Family MUNNIDAE Sars, 1897

Munna australis

© Copyright from Hodgson 1902.

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Introduction

The Munnidae are a cosmopolitan family with numerous species in marine and estuarine environments from shallow depths to the deep sea. Five genera are recognised. The systematics of the family was reviewed by Wilson (1980) who distinguished it from the Pleurogoniidae (lapsus for Paramunnidae). World species of Munna and Uromunna were listed by Poore (1984). The diagnosis is from Wilson (1980).

Diagnosis

Body subpyriform. Head comparatively large; eyes generally present (absent in deep-sea species), on lateral projections. Antenna 1 short with about 7 articles. Antenna 2 may be longer or shorter than body with 4 proximal articles subequal, projecting anteriorly and dorsally; flagellum with variable number of articles (range: 5–45); antennal scale sometimes present. Palp of mandible longer or shorter than body of mandible, rarely absent, distal articles armed with 2 or more curved setulate setae and many cuticular combs. Pereopod 1 prehensile; remaining pereopods ambulatory. Pleopod 1 of male truncate distally; penes enter pleopodal sperm duct externally. Uropods tiny, biramous or uniramous, peduncle absent. Anus terminal, not covered by opercular pleopods.

General References

Poore, G.C.B. 1984. Redefinition of Munna and Uromunna (Crustacea: Isopoda: Munnidae), with descriptions of five species from coastal Victoria. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 96: 61-81

Sars, G.O. 1897. Parts 5, 6. Idotheidae, Arcturidae, Asellidae, Ianiridae, Munnidae. 81-116, pls 33-48 in Sars, G.O. (ed.). An Account of the Crustacea of Norway with short descriptions and figures of all the species. Isopoda. Bergen : Bergen Museum Vol. 2 270 pp.

Wilson, G.D.F. 1980. New insights into the colonization of the deep-sea: systematics and zoogeography of the Munnidae and the Pleurogoniidae comb. nov. (Isopoda: Janiroidea). Journal of Natural History 14: 215-236

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