Family CYPROIDEIDAE J.L. Barnard, 1974

Cyproidea ornata

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Family CYPROIDEIDAE J.L. Barnard, 1974

Introduction

According to Lowry and Azman (2008) the Cyproideidae J.L. Barnard, 1974 is a well-defined family of 18 genera living mainly in the Indo-West Pacific. They are small, brightly coloured amphipods, often associated with other invertebrates such as hydroids, sea fans, bryozoans, soft corals and crinoids (Potts 1915; Moore 1992), but some also occur on algae. In fact the striking species, Cyproidea ornata Haswell, may be the most frequently occurring algal-dwelling amphipod in south-eastern Australia. There are currently approximately 43 species in the family, but many more species await discovery (J.L. Barnard 1972). For instance, although cyproideids are most diverse in the Indo-West Pacific, none are currently recorded from the South China Sea, the west coast of India or the east coast of Africa. The majority of cyproideid generic level diversity is in the Indo-West Pacific (11 of 18 genera). Within this region the greatest diversity occurs in Australia and the south-western Indian Ocean. A key to all genera except Gbroidea Lowry & Azman, 2008 and Victorhensenoides Rauschert, 1996 is available in Barnard & Karaman (1991).

Diagnosis

Head deeper than long; rostrum long; eyes round. Body laterally compressed or subglobular; smooth. Antenna 1 shorter than antenna 2; peduncular article 1 shorter or longer than article 2; article 2 longer than article 3; article 3 shorter than article 1; accessory flagellum present or absent; primary flagellum less than or more than 5-articulate; callynophore present or absent. Antenna 2 short; flagellum shorter than peduncle; less than 5-articulate. Mandible incisor dentate; molar fully triturating; palp present or absent. Maxilla 1 inner plate weakly setose apically; palp 1- or 2-articulate. Maxilliped inner plates well developed; outer plates small or vestigial. Coxae 1–4 longer than broad or as long as broad, overlapping; coxae 1–2 vestigial; coxae 3–4 immensely broadened, rabbeted. Gnathopod 1 not sexually dimorphic; smaller (or weaker) than or subequal to gnathopod 2; simple, merochelate, carpochelate, subchelate, parachelate or chelate; coxa subequal to coxa 2; carpus shorter than, subequal to or longer than propodus, strongly, slightly or not produced along posterior margin of propodus. Gnathopod 2 not sexually dimorphic; simple, merochelate, carpochelate, subchelate, parachelate or chelate; coxa smaller than and mostly hidden by coxa 3; ischium short; carpus short, shorter or longer than propodus, strongly, slightly or not produced along posterior margin of propodus. Pereopod 3 coxa longer than broad; carpus subequal to propodus, not produced. Pereopod 4 coxa larger than coxa 3, with well developed posteroventral lobe; carpus subequal to propodus, not produced. Pereopod 5 subequal to pereopod 6; coxa smaller than coxa 4, without posterior lobe; basis linear, subrectangular or subovate, without posteroventral lobe; carpus linear. Pereopod 6 subequal or longer than pereopod 7; basis expanded or linear. Pereopod 7 subequal to pereopod 5; similar or different in structure to pereopod 6; basis expanded or linear, with broad posteroventral lobe or subrectangular. Urosomite 1 much longer than urosomite 2. Uropods 1–2 apices of rami without robust setae. Uropod 3 biramous; peduncle short or long; rami styliform; outer ramus shorter than peduncle; inner ramus not apically setose. Telson laminar or occasionally thickened dorsoventrally; entire; longer than broad; dorsal and apical robust setae absent.