54. Thalassisobates littoralis (Silvestri, 1903)

Isobates littoralis Silvestri, 1903 .

Isobates adriaticus Verhoeff, 1908 .

Isobates coiffaiti Demange, 1961 .

Distribution

ES-BAL, ES-SPA, FR-COR, FR-FRA, GB-GRB, GR-GRC, GR-DOD, HR, IE, IT-ITA, IT-SAR, IT-SI, MC, NO-NOR, SE. Mediterranean + Atlantic. – Also North Africa and eastern USA.

Habitat

Marine, occurring in the intertidal zone of rocky coasts and banks of shingle. Not in sand or mud.

Remarks

The very large distribution, with large gaps, between Mediterranean records and those in Galicia, Britain, Ireland, Norway and Sweden, and the USA, is remarkable. The gaps must be largely due to long stretches of unsuitable coastline and lead to speculation about the method of dispersal through the ocean.