Austrocuma, DAY, 1978

Haye, Pilar A., 2007, Systematics of the genera of Bodotriidae (Crustacea: Cumacea), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 151 (1), pp. 1-58 : 13-14

AUSTROCUMA DAY, 1978

Type species: Austrocuma platyceps Day, 1978

Body: Carapace shorter than abdomen and variable in length with respect to peraeon; abdomen shorter than carapace and peraeon together.

Cephalothorax: From dorsal view the carapace appears laterally compressed anteriorly. Carapace may have mid-dorsal ridge and lateral ridges. Pseudorostral lappets extend beyond frontal lobe and meet in midline. Antennal notch as a depression or subacute incision. Anterolateral corner bluntly rounded or with subacute tooth. Frontal lobe 1/3–1/2 the total carapace length; as wide as long or wider than long; slightly extended; with ocular pigment and eye lenses.

Antenna 1 with basal article of peduncle arcuate or straight; shorter than the other two articles together. Main flagellum bi-articulated; with one or two aesthetascs in distal-most article. Accessory flagellum uni-articulated; may have one aesthetasc. Antenna 2 in males not reaching the end of the peraeon; with sensory setae on anterior margin of article four; anterior margin modified for grasping. Antenna 2 in females with two articles.

Maxilliped 3 basis geniculate or arcuate; extended dorso-distally over ischium beyond the articulation of ischium and merus. Ischium shorter than merus. Merus slightly globular dorsodistally or without dorsal extension. Carpus distally widened, oviform or not widened; shorter than propodus and dactylus together. Propodus oviform.

Peraeon: First peraeonite may be visible only above lateral midline. Peraeonite 2 wide or proportional to other peraeonites; may have ventrolateral expansion overriding peraeonite 1 and/or carapace and peraeonite 3 or peraeonite 3. Peraeonite 3 may have ventrolateral expansion extended backwards overriding peraeonite 4. Peraeonite 4 may have ventrolateral expansion overriding peraeonite 5.

Peraeopod 1 with basis arcuate or straight; inner apical angle may be extended forming a convex process. Carpus may have row of setae. Carpus equal to or longer than propodus. Peraeopod 2 without ischium; dactylus equal to or longer than propodus. Peraeopod 4 without ischium. Peraeopod 3, 4 and 5, with six or seven articles.

Pleon: Pleonite 6 wider than long or as long as wide; shorter than peduncle of uropod. Females may have narrow portion of terminal end of pleonite 6 slightly extended between the bases of the uropods ending in a line. Males may have whole width of terminal end of pleonite 6 slightly extended between the bases of the uropods; terminally concave (with two projections). Anal plates may extend posteriorly beyond distal margin of pleonite six.

Uropod endopod uni-articulated. Uropod exopod with proximal article shorter than distal one. Peduncle approximately as long as or longer than rami; rami approximately same length. Males with three or four pairs of pleopods. Pleopodal endopod with well developed process.

Species included:

1. A. platyceps Day, 1978

2. A. kornfieldi Haye, 2004

Distribution: Austrocuma platyceps inhabits the shallow waters ( 0–1 m) of the southern tip of South Africa from Muizenberg to Hout Bay on the Cape Peninsula as well as in the south-western Cape coast ( Day, 1978). Austrocuma konfieldi (Haye, 2004) inhabits shallow waters ( 1–5 m) along the East coast of India.