Abstract
Summary Praniza larvae of Gnathia maxillaris Montagu (Crustacea, Isopoda, Gnathiidae) were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The body comprises a head, swollen peraeon, pleon and telson. Mouthparts are modified for cutting, spearing, and anchorage to the skin of fishes, from which larvae draw blood. Mandibles, maxillules and maxillipedes have serrated surfaces, whereas paragnaths are strongly pointed and gnathopods are hooked. Maxillae were not seen in SEM preparations. They are small structures which probably play little active part in feeding. Pits, which are possibly sense organs, occur on the head, parts of the peraeon, the coxal plates of peraeopods and pleonal somites. Pectinate scales are found on the inner and lateral surfaces of the peraeopods. The pleon, pleopods, the telson and uropods bear small semilunar scales.
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