Nuuanuidae

Myers, A, 2013, A Phylogeny and Classification of the Senticaudata subord. nov. (Crustacea: Amphipoda), Zootaxa 3610 (1), pp. 1-80 : 38

Nuuanuidae fam. nov.

Type genus. Nuuanu J.L. Barnard, 1970 .

Diagnostic description. Body laterally compressed. Eyes well developed, poorly developed or absent, if present then round or ovoid. Antennae 1–2 calceoli absent. Antenna 1 subequal in length to, or longer than antenna 2; peduncular article 1 shorter than, subequal to, or longer than article 2; article 2 longer than article 3; article 3 shorter than article 1; peduncular articles 1–2 geniculate or not; accessory flagellum short or minute. Antenna 2 peduncular article 1 not enlarged. Mandible molar triturative; palp symmetrical. Maxilla 1 basal endite setose along medial margin; palps symmetrical. Maxilla 2 basal endite with oblique setal row. Coxal gills [not known]; sternal gills absent; sternal blisters absent; oostegites fringing setae simple. Gnathopod 1 subchelate; similar in males and females (not sexually dimorphic); smaller (or weaker) than or similar in size to gnathopod 2; propodus palm with single row of simple robust setae along palmar margin. Gnathopod 2 subchelate; dissimilar in males and females (sexually dimorphic); carpus not produced along posterior margin of propodus, projecting between merus and propodus. Pereopods 3–4 not sexually dimorphic. Pereopod 4 with well developed posteroventral lobe or with small posteroventral lobe. Pereopod 5 shorter than pereopod 6; coxa with small anteroventral lobe. Pereopod 7 longer than pereopod 5. Pleonites 1–3 each with dorsal carina or carinae or without dorsal carinae. Urosomites 1–3 free; with slender or robust dorsal setae. Urosomite 1 without large distoventral robust seta. Urosomite 2 with pair of dorsal concavities each with 1–3 small setae. Uropod 1 with 1 or 2 basofacial robust setae. Uropod 3 not sexually dimorphic; biramous; endopod minute or shorter than exopod. Telson deeply cleft ; dorsal or lateral robust setae present or absent; apical robust setae present.

Habitat. Marine, epigean.

Included genera. Gammarella Bate, 1857 ; Nuuanu J.L. Barnard, 1970 .

Remarks. In addition to the diagnostic characters mentioned above nuuanuids differ from melitids based on the shape of the coxae and the enlarged basis of pereopods 5 to 7.

Distribution. Cosmopolitan.