Wharf Louse Ligia exotica

Called both "sea roach" and "wharf roach," this creature carries names that hint at its urban affinities—but don't let the word "roach" fool you. It's a crustacean relative of the common pill bug, not a cockroach at all. Perfectly adapted to rocky coasts and human-made harbor structures, it has become a cosmopolitan citizen found in various parts of the world, thriving in ports and coves across oceans. These sea slaters live in that critical zone just above the high-water mark—the splash zone where they experience both salt spray and air exposure. Their ability to tolerate these extreme conditions has made them highly successful at colonizing the human-built coastlines of the world. From ancient harbors to modern container ports, you'll find them clinging to walls and rocks, utterly indifferent to human activity.