THE rugged coastlines of Devon and Cornwall have some of the finest rockpools to explore in the country. For a few hours each day an amazing variety of life is revealed in this land between the tides. Washed by warm currents from the south, these shores are home to many creatures which are rarely found in other parts of Britain.

At first glance the pools may appear quiet – maybe a small fish darting into a crevice but little else. But wait quietly and the inhabitants of the rockpool will emerge from their hiding places and go about their business. The beautiful shallow pools crusted with pink coralline weeds are home to one special creature – the Montagu's Blenny. This 6cm long fish was discovered near Kingsbridge by the famous naturalist of the 1700s, George Montagu. Like most of the fish that live in these pools this blenny is a specialist in camouflage, able to change colour like a chameleon to match its background.

The Cornish Clingfish is another speciality of the coasts of Cornwall and south-west Devon. It is best found by exploring the lowest part of the shore revealed on spring tides. These occur for just a few days each month after the new and full moons. Clingfish hide under seaweed and stones which are exposed as the tide retreats. As its name suggests this fish can cling tightly to rocks and will even stick to your hand if you pick one up! It does this because one pair of its fins has been adapted into a suction pad.

The Shanny or Common Blenny is one of the commonest fish in the rockpools. It feeds on small crabs and has powerful jaws which enable it to bite through their armoured shells. The male shanny is a good parent and guards the eggs for up to eight weeks before they hatch. The Tompot Blenny is also occasionally found. It is a close relative of the shanny and has two spiky tentacles between its eyes.

The Rock Goby is similar to the blennies but has a gap in the fin along its back. It is grey- brown in colour and hides under rocks where it eats almost anything from seaweed to small crabs. These small fish may live up to 10 years.

The eel-like Three-bearded Rockling hides under rocks and seaweed. It splashes about wildly when disturbed and is difficult to catch. It has three barbels around its head which are used to detect food in dark crevices and under weed.

The Sea Lemon is a large sea slug which can grow to 12cm long. It is found resting under rocks or on the breadcrumb sponges that it feeds on. It looks like a blob of jelly when exposed to the air but when put into a rockpool it extends its eye stalks and large flower-like gill and starts to move very slowly over the rocks. Another large sea slug is the Sea Hare, which can grow to 15cm in length. It is purple-brown in colour with pale spots, and has two flaps of skin on its back. It grazes on seaweed and can sometimes be found in large numbers in rockpools when egg-laying. If disturbed it can produce ink as a "smokescreen" defence.

Pipefish are close relatives of sea horses and are camouflaged for living among seaweed. Like sea horses it is the male that looks after the young. The male carries the eggs in a pouch on his belly and protects them until they hatch.

Several different types of pipefish can be found here. The Worm Pipefish is the commonest and can be found under rocks and weed in rockpools. Occasionally the Snake and Greater Pipefish may be found in large rockpools especially among thongweed.

Blobs of dark red jelly are a common sight on rocks at low tide. These are transformed as the tide covers them and the sea anemone's tentacles are unfurled. The tentacles have stinging cells which can entrap small fish and prawns. The most common is the Beadlet Anemone, which has a row of blue spots around the rim; its larger relative, the Strawberry Anemone, is covered in spots so it resembles a strawberry. The Snakelocks Anemone cannot retract its purple-tipped tentacles. It varies in colour from bright green to brown and grey.

The Common Starfish is a familiar sight on many rocky shores. It is a predator which feeds on mussels and other shellfish. It has an unusual habit of turning its stomach inside out into the mussel's shell and then digesting its prey.

Its larger relative, the Spiny Starfish, may be seen at the water's edge on low spring tides. This starfish is another predator but it feeds on other starfish including the common starfish.

The small Cushion Star is most often found stuck to the underside of rocks. If one of their arms is broken off, starfish are able to grow a new one.

The very familiar Shore Crab shares the rockpools with many other types of crab.

The Edible Crab may be found under seaweed or on rocks where it can use its claws to wedge itself tightly into a narrow crevice. This crab can be identified by its reddish colour and the "pie-crust" moulding around the rim of its shell.

The Velvet Swimming Crab is a striking member of the crab family. If disturbed from its hiding place under weed and rocks it will raised its blue-spotted claws at you in a threatening pose. Its dark red eyes and fiery temperament have given rise to its alternative name of the "devil crab".

The Squat Lobster resembles its well-known relative, but is much smaller, only growing about 4cm long. It can be found under rocks and seaweed at the low tide mark.

It uses its powerful tail muscles to swim backwards at high speed when escaping from predators like fish.

Limpets will stick fast to their chosen patch of rock, only moving when the tide covers them at high tide. They then graze on algae for a few hours before returning to the same spot as the tide falls.

The beautiful painted topshell can be found beneath overhangs of rock low on the shore where it grazes on microscopic plants.

Occasionally after storms hundreds of the rather poetically named By-the-wind-sailors may be found washed up on the shore.

This close relation of the jellyfish is an ocean-drifter which feeds on small crustaceans and fish eggs. It has a curved sail which catches the slightest breeze and carries it for miles across the surface of the sea.

The six-page splashproof Rockpool Guide costs £2.50 and is published by John Walters. It is available at Wembury Beach Shop and Cafe, the National Lobster Hatchery at Padstow, Exmoor National Park Information Centres and the National Trust at West Kitty, St Agnes. For more information visit www.johnwalters.co.uk.