Family CYPHOCARIDIDAE Lowry & Stoddart, 1997

Cyphocaris sp.

© Copyright R.T. Springthorpe.

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Introduction

The Cyphocarididae comprise two genera of pelagic and demersal lysianassoids. Members of the major genus, Cyphocaris, are pelagic micropredators with cosmopolitan distributions. Although several more species of Cyphocaris are known from Australian waters, they are not yet described.

Diagnosis

Head exposed, concealed or partially concealed; much deeper than long; anteroventral margin moderately recessed, straight or oblique, and deeply excavate or not, anteroventral corner rounded or subquadrate; rostrum short or absent; eyes well developed (ovoid or subrectangular), obsolescent or absent. Body laterally compressed; smooth. Antenna 1 shorter than or subequal to antenna 2; peduncular article 1 longer than article 2; article 2 subequal to, or longer than article 3; article 3 shorter than article 1; primary flagellum 5- or more articulate; callynophore present. Antenna 2 short, medium length, long or longer than body; flagellum longer than peduncle; 5- or more articulate; calceoli present or absent. Mandible incisor smooth; lacinia mobilis present on left side only; molar fully triturating. Maxilla 1 inner plate strongly setose along medial margin or weakly setose apically. Maxilliped inner plates well developed; outer plates small. Coxae 1–4 as long as broad or longer than broad, overlapping; coxa 1 or coxae 1 and 3 vestigial. Gnathopod 1 not sexually dimorphic; smaller (or weaker) than or subequal to gnathopod 2; simple, weakly subchelate or subchelate; coxa vestigial, hidden or partially hidden by coxa 2; carpus subequal to, or longer than propodus. Gnathopod 2 not sexually dimorphic; subchelate; coxa smaller than, subequal to but not hidden by or larger than coxa 3; ischium long; carpus long, longer than propodus; dactylus minute. Pereopod 3 coxa vestigial or well developed and longer than broad; carpus shorter than or subequal to propodus, not produced. Pereopod 4 coxa larger than coxa 3, with well developed posteroventral lobe; carpus shorter than or subequal to propodus, not produced. Pereopod 5 shorter than pereopod 6; coxa smaller than or subequal to coxa 4, posterior lobe weak or absent; basis expanded, subtriangular or expanded into posterodistal spur, with or without posteroventral lobe; carpus linear. Pereopod 6 shorter than or subequal to pereopod 7; basis slightly expanded or linear. Pereopod 7 longer than pereopod 5; basis subrectangular. Urosomite 1 subequal to, or longer than urosomite 2. Uropods 1–2 apices of rami without robust setae. Uropod 3 biramous; peduncle short or long; rami lanceolate; outer ramus longer than peduncle; inner ramus not apically setose. Telson laminar; deeply cleft; longer than broad; dorsal and apical robust setae present or absent.

General References

Lowry, J.K. & Stoddart, H.E. 1997. Amphipoda Crustacea IV. Families Aristiidae, Cyphocarididae, Endevouridae, Lysianassidae, Scopelocheiridae, Uristidae. Memoirs of the Hourglass Cruises 10(1): 1-148

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