Australian Isopoda: Families

S.J. Keable, G.C.B. Poore & G.D.F. Wilson


Munnopsididae Lilljeborg, 1864

Munnopsidae Lilljeborg, 1864: 6. -Wilson, 1989: 118. -Roman & Dalens, 1999: 252.

Munnopsididae. -Just, 2001c: 336.

Description. Body. Body shape without loss or gross modification of appendages on one side of the body; in dorsal view without peduncular articles of antenna 1 or 2 contiguous with coxal margins.

Head. Head not capable of lateral rotation (laterally encompassed, abutting or fused to pereonite 1). Antenna 1 inserting on head anteriorly and/or dorsally to antenna 2, minute or well developed; not as follows: reduced to 2 articles with second article expanded and scalloped. Antenna 2 well developed; peduncle article 3 subequal in length and colinear to other proximal peduncle articles. Mouthparts not forming suctorial cone or proboscis. Mandible not projecting anteriorly and together forceps-like; palp present.

Pereon. Pereonites 5-7 partially or completely fused, combined with fusion of pleonites to form distinct natasome. Coxae not extending ventrally and laterally to overhang the coxa-basis articulation of the pereopods. Pereopods 6-7 pairs readily apparent; 1-3 or 1-7 not prehensile. Pereopod 1 not subchelate or if subchelate then propodus and carpus opposing each other and dactylus short. Pereopods 5-7 with flattened setose articles and dactyls modified or absent, or without flattened setose articles andor dactyls modified or absent.

Pleon / Pleotelson. Pleonites and pleotelson with pleonites 3-5 fused without lateral sutures, pleotelson fused with pleonites 3-5, pleonites 1 and 2 free but may be only small rings or cuticular bars visible ventrally. Pleopods 5 pairs present (males), or 4 pairs present (females); pleopods 1-2 opercular or not opercular in males, pleopod 2 fused and usually opercular in females. Pleopod 2 of males consisting of an enlarged peduncle, a geniculate endopod and a small muscular exopod. Uropods positioned distally on pleotelson; distinct from pleopods, not forming operculum over pleopodal chamber (although may be folded ventrally below pleotelson). Peduncle not forming an elongate clavate article with rami reduced or absent. Endopod not claw-like (acute and recurved) andor posteroventral in position. Exopod not folded dorsally over pleotelson.

Remarks. The family name is generally attributed to Sars (1869) (Martin & Davis, 2001) but was established by Lilljeborg (1864).

Distribution and generic composition. See Kensley et al. (1996).




Cite this publication as: 'S.J. Keable, G.C.B. Poore & G.D.F. Wilson (2002 onwards). 'Australian Isopoda: Families. Version: 2 October 2002. https://crustacea.net'.