SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF SURFACE MICROSTRUCTURES OF SOME GAMMARIDEAN AMPHIPOD CRUSTACEANS

Abstract

The cuticular surface of the head and second coxal plate of 124 species (104 genera) of Amphipoda has been examined by scanning electron microscopy. Most of the species examined possess a variety of microstructures that are presumed to be nonsensory, including numerous pores of different sizes and several types of cuticular projections (microtrichs). The microstructures frequently are distributed over the surface in highly ordered arrangements. The functional and phylogenetic significance of these features is discussed.