Others, like mussels and barnacles, cement themselves in place to the rocks' surfaces. In addition to holding tightly to the rocks, many animals are camouflaged for protection, blending easily into their surroundings and making it more difficult for predators to find them. Many glide or scurry to the undersides of rocks and ledges which afford them additional protection. Off our rocky shore lies the unique kelp forest. The undersea forest canopy protects a delicate and teeming community of plants and animals.
Many invertebrates reside in the root-like holdfasts which attach the plant to the rocky bottom.
Plant growth, whether in single-celled diatoms or giant kelp forests, begins a food chain for zooplankton and grazers such as abalone, sea hares, and sea urchins. The snails scrape off algae by rasping with a file-like tongue called a radula. These small grazers are in turn eaten by larger animals. Many marine invertebrates grow attached to the rocky substrate and have no head or legs. They capture food carried by the water and may look like plants.