Gephyrocuma, HALE, 1936

Haye, Pilar A., 2007, Systematics of the genera of Bodotriidae (Crustacea: Cumacea), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 151 (1), pp. 1-58 : 26-27

GEPHYROCUMA HALE, 1936

Type species: Gephyrocuma pala Hale, 1936

Body: Carapace variable in length with respect to abdomen and longer than peraeon; abdomen shorter than carapace and peraeon together.

Cephalothorax: From dorsal view the carapace appears laterally compressed anteriorly. Pseudorostral lappets extend beyond frontal lobe and meet in midline. Antennal notch not distinct or as a depression. Anterolateral corner bluntly rounded. Frontal lobe 1/3–1/2 the total carapace length; as wide as long; somewhat extended; with ocular pigment and eye lenses.

Antenna 1, peduncle articles wide, basal article of the peduncle straight or arcuate; longer than the other two articles together. Main flagellum bi- or triarticulated; with second article longer than third; with three aesthetascs in distal-most article. Accessory flagellum uni-articulated; may have a brush of setae.

Maxilliped 3 basis straight; ventrally projected over ischium (opercular). Ischium shorter than merus. Merus slightly expanded laterally. Carpus oviform; equal to or shorter than propodus and dactylus together. Propodus distally widened or oviform; with a brush of setae.

Peraeon: First peraeonite visible only above lateral midline. Peraeonite 2 with ventrolateral expansion overriding peraeonite 1 and/or carapace and peraeonite 3. Peraeonite 3 extended backwards overriding peraeonite 4. Peraeonite 4 with ventrolateral expansion overriding peraeonite 5.

Females and males with fully developed exopods on peraeopods 1 and 2 and reduced on peraeopods 3 and 4. Peraeopod 1, opercular; basis arcuate, with ventral opercular projection; basis and carpus expanded, ischium and merus rotated to parallel positions; ischium modified as a rounded lobe with exterior concavity; carpus oviform in shape, with row of setae; brush (three or more) of long setae on the propodus (setae longer than carpus); carpus equal to or shorter than propodus. Peraeopod 2 with ischium; dactylus longer than propodus. Peraeopod 3, merus enlarged (almost as large as basis). Peraeopod 4 with ischium.

Pleon: Pleonite 5 variable in length with respect to pleonite 6. Pleonite 6 longer than wide; longer than peduncle of uropod. Whole width of pleonite 6 well extended past the insertion of the uropods or only narrow portion of distal end of pleonite 6 extended past the insertion of the uropods; apex rounded.

Uropod endopod bi-articulated; proximal article longer than distal one. Uropod exopod with proximal article shorter than distal one. Rami longer than peduncle; rami approximately same length. Males with five pairs of pleopods.

Species included:

1. G. pala Hale, 1936

2. G. repandum Hale, 1944

3. G. simile Hale, 1949

4. Gephyrocuma sp. nov. 1 Tafe & Greenwood, 1996

Distribution: Shallow waters (0–75 m) of the Australian coast.