The Arcturidae are a

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

of marine isopod

crustacean Crustaceans (Crustacea, ) form a large, diverse arthropod taxon which includes such animals as decapods, seed shrimp, branchiopods, fish lice, krill, remipedes, isopods, barnacles, copepods, amphipods and mantis shrimp. The crustacean group can ...

s in the suborder

Valvifera The Valvifera are marine isopod crustaceans. Valviferans are distinguished, however, by the flat, valve-like uropods which hinge laterally and fold inward beneath the rear part of their bodies, covering the pleopods. Some species are omnivorou ...

. Members of the family resemble

woodlice A woodlouse (plural woodlice) is an isopod crustacean from the polyphyleticThe current consensus is that Oniscidea is actually triphyletic suborder Oniscidea within the order Isopoda. They get their name from often being found in old wood ...

and are found globally in cooler areas in shallow seas.

Description

The head is incapable of rotating laterally. Two pairs of antennae are set at the front of the head. The eyes are usually well developed and the mouthparts do not form a suctorial cone or proboscis. The thorax or

pereon The decapod (crustaceans such as a crab, lobster, shrimp or prawn) is made up of 20 body segments grouped into two main body parts: the cephalothorax and the pleon (abdomen). Each segment may possess one pair of appendages, although in various ...

is smooth or slightly sculptured and sometimes spinose or rugose. A flexion occurs between it and the abdomen or

pleon The decapod (crustaceans such as a crab, lobster, shrimp or prawn) is made up of 20 body segments grouped into two main body parts: the cephalothorax and the pleon (abdomen). Each segment may possess one pair of appendages, although in various ...

, so from a lateral view, the front part of the animal is arched up. The pereiopods are held close to the head, while the pleopods are attached to the pleon, making it appear no appendages on the pereon.

Genera

The

World Register of Marine Species The World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) is a taxonomic database that aims to provide an authoritative and comprehensive list of names of marine organisms. Content The content of the registry is edited and maintained by scientific specialis ...

includes these genera in the family: *'' Agularcturus'' Kensley, 1984 *'' Amesopous'' Stebbing, 1905 *''

Arctopsis ''Arctopsis'' is a genus of mites in the family Ascidae Ascidae is a family of mites in the order Mesostigmata. Description Ascidae are mites characterised by: seta ''st4'' usually on unsclerotised cuticle, peritrematic shield broadly conn ...

'' Barnard, 1920 *'' Arcturina'' Koehler, 1911 *'' Arcturinella'' Poisson & Maury, 1931 *'' Arcturinoides'' Kensley, 1977 *'' Arcturopsis'' Koehler, 1911 *''

Arcturus , - bgcolor="#FFFAFA" , Note (category: variability): , , H and K emission vary. Arcturus is the brightest star in the northern constellation of Boötes. With an apparent visual magnitude of −0.05, it is the third-brightest of the ...

'' Latreille, 1829 *'' Astacilla'' Cordiner, 1793 *'' Edwinjoycea'' Menzies & Kruczynski, 1983 *'' Idarcturus'' Barnard, 1914 *'' Neastacilla'' Tattersall, 1921 *'' Parastacilla'' Hale, 1924 *'' Spectarcturus'' Schultz, 1981

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3916491 Valvifera Crustacean families