Family METAPSEUDIDAE Lang, 1970

Apseudomorpha wagait

© Copyright from Edgar 1997.

Museums

Regional Maps

Introduction

Over 50 species in 17 genera occur in shallow waters throughout the world's seas, especially in the tropics and on coral reefs (Gutu & Sieg 1999). Two subfamilies were recognised by Sieg (1983, 1984): Metapseudinae and Tanapseudinae. The latter was recognised as a separate family by Gutu & Sieg (1999) and the former again divided into two subfamilies, Metapseudinae and Synapseudinae Gutu, 1972 by Gutu (1996). Gutu (2006, 2008) recognised two more: Chondropodinae Gutu, 2008 and Msangiinae Gutu, 2006. There are five genera known from Australia. Gutu (1996) provided a key to genera.

Diagnosis

Pleon characterised by various degrees of fusion, from all 5 pleonites free to all pleonites united with pleotelson. Mandibular palp 3–articled. Maxilla 1 with palp. Epignath of maxilliped, broad, cup-shaped. Inner caudodistal seta of maxillipedal endite not transformed into a leaf-shaped spine. All 6 pereopods of same shape, derived from ambulatory type, nonfossorial but adapted for climbing. Dactylus and terminal spine stout, forming a strong claw.

General References

Gutu, M. 1972. Phylogenetic and systematic considerations upon the Monokonophora (Crustacea - Tanaidacea) with the suggestion of a new family and several new subfamilies. Revue Roumaine de Biologie Zool. 17: 297-305

Gutu, M. 1996. The synoptic table and key to the superspecific taxa of recent Apseudomorpha (Crustacea, Tanaidacea). Travaux du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle "Grigore Antipa" 36: 135-146

Guţu, M. 2006. New Apseudomorph Taxa of the World Ocean: Crustacea, Tanaidacea. Bucharest, Romania : Curtea Veche 318 pp.

Gutu, M. 2008. On the systematic position of the genera Trichapseudes Barnard and Hoplomachus Gutu, and the description of a new metapseudid subfamily (Crustacea: Tanaidacea: Apseudomorpha). Travaux du Muséum National d´Histoire Naturelle "Grigore Antipa" 51: 71-77

Gutu, M. & Sieg, J. 1999. Ordre des tanaïdacés (Tanaidacea Hansen, 1895). pp. 353-389 in Forest, J. Traité de Zoologie. Anatomie, systématique, biologie … Tome 7 Crustacés. Fascicule 3A Péracarides. Mémoires de l'Institut Océanographique, Monaco 19: 1-450

Lang, K. 1970. Taxonomische und phylogenetische Untersuchungen überdie Tanaidaceen. 4. Aufteilung der Apseudidae in vier Familien nebst Aufstellungvon zwei Gattungen und einer neuen Art der Familie Leiopidae. Arkiv för Zoologi 22(2): 595-626

Sieg, J. 1983. Crustaceorum Catalogus editus a H.-E. Gruner & L.B. Holthuis Pars 6. Tanaidacea. The Hague : Dr W. Junk 552 pp.

Sieg, J. 1984. Neuere Erkenntnisse zum natürlichen System der Tanaidacea. Eine phylogenetische Studie. Zoologica (Stuttgart) 136: 1-132

History of changes