PORT PHILLIP BAY


Sea Centipede 

Paranthura caesia Poore, 1984

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Head as wide as long. Pleon 2 x as long as pereonite 7, pleonites 1-6 free. Antenna 1 flagellum of 7 articles. Antenna 2 flagellum 0,9 times as long as fifth article of peduncle. Preopod 1 article 6 elongate, 1.7 times as long as wide; palm axial; proximal thumb broad, separatedfrom the stiaight cutting edge by a shallow obtuse angle; setal formula 12, 14, 20. Pereopod 2 article 6 shorter than that of pereopod 1; 1.9 times as long as broad, palm with 8 spines, Pereopod 4 articles 5 and 6 each with 4 spines; dactyl stout, 0.8 times length of article 6. Pereopod 7 articles 5 and 6 with 2 and 3 spines respectively; article 6 3.5 times as long as wide; dactyl stout, 0.6 x length of article 6. Pleopod I endopod bearing 12 setae. Pleopod 2 exopod widest at midpoint and tapering distally, bearing 25 setae. Pleopod 2 endopod 2.5 x as long as broad, with 4 setae distally; exopod with a partiall suture laterally, with 4 setae proximal to suture and 9 setae distally. Uropodal endopod reaching just beyond end of telson, as long as wide, lateral margin strongly convex; exopod 2.2 times as long as wide, proximal lobe narrowly rounded, distal lobe moderately acute. Telson 1.3 x as long as pleon, 2.4 x as long as wide, widest at midpoint and tapering to an evenly rounded apex; with numerous terminal long setae and dorsal submarginal short setae on distal half.

Source: Poore, G.C.B. (1984) Paranthura (Crustacea, Isopoda, Paranthuridae) from south-eastern Australia. Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria, 45, 33-69.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Crustacea
Class:
Malacostraca
Subclass:
Eumalacostraca
Superorder:
Peracarida
Order:
Isopoda
Suborder:
Cymothoida
Superfamily:
Anthuroidea
Family:
Paranthuridae
Genus:
Paranthura
Species:
caesia

General Description

Pereopod I palm more or less axial; antenna I flagellum with 7 articles. Telson broad over most of length and rounded terminally; articles 5 and 6 of pereopods 4-7 with 2 and 3 spines respectively. Male uropodal rami broadened, these and dorsum of telson especially setose.

Biology

This isopod is an active predator that uses its hook-like hands to grasp its prey and its biting mouthparts to make a meal of it. Australian species of Paranthura are sexually dimorphic; males differ from juveniles and females in antenna 1, pereopods, uropods and telson.

Habitat

Intertidal to depth of 5.5 m.

Reefs

Distribution guide

Southern Australia.

Species Group

Microcrustaceans › Isopods

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

15.4 mm

Diet

Organic matter

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Taylor, J.

Dr. Jo Taylor is the Sciences Collections Online Coordinator at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Poore, G.C.B.

Dr. Gary Poore is Principal Curator Emeritus at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Taylor, J. & Poore, G.C.B., 2011, Sea Centipede, Paranthura caesia, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Feb 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/5339

Text: creative commons cc by licence