A new genus of a new Austral family of paratanaoid tanaidacean (Crustacea: Peracarida: Tanaidacea), with two new species

Abstract

During analysis of tanaidacean material collected from the Bass Strait, Victoria, Australia, in 1965 and 1974, seven specimens of a new species were found, quite distinct from but showing close affinities to the aberrant Antarctic paratanaoid species Mirandotanais vorax. More recent sampling in 2008 on Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia, discovered two specimens of a second new species, showing closer affinity to the Victoria species. Both new species are described herein, and the Australian taxa are separated into a distinct genus owing in particular to the morphology of their mouthparts, with features consistent between the two but quite distinct from Antarctic M. vorax. A new family is erected to include both genera.