These are Crabs and other Invertebrate species that we have managed to photograph while snorkeling around the KwaZulu-Natal's East Coast (Ballito, Salt Rock & Sheffield areas) All photographs have been taken in the intertidal zone in tidal pools less than 2m deep
If you have any species, information or identification corrections that you would like to add, please
drop us a line.
Please note that the purpose of this gallery is not a scientific exhibit and not grouped according to any strict regiment. This is intended to be a really simple guide to assist people in identifying the crabs and other invertebrates that you may encounter. We have recorded over litreally hundreds of species of invertebrates to date, several of them are not previously known from South Africa and even a few undescribed nudibranchs. It is amazing what you can find in a rock pool!
Marine Life Beginners ID Guide
You can download a beginners guide to the fish, sea slugs, crabs, corals etc.... that we have personally put together the North Coast. This is by no means a scientific document, you may notice some odd names, many of these animals (especially sea slugs) don't have common names, so we have just made them up ourselves.
Click Here To Download in PDF Version of our ID Guide
Final note, if you're using this information as a tool or resource in ANY way for marine aquarium collecting, then please read our article about how we feel about animals in captivity....and we really hope it encourages you find a more environmentally sound and less cruel hobby. Tidal Tao stands up against all forms of wild animals in captivity..... from fish to dolphins to elephants. Wild animals belong in the wild. Not your lounge.