Reconstructing the life cycle of the isopodan group Aegidae with morphological descriptions and the importance of immature stages

Abstract A collection of various developmental stages of Aegidae is presented and described, with the first description and photographs of eggs and embryos of this group. Intra-specific variation among specimens and developmental stages is described, as well as inter-specific, ontogenetic variation between immature stages and their better-known adult stages. Developmental stage differentiation of these opportunistic feeders is compared to that of the closely related parasitic representatives of Cymothoidae. This study is the first to attempt to provide the life cycle of these animals, which include well-documented and described immature stages.摘要：本研究报道并描述了浪飘水虱科（Aegidae）不同类群的各发育阶段，并首次对该类群的卵与胚胎进行形态描述及图像记录。研究描述了标本间及不同发育阶段的种内变异，同时阐述了幼体阶段与学界更为熟知的成体阶段之间的种间个体发育变异。本研究将这类机会性摄食生物的发育阶段分化特征，与亲缘关系密切的缩头水虱科（Cymothoidae）寄生代表类群进行了对比。本研究首次尝试阐明这类动物的完整生活史，其中涵盖了已得到充分记录与描述的幼体阶段。