'Ligia'
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Date
1971-08
Authors
Heide, Allen
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Abstract
Adaptation to land from a water environment is a common topic in many textbooks. Most of the organisms discussed, though, have already adapted themselves to solve the most vital problems of water retention and temperature control. Animals such as mammals, reptiles, and birds have all developed outer coverings that are permeable to water and allow these animals a great deal of independence from their water sources. Mammals and birds have physiological adaptations that allow them to regulate their body temperature, while reptiles have relied mostly on behavioral patterns to cope with this problem.
In this paper I would like to discuss the Isopod Ligia that is considered terrestrial in habitat, but is yet to evolve a complete independence from the sea.
Ligia belongs to the family Oniscoidae, which is the Family of Crustacea containing species living a completely terrestrial life. Within the Isopods there are species such as Carolana harfordi and Idothea wasnesenskii that live a marine existence and others such as Porcellio and Amadillidium that are completely terrestrial. Ligia represents an interesting point of study in that it appears to be an intermediate species in the transition from the sea to land.
I would like to discuss some of the physiological and morphological characteristics of Ligia that place it in the intermediate position and its general habitat and behavioral patterns that may help to give a fuller understanding of this unique genus.
Description
33 pages
Keywords
Marine Biology, Adaptation, Ligia, Physiology