Arcturid isopod
Antarctic isopods have at least 346 species, with 302 of those are endemic to Antarctica (native or peculiar to Antarctica) [3].

Only one Antarctic isopod is bipolar, being found in the Arctic as well as Antarctic [3].



Arcturid isopods usually have a passive filtration feeding mechanism using the setal combs of their anterior pereopods (front legs) [1].



More primitive genera of Arcturid isopods lack these setal combs on their anterior pereopods (front legs) and eat detritus [1].



Arcturid isopods cling to the bottom with some of their posterior pereopods (rear legs) while holding their anterior segments and pereopods up into the water for passive filter-feeding [1]. The bush sponge Homaxinella balfourensis almost always has arcturid isopods perched on it [4].

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].

1: Antarctic Isopoda Valvifera. JW Wagele. Koenigstein ; Champaign, Ill. : Koeltz Scientific Books, 1991; 2: Antarctic Valviferans (Crustacea, Isopoda, Valvifera) : New Genera, New Species, and Redescriptions. A Brandt. Leiden ; New York : E.J. Brill, 1990; 3: Berichte zur Polarforschung 98: 201-240, 1991; 4: Rob Robbins, personal communication, 1999

Text ©Peter Brueggeman. Photographs ©Canadian Museum of Nature (Kathleen Conlan), Paul Cziko, Rob Robbins, & Norbert Wu. Photographs may not be used in any form without the express written permission of Canadian Museum of Nature (Kathleen Conlan), Paul Cziko Rob Robbins, & Norbert Wu. Norbert Wu no longer grants permission for uncompensated use of his photos under any circumstances whatsoever; want more info?