Wildlife of The Solway Firth: The Sea Slater
Wildlife of The Solway Firth
The Sea Slater (Ligea Oceanica)
by Mark Vollers, The Lake District Coast Aquarium
The common Sea Slater or Sea Roach is quite common along rocky shorelines of temperate seas from Norway to the Mediterranean and on the Eastern seaboard of North America but as it lives in crevices and under stones it often goes unnoticed.
However it can grow up to 30mm long (see picture for an idea of scale) and they then look just like an enormous Woodlouse!
Sea Slaters are not evolved for continuous dry land living like the Woodlouse familiar to us all, as they still rely on gills for breathing and are therefore never far from water or damp moist habitat.
Maryport Harbour walls are an example of suitable habitat for them so occasionally strolling visitors bring examples for identification into the Aquarium!
Its colour may vary from grey to olive green with large compound eyes and antennae that are two thirds as long as it’s body.
They find a meal of seaweed or detritus, coming out from their hiding places mainly at night time to avoid predators.
They possess seven pairs of walking legs and there are seven thoracic body segments visible behind its head.
Lifespan is 2-3 years and usually breed only once.
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