A CHECKLIST OF FREE-LIVING MARINE ISOPODS OF INDIAN COAST
ARYA UNNI *
Department and Research Centre of Zoology, Mahatma Gandhi College, Thiruvananthapuram-695004, India.
R. S. BALAMURALI
Department and Research Centre of Zoology, Mahatma Gandhi College, Thiruvananthapuram-695004, India.
S. S. AMRUTHA
Department and Research Centre of Zoology, Mahatma Gandhi College, Thiruvananthapuram-695004, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Isopods are the “marsupial or pouched crustaceans”, coming under the superorder Peracarida. Even though aquatic and free-living isopods contribute the majority to the whole number of isopod species, they are largely neglected in taxonomical field of our country. The number of free-living marine isopods reported from Indian coasts is not even reaching hundred. The present paper is a checklist about the known free-living marine isopods identified from our coasts in all these years. The largest contribution is done by the so called ‘parasitic’ suborder Cymothoida. Other significant suborders present are Sphaeromatidea, Valvifera, Limnoriidea and Asellota.
Keywords: Marine, free-living, isopod, India.