Austrotanais, Edgar, 2008

Edgar, Graham J., 2008, Shallow water Tanaidae (Crustacea: Tanaidacea) of Australia, Zootaxa 1836 (1), pp. 1-92 : 12

Genus Austrotanais n. gen.

Diagnosis. Five pleonites present plus pleotelson. Pleonites 1 and 2 carrying a transverse dorsal row of plumose setae. Antennule with four articles, first article three times length of second article, terminal article with eight aesthetascs. Antenna with seven articles, article 2 as long as wide, last two articles small. Maxillule endite with eight large terminal spiniform setae, palp with several long setae. Labium outer lobe with terminal process. Pereopod 1 coxa without anterior bulge. Basis length of pereopods 2 and 3 about 2.5 times width. Pleopod basis with two to four plumose setae on inner margin and about 16 on outer margin, endopod inner margin with about 18 plumose setae. Uropod with four articles, terminal article normal. Sexes similar.

Remarks. Austrotanais is a monotypic genus, readily recognisable amongst Tanaidae by the combination of five free pleonites, lack of sexual dimorphism, relatively wide basis of pereopods 2 and 3, and a dense fringe of setae crossing the dorsal surface of pleonites 1 and 2. The latter feature is shared with Tanais in Australia; however that genus possesses four free pleonites.

mology. Named in reference to the southern (austral) Australian distribution of the known species of this genus.