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Pools Brimming

A cast of thousands clings to rocky real estate in a narrow strip of shore called the intertidal zone.

/2011/06/tide-pools/img/01-algae-coral-seastars-urchins-mix-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-01.jpg Photograph by Brandon Cole /2011/06/tide-pools/img/02-tidal-zone-treasures-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-02.jpg Photograph by David Liittschwager Tidal Zone Treasures The rocks and pools of the intertidal zone are home to an array of creatures fancifully named for their shapes and colors.
From top First row: red abalone, Cockerell's dorid, ringed nudibranch, variegate amphissa, grainyhand hermit crab, ochre sea star, cabezon Second row: red octopus, opalescent nudibranch, mermaid's cup, smooth iridescent seaweed, San Diego lamellaria, purple sea urchin, hammerhead doto, leather star Third row: red rock crab, calico sculpin, colorful dendronotus, stubby frond nudibranch, rough limpet, calico sculpin Fourth row: red sponge nudibranch, chink snail, woody chiton, nereid worm, syllid polychaete, peanut worm, brown turban snail, red sea fern Fifth row: shield limpet, sea clown nudibranch, red sea fan, monkeyface prickleback, bat star, green rope, red rock crab, flat porcelain crab Sixth row: splendid iridescent seaweed, Farlow's soft seaweed, blood star, six-armed star, Pacific sea comb, glycerid worm, sea palm, red gunnel, tinted wentletrap, surf grass, red sea cucumber]]> /2011/06/tide-pools/img/03-algae-share-space-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-03.jpg Photograph by David Liittschwager /2011/06/tide-pools/img/04-red-abalone-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-04.jpg Photograph by David Liittschwager /2011/06/tide-pools/img/05-small-sea-spider-withering-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-05.jpg Photograph by David Liittschwager /2011/06/tide-pools/img/06-small-sea-spider-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-06.jpg Photograph by David Liittschwager /2011/06/tide-pools/img/07-small-sea-spider-expanded-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-07.jpg Photograph by David Liittschwager /2011/06/tide-pools/img/08-high-tide-fitzgerald-marine-center-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-08.jpg Photograph by David Liittschwager /2011/06/tide-pools/img/09-low-tide-fitzgerald-marine-center-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-09.jpg Photograph by David Liittschwager /2011/06/tide-pools/img/10-green-sea-grass-bodega-head-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-10.jpg Photograph by David Liittschwager /2011/06/tide-pools/img/11-shrimp-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-11.jpg Photograph by David Liittschwager A shrimp]]> /2011/06/tide-pools/img/12-sea-anemone-with-2-young-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-12.jpg Photograph by David Liittschwager /2011/06/tide-pools/img/13-feather-duster-worm-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-13.jpg Photograph by David Liittschwager /2011/06/tide-pools/img/14-crustacean-7-pairs-legs-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-14.jpg Photograph by David Liittschwager /2011/06/tide-pools/img/15-sea-star-tubed-feet-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-15.jpg Photograph by David Liittschwager /2011/06/tide-pools/img/16-lined-chiton-mollusk-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-16.jpg Photograph by David Liittschwager /2011/06/tide-pools/img/17-nudibranch-sea-slug-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-17.jpg Photograph by David Liittschwager /2011/06/tide-pools/img/18-fish-eggs-cluster-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-18.jpg Photograph by David Liittschwager /2011/06/tide-pools/img/19-crustacean-evolved-sea-grass-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-19.jpg Photograph by David Liittschwager /2011/06/tide-pools/img/20-gooseneck-barnacles-sea-anemones-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-20.jpg Photograph by Jim Zipp, Photo Researchers, Inc. /2011/06/tide-pools/img/21-stickyhydroid-resembles-jellyfish-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-21.jpg Photograph by David Liittschwager Eudendrium californicum), only a few inches long. Although it resembles a plant, those pink "blossoms" are jellyfish-like animals that breed and collect food for the colonial organism. A small crustacean (Caprella kennerlyi) has attached itself near the hydroid's tip. ]]> /2011/06/tide-pools/img/22-disguised-decorator-crab-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-22.jpg Photograph by David Liittschwager /2011/06/tide-pools/img/23-penpoint-gunnel-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-23.jpg Photograph by David Liittschwager /2011/06/tide-pools/img/24-seaside-bench-california-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-24.jpg Photograph by David Liittschwager /2011/06/tide-pools/img/25-searching-invertebrates-in-Bodega-head-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-25.jpg Photograph by David Liittschwager /2011/06/tide-pools/img/26-giant-green-sea-anemones-purple-sea-urchins-714.jpg /2011/06/tide-pools/img/tide-pools-60-26.jpg Photograph by David Liittschwager Pisaster ochraceus), whose soft body stiffens protectively when out of the water—will be more exposed. ]]>