Selsey West Beach

West Beach, SZ845929; 50° 43.85N, 0° 48.35W, lies within the Selsey Bill and Hounds rMCZ (see Seasearch and IFCA) and consists of an upper shore of shingle backed by a low cliff (with paleolithic remains) leading to sand with exposures of clay, the Brackelsham Beds (see also Collecting British Fossils).
These show as low humps with various amounts of animals and algae covering them. Holes bored by piddocks are present. The sand in the surrounding area has occasional algae, hydroids, anemones and worms visible.

Species found include:
Porifera

Sponges etc. on an exposed piece of clay.
Sponges etc. on an exposed piece of clay.

Amphilectus fucorum
Halchondria panicea

Cnidaria
Anemones
Actinia equina

Beadlet anemone, Actinia equina and seasquirt Molgula manhatenensis.
Beadlet anemone, Actinia equina and seasquirt Molgula manhatenensis.
Beadlet Anemone Actinia equina at base of clay exposure.
Beadlet Anemone Actinia equina at base of clay exposure.

Sagartia troglodytes
Anemonia sulcata

Snake locks anemone Anemonia viridis, contracted.
Snake locks anemone Anemonia viridis, contracted.
Snake locks anemone Anemonia viridis
Snake locks anemone Anemonia viridis
Snake locks anemone Anemonia viridis
Snake locks anemone Anemonia viridis
Snake locks anemone Anemonia viridis
Snake locks anemone Anemonia viridis

Cereus pedunculatus

Daisy anemone Cereus pedunculatus in sand between clay outcrops.
Daisy anemone Cereus pedunculatus in sand between clay outcrops.

Hydroids:
Dynamena pumila

Hydroid Dynamena pumila on a clay outcrop.
Hydroid Dynamena pumila on a clay outcrop.
Hydroid Sertularia distans on sides of pool


Sertularia argentea/cupresina

Hydroid Sertularia argentea/cupressina
Hydroid Sertularia argentea/cupressina
Hydroid Sertularia argentea/cupressina
Hydroid Sertularia argentea/cupressina

Anelida
Lanice conchelega

Sand mason worms, Lancice conchilega
Sand mason worms, Lancice conchilega

Eulalia viridis

Green-leaf worm, Eulalia viridis, hunting over seasquirts, Molgula.
Green-leaf worm, Eulalia viridis, hunting over seasquirts, Molgula.

Mollusca
Rissoa parva

Rissoa parva
Rissoa parva

Pholas dactylus
Mytilus edulis

Crustacea
Austrominius modestus
Carcinus maenas
Pagurus berhardus

Hermit crab, Pagurus bernhardus
Hermit crab, Pagurus bernhardus
Hermit crab, Pagurus bernhardus
Hermit crab, Pagurus bernhardus

Talitrus saltator

Rissoa parva and Talitrus sultator.
Rissoa parva and Talitrus sultator.

Pycnogonida
Achelia longipes

Sea sider Achelia longipes
Sea sider Achelia longipes

Bryozoa
Flustrellidra hispidus

Bryozoan Flustrelidra hispida on an alga.
Bryozoan Flustrelidra hispida on an alga.

Tunicata
Molgula manhatenensis

Tunicate, sea squirt, Molgula manhatenensis
Tunicate, sea squirt, Molgula manhatenensis

Algae
Ulva lactuca

Sea lettuce, Ulva lactuca on side of clay exposure.
Sea lettuce, Ulva lactuca on side of clay exposure.

Filamentous red
Osmundea pinnatifida

Clay outcrop with Pepper Dulse, Osmundea pinnatifida and other life.
Clay outcrop with Pepper Dulse, Osmundea pinnatifida and other life.