Family UROTHOIDAE Bousfield, 1979

<I>Urothoe elegans</I>, a non-Australian species.

Urothoe elegans, a non-Australian species.

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Family UROTHOIDAE Bousfield, 1979

Introduction

The Urothoidae are a small, mainly Southern Hemisphere family with one large cosmopolitan genus, Urothoe. The integrity of Urothoe has been questioned by Barnard & Drummond (1979) who believe that few of the 36 species assigned to the genus actually belong there. Barnard & Karaman (1991) record six genera and 52 species which range from intertidal to 5000 m depth. Barnard & Drummond (1979) described all known Australian species. Apparently nothing is known of the behaviour, ecology or life history of any urothoid species, except maybe Urothoe brevicornis studied by Salvat (1967). A key to all genera is presented in Barnard & Karaman (1991).

Diagnosis

Head longer than deep or deeper than long; rostrum short; eyes well developed (round), obsolescent or absent. Body laterally compressed; smooth. Antenna 1 shorter than, subequal to, or longer than antenna 2; peduncle with many or sparse robust or slender setae; peduncular article 1 shorter than or subequal to article 2; article 2 longer than article 3; article 3 shorter than or subequal to article 1; peduncular articles 1–2 not geniculate; peduncular articles 2–3 geniculate; primary flagellum 5- or more articulate; callynophore present or absent. Antenna 2 short, long or longer than body; peduncle with robust or slender setae or with sparse robust or slender setae; flagellum shorter than, as long as or longer than peduncle; less than or more than 5-articulate; calceoli present or absent. Mandible incisor dentate; lacinia mobilis present on both sides; molar fully or weakly triturating. Maxilla 1 inner plate strongly setose along medial margin. Maxilliped inner plates well developed; outer plates small. Coxae 1–4 longer than broad, overlapping. Coxae 1–3 none vestigial or coxae 1–2 vestigial. Gnathopod 1 not sexually dimorphic; subequal to gnathopod 2; subchelate; coxa smaller than or subequal to coxa 2; carpus longer than propodus, slightly or not produced along posterior margin of propodus. Gnathopod 2 not sexually dimorphic; subchelate; coxa smaller than or subequal to but not hidden by coxa 3; ischium short; carpus long, longer than propodus, slightly or not produced along posterior margin of propodus. Pereopod 3 coxa longer than broad; carpus longer than propodus, not produced. Pereopod 4 coxa larger than coxa 3, without posteroventral lobe; carpus longer than propodus, not produced. Pereopods 5–7 with many rows of facial and marginal robust setae, with many marginal slender setae and few or no robust setae. Pereopod 5 shorter than pereopod 6; coxa smaller than coxa 4, without posterior lobe; basis expanded, with or without posteroventral lobe; carpus expanded. Pereopod 6 longer than pereopod 7; basis expanded. Pereopod 7 longer than pereopod 5; basis expanded, with broad posteroventral lobe. Epimeron 1 poorly developed. Epimeron 2 setose. Urosomite 1 longer or much longer than urosomite 2. Uropods 1–2 apices of rami with or without robust setae. Uropod 3 biramous; peduncle short, without medial process; rami linguiform; outer ramus longer than peduncle; inner ramus apically setose. Telson laminar; deeply, moderately or weakly cleft, emarginate or entire; as long as broad or broader than long; dorsal and apical robust setae absent.