Clunia, Harris, 2014

Harris, Vernon A., 2014, Porcellidiidae of Australia (Harpacticoida, Copepoda). III. Synopsis of Genera and Species, Records of the Australian Museum 66 (2), pp. 167-196 : 183

Genus Clunia gen. nov.

Type species. Clunia cocosensis sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Maxillule endopod with only one seta;female cephalosome not truncated; hyaline border with sensilla at lateral edge of cephalosome; no dorsal organs with cuticular honeycomb; no ridge plates on labrum; no lateral striations to anterior lobe of female genital double-somite; female caudal ramus pentagonal, median corner 90°, posterior border straight, T3 absent; coxae of maxillipeds touch in midline; no ventral expansion to female P5 exopod.

Species composition. Clunia cocosensis sp. nov., is the only species currently known. Recorded from the Indian Ocean.

Etymology. The genus is named Clunia after John Clunies- Ross who settled on the Cocos (Keeling) group of islands in 1827.

Remarks. The shape of the caudal ramus and absence of T3 resemble Geddesia and Mucrorostrum , but the presence of only one seta on the maxillule endopod (in contrast to six on the former and two on the latter) and the endite formula are unique features that justify erection of the genus Clunia . No male specimen is available for male characters that would confirm this decision.