Calanoidea: Families

J.M. Bradford-Grieve


Spinocalanidae Vervoort, 1951

Description. Female. Anterior head in dorsal view 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 separate; pedigerous somites 4 and 5 separate. Posterior corners of prosome in lateral view bluntly rounded, or triangular or obtusely pointed; dorsal view symmetrical. Genital double-somite symmetrical 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, or asymmetrical.

Mouthparts. Antenna 1 with 23-24 free segments; ancestral segments X and XI fused. Antenna 2 exopod with 7 free segments; 9-11 setae; basis and endopod separate. Mandible basis without setae, or with 1 seta, or with 2 setae, or with 3 setae, or with 4 setae; endopod terminal segment with 3-10 setae. Maxilla 1 basal exite seta present, or absent; exopod extends as far as endopod distal border. Maxilla 2 coxal epipodite seta absent. Maxilliped coxal endite 2 with 3 setae.

Legs. Leg 1 basis outer seta absent; endopod with 1 segment; exopod with 3 segments; exopod segment 1 with outer distal spine, or without outer distal spine; exopod segment 3 with 4 inner setae. Leg 2 endopod with 2 segments; exopod with 3 segments; exopod segment 3 with 3 outer spines. Leg 3 basis outer distal spine absent; endopod segment 3 with 6 setae. Legs 3 and 4 endopod with 3 segments; exopod with 3 segments; exopod segment 3 with 3 outer spines; exopod segment 3 with 5 inner setae. Leg 4 endopod segment 3 with 6 setae. Legs 2-4 surfaces strongly spinulose, or naked; terminal spine with outer border serrated. Leg 5 absent.

Mode of life. Pelagic, in oceanic waters.

Depth distribution. Bathypelagic (greater than 1000 m).

Generic composition. This family contains six genera: Damkaeria Fosshagen, 1983; Isaacsicalanus Fleminger, 1983; Kunihulsea Schulz, 1992; Mimocalanus Farran, 1908; Monacilla Sars, 1905; Mospicalanus Schulz, 1996; Spinocalanus Giesbrecht, 1888; Teneriforma Grice & Hulsemann, 1967 .


(Variant) Male (sexually dimorphic characters).

Description. Male. Cephalosome and pedigerous somite 1 fused or partly fused, or separate. Posterior corners of prosome in lateral view bluntly rounded. Caudal rami symmetrical.

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 uniramous, or biramous; endopod separate from basis and 1-segmented, or 2-segmented; exopod 2-3-segmented, usually terminating in at least one spine, maybe shorter, subequal to or longer than right exopod. Left leg 5 absent, or uniramous, or biramous; endopod 1-segmented, or 2-segmented; exopod 2-3-segmented, usually terminating in at least one spine, maybe shorter, subequal to or longer than right exopod.



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