‘Robo-limpets’ on the South Cornish coast are helping scientists gather data about the effects of climate change.

The realistic gadgets have been placed on rocks at Polhawn, in Whitsand Bay, at Kingsand, and at three other locations in Devon by Joe Redfern from Plymouth’s Marine Biological Association.

Joe created the fake creatures using real limpet shells, placing small temperature loggers inside each empty shell and encasing them in silicon.

The robo-limpets are stuck to the rocks using green resin, and each ‘antenna’ records temperature every 15 minutes; Joe says he will be returning to each location regularly between now and August to collect the data.

Joe is part of a wider team of scientists investigating the impact of climate change on species around our coasts.