Open waterBoulders

Rockpools

Crevice/cracks

Flat rock

On the rocky shore

Habitats:Habitats on rocky shores can sometimes be difficult to distinguish. For instance, when does a sloping rock flat become a crevice? When is a large boulder considered flat rock and so on. Some locations may only have one or two types of habitats, whilst others may contain several. Use this picture as a guide but follow your intuition and common sense to make the decision on what is the most common habitat a species lives in. If a species occurs evenly in all habitats, chose the habitat that is most common on the platform.

multi species

climatewatch.org.au earthwatch.org.au

Use this scale bar in photos for reference and to assist in species identification

Scale 1cmGiant rock barnacle Military turban

Ribbed-top shell

Surf barnacle

Cart-rut shell

Supralittoral (supratidal zone)

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Updated May 2014

Algae

Barnacles

Echinoderms

Molluscs

OthersAulactinia veratra Green anemone Size: up to 8 cm Intertidal Zone: Mid-Low

Austromegabalanus nigrescens Giant rock barnacle Size: 5 cm high, 3 cm diameter Intertidal Zone: Low

Durvillea potatorum Bull kelp

Austrolittorina unifasciata Blue Periwinkle Size: up to 2 cm Intertidal Zone: High

Pyura stolonifera Cunjevoi Size: Max height is 30 cm Intertidal Zone: Low

Actinia tenebrosa Waratah anemone Size: up to 8 cm Intertidal Zone: Mid-Low

Chamaesipho tasmanica Honeycomb barnacle Size: 2 cm high, 2 cm diameterIntertidal Zone: High-Mid

Eklonia radiata Common kelp

Nerita atramentosa Black nerite Size: up to 3 cm Intertidal Zone: High-Mid

Galeolaria caespitosa Galeolaria worm Size: Tubes up to 3 cm long Intertidal Zone: Mid-Low

Catomerus polymerusSurf barnacle Size: 2 cm height, 2 cm diameterIntertidal Zone: Mid-Low

Phyllospora comosa Strap weed

Melicerona felina Cat cowrie Size: up to 3 cm Intertidal Zone: Low

Holothuria leucospilota Black sea cucumber Size: up to 30 cm in length Intertidal Zone: Low

Tripneustes gratilla Collector urchin Size: up to 15 cm Intertidal Zone: Low

Codium fragile Velvet weed

Dicathais orbita Cart-rut shell Size: up to 8 cm Intertidal Zone: Mid-Low

Echinometra mathaei White-tipped urchin Size: up to 15 cm Intertidal Zone: Low

Hormosira banksii Neptune’s necklace

Scutus antipodes Elephant slug Size: up to 15 cm Intertidal Zone: Low

Meridiastra calcar Eight-armed seastar Size: Arm radius up to 5 cm across Intertidal Zone: Mid-Low

Cypraea annulus Gold ring cowrie Size: up to 5 cm Intertidal Zone: Low

Parvulastra exigua Pin cushion seastar Size: up to 5 cm in diameter Intertidal Zone: High-Mid

Turbo (Dinassovica) militaris Military turban Size: up to 10 cm Intertidal Zone: Low

Nodilittorina pyramiladis Noddiwink Size: 2 cm Intertidal Zone: High

Janthina janthina Violet snail Size: 5 cm Low shore (strand-line)

Austrocochlea constricta Ribbed-top shell Size: 5 cm long Intertidal Zone: High-Mid

Austrocochlea porcata Zebra-top shell Size: 3 cm Intertidal Zone: Mid-Low

Use this scale bar in photos for reference and to assist in species identification

Scale 1cmElephant slug & White-tipped urchin

Eight-armed seastar Violet snail Gold ring cowrie

Tenguella marginalba Mulberry Whelk Size: up to 2.5 cm Intertidal Zone: Mid-Low

Periwinkle Zebra-top shell