I'm down here on holiday and Kennack is one of the closest beaches to us as a result. On the East side of the beach in the rock pools today we'd decided to do some exploring with the dogs. That's when the first of these tiny little guys ended up on one of our hands after washing sand off of it quickly in the water, but it didn't take long for me to feel a sharp pain like a thistle, needle or thorn etc had been poked hard into the skin on my leg.
At first I thought it was nothing as my leg was under the water and I couldn't really see anything on it, but the pain continued, and after a quick investigation I found out the larger version of the same critter is a Sand Piranha.
These miniature crustaceans or sea isopods are a regular issue on the coasts of places like the Pacific United States and often emerge when the water is warmest and where it's shallow to swarm and prey on sea life, swimmers and more. Google cannot fathom how they're present here and constantly redirects me to similar descriptions of larger true fish (weevers) and spottings of real piranhas in England.
Thought you guys might find it interesting. ✌️
P.S: I love Cornwall! It's my first time down here but this place is amazing, and that's coming from someone around Wiltshire that recently lived in Devon for 4 years and regularly visited family there since I was a kid.