Amaryllididae Lowry & Stoddart, 2002

Lowry, J. K. & Stoddart, H. E., 2002, The Amaryllididae of Australia (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Lysianassoidea), Records of the Australian Museum 54, pp. 129-214 : 131

Amaryllididae Lowry & Stoddart

Amaryllididae Lowry & Stoddart, 2002: 165 .

Diagnosis. Head much deeper than long, with lateral cephalic lobe weak, midanterior notch present or absent. Epistome and upper lip fused. Mandible, left lacinia mobilis a stemmed serrate blade; accessory setal row well developed, usually with intermediate setae, with a large tuft of setae distally; molar a slightly setose flap with setose margins. Maxilla 1, outer plate with setal-teeth in a 6/5 arrangement, palp absent. Maxilliped, outer plate without distal or medial slender or robust setae; palp well developed, article 4 reduced. Gnathopod 1 simple, coxa vestigial, merus and carpus not rotated, posterior margin of propodus serrate, dactylus simple, without subterminal tooth. Gnathopod 2, posterodistal corner of propodus with medial and lateral robust setae. Pereopods 3–7 simple; propodus without posterodistal spur. Telson with slight to medium cleft.

Type genus. Amaryllis Haswell, 1879 .

Generic composition. The family contains eight genera in two subfamilies: Amaryllidinae n.subfam. with Amaryllis Haswell, 1879 ; Bamarooka n.gen.; Erikus Lowry & Stoddart, 1987 and Wonga n.gen.; and Vijayiinae n.subfam. with Bathyamaryllis Pirlot, 1933 ; Devo n.gen.; Pseudamaryllis Andres, 1981 and Vijaya Walker, 1904 .

Remarks. Amaryllidids are very distinctive amphipods. They are distinguished from other lysianassoid family groups by their head shape; maxilla 1 without a palp; extremely reduced gnathopod 1 coxa; and gnathopod 1 propodus with serrate posterior margin. Most are immediately recognizable by their very deep head shape with midanterior notch.