''Ceratoserolis'' is a 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 ...

s in the family

Serolidae Serolidae is a family of isopod crustaceans, containing the following genera : *'' Acanthoserolis'' Brandt, 1988 *'' Acutiserolis'' Brandt, 1988 *'' Atlantoserolis'' Wägele, 1994 *'' Basserolis'' Poore, 1985 *'' Brazilserolis'' Wägele, 1994 *' ...

from the

Southern Ocean The Southern Ocean, also known as the Antarctic Ocean, comprises the southernmost waters of the World Ocean, generally taken to be south of 60° S latitude and encircling Antarctica. With a size of , it is regarded as the second-smal ...

around Antarctica and some Sub-Antarctic Islands. They prefer to live on soft bottoms and range of least between in depth. They are superficially similar to the unrelated, extinct

trilobite Trilobites (; meaning "three lobes") are extinct marine arthropods that form the class Trilobita. Trilobites form one of the earliest-known groups of arthropods. The first appearance of trilobites in the fossil record defines the base of the ...

s (hence the specific name ''trilobitoides'' for the first described species) and reach up to about in length. They were once considered to be part of the genus ''

Serolis ''Serolis'' is a 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 pai ...

'' and for a long time only ''Ceratoserolis trilobitoides'' was recognized. The validity of the other species has been disputed, but there are some morphological and

genetic Genetic may refer to: *Genetics, in biology, the science of genes, heredity, and the variation of organisms **Genetic, used as an adjective, refers to genes ***Genetic disorder, any disorder caused by a genetic mutation, whether inherited or de nov ...

differences between them and ''C. trilobitoides'', and there are indications that additional, currently unrecognized species of ''Ceratoserolis'' exist. Because ''Ceratoserolis'' are widespread, locally abundant and relatively large for isopods, they have often been studied and used as model organism for the Antarctic region. They are slow-maturing, only breed once in their life, and the eggs and young are brooded for an extended period—almost two years—in the female's marsupium. As typical of Antarctic isopods, there is no pelagic larval stage.

Species

There are four currently recognized species: *''

Ceratoserolis meridionalis ''Ceratoserolis meridionalis'' is a species of serolid isopod found in Antarctica, including the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands The South Shetland Islands are a group of Antarctic islands with a total area of . They l ...

'' (Vanhoeffen, 1914) *''

Ceratoserolis pasternaki ''Ceratoserolis'' is a genus of isopods in the family Serolidae from the Southern Ocean around Antarctica and some Sub-Antarctic Islands. They prefer to live on soft bottoms and range of least between in depth. They are superficially similar t ...

'' (Kussakin, 1967) *''

Ceratoserolis serratus ''Ceratoserolis'' is a genus of isopods in the family Serolidae from the Southern Ocean around Antarctica and some Sub-Antarctic Islands. They prefer to live on soft bottoms and range of least between in depth. They are superficially similar t ...

'' (Brandt, 1988) *''

Ceratoserolis trilobitoides ''Ceratoserolis'' is a genus of isopods in the family Serolidae from the Southern Ocean around Antarctica and some Sub-Antarctic Islands. They prefer to live on soft bottoms and range of least between in depth. They are superficially similar t ...

'' (Eights, 1833)

External links

Sphaeromatidea {{isopod-stub