Table of Contents

Introduction 7
Our intertidal wilderness 7
A journey of exploration 8
Our varied coastline 9
Zones of life 10
Rocky shores 13
Sandy beaches 14
Mudflats 15
Turning of the tide 16
Care on the coast 18
Care for the coast 19
Sponges 20
Anemones and their relatives 30
Anemones 31
Hydroids 44
Worms 48
Unsegmented worms 49
Segmented worms 54
Crustaceans 74
Isopods 75
Amphipods 81
Shrimp 84
Crabs 93
Barnacles 117
Coastal insects and spiders 126
Molluscs 134
Chitons 135
Gastropods 147
Bivalves 219
Octopuses and squid 254
Brachiopods 260
Bryozans 264
Sea stars and their relatives 270
Sea stars 271
Sea urchins 283
Sea cucumbers 287
Ascidians 290
Fish 302
Seaweeds 324
Green seaweeds 325
Brown seaweeds 338
Red seaweeds 363
Coastal plants 382
Saltmarsh and sand dune plants 383
Seashore lichens 397
Conclusion 400
A changing ocean 400
Other coastal concerns 401
Seashore scientists 402
Coastal call to action 403
Cultivating curiosity 404
Diving deeper 405
Acknowledgements 408
Index 409

About the Author

Sally Carson is an environmental educator and marine scientist with considerable experience leading educational initiatives where school students and the wider community engage with the marine environment, develop science skills and learn how to be kaitiaki for the coast. She has been the driver behind a number of community education initiatives including the Aquavan, and Marine Metre Squared, a national citizen science project on long term monitoring of the NZ seashore. Sally is currently the director of the New Zealand Marine Studies Centre, Dept of Marine Science, University of Otago.

Rod Morris is a wildlife photographer, documentary- maker, and natural historian who has contributed to some 30 books over the course of his career. His particular interest lies in collaborating on field guides and other nature books accessible to children, where his nature photography can showcase not only the characteristic features of our lesser-known native animals and plants, but also unique aspects of their behaviour.