Tide pools are small pools of ocean water that form between rocks along the shore. When the ocean tide goes out, water gets trapped in little rocky pools. These pools are like tiny aquariums full of amazing sea creatures! You can find tide pools along rocky coastlines all around the world, especially in places like California.
Tide pools are home to many cool animals. Sea stars have five arms and use tiny tube feet to move across rocks. Sea anemones look like colorful flowers, but they are really animals! They wave their tentacles to catch tiny bits of food. You can also find hermit crabs wearing empty shells as their homes, sea urchins covered in spines, and small fish swimming in the shallow water. Snails and mussels hold tight to the rocks so waves do not wash them away.
The ocean water rises and falls every day because of the Moon and the Sun. When the water rises, it is called high tide. When the water goes back down, it is called low tide. This happens about two times each day. At low tide, the water pulls away from the shore and leaves behind little pools in the rocks. That is when you can see all the creatures that live in tide pools!
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