Siriella Dana 1850

Jocque, M. & Blom, W., 2009, Mysidae (Mysida) of New Zealand; a checklist, identification key to species and an overview of material in New Zealand collections, Zootaxa 2304 (1), pp. 1-20 : 12

Siriella Dana 1850

Cynthia White 1850 , 46.

Promysis Krøyer 1861 , 70.

Protosiriella Czerniavsky 1882a , 27.

Pseudosiriella Claus 1884 , 275.

Siriella Dana 1950 , 129; G.O. Sars 1879, 22–24; G.O. Sars 1885, 204–205; Zimmer 1909, 68–69; Hansen 1910; 27–31; Tattersall W.M. 1951, 141–144; Ii 1964, 87–62; Pillai 1965, 7–8; Murano 1986, 239–240.

The diagnosis for this large genus is based on Ii (1964). The females are difficult to distinguish from each other, but males are easily recognized by the structure of the pleopods. The species of Siriella are characterized by a short carapace, leaving 1–2 posterior thoracic somites entirely exposed. Eyes are normally developed. Outer margin of antennal scale without setae and terminates in a small spine. Suture at proximal end of antennal scale unclear and often not visible. Endopods of the third to eight thoracic limbs subequal, articulation dividing the sixth joint into two subjoints, sometimes very distinct but more commonly difficult to see. The sixth joint terminates into a tuft of long peculiarly serrated setae, dactylus well developed. Pleopods of the male with well developed biramous pseudobranchiae. The distal setae on the third and fourth pairs often modified. Telson always armed at the apex with three or four small spines and a pair of plumose setae between one or two pairs of stout spines.

To date, 86 species have been described ( Anderson 2008). Two species are recorded from New Zealand waters.