The shallow water marine isopods of Texas.
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Abstract
A total of thirty-seven species of isopods, excluding the Suborder Epicaridea, is reported for the Texas coast. A illustrated key is provided for their identification. Eighteen of the species have not previously been reported from Texas. Five appear to be new species, two of which are described ( Anthelura harperi n. sp. and Synidotea teres n. sp.). Of the species listed seven are fish parasites. Twenty-three species were found inshore and fifteen species were collected offshore. A comparison of zoogeographical affinities reveals that the Texas coast has a mixture of warm- temperate and tropical isopod fauna. The northern inshore Texas coast, from a boundary line just north of Port O'Connor, has a high percentage of warm-temperate species with a substantial addition of tropical species. The southern inshore Texas coast, generally considered a transitional area, has a equal proportion of warm-temperate and tropical species. The offshore isopod fauna shows the same trend, but collections are meager, especially from the northern area.