Family MUNNIDAE G.O. Sars, 1897

Munna australis

© Copyright from Hodgson 1902.

Museums

Regional Maps

• Munnidae Sars, G.O. 1897. Parts 5, 6. Idotheidae, Arcturidae, Asellidae, Ianiridae, Munnidae. pp. 81-116 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. [http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/32173043] [105].

  Type genus:

   Munna Krøyer, 1839.

Introduction

Munnids are tiny asellotes, around 2 mm long, recognised by the pear-shaped pleotelson and the long spindly legs. Some genera are common inhabitants of shallow reefs and algal beds in temperate and polar waters but others occur at much greater depths. The Munnidae are a cosmopolitan family with numerous species in marine and estuarine environments from shallow depths to the deep sea. Six 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).

Diagnosis

Body subpyriform; head with prominent lateral processes. Pleon of 1 free pleonite plus pear-shaped pleotelson. Anus not covered by pleopodal operculum. Eyes on lateral process (if present). Maxillipedal palp articles 1–3 wider than distal articles. Pereopod 1 prehensile, subchelate or carpochelate in male; pereopods 2–7 ambulatory. Uropod absent or minute, without peduncle.

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

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

History of changes