Splash Zone: Rocky Shore Animals

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Anemones

ROCKY SHORE HOME

An anemone looks like a flower, but it's really an animal. Those petal-like arms sting and grab to help an anemone catch small fishes and crabs.

Fun fact: Sea slugs eat anemones—stinging cells and all—but they don't get stung. The slugs move the anemones' stingers onto their own bodies to defend against hungry predators.

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It's easy being green

A giant green anemone is never alone—it has algae plants living inside it. The algae have a nice safe place to live where they're protected from snails and other grazers. The anemones get nutrients as well as some of their green color from the algae in their guts.

Shell cleaners

As the waves crash against the shore, mussels and snails are washed into an anemone's

waiting tentacles. The anemone eats the animals, then spits out the nice clean shells. Empty snail shells become homes for hermit crabs.

MORE ROCKY SHORE ANIMALS

Inspiring conservation of the oceans