Caprellidae

Guerra-García, José M., 2003, The Caprellidea (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Mauritius Island, Western Indian Ocean, Zootaxa 232, pp. 1-24 : 20

Key to the Caprellidae of Mauritius

The species key provided can be used without dissection. McCain (1968) includes a lateral view of a generalised caprellid showing the names of the different parts. Consultation of these figures could be useful for the use of the key

1. Pereopods 3 and 4 absent.. Antenna 2 setose ........................... Caprella scaura ( Fig.2 )

– Pereopods 3 and 4 present, although very reduced. Antenna 2 not setose .......2

2. Pereonites 6 and 7 fused................................................................................................ 3

– Pereonites 6 and 7 not fused.......................................................................................... 4

3. Body with dorsal projections ....................................... Metaprotella sandalensis ( Fig.8 )

– Body dorsally without dorsal projections............. Metaprotella mauritiensis ( Figs.4–7 )

4. One or two dorsal projections on the head.................................................................... 5

– Head smooth without projections.................................................................................. 6

5. Two acute projections dorsally on the head. Pereopods 3 and 4 reduced but visible ..... ...................................................................................... Orthoprotella australis ( Fig.10 )

– Only one dorsal projection on the head. Pereopods 3 and 4 very reduced. Very small size ........................................................................... Noculacia sp ( Fig.9 )

6. Gnathopod 2 setose, pereonites 5–7 short and robust. Abdomen not visible in the lat­ eral view .................................................................................. Paracaprella sp ( Fig.11)

– Gnathopod 2 not setose, pereonites 5–7 elongate. Abdomen projections visible in the lateral view......................................................... Hemiaegina minuta ( Fig.3 )

Figures

FIGURE 2. Caprella scaura Templeton, 1836. Lateral view. A, male; B, female. Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURE 3. Hemiaegina minuta Mayer, 1890. Lateral view. A, male; B, female. Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURE 4. Metaprotella mauritiensis n. sp. Lateral view. A, holotype male; B, paratype male; C, allotype female. Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURE 5. Metaprotella mauritiensis n. sp. A, maxilliped; B, lower lip; C, upper lip; D, right mandible; E, left mandible; F, maxilla 2; G, maxilla 1. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 6. Metaprotella mauritiensis n. sp. A – D, male. A, antenna 1; B, antenna 2; C, gnathopod 1; D, gnathopod 2. E, female gnathopod 2. Scale bars: A, C, E: 1 mm; B: 0.2 mm; D: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 8. Metaprotella sandalensis Mayer, 1898. Lateral view. A, male; B, female. Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURE 9. Noculacia sp. Female lateral view. Scale bar: 1 mm.

FIGURE 10. Orthoprotella australis (Haswell, 1880). Lateral view. A, male; B, female. Scale bar: 1 mm.