Phylum, Arthropoda; Class, Malacostraca; Order, Isopoda
Identifying Features Appearance (Morphology)
An isopod consists of three
body parts: head, thorax, and abdomen. There is only one prominent pair of antennae (one inconspicuous pair). They
have a pair of simple eyes and seven pairs of legs. There are seven separate segments on thorax with paired appendages
at end of abdomen called uropods. The first five pairs of abdominal limbs are flat membranous gills. Their color
varies from dark gray to white with or without pattern. The smallest isopods are microscopic and the largest, from
the deep sea, 40 cm long.
Distribution
The many thousands of species
of isopods are classified in about 95 families. Greatest diversity is seen in the deep parts of the ocean basins
at 1000-5000 meters depth. Some of the families seen there are not represented in shallower marine environments
but many can be seen on the shelf and in the intertidal zone.
Natural History
Feeding
Isopods are omnivores or scavengers
feeding on dead or decaying plants or animals. Some may eat live plants.
Habitat
Isopods breathe with gills,
so they are restricted to areas with high humidity, under rocks or logs, in leaf litter or in crevices. Some species
are nocturnal.
Above information and images derived from links:
http://insected.arizona.edu/isoinfo.htm
http://scrtec.rtec.org/track/tracks/f05244.html
For more information see