When people head to the beach, they normally do so to enjoy the sun, perhaps play in the sand, and swim in the waters.
Children often go hunting for crabs and shells, but rarely do people think about what other creatures may be lurking nearby or even underneath the surface.
One of the things you could enjoy doing at the beach next time you visit is to try and spot some animals that live in the sand on the beach.
There are some sand animals beaches, and crustaceans that are common, such as barnacles and mussels, then there are the more unusual and rarer species.
Do beaches really have unusual animals living in or on them?
To the naked eye, a beach could look empty and devoid of life, but the environment is ripe for a huge amount of wildlife.
When searching dunes and grassy areas near beaches for meadows wildlife you will find interesting flora and fauna, not to mention butterflies and beach sand animals. In the right environment, you may also find lizards and sand snakes during your exploration.
Some beach animals in Sand that appear on shores are very rare and specific to certain regions, while others are more common yet still unusual compared to other animals.
What animals live in the sand at the beach?
Isopods
Earlier this year, in September, Live Science reported about some of the strangest sea creatures that have found their way onto beaches around the world. These included giant squid, hairy sea monsters, and even anglerfish that normally only lurk in the deepest reaches of the ocean.
However, you don’t need to wait for a rare giant squid to wash up to see interesting wildlife. Animals that live in the sand at the beach are common and can be found in shallow and deep waters, as well as on the beach.
There are around 10,000 different species of isopods and although they are closely related to shrimp, they look more like woodlice than sea-going creatures.
Although many isopods are tiny, they can grow up to half a meter in length. Not something you want to see emerging from the sand. Fortunately, the giant versions live on the ocean floor so you can safely sun-tan.
Sand dollars
The chances are you have already seen sand dollars on a beach somewhere, but highly unlikely they were still alive.
Once sand dollars wash up on a beach they will only have minutes to live if they don’t return to the waters. Dead sand dollars are normally white from being bleached by the sun. However, when alive in their normal habitat they look quite different.
Sand dollars are normally purple and hairy. They chew their food for up to a quarter of an hour before swallowing, and they can take up to two days to digest their meals. Strangely, despite being small, they have very few predators due to them being extremely tough.
Sea lions
The US shoreline animals cover over 95,000 miles according to the National Ocean Service, but you won’t need to explore it all to find some sea lions. These creatures inhabit various spots of the US coastline all the way from Canada to Mexico.
These beautiful animals that live in sand have some interesting facts about them. They evolved from land animals that resembled bears, but now they can reach depths of 900 feet and stay underwater for up to 30 minutes.
They are very social sea sand animals that like to stay close to each other, and unusually they can also work with other sea creatures, such as dolphins, to chase down shoals of fish.
One very unusual thing about sea lions is that they have whiskers just like a cat does, and these are used to help them navigate the oceans.
Starfish
Just like sand dollars, any starfish you spot out of the water is likely to already be dead. However, they can be spotted in shallow water and pools on the beach sometimes.
Never lift a starfish out of the water, regardless of how great you think it will look on Instagram. Due to the beauty of starfish, it is perhaps surprising that they have an unusual and rather sinister way of feeding.
Starfish push their stomachs out of their body to snare prey. Enzymes are released to dissolve the unlucky catch into sludge for easy digestion. What is most frightening for other sea creatures, is that this stomach can be pushed through minuscule cracks in the shells of crustaceans to reach the soft and tasty innards.
African penguins
These penguins are now on the endangered list which doesn’t make them unusual sadly but does mean they are getting rarer.
Although African penguins can be found in more than one country, there is really only one place they can be spotted up close. For many years now, Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town, South Africa, has been one of the top beach destinations in the world simply because of these amazing seabirds.
They inhabit the rocks and sand of Boulders Beach before taking to the waters to swim and hunt. What is unusual about penguins is that they don’t use their feet to swim like many web-footed birds. They swim with their wings and use their feet to steer. They are also monogamous and mate for life or at least many years.
Long Beach Animal Care Services
Long Beach offers a variety of facilities and services that are specifically designed to promote the welfare of its animal residents.
The Long Beach Animal Care Services is responsible for overseeing all aspects of animal welfare in the city, including pet adoptions from the Long Beach Animal Shelter, licensing, and quick response to Long Beach animal emergency.
Several respectable Long Beach animal hospitals offer excellent care if your pet requires medical assistance.
Long Beach Animal Control offers a wide range of services to meet the requirements of all pet owners, including emergency care, adoptions, and regular medical care. The organization works to provide a safe and loving environment for all animals living in the city.
Summary
There are some even stranger and more unusual beach-dwelling creatures out there. It is possible to find scorpions and snakes on some beaches, but there are less worrying but unusual-looking animals at the beach, such as mudskippers too.
If you can’t reach South Africa to see the jackass penguins, no matter, because whichever beach you can visit will be sure to have something unusual living nearby.
Whatever, you may not have the opportunity to go to South Africa or other places to see beach animals, but you can definitely see them at enamelpins.com. How to achieve it? It’s very simple!
You just need to submit your favourite animal images to their design system, and their designer will turn the image into a cute animal enamel pin with exquisite craftsmanship. You can not only use them to decorate your items such as clothing, bags, hats, and more but also can be used to raise people’s awareness of caring for animals, thereby protecting animals.
Animal enamel pins are a very innovative way to protect animals, and also the greenest way to care for animals. If you have a favourite beach animal, try making animal enamel pins to transfer your love for them.
FAQs
It is a vital part of providing care and rehoming for animals in the city and is under the responsibility of Virginia Beach Animal Control.
Maintaining the health and welfare of pets in the Huntington Beach region, The Animal Hospital of Huntington Beach offers full veterinarian treatment and services.
Also read:
9 Essential Tips For A Solo Beach Vacation
