AUSTRALASIAN
Temperate Seashore

The seashores of the temperate parts of southern Australia and New Zealand...

From the peaceful (above), to the violent (below).... 

For the page on the plants of the Australasian temperate seashore

Phylum Cnidaria: corals, anemones, sea-jellies

Physalia physalia, known as 'Blue Bottle' in Australia, New Zealand & South Africa, and 'Portuguese Man'o war' elsewhere. Blue bottles can still sting even when washed up dead on the beach.

Phylum Mollusca

Class Bivalvia

Family Pinnidae: 'Pen Shells'

Pinna spp. 'Razor Clams'

Found worldwide. The Razor Clams are so named due to the sharpness of the top of their shell, which when alive can be buried into the sand with the jagged top just near the surface of the sand. 

Phylum Arthropoda

Subphylum Crustacea

Family Ocypodidae: ‘Stalk-eyed Crabs'

The crabs in this family are small to medium in size with a square-shaped body. Their common name is derived from their close set eyes that are located on protruding stalks. These stalks can be held up for seeing across their habitat, or slotted down in grooves.

Ocypode convexa, 'Golden Ghost Crab'. One of the largest and most colourful of the Ghost Crabs. Endemic to west coast of Australia, from Perth to Broome. Only common on undisturbed beaches (for example: where there are not cars driving on the sand).

For the page on the birds of the Australasian temperate seashore 

Class Mammalia

Order Carnivora

Pinnipeds

Family Otariidae: the 'Eared Seals', including sea lions and fur seals

Places to experience the Australasian temperate seashore

There are many national parks and other areas to explore the temperate seashores around New Zealand and southern Australia, including Cape Kidnappers, Fiordland, and Snares Islands, all in New Zealand. In Tasmania there is the stunning Wineglass Bay.