (if you use your imagination a bit!).

This sea snail is abundant on rocky shores around the UK. It is an active predator, feasting on mussels and barnacles before retreating to crevices to rest.

This brown seaweed lives in the lower shore and gets its name from the serrated edges to its fronds.

This stunning hermit crab has only returned to our southern shores in recent years. Let us hope it stays for good this time!

Not to be confused with the ‘jewel anemone’ which resides in deeper waters, the gem anemone is just as wonderful a find on the rocky shore!