Meadfoot Beach – Nature Journeys

Keelworm

Pomatoceros triqueter

Keelworm (Pomatoceros triqueter)

The tube in which the worm hides at low tide is white and smooth, irregularly curved, hard and calcareous with a single prominent ridge along its back. It looks triangular in cross-section. The worm itself is small with varied colouration, and has a crown of feeding tentacles. Similar to Pomatoceros lamarcki which has two ridges each side as well as a centre ridge. Tube width 3 to 5mm. Worm length up to 25mm.

Found encrusting and scarring rocks and shells on the middle to lower shore. Discovered on most types of coastline. Common and widespread.

Photograph taken August 2015, Meadfoot Beach, Torquay, Devon. Camera Nikon D3200, with Sigma 105mm macro lens. © Pete Hillman 2015.

01/1701/17 by Peter Hillman Categories: Animals, Animals (Invertebrates), Coast, Macro Photography, Nature Photography, Photography, WormsTags: Devon, Keelworm, Macro, Macro Photography, Meadfoot Beach, Nature, Nature Photography, Photography, Pomatoceros triqueter, Torquay, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography, Worms 6 Comments

Sea Belt

Saccharina latissima

Also called ‘Sugar Kelp’ or ‘Poor Man’s Weatherglass’, this is a long, belt-like brown to olive coloured seaweed with wavy edges and a crinkled centre. Length 4cm.

It grows in deep pools and around the low tide mark, usually on sheltered rocky shores attached to rocks with a small branching holdfast. A common and widespread species.

Photographs of Sea Belt (Saccharina latissima), taken August 2015, in rock pool Meadfoot Beach, Torquay, Devon. © Pete Hillman 2015. Camera used Nikon D3200, with Sigma 105mm macro lens.

10/16 by Peter Hillman Categories: Algae, Coast, Nature Photography, SeaweedsTags: Beach, Devon, Macro, Macro Photography, Meadfoot Beach, Nature, Nature Photography, Ocean, Poor Man’s Weatherglass, Saccharina latissima, Sea, Sea Belt, Seashore, Seaweed, Seaweeds, Sugar Kelp, Torquay, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography Leave a comment

Egg Wrack Wool

Polysiphonia lanosa

A brownish-red seaweed which is tufted and made up of branching filaments which gives it a wool-like consistancy. Length 70cm.

Found middle to low shore, and grows mainly on Egg Wrack (Ascophyllum nodosum) for physical support, known as an epiphyte. It makes use of the hosts buoyancy at high tide so it will gain more sunlight. Common and widespread throughout the British coastline.

Photographs of Egg Wrack Wool (Polysiphonia lanosa), taken August 2015, in rock pool Meadfoot Beach, Torquay, Devon. © Pete Hillman 2015. Camera used Nikon D3200, with Sigma 105mm macro lens.

10/16 by Peter Hillman Categories: Algae, Coast, Nature Photography, SeaweedsTags: Algae, Ascophyllum nodosum, Beach, Devon, Egg Wrack, Macro, Macro Photography, Meadfoot Beach, Nature, Nature Photography, Ocean, Rock Pool, Rock Pools, Sea, Seashore, Seaweed, Seaweeds, Torquay, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography 4 Comments

Toothed Wrack

Fucus serratus

Also called “Saw Wrack’ or ‘Serrated Wrack’, this is an olive to golden brown seaweed, flattened with a prominant midrib and saw-toothed fronds. Length 60cm. Frond width 2cm.

Found on the lower zone, it latches onto rocks on more sheltered shores. A common and widespread species.

Photographs of Toothed Wrack (Fucus serratus), taken August 2015, in rock pool Meadfoot Beach, Torquay, Devon. © Pete Hillman 2015. Camera used Nikon D3200, with Sigma 105mm macro lens.

10/1610/16 by Peter Hillman Categories: Algae, Coast, Nature Photography, SeaweedsTags: Devon, Fucus serratus, Macro, Macro Photography, Meadfoot Beach, Nature, Nature Photography, Ocean, Rock Pool, Rock Pools, Saw Wrack, Sea, Seashore, Seaweed, Serrated Wrack, Toothed Wrack, Torquay, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography 2 Comments

Common Prawn

Palaemon serratus

The Common Prawn has large eyes and a translucent body with yellow, brown or reddish stripes. It has an elongate body with a fan-shaped telson (last segment, or appendage of the last segment of the abdomen). It has a large upturned rostrum with 6-7 dorsal teeth and 4-5 ventral teeth. The first two pairs of walking legs bear claws, and have red, blue and yellowish banding. It can move very quickly, and is a very inquisitive creature. Length up to 11cm.

It is a ominvore and it will eat virtually anything from dead animal life, to hunting other invertebrates, and to consuming plant material.

Found on the upper to lower shore, in rockpools, amongst seaweeds and under rocks and boulders. Our commonest prawn, it is widespread throughout. Prawns are a valuable food source, and are of extreme commercial interest.

Photograph of Common Prawn (Palaemon serratus), taken August 2015, in rock pool Meadfoot Beach, Torquay, Devon. © Pete Hillman 2015. Camera used Nikon D3200, with Sigma 105mm macro lens.

10/1610/16 by Peter Hillman Categories: Animals, Animals (Invertebrates), Coast, Seashore CrustaceansTags: Coast, Devon, Macro, Macro Photography, Meadfoot Beach, Nature, Nature Photography, Ocean, Rock Pools, Sea, Seashore Crustaceans, Torquay, Wildlife Photography 6 Comments

Gutweed

Ulva intestinalis

This aptly named bright grass green seaweed forms an inflated, tube-like frond which resembles an intestine. Length up to 80cm.

Found attached to rocks and stones on sandy or muddy shores, in sheltered estuaries and rock pools on the upper shore. A common and widespread species.

Photographs taken April 2013, Llandudno, Wales, and August 2015, Meadfoot Beach, Torquay, Devon.

08/1608/16 by Peter Hillman Categories: Algae, Coast, Llandudno, Nature Photography, Plants, SeaweedsTags: Devon, Gutweed, Llandudno, Meadfoot Beach, Nature, Nature Photography, Seaweed, Torquay, Ulva intestinalis, Wales, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography 2 Comments

Acorn Barnacle

Semibalanus balanoides

Greyish white in colour, the shell opening is the shape of that of a diamond, whilst surrounding it are six plates. Diameter 5 to 20mm.

Beneath the water the shell opens up to release feather cirri which filter feed on zooplankton. They may live up to 8 years if the conditions are favourable.

Found attached to rocks where they can cover large areas. They also attach themselves to the carapaces and shells of crustaceans and molluscs. Common and the most widespread barnacle of the British Isles.