Family PHRONIMIDAE Rafinesque, 1815

Phronima atlantica

© Copyright from Zeidler 1978: fig. 9.

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Introduction

The Phronimidae are a small family of two genera and 11 species, nine of which have been reported from Australian waters. Within Hyperiidea, phronimids are one of the most easily recognised groups due to the spectacular morphology of pereopod 5 and their well-known use of eaten-out salp-barrels for homes (see Laval 1968). All species are known to be associated with siphonophores or tunicates (Laval 1980). Taxonomically, they are probably the best known group of hyperiideans due to the works of Shih (1969, 1971a, 1971b) which monograph the world fauna and provide keys (1991) to all species.

Diagnosis

Head much deeper than long; anteroventral margin straight or oblique; rostrum present or absent; eyes occupying most of lateral surface of head. Body laterally compressed. Antenna 1 shorter than, subequal to, or longer than antenna 2; peduncle 1-, 2- or 3-articulate; peduncular article 1 longer than article 2; article 2 subequal to article 3; calceoli absent. Mandible palp absent. Maxilla 1 inner plate absent; palp 1-articulate. Pereonites pleurae absent. Coxae 1–7 vestigial or absent, fused with pereonites. Gnathopod 1 simple; carpus subequal to propodus; dactylus minute. Gnathopod 2 dactylus minute. Pereopods some or all prehensile. Pereopod 3 carpus shorter than propodus. Pereopod 5 subequal to, or longer than pereopod 6; basis without posteroventral lobe; carpus expanded. Pereopod 6 shorter than or subequal to pereopod 7; basis linear. Pereopod 7 basis linear. Uropod 2 well developed or absent; inner ramus shorter than or subequal to outer ramus. Uropod 3 not sexually dimorphic; biramous.

General References

Dana, J.D. 1852. On the classification of the Crustacea Choristopoda or Tetradecapoda. American Journal of Science and Arts 2 14(41): 297-316

Laval, P. 1968. Observations sur la biologie de Phronima curvipes Voss. (Amphipode Hypéride) et description du male adulte. Cahiers de Biologie Marine 9: 347-362

Laval, P. 1980. Hyperiid amphipods as crustacean parasitoids associated with gelatinous zooplankton. Oceanography and Marine Biology Annual Reviews 18: 11-56

Shih, C.-T. 1969. The systematics and biology of the family Phronimidae (Crustacea: Amphipoda). Dana Reports 74: 1-100

Shih, C.-T. 1971. Phronimidae (Amphipoda, Hyperiidea) of the South Pacific Ocean. Crustaceana 20(1): 25-45

Shih, C.-T. 1991. Description of two new species of Phronima Latrielle, 1802 (Amphipoda, Hyperiidea) with a key to all species of the genus. Journal of Crustacean Biology 11(2): 322-335

Zeidler, W. 1978. Hyperiidea (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Queensland waters. Australian Journal of Zoology Supplementary Series 59: 1-93

Zeidler, W. 1998. Pelagic amphipods (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Hyperiidea) collected from eastern and south-eastern Australian waters by the CSIRO vessel "Warreen" during the years 1938–1941. Records of the South Australian Museum (Adelaide) Monograph Series 4: 1-143

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