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Observations on the sex characters of the timber-boring sphaeromids (Isopoda) of the Indian waters

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Abstract

The timber-boring isopods (family Sphaeromidae) namely Sphaeroma terebrans, S. annandalei, S.a. travancorensis and S. triste occurring in Indian waters were studied for primary and secondary sex characters. A concise comparative account of the primary and secondary sex characters such as penial sacs, “appendix masculina” and oostegites has been given. The sexual dimorphism exhibited by the seventh pair of peraeopods of S. terebrans is explained fully. The sexual disparity in the body length of two species of Sphaeroma has also been described.

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Author notes

  1. R. Venkatakrishnan

    Present address: Wood-preservation branch, Forest Research Institute, New Forest, P.O. Dehra Dun, U.P. India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries, Formerly The Marine Biological Laboratory University of Kerala, Trivandurm

    R. Venkatakrishnan & N. Balakrishnan Nair

Authors
  1. R. Venkatakrishnan
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  2. N. Balakrishnan Nair
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Venkatakrishnan, R., Balakrishnan Nair, N. Observations on the sex characters of the timber-boring sphaeromids (Isopoda) of the Indian waters. Hydrobiologia 42, 413–427 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00047017

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00047017

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