Feature Creature Dec09

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© 2010 Ocean & Coastal Care Initiatives

© 2007 Ocean & Coastal Care Initiatives

Welcome to the feature creature page. Here you will find short articles on different marine creatures. A new article will be featured each month.

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Many creatures of the rock pools look like plants rather than animals. The Sea Tulips are in this category, even their name can be confusing! Sea Tulips are one species of animal known as 'Ascidians', and they are related to the 'sea squirts' or cunjevoi found in colonies on the rocks.

They have a long stalk-like structure which cements them to the rock, with the larger part of the animal floating off the end of the 'stalk'. The one commonly found in Central Coast rock pools is a bright orange colour, but local deeper water species are a pale lilac.

Sea Tulips are filter feeders, so they must have a regular supply of moving water to bring them their food and oxygen. Because of this they are usually found on the surf-side of the rock pools where there is a constant supply of water, even at low tide.

Sometimes these animals can be found washed up on the beach after storms.

Written by Jeannie Lawson

Photographs by Chris Roberts