Idotea balthica

Idotea balthica is a marine isopod which lives on seaweed and seagrass[1] in the subtidal zone of rocky shores.

Idotea balthica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Crustacea
Class:
Malacostraca
Order:
Isopoda
Family:
Idoteidae
Genus:
Idotea
Species:
I. balthica
Binomial name
Idotea balthica
(Pallas, 1772)
Synonyms
  • Idotea pusilla Eichwald, 1842
  • Idotea balthica stagnea Tinturier-Hamelin, 1960
  • Idotea baltica Pallas, 1772 [orth. error]
  • Idotea basteri Audouin, 1826
  • Idotea sarsi Collinge, 1917
  • Idotea tricuspidata Desmarest, 1825
  • Idotea tridentata Latreille, 1806
  • Idotea variegata Roux, 1830
  • Oniscus balthica Pallas, 1772
  • Oniscus tridens Scopoli, 1763
  • Stenosoma irrorata Say, 1818

Distribution

Idotea balthica has a broad geographical distribution, having been recorded from the Belgian Exclusive Economic Zone, The British Isles, Cobscook Bay, Dutch Exclusive Economic Zone, European waters, Greek Exclusive Economic Zone, Gulf of Maine, Knokke, North West Atlantic, Red Sea, Voordelta, West Coast of Norway, Wimereux and the Black Sea.[2]

Characteristics

The male is larger than female, and can reach 4 centimetres (1.6 in) long.[3] The carapace is yellow, brown or green with small white spots; the female is usually darker.[3] The species can be distinguished from other idoteids by the shape of the telson, which is dorsally keeled with straight sides in I. balthica, and has a distinct spine at the end.[3]

Foraging

In the Baltic, I. balthica prefers Fucus vesiculosus, an algal seaweed, as host plant over other algae and vascular plants.[4] The apical and basal parts of F. vesiculosus differ as food and as shelter, and males grow faster when fed with the apical parts, but females grow equally well with both.[5]

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References
  1. "Baltic Isopod - Idotea balthica - Details - Encyclopedia of Life". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 2016-03-25.
  2. Gary Poore & Marilyn Schotte (2011). Schotte M, Boyko CB, Bruce NL, Poore GC, Taiti S, Wilson GD (eds.). "Idotea balthica (Pallas, 1772)". World Marine, Freshwater and Terrestrial Isopod Crustaceans database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved January 1, 2012.
  3. Kåre Telsnes. "Baltic Isopod – Idotea balthica". The Marine Flora & Fauna of Norway. Retrieved January 1, 2012.
  4. Salemaa, Heikki (1978). "Herbivory and microhabitat preferences of Idotea spp. (Isopoda) in the northern Baltic Sea". Ophelia. 27 (1): 1–15. doi:10.1080/00785236.1987.10422007. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  5. Vesakoski, Outi; Merilaita, Sami; Jormalainen, Veijo (2008). "Reckless males, rational females: Dynamic trade-off between food and shelter in the marine isopod Idotea balthica". Behavioural Processes. 79 (3): 175–181. doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2008.07.005. PMID 18692551. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
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