Ligia australiensis, the Australian marine slater, is a woodlouse in the family Ligiidae.[1]

Ligia australiensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Isopoda
Suborder: Oniscidea
Family: Ligiidae
Genus: Ligia
Species:
L. australiensis
Binomial name
Ligia australiensis
Dana, 1853
Distribution of L. australiensis based on available literature

Range

edit

It can be found quite readily along the southern coast of Australia, including Tasmania, hiding under a huge variety of cover. It is not found as often on the coast of New South Wales, although it can be found in abundance in estuaries.[2]

Predation

edit

L. australienses is a frequent meal for the burrowing shore crab (Leptograpsodes octodentatus),[3] occasionally for the sacred kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus),[4] and possibly the Pedra Branca skink (Niveoscincus palfreymani).[5]

References

edit
  1. ^ Marilyn Schotte (2010). Schotte M, Boyko CB, Bruce NL, Poore GC, Taiti S, Wilson GD (eds.). "Ligia australiensis Dana, 1853". World Marine, Freshwater and Terrestrial Isopod Crustaceans database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  2. ^ Graham J. Edgar (1997). Australian Marine Life: the Plants and Animals of Temperate Waters. Reed. p. 184. ISBN 9780730104742.
  3. ^ D. J. G. Griffin (1971). "The ecological distribution of grapsid and ocypodid shore crabs (Crustacea: Brachyura) in Tasmania". Journal of Animal Ecology. 40 (3): 597–621. Bibcode:1971JAnEc..40..597G. doi:10.2307/3440. JSTOR 3440.
  4. ^ Rose, A. B. (1973). "Food of some Australian birds". Emu. 73 (4): 177–183. Bibcode:1973EmuAO..73..177R. doi:10.1071/mu973177.
  5. ^ N. Brothers; A. Wiltshire; D. Pemberton; N. Mooney & B. Green (2003). "The feeding ecology and field energetics of the Pedra Branca skink (Niveoscincus palfreymani)". Wildlife Research. 30 (1): 81–88. doi:10.1071/wr01103.
edit