Metacrangonyctidae Boutin & Messouli, 1988

Myers, A, 2013, A Phylogeny and Classification of the Senticaudata subord. nov. (Crustacea: Amphipoda), Zootaxa 3610 (1), pp. 1-80 : 37-38

Metacrangonyctidae Boutin & Messouli, 1988 b

Type genus. Metacrangonyx Chevreux, 1909 .

Diagnostic description. Body laterally compressed. Eyes absent. Antennae 1–2 calceoli absent. Antenna 1 longer than antenna 2; peduncular article 1 subequal to, or longer than article 2; article 2 longer than article 3; article 3 shorter than article 1; peduncular articles 1–2 not geniculate; 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. Pereonites stalked (with proximal restriction or complete suture); sternal gills absent; sternal blisters absent; oostegites fringing setae simple. Gnathopod 1 subchelate; smaller (or weaker) than gnathopod 2; propodus palm with row or rows of simple or bifid robust setae along palmar margin. Gnathopod 2 subchelate; similar or dissimilar in males and females (sexually dimorphic or not); 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 or without posteroventral lobe. Pereopod 5 shorter than pereopod 6; coxa with posteroventral lobe or with large anteroventral lobe. Pereopod 7 longer than pereopod 5. Pleonites 1–3 without dorsal carinae. Urosomites 1–3 free; without slender or robust dorsal setae. Urosomite 1 without large distoventral robust seta. Urosomite 2 without dorsal setae. Uropod 1 with 1 or 2 basofacial robust setae or without basofacial robust setae. Uropod 3 not sexually dimorphic; biramous or uniramous, without plumose setae; endopod minute. Telson emarginate or entire ; dorsal or lateral robust setae absent; apical robust setae present or absent.

Habitat. Freshwater, hypogean.

Included genera. Afrocrangonyx Karaman, 1981a ; Metacrangonyx Chevreux, 1909 ; Longipodacrangonyx Boutin & Messouli, 1988 a; Pygocrangonyx Karaman & Barnard, 1979.

Distribution. Morocco.