Family BOPYRIDAE Rafinesque, 1815

Gareia arafurae

© Copyright from Bourdon & Bruce 1983.

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Introduction

The Bopyridae are the best known of the epicaridean families. In the most recent treatments of its evolution and zoogeography ten subfamilies were recognised for 469 species in 129 genera (Markham 1985a, 1985b, 1986). Each subfamily is largely parasitic on hosts belonging to a single decapod suborder or lower taxon. The family is centred on the tropical Indo-West Pacific so it is anticipated that many more species occur in northern Australia than are described now. The diagnosis is from Markham (1985b).

Diagnosis

Ectoparasites of decapod crustaceans. Female: Distinctly segmented, slightly to greatly asymmetrical, depressed. Head occasionally fused with first pereonite, sometimes enclosed by frontal lamina; antennae rudimentary; maxilliped of 2 articles, often with anteromedial palp; posteroventral border of head usually with 1 or 2 lateral projections on each side. All pereonites usually distinct; pereopods reduced, usually 7 pairs, although up to 6 occasionally absent from one side; pereopods prehensile, dorsal to lateral, similar; 5 (rarely 7) pairs of oostegites loosely fringing to completely concealing ventral surface. Pleon of 3 to 6 pleonites with sides often produced into lateral plates resembling pleopodal rami; pleopods generally present on all, but final pleonite; pleopods rudimentary or modified for respiration, uniramous or biramous, similar; uropods, when present, terminal, uniramous or biramous, often of same form as pleopods or lateral plates. Male: Much smaller than female, at least twice as long as wide, symmetrical, distinctly segmented. Head rounded anteriorly, occasionally fused with first pereonite; antennae often prominent. Pereon of 7 distinct pereonites; pair of ventral, prehensile pereopods on each pereonite, usually similar except first and sometimes second rarely conspicuously larger than others. Pleon of 1 to 6 pleonites; if unisegmented, usually lacking appendages; if multisegmented, often with sessile to flaplike uniramous or biramous pleopods on each pleonite except last; uropods, if present, uniramous or biramious and terminal.

General References

Markham, J.C. 1985a. Additions to the bopyrid isopod fauna of Thailand. Zoologische Verhandelingen (Leiden) 224: 1-63

Markham, J.C. 1985b. A review of the bopyrid isopods infesting caridean shrimps in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, with special reference to those collected during the Hourglass Cruises in the Gulf of Mexico. Memoirs of the Hourglass Cruises 7(3): 1-156

Markham, J.C. 1986. Evolution and zoogeography of the Isopoda Bopyridae, parasites of Crustacea Decapoda. Crustacean Issues 4: 143-164

Markham, J.C. 2010. The isopod parasites (Crustacea: Isopoda: Bopyridae) of decapod Crustacea of Queensland, Australia, with descriptions of three new species. pp. 151-197 in Davie, P.J.F. & Phillips, J.A. Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Marine Biological Workshop, The Marine Fauna and Flora of Moreton Bay. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 54(3)

Rafinesque, C.S. 1815. Analyse de la nature, ou tableau de l'univers et des corps organises. Palermo (Italy) : Privately Published 224 pp. [Date published April to July]

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