''Glyptidotea'' is a monotypic genus of

isopod Isopoda is an order of crustaceans that includes woodlice and their relatives. Isopods live in the sea, in fresh water, or on land. All have rigid, segmented exoskeletons, two pairs of antennae, seven pairs of jointed limbs on the thorax, an ...

in the

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

Idoteidae The Idoteidae are a family (biology), family of isopod crustaceans. It includes these genera: *''Austridotea'' Poore, 2001 *''Batedotea'' Poore & Lew Ton, 1993 *''Cleantiella'' Richardson, 1912 *''Colidotea'' Richardson, 1899 *''Crabyzos'' Bate, ...

. Its sole member is ''Glyptidotea lichtensteini'', the keeled isopod, a medium-sized isopod found on the coast of southern Africa.

Description

The species has an elongate body with nearly parallel flanks. It bears a pattern of brown or pink blotches that serve as camouflage. A pronounced rostrum or spike extends from the front of the head and runs backwards over the center of the back in the form of a keel. The segments of the pleon are fused to the

telson The telson () is the posterior-most division of the body of an arthropod. Depending on the definition, the telson is either considered to be the final segment of the arthropod body, or an additional division that is not a true segment on accou ...

. Average size is 40 mm.

Distribution and habitat

''G. lichtensteini'' occurs from the coast of southern

Namibia Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and ea ...

at Lüderitz to the

Transkei Transkei (, meaning ''the area beyond he riverKei''), officially the Republic of Transkei ( xh, iRiphabliki yeTranskei), was an unrecognised state in the southeastern region of South Africa from 1976 to 1994. It was, along with Ciskei, a Ban ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. It inhabits the

intertidal zone The intertidal zone, also known as the foreshore, is the area above water level at low tide and underwater at high tide (in other words, the area within the tidal range). This area can include several types of habitats with various species o ...

, where it may be found under boulders. It has also been reported from seamounts and knolls.

References

Crustaceans described in 1843 Crustaceans of South Africa Monotypic isopod genera {{isopod-stub