Mysidacea: Families, Subfamilies and Tribes

Kenneth Meland

Diagnostic description. Head. Carapace large, last 2 or 3 thoracic somites exposed dorsally. Rostrum obtuse, or broadly rounded. Eyes normally developed, or reduced. Antenna (antenna 2) scale present or reduced (in Caeseromysis and Gymnerythrops, and represented by a small spine in Arachnomysis and Chunomysis), with apical suture or without apical suture, outer margin smooth, without setae (serrated in Meterythrops), with terminal spine. Labrum symmetric. Mandible lacinia mobilis well developed, spine row present between lacinia mobilis and molar process, molar process well developed.

Thorax. 1st maxilliped exopod well developed. 2nd thoracopod developed as a maxilliped, exopod well developed. 3rd-8th thoracopods endopod with distinct carpus and propodus (seperated by an oblique articulation), propodus divided into two segments (most common). Branchiae on thoracopods absent. Marsupium composed of two pairs of oostegites, or composed of three pairs of oostegites.

Abdomen 6th & 7th abdominal somites fused. 1st pair endopod reduced; 2nd pair biramous; 3rd pair biramous; 4th pair biramous; 5th pair biramous. Female pleopods uniramous or greatly reduced. Uropod endopod setose around entire margin or inner margin with robust setae, statocyst present; exopod complete, setose around entire margin. Telson apex entire.

Generic composition. Erythropini continas 45 genera (197 species); Amathimysis Brattegard, 1969 (7 species); Amblyops G.O. Sars, 1872 (11 species); Amblyopsoides O. Tattersall, 1955 (4 species); Arachnomysis Chun, 1887 (2 species); Atlanterythrops Nouvel & Lagardere, 1976 (1 species); Australerythrops W. Tattersall, 1928 (1 species); Caesaromysis Ortmann, 1893 (1 species); Chunomysis Holt & Tattersall, 1905 (1 species); Dactylamblyops Holt & Tattersall, 1906 (13 species); Dactylerythrops Holt & Tattersall, 1905 (6 species); Echinomysides Murano, 1977 (1 species); Echinomysis Illig, 1905 (3 species); Erythrops G.O. Sars, 1869 (16 species); Euchaetomera G.O. Sars, 1883 (8 species); Euchaetomeropsis W. Tattersall, 1909 (2 species); Gibbamblyops Murano & Krygier, 1985 (1 species); Gibberythrops Illig, 1930 (4 species); Gymnerythrops Hansen, 1910 (3 species); Heteroerythrops O. Tattersall, 1955 (3 species); Holmesiella Ortmann, 1908 (2 species); Hyperamblyops Birstein & Tchindonova, 1958 (4 species); Hypererythrops Holt & Tatterrsall, 1905 (6 species); Indoerythrops Panampunnayil, 1998 (1 species); Illigiella Murano, 1981 (1 species); Katerythrops Holt & Tattersall, 1905 (5 species); Longithorax Illig, 1906 (5 species); Meierythrops Murano, 1981 (1 species); Metambylops W. Tattersall, 1907 (3 species); Meterythrops S.I. Smith, 1879 (5 species); Michthyops W. Tattersall, 1911 (2 species); Nakazawaia Murano, 1981 (2 species); Nipponerythrops Murano, 1977 (1 species); Paramblyops Holt & Tattersall, 1905 (5 species); Parapseudomma Nouvel & Lagardere, 1976 (1 species); Parerythrops G.O. Sars, 1869 (5 species); Pleurerythrops Ii, 1964 (5 species); Pseudamblyops Ii, 1964 (1 species); Pseuderythrops Coifmann, 1936 (2 species); Pseudomma G.O. Sars, 1870 (40 species); Pteromysis Ii, 1964 (1 species); Scolamblyops Murano, 1974 (2 species); Synerythrops Hansen, 1910 (3 species); Teraterythrops Ii, 1964 (2 species); Thalassomysis W. Tattersall, 1939 (2 species); Xenerythrops Ii, 1964 (1 species).

Remarks. The majority of Erythropini are found to prefer deeper oceanic waters and have been most successful in invading the hyperbenthic environment of the deep-sea. They are regular inhabitants on soft bottom sediments and are commonly encountered throughout the worlds oceans.

This tribe is extremely diverse, displaying many peculiar and uncommon features, mainly seen in reductions and specializations of the compound eyes, considered adaptions to the deep-sea habitat. This high diversety has made generic classification complicated, resulting in 13 monotypic genera within the Erythropini. Nonetheless the tribe itself is well defined and easily distinguishable from other tribes by the combination of characters of antennal scale, thoracic limbs, and male pleopods.

Cite this publication as: 'Meland, K. (2002 onwards). Mysidacea: Families, Subfamilies and Tribes. Version 1: 2 October 2002. https://crustacea.net'.