Australian Biological Resources Study

Australian Faunal Directory

<em>Bentheuphausia ambylops</em>

Bentheuphausia ambylops

Museums

Regional Maps

Family BENTHEUPHAUSIIDAE Holt & Tattersall, 1905

Introduction

This monotypic family was erected for Bentheuphausia amblyops Sars, 1885. It is generally considered to be the more primitive of the two euphausidean families because the seventh and eighth thoracic legs are distinctly retained (may be present as `nobs' in some euphausiid species), and a petasma and well-developed eyes are lacking. Biology, distribution and larval development are discussed by Baker et al. (1990), Boden et al. (1955), Mauchline & Fisher (1969), Brinton (1975) and Mauchline (1980).

The authorship of the Bentheuphausiidae has been widely attributed to Colosi (1917), but the taxon was clearly first proposed by Holt & Tattersall (1905: 112).

 

Diagnosis

Male with endopod of first pair of pleopods not modified as a complex petasma. Basipod of first pair of pleopods carrying 1–6 spines. Endopod of first maxilla two-jointed. Endopod of second maxilla three-jointed. Outer uropod with a sub-distal transverse suture. Eyes poorly developed. All eight thoracic legs well developed. Photophores absent. (After Brinton et al. 1999).

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
12-Feb-2010 (import)