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.
Highlights
The isopod fauna in Kuwait’s intertidal and subtidal habitats have received little attention
Other species found in high numbers were found from rocks, dead coral, or dead shells and included Gnathia sp., H. mccaini, and Sphaeroma walkeri Stebbing, 1905
Jones (1986) included six isopod species in his ‘Field Guide to the Seashores of Kuwait’: Apanthura sandalensis, Ligia exotica, and Cymodoce richardsoniae are reidentified as Amakusanthura sp., L. persica, and C. delvarii, respectively
Summary
The isopod fauna in Kuwait’s intertidal and subtidal habitats have received little attention. Apanthura sandalensis Stebbing, 1900, Ligia exotica Roux, 1828; and Cymodoce richardsoniae Nobili, 1906, were misidentified in his guide. They are reidentified as Amakusanthura sp., L. persica Khalaji-Pirbalouty & Wägele, 2010, and C. delvarii Khalaji-Pirbalouty, Bruce & Wägele, 2013, respectively, in this work. The isopod fauna along the Iranian coast of the Gulf has received more attention than adjacent regions (e.g., Khalaji-Pirbalouty and Wägele 2009, 2010a, b, c, 2011, 2012; Khalaji-Pirbalouty et al 2013; Khalaji-Pirbalouty and Bruce 2014; Khalaji-Pirbalouty and Raupach 2014, 2016)
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