Lepechinellidae Schellenberg 1926

Family Lepechinellidae Schellenberg, 1926

The amphipod Lepechinella chrysotheras, described by Stebbing (1908), was initially placed in the family Paramphithoidae Stebbing, 1906. Unaware of this, Chevreux (1914) described Dorbanella echinata and placed it in the family Tironidae Stebbing, 1906. Schellenberg (1925) described Dorbanella sp. and the family Dorbanellidae. One year later Schellenberg (1926) became aware of the earlier description of a Lepechinella species by Stebbing, and established the family name Lepechinellidae. Later J.L. Barnard (1973) transferred the genera Lepechinella and Paralepechinella Pirlot, 1933 to the family Dexaminidae Leach, 1814. Barnard & Karaman (1991) included Lepechinella Stebbing, 1908, Lepechinellopsis Ledoyer, 1982, Lepechinelloides Thurston, 1980 and Paralepechinella Pirlot, 1933 in the family Dexaminidae. Andres & Brandt (2001) revalidated the status of family Lepechinellidae. Sittrop & Serejo (2009) gave a more extensive historical review of lepechinellid systematics.

Diagnosis

Andres & Brandt’s diagnosis of Lepechinellidae from 2001 is based on the publications of Schellenberg (1926), J.L. Barnard (1970, 1973) and Bousfield & Kendall (1994): “Diagnosis: Body processiferous

dorsomedially (variable), and/or covered with setae/spines. One to all coxal plates of peraeopods 1–4

acutely pointed distally, sometimes bifid. Ursomites 2 and 3 separate to completely fused. Accessory flagellum one- or two-articulate. Mandibular molar and palp present. Lower lip with inner lobes. Maxilla 2: inner plate without oblique row of setae. Peraeopods slender, elongate; peraeopods 5–7 similar, bases linear. Oostegites narrow. Rami of uropods styloid; uropod 3 outer ramus with tiny article 2. Telson normally excavate, lobes usually gaping widely.”

Variations

Rostrum present (e.g., Lepechinella) or lacking (e.g., Lepechinelloides); cephalic teeth present (e.g., Lepechinella) or lacking (Lepechinelloides, Paralepechinella); urosome segments 2 and 3 separate (Lepechinella wolffi) to completely fused (e.g., Lepechinella echinata, L. drygalskii and L. curvispina, Paralepichinella spp.); mandibular molar triturative (Lepechinella, Paralepechinella) or non-triturative (Lepechinelloides, Lepechinellopsis); mandibular palp three-articulate (Lepechinella, Lepechinellopsis, Paralepechinella) or one-articulate (Lepechinelloides); uropods 1–3 outer rami reduced (Lepechinellopsis); telson cleft distally (Paralepechinella longipalpa Pirlot, 1933).

Type genus

Lepechinella Stebbing, 1908

The genera included in Lepechinellidae are: Lepechinella Stebbing, 1908; Paralepechinella Pirlot, 1933; Lepechinelloides Thurston, 1980a; Lepechinellopsis Ledoyer, 1982. This paper also includes a new genus called Lepesubchela gen. nov. The type species of this genus is among others characterized by strongly subchelate peraeopods 6 and 7.

Key to the genera of Lepechinellidae

1. Mandible palp 1-articulate ………………………………………… Lepechinelloides Thurston, 1980

– Mandible palp 3-articulate …………………………………………………………………………2

2. Peraeopods 6 and 7 clearly subchelate …………………………………… Lepesubchela (gen. nov.)

– Peraeopods 6 and 7 simple …………………………………………………………………………3

3. Mandible palp with article 3 extremely long, longer than 10x article 2 … Paralepechinella Pirlot, 1933

– Mandible palp with article 3 normal, shorter than article 2 …………………………………………4

4. Uropods 1–3 with outer ramus strongly reduced, shorter than 1/3 of inner ramus ………………… ……………………………………………………………………… Lepechinellopsis Ledoyer, 1982

– Uropods 1–3 with outer ramus normal ………………………………… Lepechinella Stebbing, 1908