Living Seas: Britain's marine life

Velvet swimming crab: Also known as the red-eyed devil crab, this crustacean has huge, powerful pincers used for fighting, with its back legs acting like paddles so it can swim forwards
Photograph: Paul Naylor/Wildlife Trusts

John Dory: No one knows for sure how the John Dory – a favourite on restaurant menus – earned its name. One theory is it hails from the French jaune doree, meaning golden yellow
Photograph: Paul Naylor/Wildlife Trusts

Lesser octopus: The lesser octopus is common around UK seas, and acknowledged as a highly intelligent creature with great problem-solving skills
Photograph: Paul Naylor/Wildlife Trusts

Grey seal: The grey seal is one of the more playful inhabitants of UK waters, the largest British marine mammal breeding on land. More than half the global population lives off UK shores
Photograph: Paul Naylor/Wildlife Trusts

Cuttlefish: Cuttlefish are among the most mysterious of UK native species. They can hover in motionless flight above the seabed or swim at great speed, and even have a language through rapid flashes of colour on their skin
Photograph: Paul Naylor/Wildlife Trusts

Cuckoo wrasse male: All cuckoo wrasse - one of the UK’s most colourful fish - are born female. Females are peachy-orange in colour. The leading fish will change sex and colour, adopting neon blue markings to advertise its new masculinity
Photograph: Paul Naylor/Wildlife Trusts

Corkwing male with nest: The corkwing wrasse is the most houseproud fish in UK seas. Every spring, males make a nest in a nook on a rocky reef and decorate it with colourful pieces of seaweed which they collect by mouth. Female wrasse then tour the reef and pick the best nest in which to lay their eggs
Photograph: Paul Naylor/Wildlife Trusts