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Family LAOMEDIIDAE Borradaile, 1903

 

Introduction

This family of burrowing mud shrimps is represented in Australia by two species: Laomedia healyi Yaldyn & Wear, 1970, and L. barronensis Ngoc-Ho & Yaldwyn, 1997. Both are cryptic species confined to intertidal mangroves of eastern Australia. Larvae of an unidentified species belonging to a second genus, Jaxea Nardo, have been recorded from the plankton off eastern Australia by Dakin & Colefax (1940), but no adult Jaxea species have ever been captured. Ngoc-Ho (1997) and Ngoc-Ho & Yaldwyn (1997) reviewed the living species of Laomedia and provided a key to the genus. Poore (1994) provided a key to world genera.

 

Diagnosis

Reptant decapods without a thelycum in the female. Carapace with linea thalassinica present; posterior margin with lateral lobes, rostrum minute; eyestalks cylindrical; maxilla 2 scaphognathite with several thickened setae on posterior lobe; antenna 1 with article 3 as long as or longer than article 2; gill elements paired. Pereiopods 1–5 having basis and ischium fused; first pereiopods equal; pereiopod 1 chelate, carpus-propodus articulation slight; pereiopod 2 simple; always with dense row of long setae on lower margin; pereiopod 3 simple, propodus linear; pereiopod 4 simple or subchelate, coxa cylindrical; propodus of pereiopods 3 and 4 with a few spiniform setae on lower margin; pereiopod 5 chelate or subchelate; without arthrobranch on thoracomere 1; propodus of pereiopods 3 and 4 with or without spiniform setae; pereiopods 2–4 and abdominal somites sometimes with setal-rows. Thoracic sternite 7 narrow. Abdominal somite 1 chitinised, with anterolateral lobes, pleuron weak; pleopod 2 similar to pleopods 3–5, rami lanceolate; pleopods without appendix interna; uropodal exopod ovate; pereiopods 2–4 and abdominal somites without setal-rows. (After Poore 1994).

 

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)
08-May-2012 08-May-2012 MODIFIED
03-Jun-2010 MODIFIED