PORT PHILLIP BAY


Sand Skater 

Serolina clarella Poore, 1987

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Head with 5 flat rounded lobes along posterior margin, median one most distinct. Eye reniform, with prominent medioposterior eave. Pereonites 1-5 and pleonites 1-3 with broadly-based triangular projections on midline of posterior margin, most pronounced on pereonite 5 and pleonite 1. Pereon without lateral sculpture. Pleotelson broadly triangular, tapering from base, lateral margins concave distally; a sharp flat ridge on lateral anterior two-thirds, often divided into 2 parts, sometimes irregularly; with mid-dorsal crest of even height throughout.

Source: Poore, G.C.B. (1987) Serolina, a new genus for Serolis minuta Beddard (Crustacea: Isopoda: Serolidae) with descriptions of eight new species from Australia. Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria, 48, 141-189.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Crustacea
Class:
Malacostraca
Subclass:
Eumalacostraca
Superorder:
Peracarida
Order:
Isopoda
Suborder:
Sphaeromatidea
Superfamily:
Seroloidea
Family:
Serolidae
Genus:
Serolina
Species:
clarella

General Description

Body very round, head inset into the first body segment with a pair of kidney shaped eyes on top. Body highly domed with only slight mid-dorsal crests. The first legs are a pair of solid claws. Up to 10 mm long.

Biology

Serolina clarella, is a member of the genus referred to as sand skaters. They use their discoid shape and camouflage to swim and walk about invisibly on the surface of sand in marine environments. They feed on the organic matter found in the sand.

Habitat

Subtidal sand and mud, 10-90 m depth.

Reefs

Distribution guide

Southern temperate oceans, including south-eastern Australia.

Species Group

Microcrustaceans › Isopods

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

10 mm

Diet

Organic matter

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Species Code

MoV 960

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Taylor, J.

Dr. Jo Taylor is the Sciences Collections Online Coordinator at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Poore, G.C.B.

Dr. Gary Poore is Principal Curator Emeritus at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Taylor, J. & Poore, G.C.B., 2011, Sand Skater, Serolina clarella, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Feb 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/5343

Text: creative commons cc by licence