Chiltoniidae J.L. Barnard, 1972 b

Type genus. Chiltonia Stebbing, 1899 b.

Diagnostic description. Body laterally compressed. Eyes well developed or absent, if present then round or subrectangular. Antennae 1–2 calceoli absent. Antenna 1 subequal in length to, or slightly longer than antenna 2; peduncular article 1 longer than article 2; article 2 subequal to article 3; article 3 shorter than article 1; peduncular articles 1–2 not geniculate; accessory flagellum absent. Antenna 2 peduncular article 1 enlarged, bulbous. Mandible molar triturative; palp absent. Maxilla 1 basal endite apically setose; palp absent. Maxilla 2 basal endite without oblique setal row. Labium inner lobes vestigial or absent. Coxal gills on pereopods 2–7, not stalked; sternal gills present or sternal gills absent, simple; sternal blisters absent; oostegites fringing setae simple. Gnathopod 1 subchelate; dissimilar in males and females (sexually dimorphic); smaller (or weaker) than or similar in size to gnathopod 2; propodus palm without robust setae along palmar margin. Gnathopod 2 subchelate; dissimilar in males and females (sexually dimorphic); carpus not produced along posterior margin of propodus, projecting between merus and propodus. Pereopods 3–4 not sexually dimorphic. Pereopod 4 with or with small posteroventral lobe. Pereopod 5 shorter than or subequal in length to pereopod 6; coxa equilobate or with posteroventral 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 without basofacial robust setae. Uropod 3 not sexually dimorphic; uniramous or rami absent, without plumose setae. Telson emarginate or entire; dorsal or lateral robust setae absent; apical robust setae absent.

Included genera. Afrochiltonia K.H. Barnard, 1955; Arabunnachiltonia King, 2009; Austrochiltonia Hurley, 1958; Chiltonia Stebbing, 1899 b; Phreatochiltonia Zeidler, 1991; Scutachiltonia King, 2012; Stygochiltonia King, 2012; Wangiannachiltonia King, 2009; Yilgarniella King, 2012.

Habitat. Freshwater, epigean and hypogean.

Remarks. The most significant differences between chiltoniids and ceinids appears to be the swollen first article on the peduncle of antenna 2 and the second gnathopods which are dissimilar between males and females in chiltoniids, but similar in ceinids.

Distribution. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa.