Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Sphaeroma terebrans

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Class
  
Malacostraca

Genus
  
Sphaeroma

Phylum
  
Arthropoda

Order
  
Isopods

Subphylum
  
Crustacea

Family
  
Sphaeromatidae

Scientific name
  
Sphaeroma terebrans

Rank
  
Species

Sphaeroma terebrans wwwsmssieduirlspecimagessterebrans1jpg

Similar
  
Sphaeroma, Isopods, Sphaeromatidae, Paracerceis, Limnoria

Sphaeroma terebrans is a mangrove-boring isopod that was first documented in the United States as early as 1897. It is 8–10 millimetres (0.31–0.39 in) long, and is thought to have been introduced by wooden-hulled ships. The isopod is found throughout the Gulf of Mexico mainly in mangrove swamps of Louisiana and Florida. S. terebrans will also bore into boats, wooden pilings and other wooden structures.

The burrowing activities of Sphaeroma terebrans hinder the growth of mangroves, and its wood boring activities limits mangroves to the upper limits of the intertidal zone.

References

Sphaeroma terebrans Wikipedia