Corresponding author: Regina Wetzer (
Academic editor: T. Horton
Wetzer R, Wall A, Bruce NL (2021) Redescription of
In the temperate region of the East Pacific, the sphaeromatid isopod fauna is limited to shallow coastal waters and is represented by eight genera (
Here we review specimens attributed to
The redescription of
Examined specimens were obtained from 49.294°N (British Columbia) to ~33.262°N (California).
Museum collections examined morphologically and not included in the molecular analyses. Taxa are grouped by species and sorted by latitude. Label data and associated notes are transcribed here. Note that in some instances latitude and longitude are approximate and are indicated as “~”. Although we attempted to extract and amplify DNA, some were unsuccessful.
Species | Specimen label |
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California, Ventura County, San Nicolas Island, |
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California, Humbolt County, Humboldt Bay, |
California, Mendocino/Sonoma County, 100 yds. up from mouth of Russian River, |
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California, Sacramento County, central San Joachin Delta (freshwater), |
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California, Sacramento County, central San Joachin Delta (freshwater), |
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California, Marin County, Tomales Bay, at the Marconi Marina, |
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California, San Joaquin County, Delta-Mendota Canal, mile post 11.35, |
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California, Marin County, creek at Bolinas Lagoon immediately north of Audubon Canyon Ranch where creek goes under road, |
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California, Marin County, creek at Bolinas Lagoon immediately north of Audubon Canyon Ranch, |
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California, Santa Cruz County, San Lorenzo River, City of Santa Cruz, 200–250 m downstream of Laurel Street, 1.5 mi. above ocean, |
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California, Santa Cruz County, San Lorenzo River, |
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California, San Luis Obispo County, Diablo Cove, |
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California, Santa Barbara County, El Capitan State Beach in kelp debris at mouth of Cañada del Capitan, |
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California, Santa Barbara County, San Miguel Island, |
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California, Ballona Creek Estuary, |
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California, Dominguez Channel, |
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Washington, San Juan County, Friday Harbor, Ocean Labs, ~48.546°N; ~22.013°W, marine, night light, 27 Aug 1949, Coll. J.L. Mohr, Collection ID: RW17.039 |
Washington, San Juan County, Puget Sound, Seattle Puget Sound Naval Supply Depot, Smith Cove, |
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Washington, Grays Harbor County, Grays Harbor, Westport floats, |
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Oregon, Lincoln County, Cape Perpetua, Strawberry Hill, |
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Oregon, Coos County, Squaw Island, off Cape Argo Light, |
California, San Francisco County, San Francisco Bay, Aquatic Park, west of Scout Hut, |
Specimens for
Molecular data was generated according to the protocols described in
Sequences used in the 16S-rDNA analyses are associated with their taxon names in alphabetical order and GenBank accession number. The molecular identification number identifies the specimen on the phylogenetic tree. In several instances multiple individuals were extracted and sequenced from the specimen lot. An asterisk denotes the lot from which neotype was selected.
Species | GenBank No. | Mol. Id. | Specimen label |
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2550 | California, San Mateo County, Redwood Shores, 631 Marlin Court, |
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2551 | ||
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2550 | ||
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3124 | ||
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3122 | California, Alameda County, San Francisco Bay, off Doolittle Road near Oakland Airport, |
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3120 | California, Alameda County, San Francisco Bay, off Doolittle Road near Oakland Airport, |
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3121 | ||
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2546 | California, Santa Barbara County, lagoon at mouth of Refugio Creek, Refugio Creek State Park, 14–15 km E. of Gaviota, salinity 0°/°°, |
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3113 | ||
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3114 | ||
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1541 | California, Marin County, Tomales Bay, head of bay near channel (man-made) adjacent to Hwy. 1, |
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3115 | ||
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3116 | ||
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3104 | California, Santa Cruz County, San Lorenzo River at Laurel Street bridge, |
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3105 | ||
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2543 | California, Humboldt County, Arcata Bay Margin, mouth of Mad River Slough and tributary at crossing Hwy. 255, ~2 mi. W. of Arcata, |
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3102 | ||
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3103 | ||
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2541 | California, Del Norte County, Lake Earl, ~2 mi NNE of Crescent City at end |
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3106 | ||
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2549 | California, Marin County, Walker Creek, US Hwy. 1, ~100 m above mouth of Keyes Creek, 1.5 km SW of Tomales, salinity 1–12°/°°, |
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3111 | ||
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3112 | ||
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2542 | California, Del Norte County, Smith River, at mouth of Tillas Slough and Rittman Creek at tide gate, ~2 m W of town of Smith River, stream to 30 m, |
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3107 | California, Sonoma County, Salmon Creek at Hwy. 1, ~4.8 km N of N edge of Bodega Bay, salinity 9–23°/°°, |
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3108 | ||
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3117 | California, Marin County, Tomales Bay, off Hwy. 1, Alan Sieroty State Park, Millerton Point, |
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3118 | ||
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3109 | California, Marin County, Schooner Bay at crossing of Sir Francis Drake road to coast of Drakes Bay, 5.5 km W Inverness (airline), salinity 9–23°/°°, |
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3110 | ||
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1174 | California, San Mateo County, San Gregorio Creek, lagoon, just W of US Hwy, stream width 30–40 m, |
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2544 | ||
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3100 | ||
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3101 | ||
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3131 | British Columbia, Vancouver, Stanley Park, |
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324 | British Columbia, University of British Columbia, |
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3099 | ||
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1496 | Washington, northeast of San Juan Island, Reuben Tarte County Park, |
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3126 | ||
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1151 | Washington, westside of San Juan Island, Deadman Bay, |
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3125 | ||
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1477 | Washington, north end of Whidbey Island, Deception Pass, |
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3096 | ||
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3097 | ||
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2567 | California, Marin County, Tomales Bay, north end of bay across from Hog Island, boat launch parking lot, |
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2567 | ||
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3129 | ||
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2568 | California, Marin County, Tomales Bay, Marshall, beach in front of Tomales Bay Oyster Company, 15479 Highway One, |
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2568 | ||
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3128 | ||
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2566 | California, Marin County, Tomales Bay, north end of bay across from Hog Island, boat launch parking lot, |
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3130 | ||
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2566 | ||
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2958 | California, Marin County, Bolinas Beach, |
Latitudes and longitudes denoted with “~” are approximate and estimated from Google Earth or otherwise estimated and not recorded during specimen collection.
It has been long established that all of
Species of
The original diagnosis of the genus was provided by
♀ Non-type with mancas (6.0 mm)
Body parts and appendages figured are as indicated in figure legends.
Largest ♂ to 8.5 mm, largest ♀ to 6 mm.
When preserved in ethanol, specimens quickly become pale buff to whitish.
British Columbia, Vancouver to California, San Francisco.
The species occurs only in fully marine habitats in the intertidal to an unknown depth. A single lot indicated that it was collected by night light, and another that specimens were collected on floats among fouling organisms. None of the material examined indicates depth.
The molecular analyses include
Our molecular analyses (Fig.
Their very similar appearance to
♂
♂
Based on all of the material in the
Morphologically this species cannot be distinguished from
1 | Body length 2 × width. Body widest at pereonite 7 and anterior portion of pleon (Fig. |
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– | Body more than 2 × width. Body widest at pereonite 6 or pereonites 2–7 similar in width |
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2 | In lateral view, pereonite coxal plates 2, 3, and 4 anterior margins raised, posterior margin not raised, giving coxae a somewhat “s-shaped” appearance (Fig. |
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– | In lateral view, pereonite coxal plates 2, 3, and 4 anterior margins not raised. Species may occur in marine, brackish, or freshwater |
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3 | Pereonites 1–4 coxal plates margins with setose fringe (Fig. |
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– | Pereonites 1–4 without setose fringe on coxal plate margins. Posterior pleotelson margin without indentation (Fig. |
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4 | Pleonites lateral margins acute. Pleon lateral anterior margin smooth, without ornamentation (Fig. |
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– | Pleonites lateral margins rounded. Pleonal lateral anterior margin with short acute lobe (Fig. |
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The genus
However, we have demonstrated that regardless of their size, species of
Since we only had specimens of
We also had available for study a single male syntype of
Future genetic comparisons of marine, brackish, and freshwater
Identification keys for west coast
As molecular phylogenetic studies allow more and deeper sampling, cryptic species in marine environments are being recognized with ever greater frequency. Organisms as diverse as foraminiferans (
We thank Camm Swift and Todd Haney for their invaluable specimen contributions and careful locality annotations. Additionally, this review benefited from specimen donations made by Don Cadien and Ernie Iverson and input from James Carlton. The authors acknowledge the gracious support of the