Family CHAETILIIDAE Dana, 1849

Stegidotea pinnata

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Family CHAETILIIDAE Dana, 1849

Introduction

Members of the Chaetiliidae are marine benthic species of sandy beaches or shelf environments. About 20 species in 13 genera are known with representatives in most areas of the world. Poore (1984) listed the genera then known and in 1985 and 1991 reviewed the status of the family and the Australian species. The diagnosis is from Poore (2001).

Diagnosis

Body straight, more or less flattened or semicylindrical, or strongly vaulted; tapering posteriorly. Head and pereonite 1 free. Head with prominent flat lateral lobes, sometimes with ocular notch. Pereonite 4 of similar length to pereonite 3. Pleonites 1–4 articulating with each other and fused pleotelson, or pleonites 1–3 articulating with each other and fused pleotelson, or pleonites 1–2 articulating with each other and fused pleotelson (other pleonites sometimes indicated laterally or dorsally). Body smooth or slightly sculptured, or variously spinose or rugose. Dorsal coxal plates 2–7 more or less ventrally expanded over bases of pereopods, or 5–7 expanded over bases of pereopods and tergites marginal on pereonites 2–4. Eyes reduced or lost.

Antenna 2 flagellum multiarticulate (sometimes of few articles). Maxillipedal epipod shorter than wide. Pereopods differentiated, 1, 1–3, 1–5 or 1–6 subchelate. Pereopods 2–4 with irregular fine setae and marginal robust setae. Pereopods of males without dense fur of fine setae. Uropodal exopod (smaller ramus) ovate, fringed with setae (if present), more than half as long as endopod, or rami styliform.

Oostegites 1–5 functional (as far as known). Penes paired, widely separate (sometimes obsolete). Pleopod 1 peduncle short (similar to other pleopods); with marginal setae on rami longer than or equal to length of rami. Pleopod 1 exopod of male laminar. Pleopod 2 of male with appendix masculina twice length of endopod, basally less than half width of endopod.