• Munnopsidae Lilljeborg, W. 1864. Bidrag till kaennedomen om de inom Sverige och Norrige forekommande Crustaceer af Isopodernas underordning och Tanaidernas familj. Uppsala : Uppsala University 32 pp. [6].
• Munnopsididae Lilljeborg, 1864 [corrected spelling but not in prevailing usage].

Introduction

Munnopsidae (or less frequently Munnopsididae) are a diverse group of asellote isopods important in the deep sea (Wilson & Hessler, 1987). Munnopsidae is the largest family of Asellota but many species remain undescribed. Munnopsids live digging below the seafloor surface (e.g., Ilyarachna), epibenthic on the seafloor (e.g., Munnopsurus, Vanhoeffenura), holopelagic in the water column (e.g., Acanthamunnopsis, Paramunnopsis and some species of Munneurycope), or benthopelagic both on the seafloor and in the water column (e.g., Munnopsoides, Paropsurus, Rectisura) (Hessler & Strömberg, 1989; Osborn, 2009; Jamieson et al., 2012). Munnopsids may be benthic scavengers or predators on foraminiferans. This ecological diversity is reflected in high levels of morphological variation. They have in common, unlike other asellotes, paddle-like posterior pereopods specialised for swimming but a small number of genera are not modified in this way. The maximum size of munnopsids varies; many specie are typically a few (3–10 mm) long but giants are known. Munneurycope pellucida Birstein, 1970 reaches 90 mm long Kussakin (2003).

The taxonomy of Munnopsidae was established by Kussakin (2003) in a large work in Russian. His substantial revision and key to subfamilies, genera and species concentrated on the Northern Hemisphere fauna. A hypothetical tree of the Munnopsidae compiled from previous phylogenetic analyses that suggested relationships based on morphological similarity was summarised by Osborn (2009). Munnopsidae are certainly monophyletic on morphological and molecular grounds (Osborn, 2009). Her finding that not all subfamilies are monophyletic and not all genera can be confidently placed corroborated earlier opinions (Kussakin, 2003; Malyutina & Brandt, 2007). Eight subfamilies are recognised of which only two occur in Australia.

Diagnosis

Body oval; pereonites 1–4 (ambulosome) differentiated from pereonites 5–7 and pleon (collectively natasome). Pleon more or less semicircular, without free pleonites. Eyes absent. Maxillipedal palp articles 1–3 wider than distal articles. Pereopods 5, 6, sometimes 7, usually oar-shaped, carpus and propodus expanded, with margins bearing long plumose setae.

General References

Hessler, R.R. & Strömberg, J.-O. 1989. Behaviour of janiroidean isoopds (Asellota), with special reference to deep-sea genera. Sarsia 74: 145-159

Jamieson, A.J., Fujii, T. & Priede, I.G. 2012. Locomotory activity and feeding strategy of the hadal munnopsid isopod Rectisura cf. herculea (Crustacea: Asellota) in the Japan Trench. Journal of Experimental Biology 215: 3010-3017

Kussakin, O.G. 2003. Marine and brackish-water Crustacea (Isopoda) of cold and temperate waters of the Northern Hemisphere. 3. Suborder Asellota 2. Family Munnopsidae. Akademiya Nauk SSSR, Opredeliteli po Faune SSSR 171: 1-380 [in Russian] [https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=47261]

Malyutina, M.V. & Brandt, A. 2007. Gurjanopsis australis gen. nov., sp. nov., a new epibenthic deep-sea munnopsid (Crustacea, Isopoda, Munnopsidae) from the Weddell Sea, Southern Ocean. Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography 54: 1806-1819

Osborn, K.J. 2009. Relationships within the Munnopsidae (Crustacea, Isopoda, Asellota) based on three genes. Zoologica Scripta 38: 617-635

Wilson, G.D.F. & Hessler, R. 1987. Speciation in the deep sea. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 18: 185-207

History of changes

• Ilyarachnini Hansen, H.J. 1916. Crustacea Malacostraca III: The Order Isopoda. Danish Ingolf-Expedition 3(5): 1-262, pls 1-16 [120] [original spelling].

Introduction

Ilyarachines are recognised by the bases of pereopods 3, 4 being much shorter than that of pereopod 2 short, thick mandibles with a blunt incisor and reduced molar process, and a head usually wider than anterior pereonites. In a series of papers Merrin addressed the taxonomy of Ilyarachninae (see e.g., Merrin, 2004, 2009, 2011, 2016, 2024).

Diagnosis

Body elongate, articulating, anterior margins smooth or with robust setae, without lateral spines; head usually wider than anterior pereonites; rostrum absent. Pereonites 5–7 with complete dorsal articulation; pleotelson oval-elongate. Antennulae inserted close together on frons; article 1 laminar. Antenna much longer than body. Mandible short, thick, with blunt incisor, with reduced molar process. Pereopods 3, 4 bases much shorter than bases of prehensile pereopods 1, 2; pereopods 5–7 natatory, propodi narrower than carpi; dactyli strong, long, more than half as long as propodi, with apical setae and 1 or 2 claws. Uropod ventral; uniramous or if biramous exopod minute.

General References

Merrin, K.L. 2004. Review of the deep-water asellote genus Notopais Hodgson, 1910 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Munnopsididae) with description of three new species from the south-western Pacific. Zootaxa 513: 1-27

Merrin, K.L. 2009. Epikopais gen. nov. (Isopoda: Asellota: Munnopsidae), a new genus of munnopsid isopod with three new species from the south-western Pacific. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 66: 129-145

Merrin, K.L. 2011. Nyctobadistes gen. nov. (Isopoda: Asellota: Munnopsidae), a new genus from Tasmanian waters, Australia, with the description of a new species. Zootaxa 3025: 59-65

Merrin, K.L. 2016. New species of Ilyarachna Sars, 1869 (Isopoda: Asellota: Munnopsidae) from southeastern Australia. Journal of Crustacean Biology 36: 427-450

Merrin, K.L. 2024. Nine new species of Ilyarachninae Hansen, 1916 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Munnopsidae) from Australia and New Zealand with an updated key of the subfamily from the Southwest Pacific. Taxonomy [an Open Access Journal by MDP] 4: 250-302

History of changes

• Epikopais Merrin, K.L. 2009. Epikopais gen. nov. (Isopoda: Asellota: Munnopsidae), a new genus of munnopsid isopod with three new species from the south-western Pacific. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 66: 129-145 [129] (includes key to species).

  Type species:

   Epikopais poorei Merrin, 2009 by original designation.

Distribution

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12)

History of changes

• Epikopais poorei Merrin, K.L. 2009. Epikopais gen. nov. (Isopoda: Asellota: Munnopsidae), a new genus of munnopsid isopod with three new species from the south-western Pacific. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 66: 129-145 [130].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMV J18844 ♀, 44 km east of Nowra, NSW.
  Paratype(s) NMV J54112 22 ♀, 21 ♂ and 2 fragments, 44 km east of Nowra, NSW; NMV J18845 2 ♀, south of Point Hicks, Victoria.

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Between 400–900 m

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12)

Ecological Descriptors

Continental slope.

History of changes

• Epikopais waringa Merrin, K.L. 2009. Epikopais gen. nov. (Isopoda: Asellota: Munnopsidae), a new genus of munnopsid isopod with three new species from the south-western Pacific. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 66: 129-145 [139].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMV J18860 ♀, off Freycinet Peninsula, Tasmania.
  Paratype(s) NMV J54113 ♀, off Freycinet Peninsula, Tasmania; NMV J18859 ♂, south of Point Hicks, Victoria.

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Between 500–1000 m

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11)

Ecological Descriptors

Continental slope.

History of changes

• Ilyarachna Sars, G.O. 1869. Underígelser over Christiana-fjordens Dybvansfauna anstillede paa en i Sommeren 1868 foretagen Zoolisk Reise. Nyt Magazin for Naturvidenskaberne, Oslo 16: 305-362 [348].

  Type species:

   Mesostenus longicornis G.O. Sars, 1864 by monotypy.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11)

History of changes

• Ilyarachna cheropin Merrin, K.L. 2016. New species of Ilyarachna Sars, 1869 (Isopoda: Asellota: Munnopsidae) from southeastern Australia. Journal of Crustacean Biology 36: 427-450 [428].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMV J18864 female, 76 km south of Point Hicks, Victoria, stn SLOPE 69, 1840-1750 m [38° 26.81'-38°29.33'S to 149°19.98'-149°20.7'E].

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

Australia, between Nowra, NSW and south of Point Hicks, Victoria, between 990-1840 m

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11)

History of changes

• Ilyarachna ellae Merrin, K.L. 2016. New species of Ilyarachna Sars, 1869 (Isopoda: Asellota: Munnopsidae) from southeastern Australia. Journal of Crustacean Biology 36: 427-450 [433].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMV J18863 female, off Freycinet Peninsula, Tasmania, Australia, stn SLOPE 46, 720 m [42°0.20'S, 148°37.70'E,].
  Paratype(s) NMV J54115 2 females, collected with holotype.

Distribution

States

Tasmania

Extra Distribution Information

Off Freycinet Peninsula, Tasmania, Australia, at a depth of 720 m.

Known only from type locality.

Australian Endemic.

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10)

History of changes

• Ilyarachna flindersensis Merrin, K.L. 2016. New species of Ilyarachna Sars, 1869 (Isopoda: Asellota: Munnopsidae) from southeastern Australia. Journal of Crustacean Biology 36: 427-450 [436].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMV J18882 female, Flinders Canyon, eastern Bass Strait, Australia, 79-K-1 stn 34, 770 m [39°38.7'S, 148°49.4'E].
  Paratype(s) NMV J54118 8 females, collected with holotype; NMV J18881 male, 57 km east of Nowra, NSW, Australia, stn SLOPE 62, 1011 m [34°53.57'S, 151°14.09'E].

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Tasmania

Extra Distribution Information

Southeastern Australia, from Nowra NSW to Flinders Canyon, Bass Strait, 770-1011 m

Australian Endemic.

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11)

History of changes

• Ilyarachna mokari Merrin, K.L. 2016. New species of Ilyarachna Sars, 1869 (Isopoda: Asellota: Munnopsidae) from southeastern Australia. Journal of Crustacean Biology 36: 427-450 [441].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMV J18873 male, 67 km south of Point Hicks stn SLOPE 67, 1277-1119 m [38°23.95'-23.78'S, 149°17.02'-15.24'E].
  Paratype(s) NMV J54117 2 females, collected with holotype; NMV J18871 2 females 1 male, 6 fragments, south of Point Hicks, stn SLOPE 33, 930 m [38°19.60'S, 149°24.30'E].

Distribution

States

Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

South of Point Hicks, Victoria, Australia, at depths of 800-1277 m

Australian Endemic.

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11)

History of changes

• Ilyarachna quorna Merrin, K.L. 2016. New species of Ilyarachna Sars, 1869 (Isopoda: Asellota: Munnopsidae) from southeastern Australia. Journal of Crustacean Biology 36: 427-450 [445].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMV J18862 female, 76 km south of Point Hicks, Victoria, Australia, stn SLOPE 69, 1840-1750 m [38°29.33'-26.81'S to 149°19.98'-20.78'E].
  Paratype(s) NMV J54114 1 male, 1 female, collected with holotype.

Distribution

States

Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

76 km south of Point Hicks, Victoria, Australia, at depths of 1750-1840 m.

Known only from type locality.

Australian Endemic.

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11)

History of changes

• Notopais Hodgson, T.V. 1910. Crustacea. 9. Isopoda. National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, Natural History 5: 1-77 [69].

  Type species:

   Notopais spicatus Hodgson, 1910 by monotypy.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

Southern Hemisphere, Antarctic to southern Australia.

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39)

General References

Merrin, K.L. 2004. Review of the deep-water asellote genus Notopais Hodgson, 1910 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Munnopsididae) with description of three new species from the south-western Pacific. Zootaxa 513: 1-27 [3] (diagnosis, key to species)

History of changes

• Notopais echinatus Merrin, K.L. & Bruce, N.L. 2006. Two new species of the deep-water asellotan genus Notopais Hodgson, 1910 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Munnopsidae) from the south-western Pacific. Cahiers de Biologie Marine 47: 227-236 [228].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM P72860 ♀, east of Flinders Island, Tasman Sea.
  Paratype(s) AM P62613 3 ♀, 2 ♂ and 4 fragments, east of Flinders Island, Tasman Sea.

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Between 2400–2500 m

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11)

Ecological Descriptors

Continental slope.

History of changes

• Notopais likros Merrin, K.L. 2024. Nine new species of Ilyarachninae Hansen, 1916 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Munnopsidae) from Australia and New Zealand with an updated key of the subfamily from the Southwest Pacific. Taxonomy [an Open Access Journal by MDP] 4: 250-302 [286].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM P62646 female, Australia, Providential Head, NSW, stn 4-288 [34◦08.00′ S, 151◦08.50′ E].
  Paratype(s) AM P75566 female, collected with holotype; AM P62639 male, Cape Banks, NSW, stn T4-371 [34◦00.00′ S, 151◦16.00′ E]; AM P62634 female, Bass Point, NSW, stn BP4-247 [34◦36.00′ S, 150◦54.00′ E].

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

45-174 m depth

Australian Endemic.

IMCRA

Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39)

History of changes

• Notopais minya Merrin, K.L. 2004. Review of the deep-water asellote genus Notopais Hodgson, 1910 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Munnopsididae) with description of three new species from the south-western Pacific. Zootaxa 513: 1-27 [13].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMV ♀, E of Nowra, NSW, 429-466 m depth.
  Paratype(s) NMV many specimens.

Distribution

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • 200 mile fishing zone: SE oceanic

Ecological Descriptors

Continental slope.

History of changes

• Nyctobadistes Merrin, K.L. 2011. Nyctobadistes gen. nov. (Isopoda: Asellota: Munnopsidae), a new genus from Tasmanian waters, Australia, with the description of a new species. Zootaxa 3025: 59-65 [60].

  Type species:

   Nyctobadistes hamatus Merrin, 2011 by original designation.

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Between 720-800 m depth

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10)

History of changes

• Nyctobadistes hamatus Merrin, K.L. 2011. Nyctobadistes gen. nov. (Isopoda: Asellota: Munnopsidae), a new genus from Tasmanian waters, Australia, with the description of a new species. Zootaxa 3025: 59-65 [60].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMV J18840 ♂, off Freycinet Peninsula, Tasmania.
  Paratype(s) NMV J54111 ♂, ♀ and 2 fragments, off Freycinet Peninsula, Tasmania; NMV J18839 ♂, off Freycinet Peninsula, Tasmania.

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Between 720-800 m depth

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10)

Ecological Descriptors

Continental slope.

History of changes

• Storthyngurinae Kussakin, O.G. 2003. Marine and brackish-water Crustacea (Isopoda) of cold and temperate waters of the Northern Hemisphere. 3. Suborder Asellota 2. Family Munnopsidae. Akademiya Nauk SSSR, Opredeliteli po Faune SSSR 171: 1-380 [in Russian] [https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=47261] [273].

Introduction

Storthyngurines have a body with strong dorsal and lateral spines, also with spines on the coxae of pereopods 2–4. They differ from acanthocopines in that the bases of pereopods 4–7 are of similar lengths and the uropod is biramous (Kussakin, 2003; Malyutina, 2003; Malyutina & Brandt, 2004).

Diagnosis

Body with natasome differentiated, with strong dorsal and lateral spines; rostrum absent. Pereonites 5–7 dorsally fused; pleotelson suboval, fused to all natasome segments, with lateral spines. Antennulae dorsal; article 1 wide, much larger than article 2. Pereopods 3, 4 bases elongate, about as long as pereopod 2 basis; pereopods 5–7 natatory, with broad carpi and propodi; dactyli small, less than half as long as propodi, or ambulatory, with cylindrical carpi and propodi. Uropod ventral, biramous, with elongate peduncle and rami.

General References

Kussakin, O.G. 2003. Marine and brackish-water Crustacea (Isopoda) of cold and temperate waters of the Northern Hemisphere. 3. Suborder Asellota 2. Family Munnopsidae. Akademiya Nauk SSSR, Opredeliteli po Faune SSSR 171: 1-380 [in Russian] [https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=sourcedetails&id=47261]

Malyutina, M.V. 2003. Revision of Storthyngura Vanhöffen, 1914 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Munnopsididae) with descriptions of three new genera and four new species from the deep South Atlantic. Organisms, Diversity and Evolution 3: 245-252

Malyutina, M.V. & Brandt, A. 2004. Storthyngurinae (Isopoda, Asellota, Munnopsididae) from the Antarctic deep sea with the descriptions of three new species. Beaufortia 54: 1-38

History of changes

• Sursumara Malyutina, M.V. 2003. Revision of Storthyngura Vanhöffen, 1914 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Munnopsididae) with descriptions of three new genera and four new species from the deep South Atlantic. Organisms, Diversity and Evolution 3: 245-252 [249].

  Type species:

   Storthyngura praegrandis George & Menzies, 1968 (=Sursumara praegrandis (George & Menzies, 1968)) by original designation.

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

South Atlantic Ocean, Southern Ocean,Tasman Sea.

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Southern Province (8), West Tasmania Transition (9)

History of changes

• Sursumara affinis Malyutina, M.V. 2004. Sursumura affinis sp. n. — a new deep-sea species of the family Munnopsidae (Isopoda: Asellota) from the region of Australia and New Zealand. Russian Journal of Marine Biology 30: 140-146 [140].

  Type data:

   Holotype ZMM ♀, "South Australian Hollow", 4468 m depth (off SW Tas.) [43 36'5"S 144 03'9"E].
  Paratype(s) ZMM 3 ♀, 1 ♂.

Distribution

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Southern Province (8), West Tasmania Transition (9)

Ecological Descriptors

Abyssal.

History of changes