Sea Tulips

These stalked sea squirts (Boltenia pachydermatina) are also called sea tulips for obvious reasons.

What strange, alien looking life forms swaying in the current! They are common here along the cold coasts of the south island, along with many other fantastic things I am just discovering. Moon snails, bull kelp, algae, abalone, limpets, mussels and more cling to these rocky, tidal shores.

These I noticed at low tide running this morning on Long Beach.