Crustacea, the Higher Taxa

J.K. Lowry


Mormonilloida (Copepoda, Maxillipoda)

Description. Head. eyes absent; eyes naupliar eyes present. Antennules (antenna 1) uniramous; geniculate in males; peduncle and flagellum indistinguishable; exopod well developed, whip-like, with 4-5 articles. Antennae (antenna 2) biramous; exopod with 8 articles, or exopod with 9 articles; endopod with 2 articles, or with 3 articles (indistict). Mouthparts not highly modified, or atrophied. Mandible biramous, or uniramous; palp present, or absent. Maxillipeds, 2 pairs, or 1 pair; uniramous. Thorax. Carapace absent. Thorax and abdomen differentiated, boundary between fourth and fifth pedigerous somites (podoplean tagmosis). Peraeopods (legs) 4 pairs; biramous; non-phyllopodous; undifferentiated (simple); each article joined by intercoxal sclerite; anterior peraeopods (swimming legs) with 1 robust seta on outer margin of exopod article 1. Abdomen with 5 somites (or fewer). Epimera absent. Pleopods absent. Uropods 1 pair, positioned terminally or subterminally; rami absent; subrectangular to subquadrate. Telson absent.

Larval development. Metamorphic. Embryos carried in paired or single sacs attached to first abdominal somite.

Cite this publication as: Lowry, J.K. (1999 onwards). 'Crustacea, the Higher Taxa: Description, Identification, and Information Retrieval.' Version: 2 October 1999. https://crustacea.net/.