Paranthura japonica

Invasion History

First Non-native North American Tidal Record: 1993
First Non-native West Coast Tidal Record: 1993
First Non-native East/Gulf Coast Tidal Record:

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General Invasion History:

Paranthura japonica was first described from Hokkaido, Japan by Richardson (1909). It is widely distributed in the Northwest Pacific, from Vladivostok and the southern Kuril Islands to Hong Kong (Golikov et al. 1976; Ong Che and Morton 1991; Moschenko and Zvyagintsev 2004; Lim et al. 2012). Paranthura japonica was introduced to San Francisco Bay before 1993 (Cohen and Carlton 1995), and was found to be widespread in Southern California Harbors in 2000 (Cohen et al. 2010). In 2010, it was found in Arcachon Bay, on the Atlantic coast of France (Frutos et al. 2011; Lavesque et al. 2013). In 2010-2013, it was found in five harbors, in the four seas surrounding the west, south, and east coasts of Italy (Marchini et al. 2014; Lorenti et al. 2015). Potential mechanisms for transport of P. japonica are hull fouling, ballast water, and oyster transplants.

North American Invasion History:

Invasion History on the West Coast:

Three museum records, identified as Paranthura japonica from Pacific Grove, California, collected in 1930-1943, may refer to the native P. elegans, not described until 1951 (USNM 63778, USNM 63779, USNM 86338, U.S. National Museum of Natural History 2015). The first definite report of P. japonica was in South and Central San Francisco Bay in 1993 (Cohen and Carlton 1995). In 2005 surveys, it was found to be widespread in the Bay, including Benicia, on Carquinez Strait, and the Petaluma River, off San Pablo Bay (Foss 2009). Cohen et al. (2000) found P. japonica to be widespread in southern California harbors from Channel Islands Harbor and Port Hueneme to San Diego Bay. It occurs both in commercial ports, such as Los Angeles/Long Beach, and small boat harbors (Cohen et al. 2002).

Invasion History Elsewhere in the World:

In 2010-2012, Paranthura japonica was found in Arcachon Bay, France, off the Bay of Biscay (Frutos et al. 2011; Lavesque et al. 2013), and several harbors on the coast of Italy, including La Spezia, Olbia, Sardinia, Mar Piccolo, and the Venice Lagoon (Marchini et al. 2014; Lorenti et al. 2015). In 2019 they were found in the harbors of Le Havre and Cherbourg (Pezy et.al. 2019). Transplants of Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea gigas), Japanese Littleneck clams (Venerupis philippinarum), and hull fouling are likely vectors for the introduction of this species. Ballast water is a possible vector in commercial ports, but some of the invaded bays, such as Arcachon and the Mar Piccolo, do not receive commercial ships (Lavesque et al. 2013; Lorenti et al. 2015).

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Description

The body of Paranthura japonica forms a narrow cylinder. Peraeonite 6 is about 2/3 the length of Peraeonite 5, and Peraeonite 7 is about 1/2 the length of Peraeonite 6. The abdomen, composed of 5 pleonites, is about equal to Peraeonite 6 in length. The pleonites are fused in the mid-dorsal region, but free on the sides. The telson and uropods are prominent and together form a fan about 2X the width of the body.

The head is about as long as it is wide, with the anterior margin concave and a small rostrum which is shorter than the lateral projections. The eyes are large, dark, and round, and located inside the antero-lateral angles of the head. Pereiopods 1-3 are prehensile, while Pereiopods 4-7 are ambulatory. The pleotelson is tongue-shaped, with a rounded tip, and does not extend beyond the tips of the uropods. The exopods of the uropods have a concavity on the distal margin. Illustrated specimens range from 6.8 to 11 mm long. The body is pale pinkish-brown, with scattered dark pigment spots. This description is based on Richardson 1909, Frutos et al. 2011, Lavesque et al. 2013, and Lorenti et al. 2015.

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Taxonomy

Ecology

General:

Paranthura japonica, like many anthuridean isopods, is protogynous (sequential hermaphrodites), maturing first as female, with some individuals later changing to male. Males are often relatively rare, and are undescribed for some species. Fertilization is internal, and the young are brooded (Schultz 1969; Brusca et al. 2007). Females can carry ip to 78 eggs (Scribano et al. 2021).

Paranthura japonica is known from a variety of habitats, including: fouling communities on docks, floats, and aquaculture gear; mussel and oyster beds; burrows made by shipworms and gribbles (Limnoria spp.); seagrass and seaweed beds; salt marshes; and muddy sands (Kang and Yun 1988; Kang et al. 2007; Wang et al. 2010; Lavesque et al. 2013; Marchini et al. 2014; Lorenti et al. 2015). It is known from cold-temperate (e.g. Vladivostok, Russia, Moschenko and Zvyagintsev 2004) to subtropical climates (Ong Che and Morton 1991), and from salinities ranging from 13 to 40 PSU (Wang et al. 2010; Lorenti et al. 2015). Paranthura japonica has piercing mouthparts, and is considered carnivorous, feeding on amphipods (Marchini et al. 2014). However, stable isotope measurements from a population in a Korean saltmarsh suggest that the feeding was dominated by benthic microalgae (Kang et al. 2007). However, Parantura japonica is a predator on amphipods, isopods and tanaids, in experiments (Shiraki and Kakui 2022).

Food:

Benthic microalgae, amphipods

Trophic Status:

Omnivore

Omni

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Habitats

General Habitat	Marinas & Docks	None
General Habitat	Oyster Reef	None
General Habitat	Unstructured Bottom	None
General Habitat	Grass Bed	None
General Habitat	Coarse Woody Debris	None
General Habitat	Rocky	None
Salinity Range	Polyhaline	18-30 PSU
Salinity Range	Euhaline	30-40 PSU
Tidal Range	Subtidal	None
Vertical Habitat	Epibenthic	None

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Life History

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Tolerances and Life History Parameters

Maximum Temperature (ºC)	31	Field, Pearl River estuary, China (Wang et al. 2010)
Minimum Salinity (‰)	13	Field, Pearl River estuary, China (Wang et al. 2010)
Maximum Salinity (‰)	40	Field, Mar Piccolo, Italy (Lorenti et al. 2015)
Maximum Length (mm)	11	Mar Piccolo, Italy (Lorenti et al. 2015)
Broad Temperature Range	None	Cold temperate-Warm temperate
Broad Salinity Range	None	Mesohaline-Polyhaline

General Impacts

Impacts of Paranthura japonica populations in West Coast and European waters are unknown. Anthuridean isopodspods, when abundant, are important components of benthic food webs (Schultz 1969).

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References

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