Superfamily GNATHOSTENETROIDOIDEA Kussakin, 1967

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Superfamily GNATHOSTENETROIDOIDEA Kussakin, 1967

Gnathostenetroidoidea Kussakin, O.G. 1967. Fauna of Isopoda and Tanaidacea in the coastal zones of the Antarctic and Subantarctic waters. Biological Results of the Soviet Antarctic Expeditions 3: 220-389 [translation from Russian by the Israel Program for Scientific Translations, Jerusalem, 1968] [299].

Introduction

Gnathostenetroidoidea are characterised by the large male pleopods 1 with unfused operculate rami covering the other pleopods. In other asellote superfamilies the operculum is formed by enlarged pleopods 3 (Stenetrioidea) or pleopods 1 and 2 together (Janiroidea). Gnathostenetroidids are vermiform isopods and like many asellotes are tiny, between 1 and 3 mm in length as adults (Malyutina and Bruce, 2019). Gnathostenetroidoidea comprise two families Gnathostenetroididae Kussakin, 1967 and Protojaniridae Fresi, Idato & Scipione, 1980. The latter is confined to freshwater interstitial environments. For recent information on the seven genera of Protojaniridae consult Fresi et al. (1980), Kensley (1995) and Pérez-Schultheiss & Wilson (2021).

Diagnosis

Mandibles with large tusk-like anteroexterior prolongation in terminal male and a small acute process in female (rarely seen). Male pleopods 1 forming an operculum totally covering pleopods 2–5; peduncles of male pleopods 1 short, totally fused; rami separate, large, entirely covering succeeding pleopods. Female operculum with broad median terminal incision; female pleopods 2 large, forming an operculum totally covering pleopods 3–5.