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 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!