Family SEBIDAE Walker, 1907

<I>Seba armata</I>, a non-Australian species.

Seba armata, a non-Australian species.

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Family SEBIDAE Walker, 1907

Introduction

The Sebidae are a small group of widely distributed, but mainly Southern Hemisphere, benthic species. The main genus Seba has over 15 species of which one, Seba chiltoni Moore (1987), was described from Australian waters. More recently three further species have been described from Australian waters by Yerman and Coleman (2009), and a fourth is listed here from Australian Antarctic waters.

Almost nothing is known of the behaviour, ecology or life histories of sebids. Shaw (1989) reappraised the Sebidae and provided a key to all genera. Although Walker (1907: 7) indicated that the family Sebidae was established in Walker (1906), it was in fact established in Walker (1907: 37). Barnard & Karaman (1991: 667) atrtributed the Sebidae to Walker (1908) and Shaw (1989: 1889) attributed the Sebinae to Holsinger in Holsinger & Longley (1980), both of which are incorrect.

Diagnosis

Head as long as deep; rostrum moderate; eyes absent. Body laterally compressed; smooth or dorsally carinate. Antenna 1 subequal to antenna 2; peduncular article 1 shorter than article 2; article 2 longer than article 3; article 3 shorter than article 1; primary flagellum less than 5-articulate; callynophore absent. Antenna 2 short; flagellum shorter than peduncle; less than 5-articulate. Mandible incisor dentate; lacinia mobilis present on both sides; molar non-triturating, a broad smooth protuberance. Maxilla 1 inner plate weakly setose apically; palp 1-articulate. Maxilliped inner plates well developed; outer plates small. Coxae 1–4 longer than broad, overlapping. Gnathopod 1 not sexually dimorphic; larger (or stouter) than gnathopod 2; subchelate or chelate; coxa subequal to coxa 2; carpus shorter than propodus, slightly produced along posterior margin of propodus. Gnathopod 2 not sexually dimorphic; subchelate or chelate; coxa subequal to but not hidden by coxa 3; ischium short or long; carpus short, shorter than propodus, slightly or not produced along posterior margin of propodus. Pereopod 3 coxa longer than broad; carpus subequal to propodus, not produced. Pereopod 4 coxa subequal to coxa 3, with well-developed posteroventral lobe; carpus shorter than propodus, not produced. Pereopod 5 shorter than pereopod 6; coxa smaller than coxa 4, with ventrally produced posterior lobe or equilobate; basis expanded or slightly expanded, subrectangular or subovate, with posteroventral lobe; carpus linear. Pereopod 6 subequal to, or longer than pereopod 7; basis expanded. Pereopod 7 subequal to pereopod 5; basis expanded. Urosomites 1–3 free or 1 free, 2 and 3 coalesced; urosomite 1 longer or much longer than urosomite 2. Uropods 1–2 apices of rami without robust setae. Uropod 3 uniramous; peduncle short; ramus styliform. Telson laminar; entire; longer than broad; dorsal and apical robust setae absent.