A COLOURFUL tiny sea creature usually found off Spain and Portugal has been discovered in Cornwall.
The rainbow sea slug was spotted in a rock pool during a community wildlife recording event at Porthpean.
Experts say the discovery of the multi-coloured creature, which has the scientific name of Babakina anadoni, is likely to be a first for St Austell Bay.
And they believe the find of the “hidden wonder” is a telling sign of how warming seas are already reshaping what we see on our coastline.
Volunteer Luke Galpin spotted the creature as he was searching rock pools as part of a 24-hour community bioblitz festival staged by the Rock Pool Project, a UK-wide marine citizen science organisation which brings communities together to record coastal wildlife and build a national picture of how marine life is changing.
The festival formed part of the Big Rock Pool Challenge delivered in partnership with the Plymouth-based Marine Biological Association and funded by the ScottishPower Foundation and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Luke said: “I hadn’t seen many sea slugs at all over the summer, so I wasn’t expecting to find one. But its unmistakable colour popped out at me the moment I flipped the rock over. It was tiny, about the size of my thumbnail, and in my excitement, I shouted for everyone else to come and have a look. I had no idea at the time that it was the first record of a rainbow sea slug for Porthpean.”
The small creature belongs to a species, usually found in warm Atlantic waters off the coast of Spain, Portugal and France, that has been appearing along UK shores in increasing numbers. The species was first recorded off the Isles of Scilly in 2022, followed by a second find in Falmouth in 2023.
Dr Ben Holt, chief executive at the Rock Pool Project said of the discovery: “Whilst this is an exciting find, it’s also an important reminder of how much our shores are changing. We must continue to track these changes to understand the effects of climate change on UK marine life.”
Melanie Hill, executive officer and trustee at the ScottishPower Foundation, which helps fund the Big Rock Pool Challenge through its marine biodiversity fund, said: “This rainbow sea slug is a vivid reminder that our shores still hold hidden wonders waiting to be found by anyone willing to look closely.
“This is exactly the kind of project we seek to support – one that combines science, education and community spirit to help protect Britain’s changing shores for future generations.”
The Rock Pool Project is dedicated to inspiring people of all ages to engage with the biodiversity found in rock pools. Through hands-on events, citizen science projects and educational outreach, the organisation helps communities support marine conservation efforts.
The organisation is running a crowdfunding campaign until October 27 with the aim of raising £40,000 to expand its network of volunteer-led hubs. Details of the Our Shores, Our Future crowdfunder can be found at communitiesfund.avivafoundation.org.uk/p/protecting-britains-changing- shores
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