Beachcombers Field Guide (Western Australia)

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Beachcombers

Field Guide



The Beachcombers Field Guide has beenmade possible through funding fromCoastwest and the Western AustralianPlanning Commission, and theDepartment of Fisheries, Governmentof Western Australia.

The project would not have been possiblewithout our community partners – Friendsof Marmion Marine Park and Padbury

Senior High School.

Special thanks to Sue Morrison, JaneFromont, Andrew Hosie and Shirley Slack-Smith from the Western Australian Museum

and John Huismanfor editing the

field guide.

Acknowledgements

FRIENDS

OF



Perth Beachcomber Field Guide

Beachcombing Basics

The Beachcombers Field Guide is an easyto use identification tool that describessome of the more common items you mayfind while beachcombing.

For easy reference, items are split intofour simple groups:

• Chordates (mainly vertebrates –animals with a backbone);

• Invertebrates (animals without abackbone);

• Seagrasses and algae; and• Unusual finds!

Chordates and invertebrates are thensplit into their relevant phylum and class.Phyla include:

• Chordata (e.g. fish)

• Porifera (sponges)• Bryozoa (e.g. lace corals)• Mollusca (e.g. snails)• Cnidaria (e.g. sea jellies)

• Arthropoda (e.g. crabs)• Annelida (e.g. tube worms)• Echinodermata (e.g. sea stars)



Perth Beachcomber Field Guide

• Wear sun protective clothing, including a hat and sunscreen.

• Take a bottle of water – it can get hotout in the sun!

• Take a hand lens or magnifying glassfor closer inspection.

• Be careful when picking items up –you never know what could be hiding inside, or what might sting you!

• Help the environment and take any

rubbish safely home with you – recycleor place it in the bin.

• Take your camera to help you tocapture memories of your finds.

• Leave marine life on the beachwhere you found it – each plant andanimal plays an important part inthe environment.

• Leave only your footprints…

It is always important

to be prepared, so youcan make the most of your beachcombing experience



Globefish

P hot o: Cottesloe Co a s t c a

r e



Also referred to asa porcupinefish, the name

certainly reflects this fish’s appearancewith a body that can be inflated, causing the spines (which are modified scales)

to stand erect. A globefish inflates itsbody by ingesting water or air, and as itsbody expands the spines lock into place– making the animal appear much bigger

and acting as a deterrentto potential

predators.

Globefish (Diodon nicthemerus )

Chordata – Osteichthyes

Did you know?The swim bladder of the

porcupinefish may also be foundwashed up onto the beach – the

inflated dried organ is sometimesreferred to as a windbag.

P h o t o : C

a r i n a G e

m i g n a n i



Weeping toadfish

P hoto: Sand y C l a r k e



Commonly referredto as a blowie, these pufferfish

are considered to be a nuisance torecreational fishers because they gobbleup bait, making it hard for fishers to catch

other species. However, blowies play animportant role in marine ecosystems, asthey are omnivorous (plant- and animal-eaters) and feed on almost anything they

can scavenge. They consumewaste scraps, bait and

burley along withits normal diet,

and therefore

help to keepour coastalwatersclean.

P h o t o : H

e n r i q u e

K w o n g

Weeping toadfish(Torquigener pleurogramma )


Did you know?

Pufferfish produce a highlylethal toxin called tetrodotoxin

– present in their skin, flesh andinternal organs. Do not allow dogs

to mouth any dead fish, as they caningest sufficient toxin to kill them.



Shaw’s cowfish

P hoto: Gilber t S to k m

a n



Shaw’s cowfishbelong to the boxfish family.

Unlike most other bony fishes, boxfishhave an outer covering of large, thickbony plates, that provide a protective

armour against predators. Because of this armour, boxfish cannot swim veryfast to hunt, so they feed by blowing ajet of water at the sand to expose prey

hidden beneath.

Shaw’s cowfish ( Aracana aurita )


Did you know?

Boxfish are one of the bonyfish families that display sexual

dimorphism. This means thatyou can tell the difference

between males and females bythe colours, patterns andmarkings on their bodies.

P h o t o : C

a r i n a G e

m i g n a n i



Commonseadragon




Although in thesame family (Syngnathidae),

the common seadragon is sometimesconfused with the seahorse, however,seadragons don’t have a prehensile tail

(one with the ability to grasp onto objects).The common seadragon is only found intemperate waters of southern Australia.Growing up to 46 cm in length, the armour-

coated body can sometimesbe found washed up

onto the beachby a lucky

beachcomber.

Common seadragon(Phyllopteryx taeniolatus )


Did you know?

Closely related to thecommon seadragon is theleafy seadragon. This species

of seadragon is generally yellowto brown in colour and has more

leaf-like appendages on its body.This makes it incredibly wellcamouflaged among marine algae.

P h o t o : S

h a n n o n

C o n w a y



West Australianseahorse




Seahorses have bonyplates protecting their bodies

instead of scales. Their long snoutsend in tiny, toothless mouths that suck inminute crustaceans, which are swallowed

whole. The West Australian seahorsevaries in colour but can be distinguishedby a series of brown lines across thesnout. Growing to about 22 cm in length,

they are found in shelteredreefs, sponge

gardens andseagrass

beds in a

limitedarea of the southwest of

WesternAustralia.

West Australian seahorse(Hippocampus subelongatus )


Did you know?

Most species of seahorse livein pairs. Female seahorses pass

their eggs to the males, whoincubate them in a protective

pouch. He later ‘gives birth’ tohighly developed offspring.

P h o t o :

S a n d y

C l a r k e



Sea squirt

P hoto: Miche l le D y e r



Attached to the reef,sea squirts (or ascidians) are

often mistaken for sponges. Thesesimple animals are practically a ‘sac’with two openings that siphon water in

and out of the body to collect food andnutrients. Sea squirts have a thick outercoat made from a cellulose-like material.This is known as the tunic, which helps

protect the animal frompredators.

Sea squirt

Chordata – Ascidiacea

Did you know?

Believe it or not, sea squirtsare related to humans! In theirlarval stage, sea squirts have

a basic backbone of rod cells(notochords), just like vertebrates,

such as humans, fish and mammals.These cells are lost as the seasquirt develops into an adult.

P h o t o : D

a v i d F a

i r c l o u g h



Sea tulip




Sea tulips are namedfor their long stalks and rounded

heads. Although considered a solitary(single) ascidian, a cluster of them canlook like a bunch of tulips (flowers)

attached to rocky reef or seagrass.Filtering the water for food and nutrients,these animals play an important rolein our marine environment, removing

particles as small asbacteria.

Sea tulip


Did you know?

Ascidians have free-swimming larvae, which help them to

disperse throughout the ocean.However, they do not feed during

this time and must find a placeto settle within a few hours, orthey die.

P h o t o : C l

a y B r y c e



Colonial ascidian




A colonial ascidian is acolony of animals (or zooids),where it is hard to distinguish

separate animals – individual zooidscan only be seen clearly with a

microscope. They form intricate patternsand come in an assortment of colours.Ascidians are difficult to identify properlywithout examining the internal structure

of the specimen.

Colonial ascidian


Did you know?

Colonial ascidians usuallygrow as a coating on rocks orreefs, and can be mistaken for an

encrusting sponge. The differenceis that ascidians have a nervous

system and they respond totouch by retracting and closing

their siphons.

P h o t o : C l

a y B r y c e



Sponge




Often mistaken forplants, sponges are commonly

found by beachcombers because theirskeletons are strong enough to survivethe waves that wash them ashore. These

sponges have lost their bright coloursbut generally retain the shape they hadwhen alive. Sponges have no mouth,internal organs or nerves. Instead, their

body is full of tiny holes,which help them to

eat and breatheby filtering

seawater.

Sponge

Porifera

Did you know?

Spicules are microscopicstructures that provide a support

or skeleton for the animal. Thesehard spicules are made of either

calcium carbonate (limestone)or glassy silica, and vary in sizeand shape.

P h o t o : D

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i r c l o u g h



Bryozoan




Often mistakenfor corals, sponges or algae,

bryozoans (lace coral and sea mosses)are a colony of tiny animals called zooids.Each zooid is protected by a calcareous

(limestone) horny case, which is leftbehind when the animals die. Colonymembers are independent of each other,feeding on plankton and other particles

suspended in the water.However, when

disturbed theywill act as one,

retracting

into theirprotectivecase.

Bryozoan

Bryozoa

Did you know?

Bryozoans reproduce by externalfertilisation, releasing eggs and

sperm into the water, which formfree-swimming larvae. Larvae then

attach themselves to a solid objectand divide to create a new colony.

P h o t o : D

a v i d F a

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Violet snail




There are a fewspecies of violet snails that may

be washed up on Western Australianbeaches by rough seas. A violet snail floatsupside down far out in the open ocean,

clinging to a raft it creates by secreting air-filled mucous bubbles that stick togetherand harden. Travelling at the mercy of ocean currents, these carnivorous snails

feed on floating cnidarians,such as bluebottles

and by-the-windsailors.

Violet snail

Mollusca – Gastropoda

Did you know?

Violet snails are adapted tolife on the sea surface. When

viewed from above, the dark purplecolouration of the shell blends

with the surrounding water and

when viewed from below, the lightercolour blends with the sky. This

type of camouflage is known ascountershading.

P h o t o : C l

a y B r y c e



Turban snail




Turban snails arefound living in rock pools and

on shallow reefs along the WesternAustralian coastline. As a protection frompredators, the turban’s body can be pulled

inside the shell and its aperture closed bya shelly trap door called the operculum.After the turban’s death, these trap doorsmay be found washed up onto the beach

– in the tropics some verycolourful ones are

called cat’s eyes.

Turban snail


Did you know?

You may notice scars onthe outside surfaces of some

turban shells. These are madeby horse shoe limpets that

attach themselves to the shell tofeed on the turban’s mucus andbody wastes.

P h o t o : S

a m B r i d

g w o o d



Cone shell




Cones live under rocksor coral boulders, and many

species bury themselves in the sandwith just their siphons extended likesnorkels. The water sucked in through

their siphon carries oxygen as well as theodour of prey, such as another mollusc,worm or a small fish. The cones can thenrapidly harpoon their prey using a hollow,

barbed tooth loaded withvenom. Once the

prey is paralysedit is usually

swallowed

whole.

Cone shell


Did you know?

Although not all cones aredangerous to humans, it is bestto treat them with caution. Mollusc

and worm-eating cones can inflicta painful sting but the venom of

fish-eating cones can cause a humanto suffer breathing difficulties,

paralysis or even death!

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a m B r i d

g w o o d



Baler shell




Buried in the sand during the day,baler shells emerge at night to search

for food. These large carnivorous (animal-eating) gastropods smother their prey

with a large muscular foot and use theirmuscular rasping tongue (radula) andjaws to devour prey such as abalone.

Baler shell


Did you know?Baler shells were highly

valued by Aborigines as storageand serving containers for food

and water.

P h o t o : D

a v i d F a

i r c l o u g h



Limpet




Most limpet species have acone-shaped shell and a muscular foot,

with which they cling tightly to the reef orto other hard substrates. Grazing on algae

at high tide, limpets generally return toexactly the same place where they lefttheir mark on the rock at low-tide.

Limpet


Did you know?Look carefully on the rocks to

see if you can see the scars ormarks left behind by limpets that

haven’t yet returned after feeding.

P h o t o : C a

r i n a G e

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Abalone




The ear-shaped shellof an abalone is hard and rough

on the outside to protect the animalfrom predators, and smooth and shiny onthe inside to protect the soft body from

damage. Water is drawn in near the frontof the shell, passes through the gills,and leaves through the row of respiratoryholes near the edge of the shell. Abalone

are herbivores – they feedon algae mainly at

night and hold ontightly to the

rocks during

the day.

Abalone


Did you know?

An abalone does not have ablood-clotting agent and can

therefore bleed to death if it isdamaged or injured when being removed from a reef.

P h o t o :

A n t h o

n y H a r t



Sea hare




Sometimes dark slimyblobs wash up onto beaches

during late summer and throughoutautumn. These blobs are actually seahares – a type of mollusc closely related

to sea slugs or nudibranchs. Grazing onalgae, their black, brown or purple colour(dark mottled green in some other species)acts as perfect camouflage as they slowly

crawl over the seabed.Sea hares only

live for about ayear – dying

after laying

their long tangledstrings of eggs.

Sea hare


Did you know?

Be careful if handling seahares – when threatened, these

molluscs may excrete colourlesstoxic slime from the skin and a

cloud of purple ink that can irritatethe eyes. Some species can even killa dog if eaten or even mouthed!

P h o t o : G

i l b e r t S

t o k m a n



Cowry shell




Popular with shellcollectors due to their polished

colourful shells, cowries generally liveon sheltered inshore reefs. Young cowrieshave a fragile shell that is obviously

spirally coiled. However, this shape ishidden as the last coil of the shell wrapsaround and hides the juvenile whorls.Cowries feed mostly at night, mainly on

sponges. There are morethan 60 species

living along the Western

Australian

coast.

Cowry shell


Did you know?

The shiny adult shell is due toa glassy layer that is secreted by

the mantle flaps. These flaps slideup to cover the sides and top of the

shell, only withdrawing when dangerthreatens. When the animal dies thisshiny glaze is lost over time.

P h o t o : A

n n S t o r r i e



Periwinkle




Various species of periwinkles – dark blue, black,

brown or grey – live on rocks in thesplash zone above the high tide mark.They can survive for long periods out of

the water due to the horny, tight-fitting trap door, or operculum, which retainsthe moisture within the shell. Periwinklesgraze mainly on microscopic algae

and diatom films on rocksurfaces.

Periwinkle


Did you know?Most periwinkles reproduce by

releasing egg capsules into thewater, which form planktonic

larvae before settling on the reef.

P h o t o :

M i c h e

l l e D y e r



Cuttlebone




Cuttlebones arethe internal shells of cuttles

(or cuttlefish). A cuttlebone largelyconsists of tiny gas-filled chambersthat help the cuttle move up and down

through the water column, particularly atnight when they ascend to catch surface-dwelling fish. Like their relatives, squidand octopus, cuttles have a relatively

short lifespan of 18 monthsto two years.

Cuttlebone

Mollusca – Cephalopoda

Did you know?Some cuttlebones have teeth

marks on them that may indicatewhat marine creature killed and

ate the cuttle – a dolphin, sea lion,shark or large bony fish.

P h o t o : S

h a n n o n

C o n w a y



Ram’s horn shell




The ram’s horn shellis actually the spiral internal

skeleton of a small squid-like animal,Spirula spirula, that lives in the deep openocean. The shell, divided into small gas-

filled chambers, helps the Spirula to moveup to the ocean surface at night.

Ram’s horn shell

Mollusca – Cephalopoda

Did you know?When the animal dies, the shellfloats to the surface and often

becomes a raft on which othercreatures, such as goosebarnacles, attach themselves.

P h o t o :

S a n d y

C l a r k e



Chiton



Chitons orpolyplacophorans, are adapted

for life on rocky surfaces in the wave-washed intertidal zone. They are oval inshape, having eight separate shell plates

(resembling and functioning as armour)that overlap to protect the chiton’s back.A tough, scaly tissue called the girdlesurrounds this shell. Lacking eyes and

tentacles, these vegetariansuse their radula

(rasping tongue)to scrape

algae off

rocks.

Chiton

Mollusca – Polyplacophora

Did you know?Normally clinging tightly to

rocks with its broad muscularfoot, a chiton can roll up into a

ball to protect itself if dislodgedby a bird, crab or fish.



Mussel



A mussel is a bivalvemollusc – it has a shell with

two halves (valves) joined by a hinge.Of varied colours, mussels generallyoccur in groups, attached by tough

flexible threads (the byssus or beard)to hard surfaces such as jetty pylons.With different species living in estuaries,oceans and coastal waters, mussels filter

food particles from the waterdrawn in through

their large gills.

Mussel

Mollusca – Bivalvia

Did you know?Mussels can act as a substrate

for other animals, such asbarnacles, that attach themselves

to their shell valves.



Scallop



There are many typesof scallops and some are very

colourful. True scallops and saucerscallops spend most of their time on theocean floor, but are strong swimmers. They

swim by expelling jets of water – forceablyclosing their two shell valves and thenopening them quickly to take in more water.Fan scallops are generally attached to

hard surfaces or seagrassesby tough flexible

threads called abyssus.

Scallop


Did you know?Scallops generally have many

small eyes arranged around theedge of the mantle lobes that

line the shell valves.



Pipi



Pipis or surf clams are small,wedge-shaped and sometimes colourful

bivalves that live just below the sandsurface in the surf zone of beaches. As the

tide goes out, you may see them moving down the beach and burrowing back intothe sand after being dislodged by waves.

Pipi


Did you know?

Sometimes you will find a pipishell on the beach with a neatly

drilled hole. This drill hole wasmade by the rasping tongue orradula of a predatory sea snail asit fed on the pipi’s body.



Razor clam



The shells of theselarge triangular bivalves have

a razor-sharp edge that protrudes justabove the shallow sand or seagrassbeds, posing a hazard to bare feet.

Razor clams anchor themselves in thesand by attaching their byssal threads (orbeard) to buried stones. Their relativelyfragile shells are then protected, and the

clams are still able to drawin water for their

oxygen and foodrequirements.

Razor clam


Did you know?Razor clams (also known as

razor fish, razor shells, penshells and fan shells) are eaten

in some parts of the world.



Sea jelly



Sometimes referred toas jellyfish, the sea jelly is not a

fish at all as it lacks vertebrae. Sea jellieshave a bowl or bell-shaped body, fringedwith tentacles and oral arms. Largely at the

mercy of the oceans currents, sea jelliesdrift in the oceans, feeding on plankton andsmall fish. There are many different kindsof sea jellies; some more common ones

include the moon jelly andspotted jelly.

Sea jelly

Cnidaria – Scyphozoa

Did you know?Sea jellies have specialised

stinging cells called nematocyststhat aid in defence and the

capture of prey.



Bluebottle



The bluebottle is nota single animal but a colony of

animals that depend on each other forsurvival. Some animals are specialisedfor feeding, digestion and reproduction,

and one polyp (or animal) produces thegas-filled float. Drifting on the oceancurrents, feeding on small fish and otheranimals, the main tentacle can range up

to 10 m in length.

Bluebottle

Cnidaria – Hydrozoa

Did you know?Warning – even a bluebottle

washed up on the beach caninflict a nasty sting!



Coral



Corals are coloniesof tiny tubular animals called

polyps and are generally classified aseither hard or soft corals. The hard coralpolyp secretes a cup-shaped limestone

skeletal case that supports and protectsthe soft body of the coral polyp. When thepolyp dies, the hard skeleton remains, andsometimes washes ashore. Coral polyps

feed on small zooplankton,such as copepods

and tiny marinelarvae.

Coral

Cnidaria – Anthozoa

Did you know?

Reef building coral polypsare in a symbiotic (mutuallybeneficial) partnership with

zooxanthellae – tiny, single-celledalgae contained in the cells of the

polyps. The zooxanthellae providenutrients for the coral polyps and inreturn the coral protects the algae.



Acorn barnacle



Acorn barnacles havefree-swimming larvae that attach

themselves head-down onto hardsurfaces, including rocks, jetties, boathulls and even other marine animals and

plants. As they grow, their external shellbecomes a series of plates, and jointedlegs develop into feathery appendagesthat trap plankton for food.

Did you know?

Barnacles are hermaphrodites– they have both male and

female sexual organs. Barnaclescan fertilise one another by using

an extremely long penis or, if separated by long distances, theycan fertilise themselves!

Acorn barnacle

Arthropoda – Cirripedia



Goose barnacle



Goose barnaclesare distinguished from acorn

barnacles by having a tough butflexible stalk. As larvae they are able todrift and attach themselves to various

objects, including ram’s horn shells,cuttlebones and marine debris. Due totheir mobile lifestyle, goose barnaclesare found throughout Australian waters

and some have a worldwidedistribution.

Goose barnacle

Arthropoda – Cirripedia

Did you know?

The goose barnacle gets itsname from a European legend,

which states that barnaclesdrifting ashore attached to logs

were the egg cases of geese. Geesemigrated south each winter and didnot appear to nest on land.



Crab



If you aren’t lucky enough tosee a crab alive, you may find part of

their hard shell or exoskeleton (externalskeleton) on the beach. The exoskeleton

of crustaceans serves as a suit of armourand helps protect them from predators.The animal must periodically shed theirexoskeleton to grow – a process known

as moulting.

Crab

Arthropoda – Malacostraca

Did you know?Some crabs can spend long periods of time out of the water.

They keep their gills moist inspecial gill chambers and extractoxygen from the air.



Tube worm



This twisted mass of calciumcarbonate (limestone) found washed up

on the beach was once home for a tubeworm. The worm builds the limestone

tube for protection against predators. If threatened or disturbed they will retractinto the tube, closing their trap door oroperculum behind them.

Tube worm

Annelida – Polychaete

Did you know?When alive, a tube worm

has elaborate tentacles tofilter the water for oxygen and

food, such as plankton andother organic matter.



Sea urchin



Known as a sea egg,this hollow-shaped ball is

actually the internal skeleton or testof a sea urchin. When alive, the test iscovered with spines, which help the

urchin to move around, as well as protectit from predators. The spines break off when the urchin dies and the empty testswash up on the beach.

Sea urchin

Echinodermata – Echinoidea

Did you know?

Sea urchins are grazers,feeding on encrusting organisms such as sponges and

algae. Their mouth is in the centreon the underside and contains a

set of jaws and horny teeth, namedAristole’s lantern.



Sea star



Also known as starfish,these often brightly coloured

echinoderms consist of five or more armsradiating out from a central disc. The mouthand tube feet are located on the underside

of its body. Sea stars can be herbivorous(plant-eating), carnivorous (animal-eating)or omnivorous (plant- and animal-eating)feeders. The stomach is pushed outside

their own body through themouth to surround

the food. Oncethe food is

digested, the

stomach ispulled backinto thebody of the

sea star.

Sea star

Echinodermata – Asteroidea

Did you know?

Many echinoderms are ableto regrow lost or damaged

parts of their bodies, such as anarm. Some species can even grow

back a complete new body froma single arm, if part of the centraldisc is attached.



Sea wrack

The piles of algae and seagrassesfound on the beach are known as sea

wrack. The sea wrack is an assortmentof seagrasses, algae, shells, and the

remains of animals such as spongesand sea urchins. This detritus (deadand decaying material) provides a primefeeding place for swarms of amphipods,insects, larvae and other fauna. These

tiny creatures play a large role inbreaking down organic matter and

recycling nutrients – and are animportant food source for

fish and birds.



Algae(seaweed)

Though widely considered assimple marine plants, seaweeds are

actually plant-like organisms calledalgae. They do not have true stems,

leaves, flowers or fruits, or roots, instead

anchoring themselves to rocks by root-like holdfasts. They form the basis of thefood chain in the marine environment,using energy from sunlight to make food.Although seaweeds are divided into three

colour groups (green, brown and red),they are not always true to the group, as

classification is based on their historyand type of reproduction, rather

than colour.



Green algaePhylum: Chlorophyta

Green algae arecharacteristically green, although

colour can range from yellowy-greento almost black. They exist as both

large attached algae and free-floating

microscopic (planktonic) algae, in bothfreshwater and marine environments.Marine attached green algae are commonlyfound on shallow rocky shorelines wherethe sunlight penetrates the water easily.

It is thought that all terrestrial plantsevolved from green algae, mainly due

to the presence of chlorophylls aand b, which gives them the

green colouration.



Sea lettuce

Ulva, or sea lettuce

as it is more commonlyknown, is named for its appearanceand the fact that it is edible – it is used

as a food source in many countries insalads, soups and other dishes. This alga

grows in intertidal and subtidal waters,and is commonly found along rocky shoresand groynes. Ulva uses its small holdfast toattach to a variety of substrates including

reef, rubble, shells, nets and ropes. It isalso seen washed ashore, as it is easilydislodged and can be torn during

storms. Sea lettuce is an importantfood source for marine life,

including abalone.



Dead man’sfingers

Found throughout southern Australia,dead man’s fingers is a large dark

green alga with cylindrical branches thatregularly branch into two. They can appearfuzzy underwater due to the presenceof fine hairs but actually have a firm butspongy texture, which feels like velvet.

Dead man’s fingers belong to a groupof algae referred to as Codium.



Velvet spongeweed

Velvet sponge weed also belongsto the group of green algae referred

to as Codium. Like dead man’s fingers,

it has a firm but spongy texture thatfeels like velvet, hence the name. Velvetsponge weed however has an irregularshape which resembles a small mound,generally less than 10 cm high. This alga

is widespread but it is primarily found inwarmer seas. Another similar alga

is the velvet golf ball.



Brown algae contain most of thelarge conspicuous algae seen on

rocky shorelines and in shallow waters.Brown algae are the heaviest and largest

seaweeds, and the fastest growing of allthe algae. Almost wholly restricted to themarine environment, they are generallyshades of brown, except for some thatcan appear blue underwater. Nearly all

species of brown algae remain fastenedon rocky or other firm habitats by a

holdfast, although some speciesare free-floating.

Brown algaePhylum: HeterokontophytaClass: Phaeophyceae



Kelp

Kelp is a common brownalga that predominantly grows on

limestone reefs and other hard surfaces.It can also form large beds that become

home to numerous invertebrates and is

an important food source for sea urchins,buffalo bream and other animals. Oftenwashed ashore after rough seas, it alsoforms a large component of sea wrack. Kelpand other brown algae contain a gelatinous

substance called algin that is widely usedas a thickening or stabilising agent in

products such as ice cream, saladdressing, pet food and

toothpaste.



Sargassum

Found throughout Australianwaters, Sargassum grows on

subtidal reefs and in rock pools.Sargassum has a distinctive stem-like

structure with leaf-like branches and

can generally be identified by the smallbubble-like floats. However, due to anannual growth cycle, reproduction anddecay, they won’t always have all theseidentifying features as they often die off

around summer. Sargassum is a Spanishterm for ‘floating seaweed’ – as the

small bubble-like floats allow thisseaweed to be suspended in

the water column.



Funnel weed

Funnel weed or peacock’s tail isfound along the Western Australian

coastline, usually in sheltered or semi-exposed locations, in intertidal rock pools

and subtidal areas. The fan-shaped frondscreate a funnel shape, giving this alga itsname. As mature plants, the fronds oftendivide forming a cluster of branches growing to about 15 cm high. Funnel weed is the only

brown alga in Australia that accumulatesa thin chalky coating on one surface,

known as calcification. This processis more common in green and

red algae.



Red algae are the most numerous of thethree seaweed groups but are relatively

small and not easily seen, so are notnoticed as often as green and brown algae.Red algae are generally the most abundantalgae in deep water as they can toleratelower light conditions than their relatives.

Red algae come in a variety of forms andtheir texture may vary from fine and

delicate to hard and crusty.

Red algaePhylum: Rhodophyta



Slimy bags

Found along southern Australia insubtidal areas to 20 m deep, slimy

bags attaches to reef and rubble with

a holdfast. Resembling a bunch of elongated balloons, they often grow in acluster to about 15 cm high. The scientificname Gloiosaccion literally translates to‘glue sacks’. If you find one washed up

on the beach, break it open and youwill find a thick slimy substance – it

is thought that this substancemay deter herbivores (plant-

eating animals).



Jelly weed

Common on rocky reefs, this red algais often washed ashore after storms.

Similar to the Irish moss found in Britain,jelly weed was once collected by ourcolonial settlers, and then boiled. Theliquid created was used to make jelliesand blancmange (milk pudding).

Carrageenan and agar can be found intheir cell walls, which are thickening or

stabilising agents. This means theydissolve in water and will set at

room temperature.



Epiphytic algae

Some species of algae live on otherplants – these are known as epiphytes.

Epiphytes are generally fast growing andcan appear to dominate some ecosystems,particularly seagrass beds. However, theyare a normal part of the environment

and only become troublesome whenexcess nutrients cause them to bloom,at which stage they can damage the

host plant by smothering it orcompeting for light.



Seagrasses are marineflowering plants that can live

underwater. Unlike algae, they aretrue flowering plants with leaves,

roots, flowers, seeds and underground

horizontal stems called rhizomes. They arehighly specialised and have adapted to thesoft sediments of coastal and estuarineenvironments. Seagrasses are extremelyimportant as they stabilise sandy sea

floors, provide habitat including nurseryareas for juvenile fish and are an

important food source for somemarine mammals, including

dugongs.

SeagrassPhylum: Magnoliophyta



Paddleweed

Found throughout most of Australia,paddleweed is easily recognised by

its oval leaves (with obvious veins) andshort stems. Growing in shallow sandyareas, this seagrass doesn’t form largebeds like strapweed or wireweed, butoften grows in the gaps between them.

Generally reaching no more than 5 cmhigh, paddleweed will often be the first

to grow in patches created by stormsor other disturbances.



Strapweed

Strapweed or Posidonia is the onlycommon seagrass in the Perth region,

that appears ‘grass-like’. Growing from

rhizomes that spread just below thesurface of the sand, strapweed createsdense and extensive seagrass meadows.Seeds float to the surface during spring before sinking to the ocean floor to

germinate. Strapweed often sheds itsleaves each year, which are often seen

floating on the surface and washedup onto the beach.



Fibre ball

The fibre ball comes from a seagrasscalled Posidonia or strapweed, which

has ribbon-like leaves. The seagrass fibre

balls are formed when the leaves breakoff in winter storms and get tossed aroundby waves and currents. This causes thefibre from the decaying leaves to tangletogether. In the early

1900

s, fibre fromstrapweed was collected for its high

cellulose content and was used in themanufacture of suits, explosives

and household products.



Wireweed

Along with strapweed,

wireweed is one of the moredominant forms of seagrass in the

Perth region. Found throughout southernAustralia, wireweed forms extensive beds in

shallow sandy areas. Its woody stalks providehomes to epiphytes and invertebrates, suchas bryozoans. There are only two species of wireweed found in the Perth region, bothof which are found only in Australia. The

southern wireweed (Amphibolis antarctica) has relatively short leaves that are

generally slightly twisted, whereasGriffith’s wireweed (A. griffithii)

has longer, straightleaves.



The hooked base of a wireweed seedling is known as a comb anchor. When this

seagrass reproduces, the seeds germinateand remain attached to the plant for up to12 months, until they are the size of asmall seedling with only a couple leaves.When the seedling is released, the hook

at the base of the plant is used toattach itself to the sea floor – but

sometimes they do not attachand are washed ashore.

Comb anchor



This sausage jelly (as they are sometimescalled) is actually the egg sac of a certaintype of sand or moon snail. This snail

generally buries itself in the sand,just below the surface, feeding on

bivalves that also live in the sand.

Sausage jelly



Port Jacksonshark egg case

This tough, dark brown spiral egg case islaid by the female Port Jackson shark. Thefemale shark uses her mouth to wedge theegg case into a rock crevice, where it canstay for up to 12 months until the 24 cmpup (juvenile shark) emerges. Shark and

skate egg cases are sometimes referredto as a mermaid’s purse.



Catshark egg case

The catshark is a nocturnal shark, rarelyseen by divers. They lay their eggs on

the ocean floor, using the coiled tendrilsat the end of the egg case to attach it tofixed objects. The developing shark lives

off the yolk sac but once born the sharkmust fend for itself. There are 21 species

of catsharks found along WesternAustralia’s coast, so it is hard to

determine what species (or type)of catshark the egg case has

come from.



Whelk egg case

This series of dried up egg capsuleswere laid by the giant conch ( Syrinx

aruanus ) – the largest gastropod speciesin the world. The first flat egg case (withenclosed eggs) is stuck to a rock or

hard substrate by ‘dobs’ of mucous andsubsequent egg cases are fastened on

one side to the one below, so that theegg mass stands upright. When the

eggs in each case hatch, theycrawl out as tiny snails

(about 2 cm long).



Bobtail lizard

The bobtail or bluetongue lizard is anomnivorous (plant- and animal-eating)

skink, which likes to shelter under deadplants or rubbish and in burrows. Relying on the warmth of its surroundings tomaintain body heat, it takes shelter at

night and basks in the sun during theday. If you come across a bobtail lizard,

don’t be surprised if it hisses and opensits mouth displaying its blue tongue

– it is just trying to frighten off apotential predator!





Seals andsea lions

Beaches provide an important haul-out(resting) area for seals and sea lions. In

Perth you may be lucky enough to seeAustralian sea lions (which are only foundin Australia) and visiting fur seals. For the

health and safety of these animals, neverfeed them or get too close. If the animal

seems injured or distressed, contactthe Department of Environment and

Conservation immediately.



Following winter storms you maybe lucky enough to help save a baby

loggerhead turtle that has been washedashore after travelling south in the LeeuwinCurrent. After leaving its beach nest, thesea turtle hatchling tries to avoid predators,

such as birds, foxes, large fish and sharks.After making it this far, this endangered

species now needs your help, so pleaseplace it in a bucket of seawater

and immediately contact theDepartment of Environment

and Conservation.

Documents

Beachcombers Field Guide (Western Australia)