Blue Rayed Limpet Helcion pellucidum
Group: Molluscs
Identification: The young shells have rows of brilliant blue spots from the top of the shell to the edge of the shell. Distribution: They attach to the seaweeds on the lower shore and shallow water.

Bootlace Worm Lineus longissimus
Group: Worms
Identification: Blackish brown and slimy, usually found in a tangled mass. Has numerous eyes on either side of its head but a lens may be needed to see them. Worms have been recorded over 30 metres long but 4 ’ 5 metres is common.
Distribution: Found under stones and burrowed in the mud.

Breadcrumb Sponge Halichondria panicea
Group: Sponges
Identification: The most common colour for a Breadcrumb Sponge is a green or yellow/orange.
Distribution: They can be found around the lower shore tides in the shaded areas. Sponges can cover a large area of a rock.

Cushion Star Asterina gibbosa
Group: Starfish
Identification: Cushion Stars are flat like discs that have short points sticking out of them, these represent their arms.
Distribution: You can find them under stones or in overhangs of seaweed around the lower shores of the south-west coasts.

Dahlia Anemone Urticina felina
Group: Anemones
Identification: When contracted looks like a lump of fat with bits of gravel and shells stuck to it. Very beautiful when feeding.
Distribution: Now very rare at Underbarn but may still be present in deeper rockpools and crevices at low tide.

Dogwhelk Nucella lapillus
Group: Molluscs
Identification: Spiral shell with about 5 whorls. The shells colour varies between yellow, white and brown. Shell grows up to 3 cm high. Distribution: They are common on the rocky shelf among crevices.

Edible Winkle Littorina littorea
Group: Molluscs
Identification: Colour varies from grey-brown to red but is normally blackish and they grow up to 2.5 cm high.
Distribution: They live on rocks, stones and seaweed on the middle and lower shore.

Eel Grass Zostera marina
Group: Higher plants
Identification: Flat, long, narrow green grass-like leaves with rounded tips. They can be up to 100 cm long and up to 1 cm wide.
Distribution: In Portland Harbour confined to sandy areas below low tide, where they create banks just offshore.

Flat Winkle Littorina obtusata
Group: Molluscs
Identification: Spiral shell but the spire is almost flat at the top. They grow up to 1 cm high and are very colourful, any colour from yellow-brown to red-orange to green
Distribution: On seaweed on the lower, middle and upper parts of the lower shore.

Grey Top Shell Gibbula cineraria
Group: Molluscs
Identification: Grey top shells are very small, flat and a light grey in colour with dark grey stripes.
Distribution: Located around middle and lower shores.

Hairy Crab Pilumnus hirtellus
Group: Crustaceans
Identification: The crab is completely covered by hairs. This hair is a brown/red in colour. The crab can grow up to 2cm long and has short carapace antennae.
Distribution: Can sometimes be found among sponges in the lower shore and in shallow water.

Hermit Crab Pagurus spp
Group: Crustaceans
Identification: Grey-red or red-brown colour. They live inside shells with its six legs hanging out.
Distribution: Found on all types of shores from lower shore to deeper water.

Keelworm Pomatoceros lamarcki
Group: Worms
Identification: The body has 80 to 100 segments and are bent tubes that occur in large numbers on rocks. They grow up to 3 cm long but sometimes larger.
Distribution: Attached to rocks and seaweed on the lower shore and in shallow water.

Sand-hopper Talitrus saltator
Group: Crustaceans
Identification: Has a reddish, green, brown compressed and curved body. On the head are two long antenna which are visible under water.
Distribution: Burrowing in sand on middle and lower shore. Most likely to be found beneath rocks and among the seaweed.

Sand Goby Pomatoschistus minutus
Group: Fish
Identification: The Sand Goby has a slender, sandy brown body patterned with fine spots and faint bars across the back. Males have a dark spot at the hind end of the first dorsal fin. They grow to about 90 mm.
Distribution: Found in low tide rock pools and mid tide channels.

Velvet Horn Codium tomentosum
Group: Green algae
Identification: This is a long dark green seaweed with round spongy fronds.
Distribution: Found in deep rock pools around the middle shore.

Velvet Swimming Crab Necora puber
Group: Crustaceans
Identification: Similar to the Shore Crab but with bright red joints to the legs and large, flattened hind legs which it uses for swimming. The upper surface of the shell has a velvety texture.
Distribution: Uncommon in the tidal zone but widespread below low tide mark.