The larvae of gnathiid isopods are known to parasitise a large variety of intertidal fish worldwide.

The detailed descriptions of the female and larva, however, are also important for identifying these life stages to species level when collected in the absence of males.

The zuphea 1 is released from the female marsupium in the autumn months and subsequently attaches to their host fish.

The praniza 1 detaches from the host and rests on the bottom substrate, using the blood meal to sustain itself until moulting into the zuphea 2 after 35 days.

Embryos develop in the female marsupium until released from the oostegite openings as zuphea 1 larvae.