The Gnathiidae are a family of isopod crustaceans. They occur in a wide range of depths, from the littoral zone to the deep sea. The adults are associated with sponges and may not feed.[1] The juvenile form is known as a 'praniza', and it is a temporary parasite of marine fish.[1][2] These forms are not larvae; Gnathiidae instead become parasitic during the manca stage. Mancae of the Gnathiidae closely resemble the adult form, however they lack the final pair of pereiopods.
Taxonomy in the family relies on male characters, such that females and juveniles cannot be reliably identified.[1] The family contains 182 species,[3] divided among the following genera:[4]
The Gnathiidae are a family of isopod crustaceans. They occur in a wide range of depths, from the littoral zone to the deep sea. The adults are associated with sponges and may not feed. The juvenile form is known as a 'praniza', and it is a temporary parasite of marine fish. These forms are not larvae; Gnathiidae instead become parasitic during the manca stage. Mancae of the Gnathiidae closely resemble the adult form, however they lack the final pair of pereiopods.
Drawings of Gnathiidae by Hesse (1864) Taxonomy in the family relies on male characters, such that females and juveniles cannot be reliably identified. The family contains 182 species, divided among the following genera:
Afrignathia Hadfield & Smit, 2008 Bathygnathia Dollfus, 1901 Bythognathia Camp, 1988 Caecognathia Dollfus, 1901 Elaphognathia Monod, 1926 Euneognathia Stebbing, 1893 Gibbagnathia Cohen & Poore, 1994 Gnathia Leach, 1814 Monodgnathia Cohen & Poore, 1994 Paragnathia Omer-Cooper & Omer-Cooper, 1916 Tenerognathia Tanaka, 2005 Thaumastognathia Monod, 1926
