Subfamily Bopyrinae Rafinesque, 1815

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Introduction

Members of the subfamily are branchial parasites of caridean shrimps. The subfamily was redefined by Markham (1985).

Diagnosis

Female: Frontal lamina usually absent; coxal plates and dorsolateral bosses reduced; pereomeres usually distinct, though first one occasionally fused with head and/or second pereomere; 5 pairs of reduced oostegites surrounding, but not at all covering brood pouch; all pereopods present, but greatly reduced; pleomeres separate or variously fused, often defined on only one side; lateral plates and uropods absent; pleopods reduced, posterior ones often absent. Male: Much smaller than female, body relatively short; pleon partly to completely fused, pleomeres never separated though often distinguishable at least laterally; no pleonal appendages.

General References

Markham, J.C. 1985. 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

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]

History of changes