Epicaridea: Difference between revisions

'''Epicaridea''' is a former [[suborder]] of [[isopod]]s, now treated as partan ofinfraorder thein suborder [[Cymothoida]].<ref>{{BioRef|WoRMS|title=Epicaridea |id=13795 |access-date=28 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Angelika Brandt & Gary C. B. Poore |year=2003 |title=Higher classification of the flabelliferan and related Isopoda based on a reappraisal of relationships |journal=[[Invertebrate Systematics]] |volume=17 |issue=6 |pages=893–923 |doi=10.1071/IS02032}}</ref> They are [[ectoparasite]]s that inhabit other [[crustacean]]s, namely [[ostracod]]s, [[copepod]]s, [[barnacle]]s and [[malacostraca]]ns. TheEpicarideans suborder isare found globally. About 704 species have been recorded. Epicaridea are generally less well researched than other isopods.<ref>{{cite book |author=Brian Morton |year=2003 |title=Perspectives on Marine Environmental Change in Hong Kong and Southern China, 1977-2001 |publisher=[[Hong Kong University Press]] |isbn=962-209-641-7 |pages=1–152}}</ref>

There is a high degree of [[sexual dimorphism]] within the orderepicarideans. The female is commonly very asymmetrical, often losing segmentation. Two pairs of rudimentary [[antenna (biology)|antennae]] are carried on the head. [[Arthropod mouthparts|Mouthpart]]s show little development, with only [[Mandible (arthropod mouthpart)|mandibles]] and maxillipeds present, sometimes with a second pair of rudimentary [[Maxilla (arthropod mouthpart)|maxillae]]. Males are of smaller size than females and of different appearance. Development is through regressive [[metamorphosis]], undergoing two or three larval stages.<ref>{{cite book |author=[[Harriet Richardson]] |author-link=Harriet Richardson |year=1905 |title=A Monograph on the Isopods of North America |publisher=[[United States Government Printing Office|Government Printing Office]] |pages=1–497[https://archive.org/details/monographsonisop00rich/page/1 1]–497 |url=https://archive.org/details/monographsonisop00rich}}</ref>

Eleven families are currently recognised within the suborder Epicaridea, divided into two superfamilies.<ref name="M&D">{{cite book |url=http://atiniui.nhm.org/pdfs/3839/3839.pdf |title=An Updated Classification of the Recent Crustacea |author=Joel W. Martin & George E. Davis |year=2001 |pages=1–132 |publisher=[[Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County]] |formataccess-date=[[Portable2009-12-15 Document|archive-date=2013-05-12 Format|PDF]]archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512091254/http://atiniui.nhm.org/pdfs/3839/3839.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=13795|title=WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Epicaridea}}</ref>

**[[DajidaeColypuridae]] <small>Giard & BonnierRichardson, 18871905</small>