Click on the first letter of the common name.

British Invertebrates - marine

Species 1 - 16 of 16
Thumbnail for Common brittlestar (Ophiothrix fragilis)
Common brittlestar (Ophiothrix fragilis)
Like all brittlestars, the common brittlestar has five long, slender arms, which radiate out from a central disc. The mouth...  More
Thumbnail for Common cockle (Cerastoderma edule)
Common cockle (Cerastoderma edule)
This well-known edible cockle has a solid shell, consisting of two valves, which feature prominent ribs and concentric...  More
Thumbnail for Common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis)
Common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis)
The cephalopods (meaning 'head-footed'), a group of molluscs containing the octopuses, squid and cuttlefish, are probably the most...  More
Thumbnail for Common hermit crab (Pagurus bernhardus)
Common hermit crab (Pagurus bernhardus)
Despite the common name, hermit crabs are related more closely to lobsters than to crabs. They lack a hard carapace, and adopt the...  More
Thumbnail for Common jellyfish (Aurelia aurita)
Common jellyfish (Aurelia aurita)
This is the most common jellyfish on British shores. The body is a saucer shaped 'bell', which is colourless except for 4 obvious...  More
Thumbnail for Common limpet (Patella vulgata)
Common limpet (Patella vulgata)
The common limpet is a well-known seashore species. It has a conical shell, the outer surface of which is greyish-white. Shells...  More
Thumbnail for Common lobster (Homarus gammarus)
Common lobster (Homarus gammarus)
The common lobster is a very large and commercially important species. The upper surface is dark blue in colour with yellowish...  More
Thumbnail for Common mussel (Mytilus edulis)
Common mussel (Mytilus edulis)
The common mussel has a roughly triangular shell, which is bluish, purplish or brown in colour and covered with a black outer...  More
Thumbnail for Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris)
Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris)
The cephalopods (meaning ‘head-footed) are a group of molluscs that contain the octopuses, squid and cuttlefish, and are probably...  More
Thumbnail for Common prawn (Palaemon serratus)
Common prawn (Palaemon serratus)
The common prawn is a well-known swimming crustacean, which is pinkish-brown in colour and features reddish spots and lines. The...  More
Thumbnail for Common shore crab (Carcinus maenas)
Common shore crab (Carcinus maenas)
The shore crab is one of the commonest crabs on the shore, and anyone who has gone rock-pooling is likely to have encountered one....  More
Thumbnail for Common shrimp (Crangon crangon)
Common shrimp (Crangon crangon)
The common shrimp, also known as the brown shrimp, is cryptically coloured; it is brown and covered with tiny flecks. Although most...  More
Thumbnail for Common starfish (Asterias rubens)
Common starfish (Asterias rubens)
The common starfish has 5 arms (although individuals may occasionally have just 4 or as many as 6). The colour varies from red...  More
Thumbnail for Common whelk (Buccinum undatum)
Common whelk (Buccinum undatum)
This large, common whelk has a stout, yellowish-brown shell with lighter and darker spiral areas. It has 7-8 whorls, and a large...  More
Thumbnail for Compass jellyfish (Chrysaora hysoscella)
Compass jellyfish (Chrysaora hysoscella)
The compass jellyfish has a saucer-shaped bell, with 32 semi-circular lobes around the fringe, each one with a brown spot. On the...  More 0 Videos
Thumbnail for Curled octopus (Eledone cirrhosa)
Curled octopus (Eledone cirrhosa)
The cephalopods (meaning 'head-footed'), a group of molluscs that contain the octopuses, squid and cuttlefish, are probably the...  More
Species 1 - 16 of 16