Invertebrates
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).