Researcher Information

SHIRAKI Shoki

Specially Appointed Assistant Professor

Investigating the diversity of small crustaceans

Department of Biological Sciences, Biodiversity

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Theme

Taxonomy and phylogeny of Anthuroidea (Crustacea; Isopoda)

FieldTaxonomy, Phylogeny
KeywordCrustacea, Isopoda, Anthuroidea, New species, Molecular phylogeny

Introduction of Research

Taxonomy is a research field that classifies organisms into frameworks such as species and genera based on morphological characters and genetic data. My research interest lies in the taxonomy of small crustaceans, particularly those in the superfamily Anthuroidea (Figure), as well as its phylogeny. As of April 2026, more than 600 species of Anthuroidea have been described, and 45 species are known from Japan. However, the diversity remains highly underestimated, with many undescribed species. I conduct field sampling across Japan and in the Philippines, from freshwater to shallow and deep seas, and describe new species and report new distributional records based on these specimens. I am also investigating their feeding ecology and their parasites to better understand the diversity of anthuroids from multiple perspectives.

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Various anthuroid isopods; scale bar = 1 mm
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Mesanthura sol Shiraki & Kakui, 2025 described from Okinawa
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Amakusanthura camiguinensis Shiraki & Kakui in Shiraki et al., 2025 described from Camiguin Island, the Philippines
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Cryptoniscoid isopod Anthuroniscus shimomurai Shiraki & Kakui, 2024 parasitic on an anthuroid
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Paranthura japonica Richardson, 1909 feeding on an amphipod; feeding experiments using Oshoro specimens revealed that the species feeds on various crustaceans (Shiraki & Kakui 2022)
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Various ontogenetic stages of Mesanthura miyakoensis Nunomura, 1979 show various pigmentation pattern

Representative Achievements

Shiraki S, Kakui K, Along A, Calagui L, Calagui SI, Demetillo M, Kajihara H, Leones JA, Rojas-Salinas A, Sanchez-De los Reyes KA, Seronay R, Tsuyuki A, Abato J (2025) Taxonomic revision of Sauranthura (Isopoda: Anthuroidea: Anthuridae), with the description of Sauranthura liangaensis sp. nov. from Surigao del Sur, Philippines. Marine Biology Research 21: 206–220.
Shiraki S, Kakui K (2025) Four species of Mesanthura (Crustacea: Isopoda: Anthuroidea) from Japan, including the description of a new species. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 105: e48.
Shiraki S, Kakui K (2024) Isopods on isopods: integrative taxonomy of Cabiropidae (Isopoda: Epicaridea: Cryptoniscoidea) parasitic on anthuroid isopods, with descriptions of a new genus and three new species from Japan. Invertebrate Systematics 38: IS24013.
Shiraki S, Kakui K (2024) Ontogenetic changes in pigmentation pattern in Mesanthura miyakoensis (Crustacea: Isopoda: Anthuridae). Zoological Science 41: 323–328.
Shiraki S, Kakui K (2022) Observations on predation in Paranthura japonica Richardson, 1909 (Isopoda: Cymothoida: Paranthuridae). Zoological Science 39: 270–274.
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Academic degreeDoctor of Science
Self Introduction

I used to play soccer and futsal, but currently fewer opportunities to play.

Academic background2021 B.Sc.,, School of Science, Hokkaido University
2023 M.Sc., Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University
2026 Ph.D., Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University
2026–Present Current position
Affiliated academic societyThe Japanese Society of Systematic Zoology, Carcinological Society of Japan, The Crustacean Society, Zoological Society of Japan, The Japanese Association of Benthology
Room addressScience Building 5 5-505