Cliff louse

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Cliff louse
Ligia oceanica Flickr.jpg

Cliff isopod ( Ligia oceanica )

Systematics
Class : Higher crabs (Malacostraca)
Order : Woodlice (isopoda)
Subordination : Ligiamorpha
Family : Clip isopods (Ligiidae)
Genre : Ligia
Type : Cliff louse
Scientific name
Ligia oceanica
( Linnaeus , 1767)

The cliff isopod ( Ligia oceanica ) is a representative of the woodlice (Isopoda) from the class of higher crustaceans . It is often found on the western European coasts.

features

With up to three centimeters in body length, the clip Assel the largest representative of terrestrial isopods (Oniscidea) in Germany. Their body is egg-shaped, flattened and about twice as long as it is wide. The color ranges from gray to olive. The head has large compound eyes and antennae that reach about two thirds of the body length and each have at least ten segments. The of head and first thoracic segment formed Cephalothorax follow seven visible thoracic segments. The cliff isopod has seven pairs of legs and two large uropods on the telson , which also has two long appendages.

Occurrence

The natural range of the cliff louse encompasses the Atlantic and North Sea coasts of Western Europe . The species was introduced in some places on the northwestern US coast. It prefers to settle on rocky coastlines with crevices as hiding spots, but can also be found on sandy beaches under stones. Cliff isopods can be found both on land and in the littoral and can survive underwater for at least several days.

Way of life

Cliff isopods are nocturnal and if possible escape from the light in the event of disturbances. At night, especially during the low tide, they migrate to the dry areas to graze on algae . In addition, a wide variety of other foods are also consumed, from plant and animal waste to moss eaten on land .

The main breeding season of the cliff isle is in spring, but egg-bearing females are found throughout the year. The average number of eggs per brood is around 80. With a life expectancy of around three years, the females reproduce around five times.

swell

  • Nicholls group: Studies on Ligia oceanica. IA Habitat and Effect of Change of Environment on Respiration. B. Observations on moulting and breeding . In: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom . No. 17 (3), 1931, pp. 655-674.
  • Nicholls group: Studies on Ligia oceanica. Part II. The processes of feeding, digestion and absorption, with a description of the structure of the foregut . In: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom . No. 17 (3), 1931, pp. 675-708.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A. Leistikow, JW Wägele: Checklist of the terrestrial isopods of the new world (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea) . In: Revta bras. Zool. . No. 16 (1), 1999, pp. 1-72. Full Text (engl.)  ( Page no longer available , searching web archives )  Info: The link is automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 7.9 MB)@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.zfmk.de  
  2. ↑ a b c A.G. Nicholls: Studies on Ligia oceanica. IA Habitat and Effect of Change of Environment on Respiration. B. Observations on moulting and breeding . In: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom . No. 17 (3), 1931, pp. 655-674.

Web links