Paraleptamphopidae Bousfield 1983

Paraleptamphopidae Bousfield, 1983

Type genus. Paraleptamphopus Stebbing, 1899 a.

Diagnostic description. Body laterally compressed. Eyes absent. Antennae 1–2 calceoli pontogeneiid (type 4). Antenna 1 subequal in length to, or longer than antenna 2; peduncular article 1 longer than article 2; article 2 longer than article 3; article 3 shorter than article 1; peduncular articles 1–2 not geniculate; accessory flagellum minute. Antenna 2 peduncular article 1 enlarged, bulbous. Mandible molar triturative; palp symmetrical. Maxilla 1 basal endite setose along medial margin; palps symmetrical. Maxilla 2 basal endite without oblique setal row. Labium inner lobes vestigial or absent. Coxal gills on pereopods 2–7, not stalked; sternal gills absent; sternal blisters absent; oostegites fringing setae simple. Gnathopod 1 subchelate; similar in males and females (not sexually dimorphic); similar in size to, or larger (or stouter) than gnathopod 2; propodus palm without robust setae along palmar margin. Gnathopod 2 subchelate; similar in males and females (not sexually dimorphic); carpus not produced along posterior margin of propodus, projecting between merus and propodus. Pereopods 3–4 not sexually dimorphic. Pereopod 4 without posteroventral lobe. Pereopod 5 shorter than pereopod 6; coxa equilobate. 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; biramous, without plumose setae; endopod subequal in length to exopod. Telson emarginate or entire; dorsal or lateral robust setae absent; apical robust setae absent.

Habitat. Freshwater, hypogean.

Included genera. Paraleptamphopus Stebbing, 1899 a; Ringanui Fenwick, 2006; Rudolphia Grosso & Peralta, 2009.

Remarks. Bousfield (1983: 267, 272) established the “ Paraleptamphopus family group”. In the Appendix on page 273 he formally set out a diagnosis and type genus for this group, but without using a formal family name. Since then it has been listed by Barnard & Karaman (1991: 4) attributing authorship to Bousfield (1983); Bousfield & Shih (1994: 128) without authorship attribution and Martin & Davis (2001: 67) with authorship attributed to Bousfield, 1983). More recently Fenwick (2006) and Grosso & Peralata (2009) both attributed authorship of the Paraleptamphopidae to Bousfield (1983) when describing new genera in the family. We also attribute authorship of the family to Bousfield (1983) and recommend acceptance of the current status.

Distribution. New Zealand, southern South America.