Eriopisidae

Myers, A, 2013, A Phylogeny and Classification of the Senticaudata subord. nov. (Crustacea: Amphipoda), Zootaxa 3610 (1), pp. 1-80 : 34

Eriopisidae fam. nov.

Type genus. Eriopisa Stebbing, 1890 .

Diagnostic description. Body laterally compressed, subcylindrical or vermiform. Eyes well developed, poorly developed or absent, if present then round or ovoid. Antennae 1–2 calceoli absent. Antenna 1 longer than antenna 2; peduncular article 1 shorter than, subequal to, or longer than article 2; article 2 longer than article 3; article 3 shorter than article 1; peduncular articles 1–2 not geniculate; accessory flagellum short or minute. Antenna 2 peduncular article 1 not enlarged. Mandible molar triturative; palp symmetrical. Maxilla 1 basal endite setose along medial margin; palps symmetrical. Maxilla 2 basal endite with oblique setal row. Labium inner lobes present. Coxal gills [not known]; sternal gills absent; sternal blisters absent; oostegites fringing setae simple. Gnathopod 1 subchelate; smaller (or weaker) than or similar in size to gnathopod 2; propodus palm without robust setae along palmar margin. Gnathopod 2 subchelate; similar in males and females (not sexually dimorphic); carpus not produced along posterior margin of propodus, projecting between merus and propodus. Pereopods 3–4 not sexually dimorphic. Pereopod 4 without posteroventral lobe. Pereopod 5 shorter than pereopod 6; coxa with posterodorsal lobe or with large anteroventral lobe or without lobes. Pereopod 7 longer than pereopod 5. Pleonites 1–3 without dorsal carinae. Urosomites 1–3 free; without slender or robust dorsal setae. Urosomite 1 without large distoventral robust seta. Urosomite 2 without dorsal setae. Uropod 1 with or without basofacial robust setae. Uropod 3 not sexually dimorphic; biramous, without plumose setae; endopod minute or shorter than exopod. Telson deeply cleft ; dorsal or lateral robust setae present or absent; apical robust setae present.

Habitat. Marine, epigean and hypogean.

Included genera. The Eriopisa group includes 9 genera: Confodiopisa Karaman, 1984c ; Eriopisa Stebbing, 1890 ; Flagitopisa Karaman, 1984c ; Impertiopisa Karaman, 1984c ; Nedsia Barnard & Williams, 1995 ; Psammogammarus S. Karaman 1955 ; Tunisopisa Stock, 1980 ; Victoriopisa Karaman & Barnard, 1979; Vo c it op is a Karaman, 1984c.

The Eriopisella group includes 12 genera: Cephalopisella G. Karaman, 1984c ; Cuneimelita Senna & Serejo, 2012 ; Eriopisella Chevreux, 1920 ; Gammaropisa Ruffo & Vigna-Taglianti, 1988 ; Madapisella Stock, 1980 ; Maleriopa Barnard & Karaman, 1982; Netamelita J.L. Barnard, 1962 ; Nippopisella Stock, 1980 ; Norcapensis Bradbury & Williams, 1997 ; Psammomelita Vonk, 1988 ; Spiniferopisella G. Karaman, 1984c ; Tagua Lowry & Fenwick, 1983 .

Remarks. Roropisa Karaman, 1984c , which would fall into the Eriopisa group is considered to be a subjective synonym of Victoriopisa by Morino (1991) and Stock & Iliffe (1995).

The only difference between the Eriopisa and Eriopisella groups appears to be the extraordinarily well developed second article of the outer ramus of uropod 3 in the Eriopisella group. Eriopisids differ from maerids and melitids in the second gnathopods which are similar between males and females. Melitids are mate-guarders in which the male gnathopod 2 is enlarged. Pereopod 4 coxa is larger than that of pereopod 3 in melitids. Distribution. Cosmopolitan.