Family IDOTEIDAE Samouelle, 1819

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Family IDOTEIDAE Samouelle, 1819

Idoteadae Samouelle, G. 1819. The Entomologist's Useful Compendium; or an introduction to the knowledge of British Insects, comprising the best means of obtaining and preserving them, and a description of the apparatus generally used; together with the genera of Linné, and modern methods of arranging the Classes Crustacea, Myriapoda, spiders, mites and insects, from the affinities and structure, according to the views of Dr. Leach. Also an explanation of the terms used in entomology; a calendar of the times of appearance and usual situations of near 3,000 species of British Insects; with instructions for collecting and fitting up objects for the microscope. London : Thomas Boys 496 pp. 12 pls. [106] [original spelling].
Idoteidae Samouelle, 1819 [corrected spelling].
Idotheidae Samouelle, 1819 [subsequent misspelling].

Introduction

Idoteids are generally shallow-water valviferans recognisable from the generally elongated or somewhat oval dorsal aspect and the similarity of the walking legs, pereopods 2–7. Some are popularly referred to as sea-centipedes. They are distinguished from holognathids which are more cylindrical and have a reduced pereopod 4 (Poore 2001). Most are associated with algal or seagrass communities and are principally herbivores. The association with algal substrates is taken to extreme by the species of Idotea and Synidotea that inhabit drift algae in oceanic environments (Thiel & Haye, 2006). Some species of Synidotea and Edotia occurring in shelf or bathyal environments are not associated with algae. Most species prefer fully marine habitats but some are estuarine.

Poore & Lew Ton (1993) provided keys to the southern Australian and New Zealand species (few are known from the tropics).

Diagnosis

Body more or less flattened or semicylindrical, coxae with expanded coxal dorsal plates, pleonites with expanded epimera, straight, without flexion, tapering posteriorly. Head and pereonite 1 free, or fused (Crabyzos, Lyidotea only). Head more or less semi-cylindrical. Pereopod 1 gnathopod-like; pereopods 2–7 ambulatory, similar, with marginal short robust setae; with prominent dactyli, unguis short. Uropodal exopod (smaller ramus) absent or ovate, fringed with setae (if present). Pleopod 1 peduncle shorter than or as long as rami (similar to pleopods 2 and 3); exopod of male laminar.