Biology:Ligia dilatata

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Short description: Species of woodlouse

Ligia dilatata
Sea Slater (Ligia dilatata) Platboom Bay, Cape Peninsula, Western Cape, South Africa.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Superorder: Peracarida
Order: Isopoda
Suborder: Oniscidea
Family: Ligiidae
Genus: Ligia
Species:
L. dilatata
Binomial name
Ligia dilatata
Brandt, 1833 [1]
Ligia diletata Dist.jpg
Distribution of L. diletata based on available literature

Ligia dilatata is a woodlouse in the family Ligiidae.

Identification

It has a finely granular surface and a body that is slightly convex, as well as eyes that are large and convex. It has relatively small uropods.[2]

It can be differentiated from L. glabrata, with which it shares some range, by its antennae. The antennae of L. dilatata are longer, reaching the end of its thorax.[3]

Habits

Ligia dilatata feeds extensively on dislodged Ecklonia maxima and Laminaria pallida that wash up on shore. They gather in large numbers on these kelp.[4]

The species lives about 2 years. Females start reproducing at 12 months but, unlike males, probably do not survive to breed twice. The brood period is 5 to 6 weeks.

Growth is slow during summer but faster in winter when food is more plentiful.[5]

References

  1. Marilyn Schotte (2010). "Ligia dilatada Brandt, 1833". World Marine, Freshwater and Terrestrial Isopod Crustaceans database. World Register of Marine Species. http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=257543. 
  2. Walter E. Collinge (1920). "Contributions to a knowledge of the terrestrial Isopoda of Natal. Part III.". Annals of the Natal Museum 4 (2): 471–490. 
  3. George Branch; C. L. Griffiths; M. L. Branch; L. E. Beckley (2007). Two Oceans: A Guide to the Marine Life of Southern Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: David Philip. pp. 368 pages. 
  4. Stenton-Dozey, JME; Griffiths, CL (1983). "The Fauna Associated with Kelp Stranded on a Sandy Beach". Sandy Beaches as Ecosystems: 557–568. doi:10.1007/978-94-017-2938-3_43. ISBN 978-90-481-8521-4. 
  5. K Koop; J.G Field (1980). "The influence of food availability on population dynamics of a supralittoral isopod, Ligia dilatata brandt". Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 48 (1): 61–72. doi:10.1016/0022-0981(80)90007-6. 

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q2334316 entry