Definitions
Branchial chamber
- A chamber limited primarily by the lateral folds of the carapace, the inner surface of which performs a respiratory function. [Holdich and Jones, 1983]
- Area between body and carapace enclosing branchiae.
(syn. gill chamber) [McLaughlin, 1980] - Chamber between carapace and body wall (pleura) that contains gills in most decapods. [Brusca and Brusca, 2002]
- On either side of the cephalothorax of shrimps, lobsters, crabs and certain other crustaceans; formed from a deep lateral fold of the carapace; house the gills. [Bliss, 1982]
- Space between body and wall of carapace enclosing branchiae.
(syn. gill chamber) [Moore and McCormick, 1969] - The chamber formed by the lateral region of the carapace enclosing the gills. [Ingle, 1983]
- (Taxon-specific: Order Cumacea) Space on each side of cephalothorax between body and inner wall of carapace. Contains posteriorly directed part of epipods of first maxillipeds. Closed posteriorly, with water entering anteriorly and exiting frontmedially via siphon. [Stachowitsch, 1992]
- (Taxon-specific: Order Tanaidacea) Space on each side of head between body and inner wall of carapace. Epipods of maxillipeds extend into branchial chamber. Water enters chamber primarily at posteroventral margins of carapace and exits ventrally at bases of maxillipeds.
(syn. branchial cavity) [Stachowitsch, 1992] - (Taxon-specific: Order Decapoda) Lateral or dorsolateral space on each side of cephalothorax between body wall and carapace; encloses gills. In shrimp-like (natantian) decapod, water enters branchial chamber along posterior or ventral edges of carapace; in crab-like (brachyuran) decapod, it typically enters via afferent respiratory channels near bases of chelipeds.
(syn. gill chamber)
See: Epibranchial space, Hypobranchial space [Stachowitsch, 1992] - (Taxon-specific: Order Isopoda) Area on ventral surface of abdomen (pleon) containing branchiae; may be covered by expanded pleopods or uropods. [Stachowitsch, 1992]