Abstract

Crustacean peracarids are a diverse group of invertebrates, common in terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments. The present study examines the species diversity of the orders Amphipoda, Cumacea, Isopoda, and Tanaidacea, presently reported from Chile. Other peracarid groups have not been recorded from Chile. A systematic list of presently recorded peracarid species and their geographic distribution in Chile from 18°S to 56°S, including the Archipelago of Juan Fernández and Isla de Pascua is provided. A preliminary biogeographic analysis suggests that species diversity increases from North to South. The facts that there are still large areas with unusually low number of species, and that many species recorded for Chile are unique records underlines the need for future taxonomic efforts in order to gain a thorough overview of the diversity of this important and species-rich group of invertebrates.