Sun’s out, fun’s out, and everyone’s headed to the beach! From building sandcastles and swimming to relaxing under an umbrella, vacationers find plenty of fun things to do by the seaside. But we’re not the only beach-lovers out there. These 7 amazing creatures call North American beaches home.
#1: Sea Turtles
These gentle giants can live for up to 150 years. They’re some of the oldest reptiles on Earth, and they’ve been around for over 100 million years! They help keep beaches clean by eating marine critters that humans consider pests. They can also migrate on journeys thousands of miles long.
#2: Jellyfish
Found in all oceans around the world, these gelatinous creatures are about 95% water. They’re one of the only creatures that doesn’t have a brain! They can be beautiful to behold, but watch out for their painful (and sometimes life-threatening) sting.
#3: Crabs
When it comes to mealtime, crabs know how to go with the flow. Most crab species are omnivores who eat both plants and meat. They are also opportunistic feeders, which means they hunt for live prey as well as scavenging for dead prey. If it’s available, they’ll eat it!
#4: Starfish
Starfish aren’t fish at all! They’re actually echinoderms, like sea urchins and sea cucumbers. Starfish are predators that eat clams, oysters, mussels, and other shellfish. They can live for up to 35 years and regenerate a limb if they lose one!
#5: Horseshoe Crabs
These prehistoric creatures have been around for over 400 million years. That means they shared the earth with dinosaurs for over 330 million years! They’re not actually crabs, but they’re related to spiders and scorpions. Oddly enough, their blood is used to make medical products!
#6: Shrimp
Shrimp are like tiny helicopters. Unlike many aquatic creatures, they can swim both backwards and forwards! Shrimp are also an important part of the marine food chain. They’re food for many important larger organisms, including humans! Shrimp boil, anyone?
#7: Sand Dollars
Believe it or not, these beige discs are alive! And they’re not as boring as they seem. As larva, they can clone themselves when they sense a predator nearby! As adults, they spend most of their time munching on tiny bits of organic matter in the water. They filter out debris as they eat, which helps keep the ocean clean.
So next time you visit the beach, keep an eye out and your camera ready. You might be surprised by one of these fascinating creatures! Which of animals is your favorite? Click on the blue button below to vote! 👓