Suborder VALVIFERA Sars, 1882

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Suborder VALVIFERA Sars, 1882

Compiler and date details

Gary C.B. Poore, Helen M. Lew Ton & Tania M. Bardsley

Introduction

Valviferan isopods are distinguished from all other suborders by the manner in which the uropods attach laterally on the pleotelson and are modified to form opercular plates covering the pleopods. A comprehensive review of the systematics and phylogeny of the group (Brusca 1984) recognised six families (one, the Idoteidae with five subfamilies) but recent revisions suggest that 11 families exist (Poore 1985; Poore & Bardsley 1992; Poore, 2001). The monotypic Xenarcturidae Sheppard, 1957 and South African Holidoteidae Wägele, 1989 are not represented in Australian waters. The Pseudidotheidae Ohlin, 1901 and Rectarcturidae, Poore, 2001 are represented by undescribed species. Wägele (1991) provided keys and lists of the Antarctic species.

Diagnosis

Mandibular molar triturative, with teeth and setae; palp absent (1 exception); uropodal articulating laterally, peduncle long, with short rami enclosing pleopods in branchial chamber; pleotelson vaulted, branchial chamber defined by ridges along mesial margin of lateral edge narrow; pleopods 1-2 different from 3-5; ventral coxal plates 1-7 (medial extension of coxa replacing sternite) obsolete; penial processes usually fused, on membrane posterior to pereonite 7 or on pleonite 1.