Travaux de l'Institut de Speologie Emile Racovitza (Jan 2016)
Morphological structures of the integument of Mesoniscus graniger
Abstract
The integument surface of the cavernicolous terrestrial isopod Mesoniscus graniger collected in the Magura and Zidita caves, Romania, was investigated using the SEM. Almost the entire body surface is covered by honeycomb-like polygonal scales arranged like a net. Only two fields on both sides of the cephalon have a smoother structure with less pronounced and somewhat morphologically altered scale microstructures