Scutuloidea kutu

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Scutuloidea kutu
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Isopoda
Family: Sphaeromatidae
Genus: Scutuloidea
Species:
†S. kutu
Binomial name
†Scutuloidea kutu
Stephenson & Riley, 1996
Synonyms [1]
  • Scutuloidea kutaStephenson & Riley, 1996

Scutuloidea kutu is a species of marine isopods in the family Sphaeromatidae, first described by Stephenson and Riley in 1996. [2] The species is endemic to New Zealand, found in northern waters of the country, living in seaweeds, sponges and bryozoa in exposed reef formations.

Contents

Description

Males are approximately 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) in length, while females are approximately 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in). Females are often carried on the backs of the males of the species. Scutuloidea kutu can be visually distinguished from Scutuloidea maculata , a similar species in appearance which is also found in New Zealand waters, by colour, having a more spender body and eyes, as well as a pleotelson with no apical notch. [3]

Taxonomy

The species was first described by Anthony Brett Stephenson and Jenny L Riley in 1996. [3] The name "kutu" (Māori for "lice") was chosen as a metaphor, as the species lives on seaweed (i.e. the hair of hinemoana, a personification of the ocean). [3] The holotype was collected by Brett Stephenson on 9 July 1991, from just north of Russell, and is held by the Auckland War Memorial Museum. [1]

Distribution and habitat

Scutuloidea kutu is endemic to New Zealand, [4] found in the northern waters of New Zealand, including the Bay of Islands, Piwhane / Spirits Bay and the Tasman Sea coast of the Waitākere Ranges. [5] [3] [6] It lives in seaweeds, sponges and bryozoa in exposed reef formations, especially around red seaweeds such as Plocamium costatum and Osmundaria colensoi . [3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Scutuloidea kuta". Collections Online. Auckland War Memorial Museum . Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  2. ↑ "Scutuloidea kutu Stephenson & Riley, 1996". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Stephenson, A. B.; Riley, J. L. (1996). "Scutuloidea kutu, a New Species of Sphaeromatidae (Isopoda: Crustacea) from New Zealand". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum . 33: 195–200. ISSN   0067-0464. JSTOR   42906464. Wikidata   Q58677505.
  4. ↑ "Scutuloidea kutu Stephenson & Riley, 1996". New Zealand Organisms Register . Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  5. ↑ Hayward, Bruce; Morley, Margaret (2004). "Intertidal Life Around the Coast of the Waitakere Ranges, Auckland" (PDF). Auckland Regional Council . Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  6. ↑ Morley, Margaret S.; Hayward, Bruce W. (September 1999). "Intertidal survey of Piha and Mercer Bay, west coast of Auckland, January to March 1998". Poirieria. 24: 13–19. ISSN   0032-2377. Wikidata   Q115467665.
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