The Muddy shore is rather like that of the sandy shore environment, with one main difference the shore is usually flat with vast expanses of mud flats exposed at low tide. As with the sandy shore some species can be found in both environments. There is also crossover between sand and mud environments in one location. The sand environment is usually at the confined to the upper shore turning into mud at the lower shore.

The photograph is of Formby beach, which is a Mud/Sand beach with sand dunes running along the back. Formby can be found on the northwest coast of England.

One of the main types of animals found in this environment are Polycheates, Animals with a worm like body divided into segments. One example of these is well known to fisherman and that is the Lugworm or Arenicola marina to give it its Latin name

surface of the mud. This worm feeds by ingesting the mud and filtering out organic component of the mud, expelling the 'waste' (inorganic component) into a cast at the surface at one end of the tube. It is this cast on the mud surface that the fisherman uses to locate the worm underneath the surface. The Lugworm is not the only worm found in this environment. This is by no means the only worm found living in the mud, there are free-living species such as Nereis diversicolor (Ragworm) or Nereis virens (king Ragworm) Both are found burrowed in the sand or mud from the middle shore down to shallow water.

Not all habitants of this environment are concealed, some members of the Sabellidae family live in membranous tubes standing clear of the substrate. These tubes are made of fine particles of sand. If you go down to the lower shore at low tide you can see these tubes on the surface of the mud, although they are usually damaged and/or empty unless you go to the extreme lower shore. One example of these

tube-dwelling worms is Sabella pavonina (Peacock worm) whose distribution range includes Atlantic, English channel, Mediterranean and North sea

The picture above is the cast of a Lugworm (Arenicola marina ). Produced by the worm as it tunnels in the sand/mud. This sign of an individual worms location can be found in great numbers and are often the only indication of activity below the surface. Bait diggers use these to locate the lugworm and dig it up to use as bait when fishing on a rod and line.

Bert's Safety Tips An area of my site designed for the young who want to go and find the Marine organisms mentioned on this page. This area contains safety tips whilst visiting this environment.