flabelliferan isopod Natatolana sp. or Aega sp.

From the suborder Flabellifera, this isopod is either Natatolana sp. (Family Cirolanidae) or Aega sp. (Family Aegidae) [1]. The genus is identified from the isopod's first, second, and third pereopods (thoracic appendages) on its ventral side which aren't visible in this photo [1,4,5]. This isopod was about the size of a sowbug or pillbug -- about one centimeter [2].

Antarctic isopods have at least 346 known species and 302 of those are endemic to Antarctica (native or peculiar to Antarctica) [3]. Some Antarctic isopods occur in both Antarctica and South Africa, Australia, or South America [3]. Only one Antarctic isopod is bipolar (found in the Arctic as well as Antarctic) [3].

Here a flabelliferan isopod Natatolana sp. or Aega sp. is perched on the lip of the sponge Haliclona dancoi. The isopod is probably living in a commensal relationship with the sponge. The isopod benefits from the shelter of the sponge and the sponge is not harmed by the presence of the isopod. Antarctic isopods have a variety of deepwater and continental shelf ecological niches including parasites of fish and other isopods and free-living predators of amphipods, polychaetes, and other invertebrates [3]. Natatolana spp. isopods feed on carrion [6].

1: Angelika Brandt, personal communication, 1998; 2: Norbert Wu, personal communication, 1998; 3: Berichte zur Polarforschung 98: 201-240, 1991; 4: A Brandt. Antarctic Serolidae and Cirolanidae (Crustacea, Isopoda) : New Genera, New Species, and Redescriptions. Koenigstein : Koeltz Scientific Books, 1988; 5: Biological Reports of the Soviet Antarctic Expedition, 1955-1958. Chief editor: EP Pavlovskii. Edited by AP Andriyashev & PV Ushakov. Volume 3. Jerusalem : Program for Scientific Translations, 1966. pp 220-389; 6: Oceanografia in Antartide, Oceanografia en Antartica. VA Gallardo, O Ferretti, HI Moyano, eds. Concepcion, Chile : Universidad de Concepcion, 1992. pp 417-420

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