- Source: Sphaeromatidae
Sphaeromatidae (marine pillbug family) is a family of isopods, often encountered on rocky shores and in shelf waters in temperate zones. The family includes almost 100 genera and 619 known marine species (and about 65 in fresh water). Within these genera, there are groups that share distinctive morphologies; further research may reclassify these genus-groups as separate families.
Description
Many species have a dorsoventrally compressed body shape, often with a vaulted dorsum, and some are strongly flattened (scale-like).
Ecology
Sphaeromatidae are browsers or detritus feeders. Xynosphaera appear to have incisory mandibles; Xynosphaera colemani burrows into the tissue of alcyonacean corals. Some genera of Sphaeromatidae associate with sponges, particularly Oxinasphaera.
Genera
The family contains the following genera:
See also
Sphaeroma terebrans
References
External links
"Cute As Buttons"
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Sphaeromatidea
- Sphaeromatidae
- Isopoda
- Thermosphaeroma thermophilum
- Dynoides globicauda
- List of North American animals extinct in the Holocene
- Dynoides spinipodus
- Dynoides brevispina
- Exosphaeroma laeviusculum
- Dynoides serratisinus
- Cymodoce
