Species Focus - Sea Slater (Ligia oceanica)

Looking like a Woodlouse on steroids, the Sea Slater (Ligia oceanica) is an impressively large (3 cm) European crustacean. They typically occur in crevices and beneath boulders on rocky shorelines just above the high-tide line. They are strongly tied to this damp maritime habitat, so you won’t find them inland.

Ligia oceanica is largely a nocturnal scavenger, but runs incredibly fast when disturbed from its daytime retreat and you’ll have a hard time getting a good look at one. Although native to the Atlantic and North Sea coasts of Europe it has been accidentally introduced to parts of the eastern seaboard of North America.

Further information

Please submit your records, ideally with photos, to the Cofnod ORS or the LERC Wales App.