Amphipoda: Families and Subfamilies

J.K. Lowry & R.T. Springthorpe

Pardaliscidae Boeck, 1871

Description. Head free, not coalesced with peraeonite 1; exposed; longer than deep, or deeper than long; rostrum present or absent, short or moderate; eyes present, well developed or obsolescent, or absent; not coalesced; 1 pair; not bulging. Body subcylindrical; cuticle smooth.

Antenna 1 shorter than antenna 2, or subequal to antenna 2, or longer than antenna 2; peduncle with sparse robust and slender setae; 3-articulate; peduncular article 1 shorter than article 2, or longer than article 2; antenna 1 article 2 subequal to article 3, or longer than article 3; peduncular articles 1-2 not geniculate; accessory flagellum present; antenna 1 callynophore present, or absent. Antenna 2 present; medium length; articles not folded in zigzag fashion; without hook-like process; flagellum shorter than peduncle, or longer than peduncle; 5 or more articulate; not clavate; calceoli absent.

Mouthparts well developed. Mandible incisor dentate, or smooth; accessory setal row without distal tuft; molar absent; palp present or absent. Maxilla 1 present; inner plate present, weakly setose apically; palp present, not clavate, 2 -articulate. Maxilla 2 inner plate present; outer plate present. Maxilliped inner and outer plates well developed or reduced, palps present, well developed or reduced; inner plates well developed or reduced, separate; outer plates present, very large or small; palp 4-articulate, article 3 without rugosities. 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 longer than broad or 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; subequal to gnathopod 2; subequal to coxa 2; gnathopod 1 merus and carpus not rotated; gnathopod 1 carpus/propodus not cantilevered; shorter than propodus, or subequal to propodus, or longer than propodus; gnathopod 1 slightly produced along posterior margin of propodus, or not produced along posterior margin of propodus; dactylus large. Gnathopod 2 not sexually dimorphic; simple, or subchelate; 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 short or elongate, shorter than propodus or longer than propodus, slightly produced along posterior margin of propodus or not produced along posterior margin of propodus.

Peraeopods heteropodous (3-4 directed posteriorly, 5-7 directed anteriorly), some or all prehensile or 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, longer than broad or broader than long or as long as broad; carpus shorter than propodus or longer than propodus, not produced; dactylus well developed. Coxa subequal to 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; coxa subequal to coxa 4, without posterior lobe; basis slightly expanded or linear, subrectangular, without posteroventral lobe; merus/carpus free; carpus linear; setae absent. Peraeopod 6 shorter than peraeopod 7, or subequal in length to peraeopod 7, or longer than peraeopod 7; merus/carpus free; dactylus without setae. Peraeopod 7 with 6-7 well developed articles; subequal to peraeopod 5, or longer than peraeopod 5; similar in structure to peraeopod 6; with 7 articles; basis 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 to 3 free; urosomite 1 longer than urosomite 2, or much longer than urosomite 2; urosome urosomite 1 carinate, or urosomites 1-2 carinate, or urosomites not carinate; urosomites 1-2 without transverse dorsal serrations. Uropods 1-2 apices of rami with 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 not sexually dimorphic; peduncle short or elongate; outer ramus longer than peduncle, 1-articulate, without recurved spines. Telson laminar; deeply cleft, or moderately cleft, or weakly cleft, or entire; longer than broad, or as long as broad; apical robust setae present.

Habitat. marine.

Remarks. The Pardiliscidae is a very poorly known group in Australian waters.


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).

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