Diversity and distribution of the Isopoda (Crustacea, Peracarida) of Kuwait, with an updated checklist

By

Al-Kandari, Manal
Khalaji-Pirbalouty, Valiallah
Abdulkhaliq, Hadeel
Chen, Weizhong

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2022

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1080

Pages

107--133

Subjects

Biodiversity , Checklist , first records , Geographical distribution , Isopoda , Kuwait

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1080.71370

 

Abstract

Thirty-eight species of Isopoda, belonging to 13 families and 29 genera, are listed from Kuwait based on previous literature records (of 17 species) and collections carried out along Kuwait’s coastal and subtidal zones during the present study. The majority of species belongs to the suborder Cymothoida (23), followed by Sphaeromatidea (9), Oniscidea (3), Valvifera (2), and Asellota (1). In total, 25 species were collected and identified from 12 families and 22 genera from Kuwaiti coastal and subtidal areas. These include eight families, 15 genera, and 21 species recorded for the first time from Kuwait. Isopod diversity was highest in the sandy rock areas, including southern Kuwait, particularly in Al-Khiran and Al-Nuwaiseeb, and in mixed habitat (muddy, rocky, and sandy) intertidal transects such as in Failaka Island. The species number increased from the subtidal and lowest zones into the high tidal zone. Isopods were found in sandy substrata, among shells, cobbles, rocks, dead corals, and algae.