The foreshore consists of shingle, sand and exposures of the Aldwick Beds (London Clay, Division B; details can be found in the JNCC publication on the site) outcrops of silty muds and sands rich in fossils (see here), and the Sussex Biodiversity Partnership).
for the shallow sublittoral adjacent to the littoral see Bognor Rocks)
The boulders provide oases for marine life that find the rocks ideal places to live. Some live on the exposed tops of the rocks, other on the sides and beneath the overhangs. Beneath lumps of rock and clay animals can hide away. Shallow pools form moats around the boulders and provide refuges for fish and other life when the tide goes out.
Species list for this site include the following. Those found :by the Haslmere Natural History Society are marked ... *
Porifera, sponges
Halichondria panacea Breadcrumb sponge *
Amphilectus fucorumfucorum Shredded carrot sponge *
Dysidea fragilis Sponge
Cnidaria - anemones, hydroids etc
Actinia equina Beadlet anemone *
Anemonia viridis Snakelocks anemone
Dynamena pumila Hydroid *
Electra pilosa Hydroid *
Obelia geniculata Hydroid
Annelida - worms
Arenicola marina Lug worm *
Eulalia viridis Green leaf worm
Lanice conchilega Sand mason worm
Polydora ciliata tube worm *
Sabellaria alveolata Ross worm
Spirobranchus triqueter Keel worm *
Mollusca, clams, snails, limpets, sea-slugs etc
Littorina saxatilis Rough periwinkle *
Nassarius reticulatus Netted dog whelk *
Nucella lapillus Dog whelk *
Patella sp. Common limpet *
Rissoa parva Small sea snail
Calliostoma zizyphinum Painted topshell *
Gibbula cineraria Grey top shell *
Ocenebra erincea Sting winkle *
Lepidochitona cinereus a Chiton
Achanthochitona crinitus a Chiton
Nudibranch eggs
Crustaceans, crabs, hoppers, shrimps, prawns, barnacles etc
Carcinus maenas Green shore crab *
Portunmus latipes
Pillumnus hirtellus Hairy crab *
Corystes cassevelaunus Masked crab *
Crangon crangon Brown shrimp
Galathea squamifera Squat lobster
Liocarcinus latipes Swimming crab *
Maja brachydactyla Spiny spider crab *
Necora puber Velvet swimming crab
Pagurus bernhardus Common hermit crab *
Palaemon serratus Common prawn *
Palaemon elegans Shore prawn *
Pisidia longicornis Long-clawed porcelain crab
Austrominius modestus Darwin's Barnacle *
Semibalanus balanoides Common acorn barnacle *
Amphipod species hoppers *
Pycnogonida, sea spiders
Nymphon rubrum
Bryozoa - seamats
Membranipora membranacea *
Electra pilosa
Flustrellidra hispida Sea mat on serrated wrack *
Echinoderms starfish, urchins, brittlestars
Amphipholis squamata Shore Brittle star
Tunicates, sea squirts
Botrylloides leachii a star ascidian *
Clavellina lepadiforme Lightbulb squirt
Ascidiella aspersa Sea squirt
Ascidiella scabra Sea squirt
Ciona intestinalis Sea squirt
Dendrodoa grossularia Baked bean sea squirt
Molgula manhattensis Sea squirt *
Molgula citrina Sea squirt
Morchellium argus Colonial sea squirt
Piscesfishes
Lipophrys pholis Shanny *
Gobius minutus Common goby
Alage - seaweeds
Greens
Ulva prolifera a gut weed *
Ulva lactuca Sea lettuce *
Cladophora rupestris Green branched weed *
Chaetomorpha melagonium Glaucous brick weed
Bryopsis sp. Mossy feather weed *
Browns
Dictyota dichotoma Brown fan weed Asperococcus fistulosus Sausage weed
Fucus vesiculosus Bladder wrack *
Fucus serratus Serrated wrack *
Bifurcariabifircata? Brown tuning fork weed *
Laminaria digitata Oar weed *
Sacchoriza latissima Sugar kelp *
Chorda filum Mermaid's tresses *
Cystoceria sp. Bushy wrack
Halidrys siliquosa Sea oak *
Pylaiella littoralis Pylaie's brown filaments
Elachista fucicola Tiny wrack bush - on serrated wrack *
Reds
Chondrus crispus Irish moss *
Encrusting red *
Encrusting pink
Ceramium sp. fork weeds
Dilsea carnosa Red rags
Plocamium cartilagineum Cartilaginous cock's comb *
Callibleparis ciliata Eyelash weed *
Corallina officinalis Coral weed *
Hilderbrandia sp. Hilderbrand's red week
Osmundea pinnatifida Flat fern weed *
Rhdothamniella floridula Sand binder *