The diet and feeding mechanism of Idotea

Abstract

Idotea feeds on large food masses. It is potentially an omnivorous scavenger, but each species may have a characteristic diet depending on the availability of food in its particular habitat.The structure, topography and action of the mouthparts are described: spines on the maxillules and maxillipedes scrape the food material whilst the mandibles actually bite the food; toothed spines on the maxillules and mandibles push the food upwards to the molar processes of the mandibles; debris is brushed forwards between the lobes of the paragnath by setae on the inner endites of the maxillules, maxillae and maxillipedes; and spines on the maxillipedal palp, and on the first leg, comb the mouthparts.The structure of the foregut resembles that of Asellus and Ligia.The relation of the feeding mechanism to the functional evolution of the mouthparts of Peracarida as a whole is discussed.