Eric's summer students found a few intriguing isopods in the rocky intertidal zone this morning. This one rolled up into a tight little sphere. You can see its compound eyes and orange antennules at the top, and the last abdominal appendages — a broad pleotelson and a pair of uropods (made up of 4 curved appendages — 2 exopods and 2 endopods) at the bottom. We believe this is a species of Gnorisphaeroma in the Sphaeromatidae family. "Sphaero" means ball or sphere — a wonderful reference to this shape!
3 comments:
that's incredible! a whole little sphere world.
As the expression says, "Think locally, act like a globe." -ES
I agree, on a black background this curled-up little isopod looks like a planet in space!
:) Jackie
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