Family LIGIIDAE Leach, 1814

Ligia novizealandiae

© Copyright from Dana 1852.

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Introduction

Typically members of the worldwide genus Ligia Fabricius are supralittoral, but some may venture inland. Ligidioides Wahrberg is an Australian endemic genus known from inland localities in Queensland. Schmalfuss & Ferrara (1978) described the fauna from West Africa.

Diagnosis

Dorsal surface of body shallowly convex; animal does not conglobate. Eye with many ommatidia in Ligia; eye of moderate size in Ligidioides. Antenna 1 with 3 articles. Antenna 2 flagellum with more than 10 articles in Australasian species. Mandible with molar process. Maxillipedal palp with 5 articles. Pereonal epimera 2–7 (coxae) fused to corresponding tergites (although suture lines may be visible in female). Dactylar organ present on each pereopod in Ligia. Male with pair of penes. Pleopod 2 of male modified as copulatory structure. Without pleopodal lungs. Uropod attached terminally and projecting beyond telson; rami styliform.

General References

Leach, W.E. 1814. Crustaceology. pp. 383-437 in Brewster, D. Sir (ed.). The Edinburgh Encyclopaedia. Edinburgh : John Murray Baldwin & Cradocle Vol. 7 (2).

Schmalfuss, H. & Ferrara, F. 1978. Terrestrial isopods from West Africa. Part 2: Families Tylidae, Ligiidae, Trichoniscidae, Styloniscidae, Rhyscotidae, Halophilosciidae, Philosciidae, Platyarthridae, Trachelipidae, Porcellionidae, Armadillidiidae. Monitore Zoologico Italiano n.s., Monographie 11: 15-97

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