Australian Biological Resources Study

Australian Faunal Directory

<I>Hadromastax merga</I>

Hadromastax merga

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Family HADROMASTACIDAE Bruce & Müller, 1991


Compiler and date details

Gary C.B. Poore & Helen M. Lew Ton

Introduction

The Hadromastacidae comprise only two species in one genus, both from the tropical south-western Pacific. The genus Hadromastax Bruce, 1988 was originally placed in the Limnoriidae, but it bears little similarity to this family.

 

Diagnosis

Body vaulted, coxal plates 2–7 distinct; pleonites 1–2 fully distinct, 3–4 laterally marked, remaining fused to pleotelson. Frontal lamina absent, clypeus prominent, labrum small, eyes small and lateral. Mandibular incisor massive (weak in male); lacinia mobilis, spine row and molar process absent. Maxilliped without epipod, palp of 5 articles. Pereopods ambulatory, with secondary unguis. Pleopods laminar, all with setose margins. Uropods lateral, rami freely articulating. This diagnosis follows that of Bruce & Müller (1991).

 

General References

Bruce, N.L. 1988. Hadromastax merga, a new genus and species of marine isopod crustacean (Limnoriidae) from south eastern Australia, with discussion on the status of the families Keuphyliidae and Lynseiidae. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 101: 346-353

Bruce, N.L. & Müller, H.-G. 1991. A new family for the isopod crustacean genus Hadromastax Bruce, 1988, with a description of a new species from the Society Islands. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology 101: 51-58