Amphipoda: Families and Subfamilies

J.K. Lowry & R.T. Springthorpe

Lycaeopsidae Chevreux, 1913

Description. Head free, not coalesced with peraeonite 1; exposed; deeper than long; anteroventral margin rounded, anteroventral corner rounded; rostrum absent; eyes present, well developed or obsolescent; coalesced; 1 pair; not bulging. Body laterally compressed; cuticle smooth.

Antenna 1 longer than antenna 2; peduncle with sparse robust and slender setae; 1- or 2-articulate; peduncular article 1 shorter than article 2, or subequal to article 2; accessory flagellum absent; antenna 1 callynophore present, or absent. Antenna 2 present, or absent; short; articles not folded in zigzag fashion; without hook-like process; flagellum shorter than peduncle, or absent; less than 5-articulate; not clavate; calceoli absent.

Mouthparts well developed. Mandible incisor dentate; accessory setal row without distal tuft; molar absent; palp present or absent. Maxilla 1 present; inner plate absent; palp absent, 0 -articulate. Maxilla 2 inner plate absent; outer plate present. Maxilliped inner and outer plates well developed or reduced, palps absent; inner plates reduced, fused medially; outer plates present. Labium smooth.

Peraeon. Peraeonites 1-7 separate; complete; sternal gills absent; pleurae absent.

Coxae 1-7 well developed, none fused with peraeonites. Coxae 1-4 broader than long, overlapping, coxae not acuminate. Coxae 1-3 not successively smaller, none vestigial. Coxae 2-4 none immensely broadened.

Gnathopod 1 not sexually dimorphic; smaller (or weaker) than gnathopod 2, or subequal to gnathopod 2; subequal to coxa 2; gnathopod 1 merus and carpus not rotated; gnathopod 1 carpus/propodus not cantilevered; shorter than propodus; gnathopod 1 not produced along posterior margin of propodus; dactylus large. Gnathopod 2 not sexually dimorphic; simple; coxa subequal to but not hidden by coxa 3; ischium short; merus not fused along posterior margin of carpus or produced away from it; carpus/propodus not cantilevered, carpus elongate, shorter than propodus, not produced along posterior margin of propodus.

Peraeopods heteropodous (3-4 directed posteriorly, 5-7 directed anteriorly), none prehensile. Peraeopod 3 well developed. Peraeopod 4 well developed. 3-4 not glandular; 3-7 without hooded dactyli, 3-7 propodi without distal spurs. Coxa well developed, broader than long; carpus shorter than propodus, not produced; dactylus minute. Coxa subequal to coxa 3 or larger than coxa 3, not acuminate, without posteroventral lobe; carpus not produced. Peraeopods 5-7 with few robust or slender setae; dactyli without slender or robust setae. Peraeopod 5 well developed; shorter than peraeopod 6, or subequal in length to peraeopod 6, or longer than peraeopod 6; coxa larger than coxa 4, without posterior lobe; basis expanded, subovate, without posteroventral lobe; merus/carpus free; carpus linear; setae absent. Peraeopod 6 longer than peraeopod 7; merus/carpus free; dactylus without setae. Peraeopod 7 with 6-7 well developed articles; shorter than peraeopod 5; different in structure to peraeopod 6; with 7 articles; basis slightly expanded or linear, without dense slender setae; dactylus without setae.

Pleon. Pleonites 1-3 without transverse dorsal serrations, without dorsal carina; without slender or robust dorsal setae. Epimera 1-3 present. Epimeron 1 well developed. Epimeron 2 without setae.

Urosome not dorsoventrally flattened; urosomites 1 free, 2 and 3 coalesced; urosome urosomites not carinate; urosomites 1-2 without transverse dorsal serrations. Uropods 1-2 apices of rami without robust setae. Uropods 1-3 similar in structure and size. Uropod 1 peduncle without long plumose setae, without basofacial robust seta, without ventromedial spur. Uropod 2 well developed; without ventromedial spur, without dorsal flange; inner ramus subequal to outer ramus, or longer than outer ramus. Uropod 3 sexually dimorphic; peduncle short; outer ramus longer than peduncle, 1-articulate, without recurved spines. Telson laminar; entire; longer than broad; apical robust setae absent.

Habitat. marine.

Habitat. planktonic.

Remarks. Maxillae 1 and 2 present but reduced and poorly described.


Cite this publication as: 'J.K. Lowry & R.T. Springthorpe (2001 onwards). Amphipoda: Families and Subfamilies. Version 1: 1 September 2001. https://crustacea.net/'. Dallwitz (1980) and Dallwitz, Paine and Zurcher (1993, 1995, 2000) should also be cited (see References).

Index