Family JANIRIDAE G.O. Sars, 1897

Notasellus australis

© Copyright from Hodgson 1902.

Museums

Regional Maps

• Ianiridae Sars, G.O. 1897. Parts 5, 6. Idotheidae, Arcturidae, Asellidae, Ianiridae, Munnidae. pp. 81-116 in Sars, G.O. (ed.). An Account of the Crustacea of Norway with short descriptions and figures of all the species. Isopoda. Bergen : Bergen Museum Vol. 2 270 pp. [http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/32173043] [98] [original spelling; misspelling of Janiridae based on genus Janira Leach, 1814].

Introduction

Janiridae are archetypal janiroideans, the family that remains when other taxa are placed in more recognisable or better characterised families. Most are very small, always longer than wide, have similar pereopods although the first can be more or less prehensile. Most are marine, usually in shallow water, but a few are found exclusively in fresh water.

Wolff (1962) provided a foundation for systematics of the Janiridae. Of more than 50 genera placed at one time or another in Janiridae many have been assigned to other smaller families, or synonymised (Wilson, 1994; Wilson & Wägele, 1994). These authors reviewed and diagnosed the remaining genera, with many provisos, and their arrangement has been scarcely revisited.

Many Australian species exist, but few are described.

Diagnosis

Body oblong, depressed; head with or without rostrum; pereonites 1–7 free, wider than long, often with laminar lateral expansions. Pleon with 0, 1 or 2 free pleonites. Anus not covered by pleopodal operculum. Eyes usually present, dorsal. Maxillipedal palp articles 1–3 wider than distal articles. Pereopod 1 usually prehensile; pereopods 2–7 ambulatory; pereopod 4 coxa inserting on midlateral margin; pereopodal 2–7 dactyli with 2 or 3 claws. Uropod inserting laterally or terminally.

General References

Wilson, G.D.F. 1994. A phylogenetic analysis of the isopod family Janiridae (Crustacea). Invertebrate Taxonomy 8: 749-766

Wilson, G.D.F. & Wägele, J.-W. 1994. Review of the family Janiridae (Crustacea: Isopoda: Asellota). Invertebrate Taxonomy 8: 683-747

Wolff, T. 1962. The systematics and biology of bathyal and abyssal Isopoda Asellota. Galathea Report 6: 1-320, pls I-XIV

History of changes