Crustacea, the Higher Taxa

J.K. Lowry


Bathynellacea (Malacostraca)

Description. Head. Rostrum present or absent; eyes absent; eyes ocular scale absent; eyes naupliar eyes absent. Antennules (antenna 1) uniramous; peduncle and flagellum indistinguishable; exopod well developed, whip-like. Antennae (antenna 2) biramous, or uniramous; exopod multiarticulate. Mandible uniramous; palp present. Maxillipeds, absent. Thorax. Carapace absent. Thorax and abdomen differentiated. Peraeopods (legs) 8 pairs, or 7 pairs; biramous; non-phyllopodous; undifferentiated (simple). Abdomen with 6 somites. Epimera absent. Pleopods present or absent, 2 pairs or 1 pair; reduced. Uropods well developed, 1 pair, positioned ventrolaterally; rami present, exopod without diaresis; endopod without statocyst. Telson present (not fused to pleon) (cleft to base).

Larval development. Anamorphic.

Habitat. Interstitial in fresh water.

Distribution. Africa, Madagascar, southwestern Asia, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South America, United States, Europe.

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/.