Sponges

Sponges are made of tiny animals living together in colonies. You can search for sponges under stones and pebbles in rock pools or on the underside of over hanging rock ledges where it is damp and shaded from direct sunlight. They can be found on nearly all rocky shores in Scotland.

The breadcrumb sponge is the most common sponge found on the shore. It is flat and can be found in various colours but most commonly green or orange. On its surface the breadcrumb sponge has a number of large holes, which look like miniature volcanoes. The sponge draws in water through these holes, which it filters for minute food particles and oxygen. This water is then pushed out through more numerous but much smaller holes that are difficult to see.

The sponges, which you find on the shores of Scotland, are related to the large sponges which were used in the bath and which live in warmer water in the tropics. Too many of these have been collected and now most bath sponges are man-made.

Sea Anemones

Sea anemones are animals. They are called anemones because they look like an open flower. The petals of the flower are tentacles with which the sea anemone captures small pieces of food. They capture food by firing tiny poisoned darts on a thread. They then pull their prey into their mouths using their tentacles.

The Beadlet Anemone is the most common sea anemone on the shore, and it is found all around Scotland. It is usually red or green with a ring of blue dots at the base of its tentacles. It lives attached to rocks. The tentacles are very sensitive and can be drawn back very quickly when touched. This is so that the anemones can stop small fish nipping off its tentacles. You can see this by lightly touching the tentacles.