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Marine Isopod - Idotea balthica I was watching a flock of birds eating things out of the water at low tide and crouched near them to see what they were feasting on. I scooped one of these creatures out of the water (there were TONS). I didn't know what it was at the time, but it didn't bite, at least.<br />
<br />
This species eats algae and has a very variable pattern.<br />
<br />
Habitat: Low tide zone <br />
<figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/99895/marine_isopod_-_idotea_balthica.html" title="Marine Isopod - Idotea balthica"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/99895_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=YkmaBFh9nqGrKS5n7O2SGnu6pYA%3D" width="200" height="152" alt="Marine Isopod - Idotea balthica I was watching a flock of birds eating things out of the water at low tide and crouched near them to see what they were feasting on. I scooped one of these creatures out of the water (there were TONS). I didn't know what it was at the time, but it didn't bite, at least.<br />
<br />
This species eats algae and has a very variable pattern.<br />
<br />
Habitat: Low tide zone on Laudholm beach. Laudholm is part of Wells National Estuarine Research Preserve. The preserve includes 2,250 acres of upland fields and forests, freshwater and estuarine wetlands, salt marshes, brackish marshes, scrub swamp, and a beach-and-dune system. The protected area goes from Little River to the Ogunquit River. The beach is enormous at low tide with lots of fun areas to explore for critters. It's also pretty empty as most people aren't willing to hike through the preserve to get to the beach. The beach is very variable with areas of coarse and fine sand, mudflats, boulders, and cobbles. It's an incredible place!<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/99893/marine_isopod_-_idotea_balthica.html<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/110243/marine_isopod_-_idotea_balthica.html Geotagged,Idotea balthica,Summer,United States" /></a></figure><br />
<figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/99893/marine_isopod_-_idotea_balthica.html" title="Marine Isopod - Idotea balthica"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/99893_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=NjRA%2BVIY6VtI4Mp1aYQriUTAbx8%3D" width="200" height="150" alt="Marine Isopod - Idotea balthica I was watching a flock of birds eating things out of the water at low tide and crouched near them to see what they were feasting on. I scooped one of these creatures out of the water (there were TONS). I didn't know what it was at the time, but it didn't bite, at least. <br />
<br />
This species eats algae and has a very variable pattern.<br />
<br />
Habitat: Low tide zone on Laudholm beach. Laudholm is part of Wells National Estuarine Research Preserve. The preserve includes 2,250 acres of upland fields and forests, freshwater and estuarine wetlands, salt marshes, brackish marshes, scrub swamp, and a beach-and-dune system. The protected area goes from Little River to the Ogunquit River. The beach is enormous at low tide with lots of fun areas to explore for critters. It's also pretty empty as most people aren't willing to hike through the preserve to get to the beach. The beach is very variable with areas of coarse and fine sand, mudflats, boulders, and cobbles. It's an incredible place!<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/99895/marine_isopod_-_idotea_balthica.html<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/110243/marine_isopod_-_idotea_balthica.html Geotagged,Idotea,Idotea balthica,Idoteidae,Isopoda,Malacostraca,Summer,United States,isopod,marine isopod" /></a></figure> Baltic Isopod,Geotagged,Idotea,Idotea balthica,Summer,United States,isopod,marine isopod

Marine Isopod - Idotea balthica

I was watching a flock of birds eating things out of the water at low tide and crouched near them to see what they were feasting on. I scooped one of these creatures out of the water (there were TONS). I didn't know what it was at the time, but it didn't bite, at least.

This species eats algae and has a very variable pattern.

Habitat: Low tide zone

Marine Isopod - Idotea balthica I was watching a flock of birds eating things out of the water at low tide and crouched near them to see what they were feasting on. I scooped one of these creatures out of the water (there were TONS). I didn't know what it was at the time, but it didn't bite, at least.<br />
<br />
This species eats algae and has a very variable pattern.<br />
<br />
Habitat: Low tide zone on Laudholm beach. Laudholm is part of Wells National Estuarine Research Preserve. The preserve includes 2,250 acres of upland fields and forests, freshwater and estuarine wetlands, salt marshes, brackish marshes, scrub swamp, and a beach-and-dune system. The protected area goes from Little River to the Ogunquit River. The beach is enormous at low tide with lots of fun areas to explore for critters. It's also pretty empty as most people aren't willing to hike through the preserve to get to the beach. The beach is very variable with areas of coarse and fine sand, mudflats, boulders, and cobbles. It's an incredible place!<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/99893/marine_isopod_-_idotea_balthica.html<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/110243/marine_isopod_-_idotea_balthica.html Geotagged,Idotea balthica,Summer,United States

Marine Isopod - Idotea balthica I was watching a flock of birds eating things out of the water at low tide and crouched near them to see what they were feasting on. I scooped one of these creatures out of the water (there were TONS). I didn't know what it was at the time, but it didn't bite, at least. <br />
<br />
This species eats algae and has a very variable pattern.<br />
<br />
Habitat: Low tide zone on Laudholm beach. Laudholm is part of Wells National Estuarine Research Preserve. The preserve includes 2,250 acres of upland fields and forests, freshwater and estuarine wetlands, salt marshes, brackish marshes, scrub swamp, and a beach-and-dune system. The protected area goes from Little River to the Ogunquit River. The beach is enormous at low tide with lots of fun areas to explore for critters. It's also pretty empty as most people aren't willing to hike through the preserve to get to the beach. The beach is very variable with areas of coarse and fine sand, mudflats, boulders, and cobbles. It's an incredible place!<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/99895/marine_isopod_-_idotea_balthica.html<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/110243/marine_isopod_-_idotea_balthica.html Geotagged,Idotea,Idotea balthica,Idoteidae,Isopoda,Malacostraca,Summer,United States,isopod,marine isopod

comments (4)

Ernst

Lion

Neat little pet. Posted 4 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Haha! Posted 4 years ago

Patomarazul

Lion

So cute! Posted 4 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks, they are! Posted 4 years ago

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The Baltic Isopod

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

Info 4 0

Similar species: Brood Pouch Crustaceans

Species identified by Christine Young

By Christine Young

All rights reserved

Uploaded Mar 8, 2021. Captured Aug 13, 2020 12:48 in WELLS PUBLIC SAFETY BULDING, 1563 Post Rd, Wells, ME 04090, USA.

country flag of United States of America

Explore United States of America 39,925 9,640 8

Canon EOS 90D
f/8.0
1/256s
ISO100
100mm

Captured in the summer. More summer photos.