Splash Zone Rocky Shore Animals

A giant green anemone is never alone—it has algae plants living inside it. The algae have a nice safe place to live where they're protected from snails and other grazers. The anemones get nutrients as well as some of their green color from the algae in their guts.

As the waves crash against the shore, mussels and snails are washed into an anemone's waiting tentacles. The anemone eats the animals, then spits out the nice clean shells. Empty snail shells become homes for hermit crabs.