Crustacea, the Higher Taxa

J.K. Lowry


Calabozoidea (Isopoda, Peracarida, Malacostraca)

Description. Head. Rostrum absent; eyes absent; eyes ocular scale absent; eyes naupliar eyes absent. Antennules (antenna 1) uniramous; peduncle and flagellum indistinguishable; exopod reduced, vestigial or absent; statocyst absent. Antennae (antenna 2) uniramous; exopod multiarticulate. Mandible uniramous; palp absent. Maxillipeds, 1 pair; uniramous. Thorax. Carapace absent. Thorax and abdomen differentiated. Peraeopods (legs) 7 pairs; uniramous; non-phyllopodous; undifferentiated (simple); coxae not forming lateral plates. Peraeopod 1 (leg 1) simple. Peraeopod 2 (leg 2) simple. Peraeopod 3 (leg 3) simple. Abdomen with 3 somites (pleonites 3-5). Epimera present (not well developed). Pleopods present, 5 pairs; well developed, broad and flat; 1 and 2 forming reproductive organ in males. Uropods well developed, 1 pair, positioned terminally or subterminally; rami absent; vestigial. Telson fused to pleon (pleotelson) (very large).

Larval development. Metamorphic. Embryos carried in ventral thoracic brood pouch.

Habitat. Freshwater, groundwater.

Distribution. Venezuela, South America.

Cite this publication as: Lowry, J.K. (1999 onwards). 'Crustacea, the Higher Taxa: Description, Identification, and Information Retrieval.' Version: 2 October 1999. https://crustacea.net/.