THE CRUSTACEA 



but which ill other cases undergo many modifications for prehensile, 

 natatory, and other functions. The coxopodite has the form of a 

 complete segment movably articulated with the body only in the 



Asellota (Fig. 122, «•). In all 

 other Isopoda it is more or less 

 completely fused with the body 

 and is often expanded into a coxal 

 2)late overhanging the attachment 

 of the limb and replacing the 

 pleural expansion of the somite 

 to which it belongs. An interest- 

 ing series ilhistrating this substitu- 

 tion can be traced within the 

 In Idotea hectica (Fig. 123, A), the pleural plates 



-pi. 



Fig. 12-2. 



Thoracic somite otJaeravmriHa, separated 

 and seen from in front, bs, basipodite of tho- 

 racic leg ; ex, coxopodite ; jrf, pleural plate. 



family Idoteidae. 



(])l) of the thoracic somites are well developed and completely 



cover the coxopodites (ex), of which the outline can be traced on the 



Margin of thoracic somites of, A, Idotea hectica \ B, I. ochofensis; C, Chiridofea sahhii. The 

 upper lignres show the under surface, the lower the upper surface, ex, coxal plate (dotted) ; 

 pi, pleural plate ; o, rudiment of oostegite. 



under-side of the plates near the outer edge. In other species of 

 the same genus (Fig. 123, B) the coxal plate projects beyond the 

 outer margin of the pleuron for a part of its length so as to be 

 visible on the upper sui^face. In yet other species of the genus 

 and in the allied Chiridofea (Fig. 123, C), the pleura are no longer 

 to be distinguished, and their place is taken by the greatly de- 

 veloped coxal plates, which are marked ofi', on the dorsal surface, 

 by distinct sutures, generally allowing a slight amount of move- 



