Caecosphaeroma
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Caecosphaeroma | |
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| As a troglodytic genus, Caecosphaeroma lacks eyes | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Isopoda |
| Family: | Sphaeromatidae |
| Genus: | Caecosphaeroma Dollfus, 1896 |
| Species | |
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Caecosphaeroma is a troglodytic isopod genus in the family Sphaeromatidae found in caves of NE and SW France. The genus was split off from Monolistra by Adrien Dollfus in 1896; in both genera, the female carries about 10 fertilized eggs in its external marsupium (brood pouch); they are white in Monolistra but bluish-green in Caecosphaeroma.[1] C. burgundum is the most studied species.
They measure from 2–20 mm long. As cave dwellers, they have lost their vision, but remain sensitive to light, which they shun. They are capable of volvation (rolling themselves into a ball) to protect themselves, rest, or sleep. During copulation the male and female embrace takes the form of two concentric spheres.
Development
Larva remain in the marsupium about 12 months,[2] and the animals continue growing for several years, reaching a final length of 10–20 mm.
