Normanellidae Lang, 1944

Kihara, Terue Cristina & Huys, Rony, 2009, Contributions to the taxonomy of the Normanellidae (Copepoda, Harpacticoida): description of a new genus from the Brazilian continental shelf and re-assignment of Pseudocletodes vararensis Scott & Scott, 1893 (ex Nannopodidae), Zootaxa 2233, pp. 1-38 : 3-4

Family Normanellidae Lang, 1944

Amended diagnosis. Laophontoidea. Body elongate, subcylindrical, without clear distinction between prosome and urosome. Genital double-somite subdivided by an internal, transverse chitinous rib laterally and dorsally. Anal somite with well developed, rounded operculum. Genital field with gonopores fused medially forming genital slit; each covered by vestigial P6 bearing 2 setae; large copulatory pore located in median depression. Caudal rami cylindrical or lamelliform, elongate, with 7 setae.

Rostrum triangular or bell-shaped, defined at base. Antennule of female 5- or 6-segmented; with both pinnate and smooth setae and pinnate spines; with aesthetasc on segment 3 and (in Normanella and Sagamiella only) as part of an apical acrothek on the most distal segment. Antennule 7-segmented in male; subchirocer with geniculation between segments 5 and 6; with aesthetasc on segment 5 and digitiform projection on segment 6. Antenna with allobasis bearing 1–2 abexopodal setae and 1-segmented exopod with 3–4 setae; endopod with 6 distal elements and 2 spines laterally. Mandible with biramous palp; basis with 1–2 setae; exopod and endopod 1-segmented or fused to basis, with 1 and 4 setae, respectively. Maxillule with 1– 2 basal endites; exopod 1-segmented and with 2 setae; endopod incorporated in basis and represented by 2–3 setae. Maxillary syncoxa with 3 endites, formula [1,3,3]; allobasis drawn out into claw with 1–2 accessory setae and 0–1 spines; endopod represented by 3 setae. Maxilliped prehensile, with 0 or 2 setae on syncoxa; basis unarmed; endopod 1-segmented, drawn out into claw bearing 1–2 accessory setae.

P1 basis with inner spine located at inner distal corner and an outer spine. Exopod 3-segmented, exp-2 with inner seta, exp-3 with 3 spines and 2 setae. Endopod absent (in Pseudocletodes ) or 2-segmented; either prehensile with elongate enp-1 or not prehensile with enp-1 as long as enp-2; enp-1 with 0–1 seta; enp-2 with 1 lateral and 2 apical elements. P2–P4 with 3-segmented exopods and 2-segmented endopods; basis with outer spine (P2) or seta (P3–P4); spine and seta formulae as follows:

Female fifth pair of legs not fused medially, defined at the base, intercoxal sclerite absent; exopod and baseoendopod separate; exopod oval, with 6 setae; endopodal lobe elongated, with 5 setae; basal seta arising from short setophore. Male fifth pair of legs fused medially or separated (in Pseudocletodes ); endopodal lobe with 2–4 elements; exopod with 4 setae; basal seta arising from short setophore. Male sixth pair of legs asymmetrical (but without noticeable left-right size difference), with dextral and sinistral configurations; each with 2–3 setae. Eggs retained in a single ventral sac.

Sexual dimorphism in antennule, P2 endopod (enp-2 distal setae reduced in male), P3 endopod (male enp- 2 forming an apophysis; distal elements usually reduced in length), P5, P6 and in genital segmentation. Male clasps caudal rami of female during precopulatory mate guarding.

Marine, free-living.

Type genus: Normanella Brady, 1880 (type species by monotypy: Normanella dubia Brady, 1880 ). Note that the type species cannot be attributed to “ Brady & Robertson, 1880 ” (in e.g. Lang 1948; Bodin 1997) or “Brady & Robertson in Brady, 1880 ” (in e.g. Lee & Huys 1999) since an outside person (i.e. other than an author of the work) can only be credited with authorship if he/she is alone responsible for the name and for satisfying the criteria of availability ( ICZN Art. 50.1.1) ( Huys 2009).

Other genera included: Pseudocletodes Scott & Scott, 1893 ; Sagamiella Lee & Huys, 1999 ; Paranaiara gen. nov.