RESPIRATORY AREA
(Subclass Branchiura):
On underside of carapace, one of four areas characterized by thin cuticle and functioning as a respiratory surface. One may distinguish two smaller anterior respiratory areas (flanking maxillae) and two larger posterior areas flanking thoracopods. (anterior and posterior: equal, not equal; anterior: anterior anteromesial, mesial, minute, narrow, prolonged laterally, triangular; posterior: deeply notched on inner margin, narrow, regular, symmetrical, very large, widened posteriorly) [Stachowitsch, 1992].