Crustacea, the Higher Taxa

J.K. Lowry


Amphionidacea (Eucarida, Malacostraca)

Description. Head. Rostrum absent; eyes stalked; compound, visual elements present; ocular scale absent; naupliar eyes absent. Antennules (antenna 1) biramous; peduncle and flagellum distinct. Antennae (antenna 2) biramous; exopod forming a scaphocerite (very large). Mandible vestigial; palp absent. Maxillipeds, 1 pair; biramous. Thorax. Carapace present, univalved, enclosing head and thorax, laterally compressed, smooth (very thin). Thorax and abdomen differentiated. Peraeopods (legs) 6 pairs; biramous (exopods reduced in females); non-phyllopodous; undifferentiated (simple). Peraeopod 1 (leg 1) simple. Peraeopod 2 (leg 2) simple. Peraeopod 3 (leg 3) simple. Abdomen with 6 somites. Epimera present. Pleopods present, 5 pairs. Uropods well developed, 1 pair, positioned ventrolaterally; rami present, exopod without diaresis; endopod without statocyst (check). Telson present (not fused to pleon).

Larval development. Metamorphic. Embryos carried dorsally within the carapace.

Habitat. Marine plankton.

Remarks. There is only one known species, Amphionides reynaudii author,date.

Distribution. Worldwide.

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/.