Family MICROPARASELLIDAE Karaman, 1933

Angeliera rivularis

© Copyright from Stock 1985.

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Introduction

Microparasellids are stygobionts, interstitial in subterranean waters of the continental shelf, sandy beaches and fresh groundwater (Stock 1985). They are found in tropical and warm-temperate regions. Fifty-eight species in four or five genera are described (Coineau 1986; Wilson & Wägele 1994).

There has been debate about whether these ecologically distinct species are separate from the Janiridae at the family level. Wolff (1962) and Schiecke & Fresi (1970) argued that the two families could not be separated while Coineau (1968), Stock (1985), Wilson & Wägele (1994) and earlier authors admitted the validity of the family. We follow the last argument which was used for the only Australian species described. The diagnosis is derived from Wilson & Wägele (1994) who discussed in detail the family's taxonomy, systematic position and zoogeography.

Diagnosis

Small (‹2 mm long), slender. Pereonites of similar width; pleonite 1 free, as wide as pereonites. Eyes and chromatophores absent. Antenna 1 flagellum with maximum of 4 articles. Mandibular molar distally acute, without grinding surface, with terminal setae. Pereopod 1 similar to pereopods 2–7, without subchela. Pereopod 2–7 with 3 dactylar claws, accessory seta or claw 3 often reduced or absent. Pleopod 3 endopod with 3 plumose setae (often reduced or absent), exopod slender. Uropodal exopod, when present, inserting subapically on peduncle. Anus terminal, not covered by pleopods.

General References

Coineau, N. 1986. Isopoda: Asellota: Janiroidea. pp. 465-472 in Botosaneanu, L. & Stock, J.H. (eds). Stygofauna Mundi. A Faunistic, Distributional, and Ecological Synthesis of the World Fauna Inhabiting Subterranean Waters (including the Marine Intersitial). Leiden : E.J. Brill & Dr. W. Backhuys.

Schiecke, U. & Fresi, E. 1970. A new interstitial asellote isopod from the island of Ischia (Bay of Naples), Microjanira dentifrons n.g., n.sp. (Paraselloidea, Janiridae). Crustaceana 18: 241-250

Stock, J.H. 1985. Discovery of interstitial Isopoda of the family Microparasellidae in inland waters of Australia. Stygologia 1: 93-100

Wilson, G.D.F. & Wägele, J.-W. 1994. Review of the family Janiridae (Crustacea: Isopoda: Asellota). Invertebrate Taxonomy 8: 683-747

Wolff, T. 1962. The systematics and biology of bathyal and abyssal Isopoda Asellota. Galathea Report 6: 1-320, pls I-XIV

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