Rocky shore

Rocky shore

A rocky shore is an intertidal area on seacoasts where solid rock predominates. Rocky shores are biologically rich environments, and make the ideal natural laboratory for studying intertidal ecology and other biological processes. An interesting example of a rocky shore is the tsingy outcrops on the west coast of Madagascar, where the rock formation is dramatic and often consists of one gigantic piece of rock. This formation occurs where the Madagascar dry deciduous forests meet the ocean. Rocky shores are areas of bedrock exposed between the extreme high and extreme low tide levels on the seashore.

The rocky shores around the Mediterranean Sea are also very rich with life.

New Zealand's rocky shores around the Auckland area are also very interesting. Many rock pools were created during the violent eruptions that formed the shore eons ago. A variety of species are found in the area, including:
* Cushion star,
* Hermit crab,
* Rock crab,
* Cat's eye snail,
* Red beadlet anemone,
* Black nerita snail,
* Brown rock whelk,
* Kina (sea urchin),
* Eleven-armed sea star


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