Phreatoicidae is a family of blind, freshwater isopods. They have survived apparently unchanged for 350 million years, and are only found in South Africa, India, Australia and New Zealand. They were first found near Christchurch in 1882 by Charles Chilton.[2] The family Phreatoicidae now contains 13 genera:[3]

Phreatoicidae
Eophreatoicus, a freshwater isopod from Kakadu National Park, Australia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Isopoda
Suborder: Phreatoicidea
Family: Phreatoicidae
Chilton, 1891 [1]

References

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  1. ^ "Phreatoicidae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  2. ^ "Ancient creatures re-discovered thriving in southern New Zealand". NIWA. October 2009. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
  3. ^ Marilyn Schotte (2009). M. Schotte; C. B. Boyko; N. L. Bruce; G. C. B. Poore; S. Taiti; G. D. F. Wilson (eds.). "Phreatoicidae". World Marine, Freshwater and Terrestrial Isopod Crustaceans database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
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