Although wide expanses of beach can appear to be completely devoid of animal life, this is not the case. Animals of all shapes and sizes call the beach home. Some of the smallest animals literally live in the sand and are called annelid worms. Other tiny animals that make their homes in the beach sand include snails and crabs. According to the Smithsonian Marine Station, 'although many species of birds are often observed on beaches, only 5 species of shorebirds . . . prefer nesting sites on bare sands in the upper beach zone.' The sea turtle is perhaps one of the most widely recognizable beach dwelling creatures. Sea Turtles utilize the abundance of sand at the beach to bury their eggs.
Despite offering little protection from the harsh elements, the classic leisure destinations known as beaches are home to a multitude of creatures.
Source:
Smithsonian Marine Station. 'Beach Habitats.' http://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/beaches.htm.
Carnivores
Juan fernández fur seal
Guadalupe fur seal
Northern fur seal
Black-backed jackal
Northern sealion
Marine otter
Common otter
Hairy-nosed otter
Indian smooth-coated otter
Mediterranean monk seal
Hawaiian monk seal
Hooker's sea lion
Bandicoots and bilbies
Barred bandicoot
Rodents
Mountain beaver
Read more at the list of biomes of the world...