Spider crabs....WOW!

westnature · #1 (**permalink**) 20-03-2009, 08:00 AM

This is my first post, so good morning everyone and hello!!

I recently moved to dorset (from Kent) and am in a frenzy over my new "discoveries"......which this week are including... (you have to say that bit in a swedish accent!) .....slipper limpets ......and just yesterday.....a moulted spider crab shell on the beach......and......the best one so far......a heart urchin, which I understand have been sadly beaching in large numbers in brittany over the last few weeks......how it got to Weymouth i will never know...!

So anyway, my question is this......have any of you had any new discoveries lately, and if not, what have been the ones in the past that have really excited you?

xx

NickCantle · #2 (**permalink**) 20-03-2009, 01:24 PM

Hello

I don't really get many chances to go out beachcombing as much as I would like, but there are people here who do. Your finds sound interesting- there's so much to learn about marine life, and it seems to be quite a mysterious world, in a good way!

Nick

ron1863 · #3 (**permalink**) 20-03-2009, 02:50 PM

Hi Westnature and welcome to WAB. Like Nick, I don't often get the opportunity to to the coast, as much as I love it. Good luck with the beachcombing though.

westnature · #4 (**permalink**) 20-03-2009, 07:10 PM

thanks for saying hello!

Geoff F · #5 (**permalink**) 20-03-2009, 08:35 PM

Heart Urchins are found all around the Channel. I have never found them in any numbers and slightly offshore in deeper water, say 60ft plus; mostly during the summer.

By spider crab do you mean the large edible version? They will be moving inshore in great numbers soon (peaking May-June). I'm in Devon and until recently I used to catch them commercially. Doset is also a good spot for them.