Ecology and Similar species identification Found slightly High shore alga higher than often forming a Fucus spiralis. clear zone on Fronds in more sheltered F.spiralis are shores. flat and twisted. Evenly forked fronds up to 15cm long that are rolled to give a channel on one side. Pelvetia canaliculata Channel Wrack Ecology and Similar identification species High shore alga Fucus often forming vesiculosus a clear zone which has below Pelvetia distinctive air on more bladders sheltered shores. Fronds in F.spiralis are flat and Fucus spiralis twisted and up Spiral Wrack to 20cm long. NO air bladders. Ecology and Similar identification species Most Fucus characteristic vesiculosus mid shore which has alga in shelter. paired circular air Leathery bladders fronds up to a metre long, no mid-rib and single egg-shaped Ascophyllum nodosum air-bladders Egg or Knotted Wrack Ecology and Similar identification species The F. spiralis characteristic and alga of the A.nodosum mid-shore in moderate exposure. The fronds have a prominent mid-rib and Fucus vesiculosus paired air Bladder Wrack bladders. Ecology and Similar identification species Can be Other Fucus abundant in species the low and lower mid- shore. Fronds have a serrated edge. Fucus serratus Serrated Wrack. Ecology and Similar species identification. This is the Laminaria commonest of hyperborea, the the kelps and can forest kelp, dominate around which has a low water. Each round cross plant may reach section to the 1.5m long. stem and stands erect at The stem has an low tide. oval cross section that causes the plant to droop over at low water. Laminaria digitata Oar Weed or Tangle Ecology and Similar identification. species There are Other Ulva many species species. of Ulva that Identify with are difficult to care or refer separate from to all simply each other. as Ulva. This species has a tubular, inflated frond and is Ulva intestinalis unbranched. Gut Weed. Ecology and Similar identification species On rocks in the Actinia middle and lower fragacea; shore. similar in ground Normally found colour but with tentacles the retracted and the column is appearance of a covered by blob of dark red green jelly. Colour can spots. vary and can be obscured by shell or stones Actinia equina attached to the Beadlet Anemone column. Ecology and Similar species identification Patella The common ulyssioponensis limpet of the which is found middle to low in rock pools shore. Animals and at the flatter low down lowest shore the beach. levels and has a white surface Inside of shell inside the shell. grey/green: Foot olive green to grey: Tentacles clear. Patella vulgata Common Limpet Ecology and Similar identification species Found in rock Patella pools and at vulgata. the lowest shore levels. May be covered by algae. Inside of shell white; foot orange and tentacles Patella ulyssiponensis = P.aspera white. China Limpet Ecology and Similar species identification Littorina saxatilis A large black to agg. brown winkle living No black lines in the mid-shore. shell lip meets Usually has fine shell almost black stripes square. perpendicular to lip of the shell. Shell lip meets shell at acute angle Littorina littorea. Common Winkle Ecology and Similar identification species Small to Littorina medium sized littorea. snail with sharp spire often abundant in upper shore. Taxonomy disputed and may be a complex of several species. Littorina saxatilis agg Rough Winkle Ecology and Similar identification species The main There are predator on other, usually most rocky smaller shores. relatives Usually white living low on although other the shore. colours The edible common. whelk is far There is a deep larger and is notch at the seldom seen front of the alive on the Nucella lapillus shell shore. Dog Whelk Ecology and Similar identification species This is an Gibbula important cineraria grazer on the mid- and lower part of moderately exposed shores on the western coast and part of the north coast. The flat based shell has bands Gibbula umbilicalis. of purple on a Flat or Purple Topshell greenish background Ecology and Similar identification species Usually lives Gibbula lower on the umbilicalis. shore than Shell is grey G.umbilicalis and the in moderately marking are exposure and finer in is found in wet G.cineraria. places/under rocks rather than on open rock. Gibbula cineraria Grey Topshell Ecology and Similar species identification None common In mid to low shore intertidally in the on rock. Highlands. Distinctive dark The horse mussel, blue shell with a Modiolus may be pointed tip. In found low in the shelter or in in shore and this nutrient rich water has a more may reach 7cm or rounded tip to more but may be the shell. less then 1cm on A further small exposed nutrient species of mussel, poor shores. Musculus may be found in the Mytilus edulis holdfast of kelps. Common Mussel Ecology and Similar species identification Chthamalus This is the dominant montagu. mid-shore barnacle in the mid shore of UK waters. On the east coast of highland it reaches the high shore but on the west and north coast it may have a zone of Chthamalus montagui above it. From dirty white to creamy yellow in colour with a diamond shaped shell opening widest in the middle Semibalanus balanoides Common Acorn Barnacle. Ecology and Similar species identification S.balanoides Expanding its and Chthamalus range on the east stellatus. Until coast of the 1967 Cmontagui Highlands but and C.stellatus seldom common were thought of there. Forms a as the same distinctive band in species. the high shore, However above, C.stellatus lives S.balanoides on lower down the the west coast. shore and its shell has a Dirty grey in rounder colour with a kite aperture. shaped opening, the greatest Chthamalus montagui width being Montague’s Acorn Barnacle towards one end. Ecology and Similar identification species Found in rock Edible crab. pools under Cancer stones and pagurus, Small from pools On individuals in all except the the lower most exposed shore have shores. ten large Has three blunt rounded lobes teeth between outside the the eyes and eyes. Moves five sharp teeth sluggishly. on either side Carcinus maenas. of them. Colour highly variable Common Shore Crab Ecology and Similar species identification. Pagurus Found in rock prideauxii. pools on most This species is shores living in commonest in the shell of a the low shore marine snail. and usually has The larger of the an anemone claws is on the attached to its animal’s right shell. No red hand side and band on the has a claw. longitudinal orange/red band. Pagurus bernhardus. Common hermit crab.