Summary
The microstructure of the surface of thirteen marine littoral and two terrestrial isopods was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. A great diversity of surface ornamentation is present, including non-sensory microscales, pits, tubercles, and ridges, and sensory tricorns, pit organs, pores, papillae and setae. Microscales are common features of the integument surface; their shape and size are highly variable. Tricorns were not observed on the marine littoral isopods. Several hitherto undescribed structures were observed including spade-like projections from the tergite surface of Oniscus asellus, hair-like filaments associated with the microscales of Jaera and ridged conical protuberances on Edotea triloba and E. montosa. The possible function of certain surface microstructures is discussed.
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Powell, C.V.L., Halcrow, K. The surface microstructure of marine and terrestrial isopoda (Crustacea, Peracarida). Zoomorphology 101, 151–164 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00312430
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00312430