Backyard Zoology · 21 June 2018
2018-06-21T20:06:54+10:00
https://www.facebook.com/backyardzoology/videos/810640972455547/

A couple of pro tips for those of you keen to get out rock pooling this weekend (otherwise known as: don't make the same mistakes that I did).

1. If you're wanting to film critters take a tripod. You won't have anything to balance yourself or your camera and it's probably windy and that will move you around and you'll lose focus both mentally and through the lens and as much as you'd like to get down on your hands and knees you know there is no way in hell that you will be able to get back up again and who wants to be rolling around on the rocks crying for help in front of a bunch of surfers? It's embarassing. Trust me.

2. Don't wear your brand new, not worn in yet super skinny jeans on your not super skinny body. You won't be able to get down on your hands and knees and if you do you won't be able to get back up and you'll end up rolling around on the rocks crying for help but not being able to kick your legs because they will be permanently straightened trapped within the crisp new denim. Trust me.

This species of little stars - only up to a couple of centremetres in diameter - can be easily found in intertidal rock pools - especially the shallow ones. They move themselves along the rocks using their tiny tube feet and graze on algae. These are the little feet you can see wriggling around in the video  and not only assist in movement but in bringing food to the mouth. Now I need to say no sea stars were hurt in the making of this video. Once the sea star righted itself it continued on its way, slowly moving and feeding around the pool.

Dwarf Cushion Sea Star
Sandon Point

#sandonpoint #seastar #cushionseastar #coalcoast #backyardzoology