#crustaceanposting

The Harford’s Isopod

Aega harfordi, Cirolana harfordi and Cirolana toyamaensis.

It’s been a hot minute since I made an isopost, and Harfords Isopod is a wonderful reason to post!

There are 48 genera of these cuties. They’re an aquatic species that can be described as both a scavenger and hunter. They use their adorable antennules to pick up the scent of food. Things like polychaetes and crustaceans. They have also been known to attack full on fish and cause problems for fisheries. It’s believed they have the ability to sense when an animal is sick or dying and will parasitize them. Just one meal can sustain them for three weeks. They’re found along beaches, rocky shores, mussel beds, mangroves and lagoons. They’ve got a discontinuous range all about the North Pacific. In the eastern pacific British Columbia to San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur. They’ve also been introduced into Australian waters, where they are considered invasive. They range from about 1-2 cms long (0.393701 -0.8 inches). They’ve got a lovely oval shape and are white, with tiny brown dots covering them, making them appear tan. They’ve also got big ol peepers, which makes them more distinctive from other similar pods. They’re considered least concern and a fairly common isopod