Isopoda

Taxobox
name = Isopods

---

image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Eophreatoicus", a freshwater isopod from Australia
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
subphylum = Crustacea
classis = Malacostraca
ordo = Isopoda
ordo_authority = Latreille, 1817
subdivision_ranks = Suborders
subdivision =
Anthuridea
Asellota
Calabozoida
Epicaridea
Flabellifera
Microcerberidea
Oniscidea
Phreatoicidea
Valvifera

Isopods are one of the most diverse orders of crustaceans, with many species living in all environments, but are most common in shallow marine waters. Unlike most crustaceans, isopods are successful on land (suborder Oniscidea, woodlice, which also includes sea slaters), although their greatest diversity remains in the deep sea (suborder Asellota). There are also several parasitic species within the genus "Cymothoa", commonly known as "tongue-biters" for their habit of nibbling off fishes' tongues and attaching themselves to the floor of the host's mouth. The isopods are an ancient group with fossils known from the Carboniferous (suborder Phreatoicidea, family Paleophreatoicidae) that only differ slightly from modern southern hemisphere freshwater phreatoicideans. There are 4000 known species [Walters, Martin & Johnson, Jinny. "The World of Animals". Bath, Somerset: Parragon, 2007.] .

Appearance

Isopods have three main body parts; the head, thorax, and abdomen. They have one prominent pair of antennae which are used to search and taste and smell food and have a second pair which are not seen, and seven pairs of legs. Isopods have seven separate appendages on the thorax and paired appendages at the end of the abdomen called uropods. Isopods vary in colour from dark gray to white, with and without pattern.

Other Names

Various colloquial names for assorted Isopoda include Woodlouse, Roly-Poly, sowbug, and potato bug.

See also

*Giant isopod

References

External links

* [http://www.tafi.org.au/zooplankton/imagekey/malacostraca/peracarida/ispopda/isopoda.html Isopoda fact sheet - Guide to the marine zooplankton of south eastern Australia]
* [http://www.nmnh.si.edu/iz/isopod/about.html Smithsonian Institution World List of Marine, Freshwater and Terrestrial Isopod Crustaceans]
* [http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~buz/isosites.html Buz Wilson's Isopod Sites Page]
* [http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~buz/phreamenu.html suborder Phreatoicidea]
* [http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~buz/asellota.html suborder Asellota]
* [http://asso.univ-poitiers.fr/t%2Disopods/ suborder Oniscidea]
* [http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~hollidac/research.html Prof. Chuck Holliday's Research Page] , Prof. Chuck Holliday, Dept. of Biology, Lafayette College. Contains links to articles on osmoregulation in isopods and other crustaceans.
* [http://www.crustacea.net/crustace/isopoda/ Australian Isopoda]