Valvifera Explained

The Valvifera are marine isopod crustaceans. Valviferans are distinguished, however, by the flat, valve-like uropods which hinge laterally and fold inward beneath the rear part of their bodies, covering the pleopods.^[1] Some species are omnivorous, and serve as effective scavengers in the economy of the sea.

Families

Twelve families are recognised:^[2]

• Antarcturidae Poore, 2001 (17 genera)
• Arcturidae Dana, 1849 (14 genera)
• Arcturididae Poore, 2001 (one genus)
• Austrarcturellidae Poore & Bardsley, 1992 (five genera)
• Chaetiliidae Dana, 1849 (13 genera)
• Holidoteidae Wägele, 1989 (four genera)
• Holognathidae Thomson, 1904 (five genera)
• Idoteidae Samouelle, 1819 (24 genera)
• Pseudidotheidae Ohlin, 1901 (one genus)
• Rectarcturidae Poore, 2001 (four genera)
• Thermoarcturidae Poore, 2015 (three genera)
• Xenarcturidae Sheppard, 1957 (one genus)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Valvifera (Isopoda, Peracarida, Malacostraca) . Crustacea, the Higher Taxa: Description, Identification, and Information Retrieval . J. K. Lowry . 2 October 1999 . June 4, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190320100640/http://crustacea.net:80/crustace/www/valvifer.htm . 20 March 2019 .
2. 2023 . Valvifera . Isopod . 13800 . 25 January 2023.