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Tide pool

A tide pool or rock pool is a shallow pool of seawater that forms on the rocky intertidal shore. These pools typically range from a few inches to a few feet deep and a few feet across.[1] Many of these pools exist as separate bodies of water only at low tide, as seawater gets trapped when the tide recedes. Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon. A tidal cycle is usually about 25 hours and consists of one or two high tides and two low tides.[2]

"Rockpool" redirects here. For other uses, see Rockpool (disambiguation).

Tide pool habitats are home to especially adaptable animals, like snails, barnacles, mussels, anemones, urchins, sea stars, crustaceans, seaweed, and small fish.[1] Inhabitants must be able to cope with constantly changing water levels, water temperatures, salinity, and oxygen content.[2] At low tide, there is the risk of predators like seabirds. These pools have engaged the attention of naturalists and marine biologists, as well as philosophical essayists: John Steinbeck wrote in The Log from the Sea of Cortez, "It is advisable to look from the tide pool to the stars and then back to the tide pool."[2]

The supralittoral zone or splash zone: area above the high-tide mark, which is virtually a environment. Occasionally gets splashed, but never gets covered by the ocean.[3]

terrestrial

The intertidal fringe: area around the high-tide mark.

The intertidal or littoral zone: area between the high and low-tide marks. Can be further divided into high, mid, and low intertidal zones, which are explained below in more depth.

[3]

The sublittoral or subtidal zone: area below the low-tide mark.

A starburst anemone (Anthopleura sola) consuming a by-the-wind-sailor (Velella velella), a blue hydrozoan

A starburst anemone (Anthopleura sola) consuming a by-the-wind-sailor (Velella velella), a blue hydrozoan

Postelsia palmaeformis at low tide in a tide pool

Photo of speckled rocks, and various irregularly-shaped animals

Sea star, Pisaster ochraceus consuming a mussel in tide pools

Photo of five-legged approximately radially-symmetric animal lying on rock with shelled animal in its mouth, which is in the center of its body

Sea anemones, Anthopleura sola engaged in a battle for territory

Sea anemones, Anthopleura sola engaged in a battle for territory

Intertidal fish

List of British Isles rockpool life

Rocky shore

Sydney inter-tidal rock pools

Tidal swimming pools in Britain