BROOD-POUCH STRUCTURES IN TERRESTRIAL ISOPODS

The brood-pouch (marsupium) of the oniscid isopod species Armadillo of ficinalis Dumeril 1816 (see Vandel 1955) (Armadillidae), Schizidium ti berianum Verhoeff 1923 (Armadillidiidae), and Porcellio olivieri (Audo uin 1825) (Porcellionidae) was examined during their marsupial (breedi ng) period. In the first two species eggs, embryos and mancas are cont ained inside sacs which are suspended by a chord from the marsupium ro of, whereas in the last species, eggs are connected singly each by a c otyledon. The thin wall of these marsupial sacs is a monolayered, flat epithelium consisting of cells rich in rough endoplasmic reticulum (R ER), infoldings, mitochondria, and secretion vesicles. In its structur e it is similar to that of the cotyledons. Both structures are probabl y active in secreting nutrients to the developing embryos. The evoluti onary significance of this structure is discussed.