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Mysterious sea creatures found on Samphire Hoe's shoreline

00:00, 11 February 2014

updated: 12:35, 11 February 2014

The wet and wild weather has left some interesting finds washed up on Samphire Hoe’s shoreline.

A group walk led by the White Cliffs Countryside Partnership (WCCP) discovered a number of weird and wonderful items.

Paul Holt, from the WCCP, said: “A wonderfully coloured fishing float came ashore [and] its colours looked like a miniature planet.

“Attached to it were creatures that looked like aliens."

The alien creature has been named as a Goose Barnacle that feeds off floating objects in the sea
The alien creature has been named as a Goose Barnacle that feeds off floating objects in the sea

Mr Holt then explained exactly what they were: “They are actually goose barnacles that anchor themselves to wood, floats and other items that are out at sea, and they sieve food from the water using long black legs that emerge from the white shell-like growths.

The incident is taking place near Samphire Hoe. Stock image.
The incident is taking place near Samphire Hoe. Stock image.

"They are not in the mollusc family (shellfish such as mussels) but are in fact more closely related to crustaceans which include shrimps.”

On Sunday, February 16, a scavenger hunt and beach adventures day starts at 2pm; on Tuesday, February 18, there is a ‘I will huff and puff ‘til I blow the Hoe down’ wind sculptures day; and on Friday, February 21 at 2pm there will be a Samphire Hoe bleak winter beauty photography walk.

For more information call Samphire Hoe on: 01304 225649.

To see the page special, pick up a copy of the Dover Mercury, out Thursday.

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