Mature have completely develop
oostegites as described by McDermott (1998).
Head deeply embedded in pereon, its anterior margin overreached by second oostegites. No eyes.
Head oval, much broader than long, deeply embedded in first pereomere and overreached by second oostegites. Maxilliped with subterminal triangular palp and slender pointed plectron.
grandis, which indicate that it should be in a subfamily of its own are: Female: Second oostegites extending beyond anterior margin of head; coxal plates of first and second pereomeres extending medially over dorsal surface of pereon; pleon strongly torsioned and pointing forward over pereon.
Based on the development of the oostegites (brood plates) and male copulatory stylet, females and males, respectively, and other criteria were categorized as juvenile below 3.0 mm and between 3 and 4.9 mm as immature and o above 4.9 mm as mature males measured between 5.0 to 8.5 mm and mature females between 5.00-10.00 mm, Taphromysis bowmani mature males measured between 5.0-8.5 mm and mature females between 5.0-9.0mm.
Based on the development of the oostegites in the females and the copulatory stylet in males below 3.0 mm SL immature specimens were considered to have standard lengths between 3 and 4.9.
louisianae species less than 5 mm in length lacked fully developed brood plates (oostegites).
The isopods were immediately fixed in 70% ethanol and categorized to reproductive stage: juveniles (JUV), with no apparent sexual structures; receptive females, with small, nonfunctional oostegites and with (RFP) or without (RF) penes; mature females, with marsupium of large overlapping oostegites with or without embryos in the marsupium and with (MFP) or without (MF) penes; immature males (IM), with nonfunctional penes and lacking appendix masculina and ciliary tufts on the third and fourth pereopods; and mature males (MM), with functional penes and having appendix masculina and ciliary tufts upon the third and fourth pereopods.
Each guarded female was checked for the presence of small oostegites (i.e., confirmed to be receptive) and thus represented the female morphology prior to brooding.
Females were identified by the presence of small or large
oostegites, whereas males were recognized by the presence of penes or stylets.
Oostegites almost completely enclosing brood pouch; oostegite 1 (Fig.
Oostegites large relative to body size, almost completely covering whole body ventrally and somewhat visible dorsally; oostegite 1 semicircular anteriorly, produced into posteriorly extended slender terete posterolateral projection, internal ridge bearing only sparse simple teeth; other oostegites strongly overlapping and fully enclosing brood pouch.