Family PHROSINIDAE Dana, 1852

Phrosina semilunata

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Family PHROSINIDAE Dana, 1852

Introduction

The Phrosinidae are a small family of three genera and eight species. All genera and three species have been reported from Australian waters. Anchylomera blossevillei Milne Edwards was the most abundant and frequently occurring species in the collections from off New South Wales studied by Zeidler (1992). Young & Anderson (1987) found Phrosina semilunata Risso and Primno latriellei Stebbing (as Primno johnsoni Bowman) to be the most abundant species in their study from a similar area. Tranter (1977) and Répelin (1978) both found that Phrosina semilunata Risso and Primno macropa Guérin Méneville were among the most frequently occurring species in the studies from the eastern Indian and western Pacific Oceans. According to Laval (1980), phrosinids are associated with pyrosomes. Bowman & Gruner (1973) and Vinogradov et al. (1982) give keys to the world genera. Bowman (1978) and Sheader (1986) have both reported species of Primno not recognised by Vinogradov et al. (1982).

Diagnosis

Head deeper than long; anteroventral margin rounded, straight or oblique; rostrum present or absent; eyes occupying most of lateral surface of head. Body laterally compressed. Antenna 1 longer than antenna 2; peduncle 3-articulate or 1- or 2-articulate; peduncular article 1 longer than article 2; article 2 subequal to article 3; calceoli absent. Mandible palp present or absent. Maxilla 1 inner plate absent; palp 1-articulate. Coxae 1–7 well developed, vestigial or absent, coxae 1–2 fused with pereonites or none fused. Gnathopod 1 simple; carpus shorter than propodus; dactylus minute. Gnathopod 2 dactylus minute. Pereopods some or all prehensile. Pereopod 3 carpus subequal to, or longer than propodus. Pereopod 5 longer than pereopod 6; basis without posteroventral lobe; carpus expanded. Pereopod 6 longer than pereopod 7; basis expanded. Pereopod 7 basis expanded. Uropods 1–3 rami absent, uropod 3 not sexually dimorphic.