# Wharf Louse (*ligia exotica*) The Wharf Louse is a tiny creature that loves to explore the rocky shores! It can often be found scurrying around in search of food like seaweed and decaying plants. - **Category:** [Invertebrate](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/invertebrate) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas and rocky shorelines - **Also known as:** Marine Woodlice, Rock Louse, Sea Slater ![Wharf Louse](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ligia_exotica.jpg&width=800) Photo: Daiju Azuma, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ligia_exotica.jpg) ## Appearance The Wharf Louse has a flattened, oval body, typically grey or brownish-grey, with prominent antennae and many legs. Its segmented shell makes it look like a land-dwelling woodlouse, but it prefers coastal rocks. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Malacostraca - **Order:** Isopoda - **Family:** Ligiidae - **Genus:** Ligia ## Interesting facts - If a wharf louse loses a leg, it can grow a brand new one back! Wow! - They act like tiny cleaners, munching on decaying plants along the coastline. - They are cousins to crabs and lobsters, belonging to the same crustacean family! - Wharf Louse are nocturnal, meaning they are most active exploring under moonlight. ## Special abilities - **Amphibious Breathing:** Wharf Louse can breathe both air and water because of special gill-like structures, helping them survive changing tides. - **Speedy Escape:** Wharf Louse can dart away quickly when disturbed because of its many legs, helping them avoid predators. - **Regenerative Power:** Wharf Louse can regrow lost legs or antennae if they are damaged, helping them recover from injury. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 30 mm - **Weight:** 0.5 g - **Lifespan:** 1.5 years ## Diet & Feeding These tiny creatures are important clean-up crew members, eating dead plants and organic bits. - **Primary Foods:** decaying algae, rotting wood, organic detritus, leaf litter - **Foraging Method:** Scavenging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Sanderling](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sanderling) (*Calidris alba*) — Shore birds hunt them at low tide. - **Eaten by:** [Mummichog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mummichog) (*Fundulus heteroclitus*) — Small fish snap them up in tide pools. - **Depends on:** Sea Lettuce (*Ulva lactuca*) — They scavenge on decaying algae for food. ## Traits - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Invertebrates](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/invertebrates) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Wharf Louse? Compare body symmetry, shells, segments, legs, tentacles and how the animal moves. Invertebrates span many unrelated groups, so start with body structure. Invertebrate Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Wharf Louse? 30 mm ### How much does Wharf Louse weigh? 0.5 g ### How long does Wharf Louse live? 1.5 years ### What does Wharf Louse eat? These tiny creatures are important clean-up crew members, eating dead plants and organic bits. ### Where is Wharf Louse usually found? Coastal areas and rocky shorelines ### How does Wharf Louse hunt? Scavenging ## Where to spot - [Bellingrath Gardens and Home](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bellingrath-gardens-and-home) — Alabama, US · Botanical Garden - [Sea Life Park Hawaii](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sea-life-park-hawaii) — Hawaii, US · Aquarium - [Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bill-burton-fishing-pier-state-park) — Maryland, US · State Park - [Sea Life Park Hawaii](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sea-life-park-hawaii-hawaii) — Hawaii, US · Zoo [View all places to see Wharf Louse](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/wharf-louse) ## More Invertebrate - [Coral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coral) - [Crab Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crab-spider) (*Mecaphesa asperata*) - [Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-spider) (*Araneus diadematus*) - [Brown Recluse Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-recluse-spider) (*Loxosceles reclusa*) --- Source: [Wharf Louse: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wharf-louse)