Peracarida

iPeracarida

Eophreatoicus
(a fresh water isopod from Australia)

Scientific classification

Suborders

  Order Amphipoda - amphipods
  Order Cumacea - cumaceans
  Order Isopoda - pillbugs, sowbugs
  Order Lophogastrida
  Order Mictacea
  Order Mysida
  Order Tanaidacea

The superorder Peracarida is a large group of crustaceans, having members in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial habitats.

[edit] Anatomy

Peracarids distinguish themselves from other malcostracans by some typical anatomical characteristics:

they possess an articulated lacinia mobilis on the mandibula, situated between the molar and the incisor processes.
they have a marsupium formed by the inner flaps on the first segments of the thoracal coxal endites. Those flaps are called oostegites. The marsupium is only lacking in Thermosbaenacea, where the carapace is used as brooding space instead.
pre-juveniles leave the marsupium in the so-called manca-stage. They typically still lack the last pair of pereiopods.