Protognathia
| Protognathia | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Isopoda |
| Suborder: | Cymothoida |
| Superfamily: | Cymothooidea |
| Family: | Protognathiidae |
| Genus: | Protognathia Wägele & Brandt, 1988 |
| Type species | |
| Cirolana bathypelagica Schultz, 1977 | |
Protognathia is a genus of marine isopods belonging to the monotypic family Protognathiidae.[1]
The species of this genus are found in southernmost South Hemisphere,[1] more specifically in the Weddell Sea, where the type specimen was found at a water depth from 410 to 245 meters.[2]
Species
[edit]The Genus contains the following species:[1]
- Protognathia bathypelagica (Schultz, 1977)
- Protognathia waegeli Kussakin & Rybakov, 1995
Description
[edit]Isopods of this family (and genus respectively) are a morphologic intermediate between members of Gnathiidae and Cirolanidae, which is why the type species, Protognathia bathypelagica, was at first misidentified as Cirolana bathypelagica.[3] Their pleonites are not fused. Pereonites four to six are larger than the remaining segments, and the seventh pereonite is about as large as a pleonite. The seventh pereopod is absent. The uropods are flat and slender, almost as long as the pleotelson. Members of this genus have a tail fan and lack eyes. All pleopods have similar outlines, with large branches.[2]
Ecology
[edit]While its mandibles resemble those of cirolanid isopods, it is not used as a cutting instrument, as they have a pronounced point probably used for stinging. This then suggests a bloodsucking, ectoparasitic ecology.[2]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "Protognathia Wägele & Brandt, 1988". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- 1 2 3 Wägele, Johann-Wolfgang; Brandt, Angelika (1988-05-01). "Protognathia n. gen. bathypelagica (Schultz, 1977) rediscovered in the Weddell Sea: A missing link between the Gnathiidae and the Cirolanidae (Crustacea, Isopoda)". Polar Biology. 8 (5): 359–365. doi:10.1007/BF00442027. ISSN 1432-2056.
- ↑ Schotte M, Boyko CB, Bruce NL, Poore GC, Taiti S, Wilson GD (eds.). "Protognathia Wägele & Brandt, 1988". World Marine, Freshwater and Terrestrial Isopod Crustaceans Database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
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