Meet the salty inhabitants of local rock platforms at Narrabeen’s Coastal Environment Centre.

Small but spectacular, the critters are settling into their new tank, a collaboration between Council and the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

The sea stars, elephant snails, sea hares and sea urchins are all stars of a new exhibit featuring inhabitants found in local aquatic reserves. Discover what lives at the bottom of rocky headlands at Barrenjoey, Long Reef and Narrabeen and how precarious life is when the tide is low.

Whilst many of us like to visit these rock platforms, we can unknowingly destroy the delicate balance of these fragile ecosystems by disturbing plants and animals and leaving rubbish behind.  And it’s why this display is so valuable for their protection.

Did you know:

•    Sea stars have two stomachs: one to capture or engulf their food and a one to digest it.
•    Elephant snails are hard to spot because they largely come out at night to forage for seaweed.
•    Sea hares lay eggs in long pink threads that look a bit like yellow spaghetti.
•    Sea urchins are brainless but manage to move by using water pressure pushed and pulled through their tube feet.

To learn more about rock platforms or take part in guided visits through the CEC, visit our website. And don't forget to visit CEC's Open Day on Saturday 30 August.