Stars 'n' Squirts

COMMON STARFISH are the ones we’ve mostly seen when playing on the beach as kids, also in picture book images. But when you study them a bit closer these things are savages. They are strong enough to prize open shellfish. You’ll see them eating almost any creature dead on the seabed or too slow to outrun them. Chop them in half and they will grow back twice as bad. OH! And the bit I like, they send their stomach out through the mouth eat their prey and retract it back again. Great saving on dental bills eh!

PHALLUSIA MAMMILLATA

This sea squirt is the largest type to be found around our British shores it can grow to 6 inches or so. It siphons water in through the higher tube filters out the food (plankton etc) then blows it back out the lower tube.

Please click on link below to see a short clip of one filmed at Fishcombe.