Description: This isopod has a robust, slightly oval body with obvious segments aside from the posterior of the animal where the segments are fused. Here the pleon and telson fuse to form the pleotelson which is slightly keeled and has a rounded tip in the centre. Males grow 8-30 mm long while females reach 10-16 mm. It is usually a uniform brown with white longitudinal markings or marbling across the entire dorsal surface. Females are usually darker in colour than the males. The have two antennae and conspicuous eyes

Habitat: Can be found both sublittorally and intertidally, usually amongst algae. More commonly found sublittorally amongst algae or fish waste.

Distribution: Scattered records from all coasts of Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: Could be confused with other Idotea species that are found here, most similar to Idotea granulosa, but Idotea neglecta is larger and more robust, and the body has a less oval outline, with wider head, thorax and pleotelson.

Key Identification Features:

• Robust isopod with a slightly oval shape.
• Usually uniform brown with white markings; either longitudinal stripes or marbling.
• Pleotelson has rounded tip in the centre.

Distribution Map from NBN: Idotea neglecta at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Idotea neglecta at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Idotea neglecta

WoRMS: Idotea neglecta at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Idotea neglecta G. O. Sars, 1897. AphiaID: 119048.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Arthropoda; Crustacea; Multicrustacea; Malacostraca; Eumalacostraca; Peracarida; Isopoda; Valvifera; Idoteidae; Idotea