Tanaidae, Dana, 1849

Edgar, Graham J., 2008, Shallow water Tanaidae (Crustacea: Tanaidacea) of Australia, Zootaxa 1836 (1), pp. 1-92 : 6

Key to genera of Australian Tanaidae

1. Four pleonites present plus pleotelson.........................................................................................................2

- Five pleonites present plus pleotelson.........................................................................................................4

2. Antennule with five to seven aesthetascs on terminal article; pleopod basal article with seven or more setae on outer margin; maxillule palp with five or six long terminal setae ........................ Tanais Latreille.

- Antennule with two or three aesthetascs; pleopod basal article with five or six setae on outer margin; maxillule palp with one or two long terminal setae............................................................................................3

3. Left mandible with lacinia mobilis peg-like, right mandible with lacinia mobilis reduced to small seta ..... ...................................................................................................................................... Aviatanais Bamber.

- Left mandible with lacinia mobilis well-developed, right mandible with lacinia mobilis peg-like .............. ............................................................................................................................................... Sinelobus Sieg

4. Pleopod basal article with more than twelve setae on outer margin, endopod with about twenty setae on inner margin; transverse row of setae on pleonites 1 and 2 extending across dorsal surface ....................... ......................................................................................................................................... Austrotanais g. sp.

- Pleopod basal article with less than ten setae on outer margin, endopod with less than 10 setae on inner margin; setae on pleonites 1 and 2 not extending across dorsal surface.....................................................5

5. Length of first three pleonites together less than first pleonite width; associated with carapace of sea turtles ............................................................................................................................. Hexapleomera Dudich

- Length of first three pleonites together greater than first pleonite width; free-living or associated with gastropod shells.................................................................................................................................................6

6. Male cheliped greatly enlarged, pleopod 3 reduced ......................................................... Pancoloides Sieg

- Male cheliped slightly enlarged compared with female, pleopods similar................................................. 7

7. Final uropod article reduced to less than half length of preceding article ........................... Zeuxoides Sieg

- Final uropod article about two-thirds length of preceding article .................................... Zeuxo Templeton