Creature Feature – Isopod
This week is the letter ‘I’, and today’s featured creature is the Isopod.
Isopods are an order of invertebrates that belong to the greater crustacean group of animals, which also includes crabs and shrimp. It is estimated that there are around 10,000 species of isopod, around half of which live in our oceans.
Taxonomy
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Suprerorder: Peracarida
Order: Isopoda
Isopod Fact File
Size: Most species reach lengths of between 0.7mm and 3.5cm however a giant marine species can grow up to 35cm in length. These giants can weigh up to 1.8kg
Distribution: Species can be found across the globe, inhabiting varying ocean zones e.g., abyssal (deep ocean) as well as in freshwater e.g., estuaries
Diet: Isopods have a simple gut which lacks a midgut section. Food is sucked into the oesophagus and passed into the stomach. They have a varied diet depending on species – they can be detritivores (decomposers), carnivores, filter feeders, and parasites
Behaviour: Crawling is the primary means of locomotion, and some species bore into the seabed, the ground or timber structures
IUCN Status: There is little data regarding the conservation status of almost all marine isopods. However, studies show a large migration of some isopod species which is believed to be a direct response to warming sea temperatures
Giant Ispod © Jesse Claggett
