Family DIASTYLIDAE Bate, 1856

Dimorphostylis subaculeata

© Copyright from Hale 1945: fig. 7.

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Introduction

The Diastylidae are a large family of cold water cumaceans which are mostly found north or south of 30° latitude (Watling & McCann 1997). About 17 genera and 278 species have been described in the Diastylidae. Five genera and 19 species are known from Australian waters.

Diagnosis

Male. Antenna 2 flagellum extending beyond thorax, peduncle with 5 articles. Mandibles truncate or navicular. Pereopod 1 simple. Pleopods present or absent. Uropod endopod with 1 or 2 articles, or with 3 articles. Telson articulated (may be small flap), size variable; anus present, without terminal setae or with 2 terminal setae.

Female. Antenna 2 minute, much smaller than antenna 1, peduncle with 3 articles. Mandibles truncate, or navicular. Maxilliped 3 exopod present, or absent. Pereopod 1 simple. Pereopod 3 exopod rudimentary, or absent. Uropod endopod with 1 article, or with 2 articles, or with 3 articles. Telson articulated (may be small flap). (Generated from Watling & Gerken 2002)

General References

Bate, C.S. 1856. On the British Diastylidae. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 2 17: 449-465 pls 13-15

Hale, H.M. 1945. Australian Cumacea. No. 11 The family Diastylidae (Part 1). Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 69: 173-211

Watling, L. & Gerken, S. 2002. Cumacea: Families and subfamilies. http://crustacea.net

Watling, L. & McCann, L.D. 1997. The Crustacea Part 2 Cumcacea. Taxonomic Atlas of the Benthic Fauna of the Santa Maria Basin and Western Santa Barbara Channel 11: 119–180