The Intertidal Zone

ocean · tidal · seashore · habitats

Twice daily transition. The intertidal zone floods with seawater when the tide comes in and dries out when the tide goes out. This happens roughly twice every 24 hours, making it one of the most dramatically changing habitats on Earth.

Home to tough creatures. Sea stars, sea urchins, corals, and thousands of other animals live in the intertidal zone. They've evolved special abilities to survive being underwater sometimes and exposed to air other times.

Different creatures by region. The types of animals and plants you'll find change depending on where you are in the world. A rocky intertidal zone in California looks totally different from a sandy one in Australia.

Between two zones. The intertidal zone is part of a larger area called the littoral zone that includes the whole seashore region. Scientists also call it the foreshore because it's the front edge where land meets sea.