Valvifera
Valvifera is a suborder of marine crustaceans belonging to the order Isopoda. Isopods are known for their flattened bodies and segmented exoskeletons. The Valvifera are characterized by the presence of valve-like plates covering the pleopods, which are the appendages on the underside of the abdomen used for swimming and respiration. These valves provide protection to the pleopods.
This suborder includes a diverse array of species found in marine environments worldwide, from shallow coastal
Notable families within Valvifera include the Idoteidae, which are common in temperate and polar waters and