Protorchestiidae

Myers, A. A. & Lowry, J. K., 2020, A phylogeny and classification of the Talitroidea (Amphipoda, Senticaudata) based on interpretation of morphological synapomorphies and homoplasies, Zootaxa 4778 (2), pp. 281-310 : 297-298

Protorchestiidae fam. nov.

Type genus. Protorchestia Bousfield, 1982 .

Included genera (5). Cochinorchestia Lowry & Peart, 2010 ; Eorchestia Bousfield, 1984 ; Microrchestia Bousfield, 1984 ; Neorchestia Friend, 1987 ; Protorchestia Bousfield, 1982 .

Category. Mascupods.

Ecological type. Marsh-hoppers and forest-hoppers.

Distribution. Australia and Papua New Guinea, South Africa, East Africa and Red Sea, Western Indian Ocean including Madagascar; Mauritius, Pacific South and Central America and Western North Atlantic.

Diagnostic description. Antenna 1 long, reaching to at least midpoint of peduncular article 5 of antenna 2 or short, not reaching midpoint of peduncular article 5 of antenna 2. Maxilliped palp article 2 without distomedial lobe; article 4 small, distinct. Gnathopod 1 posterior margin of merus, carpus and propodus each with palmate lobes; propodus ‘subtriangular’ with well-developed posterodistal lobe. Gnathopod 2 subchelate. Pereopods 3–7 simplidactylate. Pereopod 4 dactylus basidactylate. Pereopod 5 dactylus not inflated. Pereopod 6 subequal in length or shorter than pereopod 7. Epimera 1–3 slits absent. Uropods 1–2 rami without apical spear-shaped setae. Uropod 1 male exopod not sexually dimorphic; exopod with marginal robust setae in one row or without marginal robust setae. Uropod 3 ramus subequal in length, longer than or shorter than peduncle. Telson with apical robust setae only or with apical and marginal robust setae, with 1–6 robust setae per lobe.