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Malta Rocky Beaches
Annelids
Common Name: Bearded Fireworm
Maltese Name: Busuf
Specific Name: Hermodice carunculata
Family: Amphinomidae
Size: 5-10 cm, up to 35 cm
Colour: Brown, Orange and White
Habitat: Usually under stones in rocky areas.
Status: Common
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Cnidarians
Common Name: Snakelocks Anemone
Maltese Name: Artikla Hadra
Specific Name: Anemonia viridis
Family: Actiniidae
Size: 10 cm
Colour: Greenish-brown
Habitat: Rocky or sandy bottoms
Status: Very Common
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Common Name: Beadlet Anemone
Maltese Name: Artikla Hamra
Specific Name: Actinia equina
Family: Actiniidae
Size: 4 cm
Colour: Red
Habitat: Splash zone on rocky surfaces
Status: Very Common
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Echinoderms
Common Name: Rock urchin
Maltese Name: Rizza
Specific Name: Paracentrotus lividus
Family: Echinidae
Size: 8 cm
Colour: Variable; green, brown, red or purple
Habitat: On rocks among seaweed or Posidonia leaves
Status: Very Common
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Insects
Common Name: Common Paper Wasp
Maltese Name: Zunzan tax-Xehda
Specific Name: Polistes omissus
Family: Vespidae
Size: 13 mm
Colour: Black and Yellow Stripes
Habitat: Usuall on rubble walls
Status: Very Common
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Common Name: Blue-Winged Grasshopper
Maltese Name: Kahlani tax-Xaghri
Specific Name: Sphingonotus coerulans
Family: Acrididae
Size: 20-32 mm
Colour: Light beige to brown
Habitat: Coastal, dry, rocky or sandy areas
Status: Very Common
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Sponges
Common Name: Red Sponge
Maltese Name: Sponza Hamra
Specific Name: Crambe crambe
Family: Myxillidae
Size: 10 cm
Colour: Orange-red
Habitat: Rocks in poorly illuminated places
Status: Common
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Common Name: Black Sponge
Maltese Name: Sponza Sewda
Specific Name: Ircinia spinosa
Family: Spongiidae
Size: 6- 20 cm
Colour: Black
Habitat: Deep and shallow rocky bottoms
Status: Very Common
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Reptiles
Common Name: Maltese Wall Lizard
Maltese Name: Gremxula ta' Malta
Specific Name: Podarcis filfolensis maltensis
Family: Lacertidae
Size: 28 cm
Colour: greenish, often speckled
Habitat: Garigue, rocky shores, fields
Status: Very Common
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Common Name: Maltese Wall Lizard
Maltese Name: Gremxula ta' Malta
Specific Name: Podarcis filfolensis maltensis
Family: Lacertidae
Size: 28 cm
Colour: greenish, often speckled
Habitat: Garigue, rocky shores, fields
Status: Very Common
Common Name: Pink-Winged Grasshopper
Maltese Name: Gurat tal-Furketta
Specific Name: Calliptamus barbarus
Family: Acrididae
Size: 15-30 mm
Colour: Varies
Habitat: Rocky terrain and fields
Status: Very Common
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Common Name: Featherduster Worm
Maltese Name: No Name
Family: Sabellidae
Size: Varies between species
Colour: Varies between species
Habitat: In self-constructed tubes attached to rocky ro sandy bottoms
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