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Marine isopods (Crustacea, Isopoda) from the Chafarinas Islands (west Mediterranean)

Abstract:

We present an extensive study on the isopod fauna of the Chafarinas Islands (west Mediterranean). A total of 2 556 specimens, comprising 13 genera and 24 species, was collected from 56 samples during 1991, 1992 and 1993. Five species are the first record for Spain: Gnathia illepida (Wagner, 1869); G. inopinata Monod, 1925; Carpias stebbingi Monod, 1933; Joeropsis dollfusi Norman, 1899; and Synisoma mediterranea Rezig, 1989. One species was recorded for the first time for the Spanish Mediterranean coast: Gnathia venusta Monod, 1925. C. stebbingi was the most abundant and frequent species, collected in high numbers on a wide variety of substrata, at depths of 0-25 m. The percentages of species collected, by suborders, were: Asellota, 45.4 %; Flabellifera, 23.8 %; Anthuridea, 18.9 %; Gnathiidea, 9.7 %; and Valvifera, 1.9 %. © Instituto Español de Oceanografía, 2003.