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Dieren en planten

Animals   Crustaceans   Slaters   Harbor slater   Baltic isopod   Harbour fauna   

Harbor slaters

size:

up to 3 centimeters

color:

gray to olive green

age:

2.5 to 3 years old

food:

diatoms, organic waste, seaweed and algae

enemies:

small freshwater fish

reproduction:

sexual, only once in its life

  • Dut: Havenpissebed
  • Lat: Ligia oceanica
  • Eng: Harbor slater, rocky shore isopod, sea slater, marine cockroach
  • Ger: Klippenassel
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Ligia, foto fitis, sytske dijksen

Harbor slater

Harbor slaters, also known as rocky shore isopods, are the largest of the land slaters found in Northwestern Europe. They breath in air, just like species in the garden. They are nocturnal animals, hiding in cracks, splits and under seaweed during the day. You may find them crawling around at night, although they will hide quickly as soon as they detect you. Because they are so fast, they are nicknamed marine cockroaches.

  • Distribution and habitat

    Harbor slaters are common along all coasts of the North Sea as long as the environment is salty to brackish. You find them mostly on or just above the high tide line, where splashing water keeps them moist. They do not live under water and prefer stony bottoms. Dikes, dams and pillars are their favorite habitat along a highly sandy Dutch coastline.

Leaving the harness