Superornatiremidae is a family of minute, benthic crustaceans belonging to the order Harpacticoida within the class Copepoda. First described by Rony Huys in 1996, the family comprises small copepods characterized by their unusual first pair of legs (pereiopods), which exhibit numerous additional setation elements on both rami compared to the armature found in other copepods.
Taxonomy and Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Crustacea
- Class: Copepoda
- Order: Harpacticoida
- Family: Superornatiremidae Huys, 1996
Genera
The family includes four recognized genera:
- Gideonia George & Martínez Arbizu, 2005
- Intercrusia Huys, 1996
- Neoechinophora Huys, 1996
- Superornatiremis Huys, 1996
Description and Ecology
Superornatiremids are characterized by their most unusual first leg, which bears a notably higher number of spines and setae on both the exopod and endopod than is typical for harpacticoid copepods. They have three and two spines on the outer margins of the first and second segments of the exopod, respectively. These crustaceans are adapted to specialized aquatic environments, particularly anchialine caves (coastal caves with both fresh and saltwater influence) in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean regions. They are benthic, meaning they live on or near the bottom of water bodies.
References
- Huys, R. (1996). "Superornatiremidae fam. nov. (Copepoda: Harpacticoida): An enigmatic family from North Atlantic anchihaline caves." Scientia Marina, 60(4): 497–542.
- GBIF. "Superornatiremidae". Retrieved 25 June 2021.
