Neoniphargidae Bousfield, 1977

Myers, A, 2013, A Phylogeny and Classification of the Senticaudata subord. nov. (Crustacea: Amphipoda), Zootaxa 3610 (1), pp. 1-80 : 48-49

Neoniphargidae Bousfield, 1977

Type genus. Neoniphargus Stebbing, 1899 b.

Diagnostic description. Body laterally compressed. Eyes well developed or absent, if present then reniform. Antennae 1–2 calceoli crangonyctoid (type 9). Antenna 1 subequal in length to, or longer than antenna 2; peduncular article 1 shorter 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. Antenna 2 peduncular article 1 enlarged, bulbous. Mandible molar triturative; palps symmetrical. Maxilla 1 basal endite apically setose; palp present, asymmetrical (slight, in the apical setae). Maxilla 2 basal endite without oblique setal row. Labium inner lobes vestigial or absent. Coxal gills number and sequence [not known], stalked (with proximal restriction or complete suture); sternal gills present, simple or dendritic; sternal blisters absent; oostegites fringing setae simple. Gnathopod 1 subchelate; dissimilar in males and females (sexually dimorphic); similar in size to gnathopod 2; propodus palm without robust setae along palmar margin. Gnathopod 2 subchelate; similar or dissimilar in males and females (sexually dimorphic or not); carpus slightly produced or not produced along posterior margin of propodus, projecting between merus and propodus. Pereopods 3–4 not sexually dimorphic. Pereopod 4 with well developed or small posteroventral lobe. Pereopod 5 shorter than or subequal in length to pereopod 6; coxa equilobate or with posteroventral lobe or with small anteroventral lobe. Pereopod 7 subequal in length to, or longer than pereopod 5. Pleonites 1–3 without dorsal carinae. Urosomites 1–3 free; with or without slender or robust dorsal setae. Urosomite 1 with or without large distoventral robust seta. Urosomite 2 without dorsal setae. Uropod 1 without basofacial robust setae. Uropod 3 not sexually dimorphic; biramous, with plumose setae or without plumose setae; endopod minute or shorter than exopod. Telson deeply cleft , moderately cleft , weakly cleft or notched ; dorsal or lateral robust setae absent; apical robust setae present.

Habitat. Freshwater, hypogean.

Included genera. Jasptorus Bradbury & Williams, 1997 ; Neocrypta Bradbury & Williams, 1997 ; Neoniphargus Stebbing, 1899 b; Tasniphargus Williams & Barnard, 1988 ; Wesniphargus Williams & Barnard, 1988 ; Wombeyanus Bradbury & Williams, 1997 ; Yulia Williams & Barnard, 1988 .

Remarks. There is not much to separate Neoniphargidae from Perthiidae . Based on our analysis: maxilla 1 palp is slightly asymmetrical (symmetrical in Perthiidae ) and coxal gills are stalked (not stalked in Perthiidae ). Another good character may be the mandibular molar which is triturating in neoniphargids (not in perthiids).

Distribution. Temperate Australia.