Scarborough Rockpooling

A new page for the many species of molluscs we have seen and identified. This page will be updated to include some of the frighteningly common species such as limpets and periwinkles. They are boring though so that's why we haven't got any pictures of them yet.

Anyway....

The Blue Rayed Limpet (Patella pellucida) can be found on the lower shore at Holbeck and Scalby. They are stunning molluscs, and their shell is typically just 10-15mm long. They are named and identified by the blue rays that adorn its shell. They can be found on kelpweed holdfasts and fronds.

Our only cephalopod was found on the 25th April 2009. It was a little cuttlefish, Sepiola atlantica and was 2cm long, and about 1.5cm across. The cuttlefish has an amazing ability to change colour, which it uses for a variety of reasons, such as to blend in with the substrate, confuse predators (along with the ink squirts), and attract mates. The cuttlefish spends most of its time underneath the sand, either completely buried, or with just its eyes showing. 

This large sea slug is commonly known as a Sea Lemon (Archidoris pseudoargus). It is a true nudibranch and can be found on more sheltered rocky shores. They have now been seen on numerous occasions at both Holbeck and Scalby Mills. Length up to 80mm, usually between 40-60mm. 

The Sea Hare, Aplysia punctata is most commonly found on the middle and lower shore in shallow water, often amongst dense patches of green algae. They commonly are found around 60-70mm in length, sometimes though they can reach over 200mm in length. The picture below is of a particularly small example, just 20mm long.

Elysia viridis, sometimes known as the Green Sea Slug, is a new find for us in Scarborough. At least two examples were found amongst green algae, just like the Sea Hare above. The colour can be variable, from almost a lime-green colour, to dark brown/black with blue/green spots along the body, like our example below. They are small sea slugs, rarely growing over 50mm long. Ours was 20mm.

More to be added soon!