Sphaeroma serratum (Fabricius, 1787)
(a sea slater)

Taxonomic hierarchy:
SpeciesSphaeroma serratum (a sea slater)
GenusSphaeroma (a genus of crustaceans)
FamilySPHAEROMATIDAE (a family of sea slaters)
SuperfamilySPHAEROMATOIDEA (a superfamily of crustaceans)
SuborderSPHAEROMATIDEA (a suborder of crustaceans)
OrderISOPODA (woodlice, waterlice and sea slaters)
SuperorderPERACARIDA (amphipods, woodlice, cumaceans etc.)
SubclassEUMALACOSTRACA (a subclass of crustaceans)
ClassMALACOSTRACA (crabs, lobsters, shrimps, prawns, woodlice etc.)
SubphylumCRUSTACEA (crustaceans)
PhylumARTHROPODA (arthropods)
SuperphylumECDYSOZOA (skin shedders)
CladeBilateria (bilaterally symmetrical animals)
SubkingdomEUMETAZOA (metazoans)
KingdomANIMALIA (animals)
DomainEukaryota (eukaryotes)
LifeBIOTA (living things)
Records of Sphaeroma serratum (a sea slater) :
1: Sphaeroma serratum (a sea slater)
27 Jan 2012 OSGR: SY77 50° 30’ N, 2° 20’ W Vice County: Dorset (VC 9) England
aggregation under, and on underside of, rock, at edge of tidal pool . Photos: varied patterns
Image 1: Aggregation, on underside of upturned rockImage 2: Aggregation, on underside of upturned rock (2)Image 3: Aggregation, on underside of upturned rock (3)Image 4: Various colour morphs - under rock at edge of poolImage 5: Various colour morphs - under rock at edge of pool (2)Image 6: Dark specimen - dorsal view - highly enlarged - black backgroundImage 7: Dark specimen - partly rolled up - dorsal view - highly enlarged - black backgroundImage 8: Dark specimen - ventral view - highly enlarged - black backgroundImage 9: Pale specimen - dorsal view - enlarged - black backgroundImage 10: Pale specimen - ventral view - highly enlarged - black backgroundImage 11: Maxillipede palp - microscope low magnification - white backgroundImage 12: Maxillipede palp - plumose bristles on article 3 - magnified - white backgroundImage 13: Maxillipede palp - plumose bristles on article 3 - microscope low magnification - white backgroundImage 14: Maxillipede palp - plumose bristles on article 3 - microscope low magnification - white background (2)Image 15: Maxillipede palp - plumose bristles on articles 2-4 - microscope low magnification - white background
2: Sphaeroma serratum (a sea slater)
17 Mar 2011 OSGR: SY77 50° 30’ N, 2° 20’ W Vice County: Dorset (VC 9) England
on mud under rock, and on underside of rock, in tidal pool
Image 1: Two slaters - one curled upImage 2: Two slaters - one curled up (2)Image 3: Anterior viewImage 4: Anterior view (2)Image 5: Dorsal view - highly enlarged - pale backgroundImage 6: Dorsal view - highly enlarged - pale background (2)Image 7: Dorsal view - highly enlarged - pale background (3)Image 8: Dorsal view - half open - highly enlarged - pale backgroundImage 9: Dorsal view - in situ - close-up - enlargedImage 10: Dorsal view - in situ - close-up - enlarged (2)Image 11: Dorsal view - in situ - close-up - enlarged (3)Image 12: Dorso-lateral view - enlargedImage 13: Dorso-lateral view - highly enlarged - pale backgroundImage 14: Endopod and exopod of uropod - magnifiedImage 15: Endopod of uropod - magnifiedImage 16: Exopod (above) and endopod (below) of uropod - magnifiedImage 17: Exopod (above) and endopod (below) of uropod - magnified (2)Image 18: Exopod of uropod - magnifiedImage 19: Head and antennae - antero-dorsal view - highly enlarged - pale backgroundImage 20: Head and antennae - antero-dorsal view - highly enlarged - pale background (2)Image 21: Head and antennae - front three-quarter view - highly enlargedImage 22: Hind end - rear three-quarter view - highly enlarged - pale backgroundImage 23: Hind end - rear three-quarter view - highly enlarged - pale background (2)Image 24: Latero-dorsal view - enlargedImage 25: Latero-dorsal view - enlarged (2)Image 26: Latero-dorsal view - enlarged (3)Image 27: Latero-dorsal view - highly enlarged - pale backgroundImage 28: Rolled upImage 29: Rolled up - anterior view - close-up - highly enlargedImage 30: Rolled up - anterior view - close-up - highly enlarged (2)Image 31: Rolled up - posterior view - close-up - highly enlargedImage 32: Rolled up - posterior view - close-up - highly enlarged (2)Image 33: Maxillipede - microscope low magnification - white backgroundImage 34: Maxillipede palp - plumose hairs on article 3 - microscope low magnification - white backgroundImage 35: Maxillipede palp - plumose hairs on articles 1 & 2 - microscope low magnification - white backgroundImage 36: Maxillipede - pectinate spines of basis - microscope low magnification - white backgroundImage 37: Peraeopod 1 - ischium and merus - microscope low magnificationImage 38: Peraeopod 1 - ischium and merus - microscope low magnification - black backgroundImage 39: Peraeopod 1 - ischium and merus - microscope low magnification - black background (2)Image 40: Peraeopod 1 - ischium and merus - microscope low magnification - white backgroundImage 41: Peraeopod 1 - microscope low magnification - black backgroundImage 42: Peraeopod 1 - microscope low magnification - white backgroundImage 43: Peraeopod 1 - plumose setae of ischium - microscope low magnification - white backgroundImage 44: Peraeopod 1 - plumose setae of ischium - tips - microscope low magnification - white background
3: Sphaeroma serratum (a sea slater)
21 Sep 1968 OSGR: TQ30 50° 50’ N, 0° 10’ W Vice County: East Sussex (VC 14) England
in rock crevice on mid-shore
Image 1: Rolled up

Sphaeroma serratum (a sea slater) may be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Sphaeroma serratum (a sea slater)
BioInfoBioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk) has 1 host/parasite/foodplant and/or other relationships for Sphaeroma serratum (a sea slater)

A common isopod in rock crevices and under stones along the southern and western shorelines.

It can roll into a ball and also change colour. They are usually mottled grey-brown although the colour varies from dirty whitish to almost black, then often with large white patches on the head and tail.

Three other similar species may be common, especially where freshwater enters the sea.

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