Nuuanuidae

Nuuanuidae fam. nov.

Type genus. Nuuanu J.L. Barnard, 1970.

Diagnostic description. Body laterally compressed. Eyes well developed, poorly developed or absent, if present then round or ovoid. Antennae 1–2 calceoli absent. Antenna 1 subequal in length to, or longer than antenna 2; peduncular article 1 shorter than, subequal to, or longer than article 2; article 2 longer than article 3; article 3 shorter than article 1; peduncular articles 1–2 geniculate or not; accessory flagellum short or minute. Antenna 2 peduncular article 1 not enlarged. Mandible molar triturative; palp symmetrical. Maxilla 1 basal endite setose along medial margin; palps symmetrical. Maxilla 2 basal endite with oblique setal row. Coxal gills [not known]; sternal gills absent; sternal blisters absent; oostegites fringing setae simple. Gnathopod 1 subchelate; similar in males and females (not sexually dimorphic); smaller (or weaker) than or similar in size to gnathopod 2; propodus palm with single row of simple 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 well developed posteroventral lobe or with small posteroventral lobe. Pereopod 5 shorter than pereopod 6; coxa with small anteroventral lobe. Pereopod 7 longer than pereopod 5. Pleonites 1–3 each with dorsal carina or carinae or without dorsal carinae. Urosomites 1–3 free; with slender or robust dorsal setae. Urosomite 1 without large distoventral robust seta. Urosomite 2 with pair of dorsal concavities each with 1–3 small setae. Uropod 1 with 1 or 2 basofacial robust setae. Uropod 3 not sexually dimorphic; biramous; endopod minute or shorter than exopod. Telson deeply cleft; dorsal or lateral robust setae present or absent; apical robust setae present.

Habitat. Marine, epigean.

Included genera. Gammarella Bate, 1857; Nuuanu J.L. Barnard, 1970.

Remarks. In addition to the diagnostic characters mentioned above nuuanuids differ from melitids based on the shape of the coxae and the enlarged basis of pereopods 5 to 7.

Distribution. Cosmopolitan.