Calanoidea: Families

J.M. Bradford-Grieve


Aetideidae Giesbrecht, 1892

Description. Female. Anterior head in dorsal view pointed, or crested, or rounded or bluntly triangular. Rostrum without filaments; rostral margin extends into 2 points, or extends into 1 point, or extends into 1 blunt protrusion, or not extended. Cephalosome and pedigerous somite 1 fused or partly fused, or separate; pedigerous somites 4 and 5 fused or partly fused, or separate. Posterior corners of prosome in lateral view bluntly rounded, or with 1 acute point, or triangular or obtusely pointed; dorsal view symmetrical. Genital double-somite symmetrical in dorsal view, or asymmetrical in dorsal view; gonopores close together and totally covered by single genital operculum; with pair of seminal receptacles; with pair of copulatory pores that are completely covered by genital operculum. Caudal rami symmetrical; seta VII located ventrally.

Mouthparts. Supralabrum absent. Antenna 1 with 23-24 free segments; ancestral segments X and XI fused. Antenna 2 exopod with 5-7 free segments; 7-11 setae; with 1 terminal seta, or with 3 terminal setae; basis and endopod separate. Mandible basis without setae, or with 2 setae, or with 3 setae; endopod terminal segment with 6 setae, or 8-10 setae. Maxilla 1 basal exite seta absent; exopod extends short of endopod distal border. Maxilla 2 coxal epipodite seta absent; endopod setae normal, or claw-like. Maxilliped coxal endite 2 with 3 setae.

Legs. Leg 1 basis outer seta present, or absent; endopod with 1 segment; exopod with 1 segment, or with 2 segments, or with 3 segments; exopod segment 1 with outer distal spine, or without outer distal spine; exopod segment 3 with 3 inner setae. Leg 2 endopod with 1 segment, or with 2 segments; exopod with 2 segments, or with 3 segments; exopod segment 3 with 3 outer spines. Leg 3 basis outer distal spine absent; endopod segment 3 with 5 setae. Legs 3 and 4 endopod with 2 segments, or with 3 segments; exopod with 2 segments, or with 3 segments; exopod segment 3 with 3 outer spines; exopod segment 3 with 4 inner setae. Leg 4 endopod segment 3 with 5 setae. Legs 2-4 surfaces weakly spinulose, or naked; terminal spine with outer border serrated. Leg 5 absent, or rudimentary; very dissimilar from legs 2-4; coxa inner border without seta; when rudimentary, coxae and intercoxal sclerite fused, basis naked, exopod 1-segmented (small or large) with 2 terminal and 1 lateral tooth (Pseudotharybis, Parabradyidius) or with one terminal exopod spine and rudimentary 1-segmented endopod (some Comantenna), or naked (Sursamucro).

Mode of life. Pelagic or benthopelagic, in oceanic waters.

Depth distribution. Epipelagic (0-500 m), or mesopelagic (500-1000 m), or bathypelagic (greater than 1000 m).

Distribution on sea floor. Less than 100 m, or 100-200 m, or 200-1000 m.

Generic composition. This family contains twenty seven genera: Aetideopsis Sars, 1903; Aetideus Brady, 1883; Azygokeras Koeller & Littlepage, 1976; Batheuchaeta Brodsky, 1950; Bradyetes Farran, 1905; Bradyidius Giesbrecht, 1897; Chiridiella Sars, 1907; Chiridius Giesbrecht, 1892; Chirundina Giesbrecht, 1895; Chirundinella Tanaka, 1957; Comantenna Wilson, 1924; Crassantenna Cole et al., 1972; Euchirella Giesbrecht, 1888; Gaetanus Giesbrecht, 1888; Jaschnovia Markhaseva, 1980; Lutamator Bradford, 1969; Mesocomantenna Alvarez, 1986; Paivella Vervoort, 1965; Parabradyidius Schulz & Markhaseva, 2000; Paracomantenna Campaner, 1978; Pseudeuchaeta Sars, 1905; Pseudochirella Sars, 1920; Pterochirella Schulz, 1990; Senecella Juday, 1923; Sursamucro Bradford, 1969; Uneuchaeta Giesbrecht, 1888; Valdiviella Steuer, 1904. Frigocalanus Schulz, 1996 keys out to the Aetideidae, although it has been placed tentatively in the Pseudocyclopiidae.


(Variant) Male (sexually dimorphic characters).

Description. Male. Anterior head in dorsal view pointed, or crested. Cephalosome and pedigerous somite 1 fused or partly fused; pedigerous somites 4 and 5 fused or partly fused. Posterior corners of prosome in lateral view bluntly rounded, or with 1 acute point; dorsal view symmetrical, or asymmetrical.

Mouthparts. Mouthparts reduced (especially maxillae 1 and 2). Antenna 1 similar, neither geniculate. Maxilliped endopod segments 5 and 6 with outer setae normal.

Legs. Right leg 5 absent, or uniramous, or biramous; endopod separate from basis and 1-segmented; exopod absent, more usually 2-segmented (3-segmented in Azygokeras, Chiridiella and Pseudeuchaeta), transformed into large pincers in some Euchirella opposed to the endopod. Left leg 5 uniramous, or biramous; endopod 1-segmented, or 2-segmented; exopod 3-segmented, segments 2 and 3 may be transformed into small pincers (some Euchirella), segment 3 bilobed in Batheuchaeta, segment 2 in Pseudochirella may have teeth and projections; exopod segment 2 without distal serrated lamella.



Cite this publication as: 'Bradford-Grieve, J.M. (2002 onwards). Calanoida: families. Version 1: 2 October 2002. https://crustacea.net'.