At initially glimpse, they believed they’d found a child otter resting in a rockpool off Broad Haven beach.
But then, when they started examining even more, Lisa Copley and her partner Chris Martin, understood that they’d bumped into a cute little sea mouse.
From one angle the little natural treasure, which looks like a psychedelic fuzz of fir and spinal column, was snuggled securely in a ball. But when seen from the other angle, it right away caght the light and took on a lively splash of fibre-optic luster.
The sea mouse in its rock swimming pool (Image: Lisa Copley)
“When we started watching it, we began to realise that this was actually a very beautiful little creature,” said Lisa.
“We attempted to take some pictures with our cam as we had no concept what it might have been, however the images do not actually reveal the amazing colours that the little sea mouse produced.”
Sea mice (or Aphrodita aculeata to provide their main title), are chunky little animals which can determine up to 20cm long and 5 cm broad.
Their bodies are covered in a velveteen pelage while their borders are covered in long glassy hairs in which are ingrained much thicker, stouter spinal columns. As an outcome, they become the maritime equivalent of hedgehogs.
They till their method through the seabed sediments, coming down as far as 3,000m, where they scavenge for worms, little crabs, hermit crabs and other polychaete worms that can be over 3 times their own body length. Their feeding activities constantly take location during the night when the animals are partly buried in sand.
Most that are discovered cleaned up are dead, or sluggish at best, however if they’re put in a clear-sided vessel of seawater, then you will ideally observe their genuine magic.
Natural light falling on the worm’s veil of fluff develops a kaleidoscopic of colour with blues, reds, greens and yellows while the thicker spinal columns radiance ember-red to caution off predators.
“Initially we weren’t rather sure what it might have been,” included Lisa.
“But as quickly as we googled the sea mouse, the images revealed us precisely what we’d found down on Broad Haven.”
The sea mouse on its rock (Image: Lisa Copley)
The sea mouse might be something of a dark horse as they get their official Latin name from Aphrodite, who is the Greek goddess of Love.
Its somewhat less thoughtful English name nevertheless, might originate from its similarity to a bedraggled mouse when cleaned up on the coast.
If anybody else finds any sea mice from around the coasts of Pembroekshire, please keep us notified.
