Physetocaris

Physetocaris
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Infraorder: Caridea
Superfamily: Physetocaridoidea
Chace, 1940
Family: Physetocarididae
Chace, 1940
Genus: Physetocaris
Chace, 1940
Species: P. microphthalma
Binomial name
Physetocaris microphthalma
Chace, 1940

Physetocaris is a monotypic genus of caridean shrimp, containing a single species,[1] Physetocaris microphthalma. It is placed in its own family (Physetocarididae) and superfamily (Physetocarididae).[1] The species is rare, with only 35 specimens counted in a 1985 review.[2] Adults have no eyes, and are missing the last segment of the first pereiopod, which is therefore unable to form a claw.[2] They also have reduced gills and mouthparts, and no exopods on the pereiopods.[2] The carapace is enlarged, and forms a tall rostrum.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b Sammy De Grave, N. Dean Pentcheff, Shane T. Ahyong et al. (2009). "A classification of living and fossil genera of decapod crustaceans". Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Suppl. 21: 1–109. http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/rbz/biblio/s21/s21rbz1-109.pdf. 
  2. ^ a b c d Raymond T. Bauer (2004). "Physetocarididae". Remarkable Shrimps: Adaptations and Natural History of the Carideans. Animal natural history series. 7. University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 65–66. ISBN 9780806135557. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=b8YHIsnod3EC&pg=PA66. 
Superfamilies in infraorder Caridea
Kingdom Animalia · Phylum Arthropoda · Subphylum Crustacea · Class Malacostraca · Order Decapoda · Suborder Pleocyemata