Comparisons of developmental processes of air-breathing organs among terrestrial isopods (Crustacea, Oniscidea): implications for their evolutionary origins.

This study shows that the respiratory structures in terrestrial isopods develop primarily by postembryonic epithelial modifications, but the epithelial positions developing into respiratory structures differ between uncovered lungs and dorsal respiratory fields. This suggests that these two types of respiratory structures do not result from simple differences in the degree of development. Future analysis of molecular developmental mechanisms will help determine whether these are the result of heterotopic changes or have different evolutionary origins. Overall, this study provides fundamental information for evolutionary developmental studies of isopod respiratory organs.