SUPERFAMILY AMEIROIDEA Boeck, 1873

AMEIRIDAE Boeck, 1865; Monard, 1927, emend. Lang, 1936


The family Ameiridae presently contains more than 400 species and subspecies accomodated in 50 genera [Ameira, Boeck, Proameira Lang, Nitokra Boeck, Psyllocamptus T. Scott, Ameiropsis Sars, Pseudameira Sars, Leptomesochra Sars, Nitocrella Chappuis, Antistygonitocrella Karanovic et al., Neonitocrella Lee & Huys, Novanitocrella Karanovic, Stygonitocrella Reid et al., Sarsameira Wilson, Archinitocrella Karanovic, Abnitocrella Karanovic, Sicameira Klie, Psammameira Noodt, Pseudoleptomeochra Lang, Pseudoleptomesochrella Lang, Hirtaleptomesochra Karanovic, Interleptomesochra Lang, Parapseudoleptomesochra Lang, Praeleptomesochra Lang, Parevansula Guille & Soyer, Paraleptomesochra Wells, Parameiropsis Becker, Limameira Soyer, Styonitocrella Petkovski, Nitocrellopsis Petkovski, Ameiropsyllus Bodin, Pseudoameiropsis Pallares, Psammonitocrella Rouch, Psammoleptomesochra Mielke, Stenocopia Sars, Raoleptomesochra Karanovicv, Malacopsyllus Sars, Biameiropsis Karanovic, Anoplosoma Sars, Haifameira Por, Filexilia Conroy-Dalton & Huys, Glabrameira Conroy-Dalton & Huys, Inermipes Lee & Huys, Kimberleynitocrella Karanovic & Hancock, 2009; Gordanitocrella Karanovic & Hancock, 2009; Lucionitcrella Karanovic & Hancock, 2009; Reidnitocrella Karanovic & Hancock, 2009; Eduardonitocrella Karanovic & Hancock, 2009; Megastygonitocrella Karanovic & Hancock, 2009]

The genus Karllangia Noodt, 1964, formerly included in the family Ameiridae, has been recently removed to Parastenheliidae Lang, 1944 (Willen, 2000).

Representatives of this family inhabit a wide range of environments, from marine to freshwater, subterranean habitat included, sediments. Numerous species live as well as in hot springs or in association with other invertebrates (flatworms, crabs, crayfishes, isopods).

The family has a marine origin, but successfully radiated in fresh waters and subterranean habitats, as exemplified by most species of the genera Nitocrella, Stygonitocrella, Nitocrellopsis, Psammonitocrella and Parapseudoleptomesochra, which regularly can be found in inland and anchialine caves, karstic systems and other groundwater environments. Other amerids have occupied more specialized environments, such as the hyporheic zones of rivers, other ones entered into symbiotic relationships with a wide range of invertebrate hosts (Boxshall & Jaume (2000)

From a taxonomical point of view, several genera are not well defined, and the entire family requires review (Conroy-Dalton & Huys,1996; Lee & Huys, 2002).

At present the family includes two subfamilies: Stenocopiinae Lang, 1944, with the genus Stenocopia Sars, 1907 and Ameirinae Boeck, 1865, including all the other genera



Abnitocrella Karanovic, 2006

Ameira Boeck, 1865

Ameiropsis Sars, 1907

Ameiropsyllus Bodin, 1979

Anoplosomella Strand, 1929

Antistygonitocrella Karanovic et al., 2013

Archinitocrella Karanovic, 2006

Biameiropsis Karanovic, 2006

Eduardonitocrella Karanovic & Hancock, 2009

Filexilia Conroy-Dalton & Huys, 1996

Glabrameira Conroy-Dalton & Huys, 1996

Gordanitocrella Karanovic & Hancock, 2009

Haifameira Por, 1964

Hirtaleptomesochra Karanovic, 2004

Inermipes Lee & Huys, 2002

Interleptomesochra Lang, 1965

Kimberleynitocrella Karanovic & Hancock, 2009

Leptameira Huys, 2009

Leptomesochra Sars, 1911

Limameira Soyer, 1975

Lucionitocrella Karanovic & Hancock, 2009

Megastygonitocrella Karanovic & Hancock, 2009

Neonitocrella Lee & Huys, 2002

Nitocrella Chappuis,1923 sensu Petkovski, 1976

Nitocrellopsis Galassi, De Laurentiis & Dole-Olivier, 1999

Nitokra Boeck,1864

Novanitocrella Karanovic, 2004

Paraleptomesochra Wells, 1967

Parameiropsis Becker, 1974

Paranitocrella Tang & Knott, 2009

Parapseudoleptomesochra Lang,1965

Parevansula Guille & Soyer, 1966

Praeleptomesochra Lang,1965

Proameira Lang, 1948

Psammoleptomesochra Mielke, 1994 (Recently moved to Parastenheliidae)

Psammameira Noodt, 1952

Psammonitocrella Rouch, 1992 *

Pseudameira Sars, 1911

Pseudoameiropsis Pallares, 1982

Pseudoleptomeochra Lang, 1965

Pseudoleptomesochrella Lang,1965

Psyllocamptus Scott,1899

Raoleptomesochra Karanovic, 2004

Reidnitocrella Karanovic & Hancock, 2009

Sarsameira Wilson, 1924

Sicameira Klie, 1950

Stenocopia Sars, 1907

Stygonitocrella Reid, Hunt & Stanley, 2003


INCERTAE SEDIS

Argestigens Willey, 1935

Martinez Arbizu & Moura (1994), on account of the armature of male leg 1, suggested that this genus could be better related to Parastenocarididae than to Ameiridae. Later on, Lee & Huys (2002) suggested to reallocate the genus to the family Ameiridae, on account of the structure of leg 5, the presence of separate genital and abdominal segments in mature female, and the absence of a sexually dimorphic medial basal spine on leg 1.


PSYLLOCAMPTUS T. A. Scott, 1899

Mesochrella Kunz, 1951 (synonym) Phyllocamptus Scott T., 1899 Psyllocamptus (Psyllocamptus) Kunz, 1975 (Subgenera abandoned by Huys, 2009

  • Psyllocamptus bermudae Willey, 1930 [Bermuda; mangroves]
  • Psyllocamptus carolinensis Lindgren, 1975 [USA; beaches]
  • Psyllocamptus eridani Ceccherelli, 1988 [north Italy; brackish waters]
  • Psyllocamptus fairliensis Scott T., 1899
  • Psyllocamptus fuegiensis Pallares, 1982 [Argentina; psammon] +
  • Psyllocamptus gelatinosus (Kunz, 1951)
  • Psyllocamptus longisetosus Kunz, 1975 [Africa; coastal sea] +
  • Psyllocamptus minutus minutus Sars, 1911 [Egypt, Melanesia; lakes]
  • Psyllocamptus minutus gelatinosus (Kunz, 1975) [Africa; coastal sea]
  • Psyllocamptus monachus Chappuis,1938 [Italy, France; caves]
  • Psyllocamptus propinquus (T. Scott, 1895) [Europe, marine, amongst littoral algae, brackish waters]
  • Psyllocamptus quadrospinosus Kunz, 1975 [Africa; coastal sea] +
  • Psyllocamptus quinquiespinosus Coull, 1970 [Jamaica; sea] +
  • Psyllocamptus sinaloensis Gomez , 2002
  • Psyllocamptus tauensensis Gomez, 2002
  • Psyllocamptus totoramensis Gomez, 2002
  • Psyllocamptus triarticulatus Lang, 1965 [USA; marine, tidal pools]+

    + Kunz (1975) created the subgenus Langpsyllocamptus for these species (nomen nudum)


    STENOCOPIA Sars, 1907

  • Stenocopia antarctica Lang, 1948
  • Stenocopia limicola Willey, 1935 [Bermuda, Galapagos; marine interstiial]
  • Stenocopia longicaudata longicaudata T. Scott, 1892 [Europe, Egypt; sea and brackish waters]
  • Stenocopia longicaudata pontica Grica, 1962 [Black sea]
  • Stenocopia longiseta Bozic, 1964 [Reunion; interstitial]
  • Stenocopia reducta Cottarelli, Saporito & Puccetti, 1986 [THailand; interstitial]
  • Stenocopia sarsi Mielke, 1997 [Galapagos; marine interstitial]
  • Stenocopia setosa Sars, 1907
  • Stenocopia spinosa (T. Scott., 1892) [Ireland, Norway; marine sublittoral sand]


    PRAELEPTOMESOCHRA Lang, 1965

  • Praeleptomesochra africana (Kunz, 1951) [Africa, Bermuda; marine interstitial]
  • Praeleptomesochra phreatica Pesce 1981 [Africa, Morocco; wells]
  • Praeleptomesochra pygmaea (Vervoort, 1964) [Carolina Islands; marine interstitial]
  • Praeleptomesochra similis Lang, 1965 [USA; tidal pools]


    INTERLEPTOMESOCHRA Lang, 1965

  • Interleptomesochra attenuata (A. Scott, 1896) [north Europe:marine interstitial]
  • Interleptomeochra boguensis Lindgren, 1975 [USA; marine interstitial]
  • Interleptomeochra elongata (Bozic, 1955) [France; marine interstitial]
  • Interleptomeochra eulitoralis (Noodt, 1952) [Europe, Israel; marine interstitial]
  • Interleptomeochra noodti (Galhano, 1968) [Portugal;marine interstitial]
  • Interleptomeochra reducta Lang, 1965 [USA; marine interstitial]
  • Interleptomeochra tenuicornis (Sars, 1911) [Europe; marine interstitial]


    PSAMMOLEPTOMESOCHRA Mielke, 1994 (Recently moved to Parastenheliidae)

  • Psammoleptomesochra australis Mielke, 1994 [Chile; psammon]


    PSAMMAMEIRA Noodt, 1952

  • Psammameira exigua Lang, 1948
  • Psammameira grandis (Nicholls, 1940)
  • Psammameira hyalina Noodt, 1952 [Europe; marine interstitial]
  • Psammameira parasimulans (Lang, 1965) [USA; marine interstitial]
  • Psammameira reducta Wells, 1967 [Mozambico, psammon]
  • Psammameira simulans (Lang, 1948)


    PSEUDOLEPTOMESOCHRELLA Lang, 1965

  • Pseudoleptomesochrella bisetosa Lindgren, 1975 [north America; psammon]
  • Pseudoleptomesochrella brevifurca (Wells, 1961) [Bulgaria; marine] **
  • Pseudoleptomesochrella halophila (Noodt, 1952) [Europe; brackish surface and ground waters]
  • Pseudoleptomesochrella incerta (Chappuis & Del. Deboutteville, 1956) [Bahamas; psammon]
  • Pseudoleptomesochrella marina (Chappuis & Rouch, 1961) [Africa; psammon]
  • Pseudoleptomesochrella pontica Apostolov, 1969 [Bulgaria; psammon] *
  • Pseudoleptomesochrella venezolana Mielke, 1995 [Venezuela; psammon]

    * species inquirenda

    ** According to Mielke (1975) and Marinov (1973) the separation of Pseudoleptomesochrella brevifurca and Pseudoleptomesochrella pontica is questionable.

    KEY TO SPECIES OF THE GENUS PSEUDOLEPTOMESOCHRELLA


    PARAPSEUDOLEPTOMESOCHRA Lang, 1965

    "The hypogean Parapseudoleptomesochra Lang, 1965, is a diverse genus of the family Ameiridae Monard, 1927.Despite being of marine origin, this genus has successfully colonized freshwater and groundwater habitats, such as springs, wells, and caves (Rao, 1972; Kunz, 1975; Pesce, 1981; Dumont, 1984; Rouch, 1986; Boxshall, Halsey, 2004; Karanovic, 2006; Boxshall, Defaye, 2008). The genus Parapseudoleptomesochra was established by Lang (1965) to include the marine species Ameira trisetosa Krishnaswamy, 1957 from the coast of Madras. The genus Parapseudoleptomesochra differed from other ameirid genera by their 3-segmented endopods on P2–P4; other characters have not been considered (Lang, 1965; Petkovski, 1976).

    Pesce and Petkovski (1980) emended the generic diagnosis of the genus Parapseudoleptomesochra to include information about the segmentation of the swimming legs (P1–P4 with 3-segmented exopod and endopod), the presence or absence of an inner seta on P1 Exp-2, the absence of inner seta in P2–P4 Exp-1, the presence or absence of an inner seta on P2–P4 End-2, and the presence of two outer spines in P2–P4 Exp- 3" ( from:Koompoot & Sanoamuang, 2021)

  • Parapseudoleptomesochra almohadensis Rouch, 1986 [Spain; hyporheic]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra almoravidensis Rouch, 1986 [Spain; hyporheic]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra almoravidensis Rouch, 1986 [Spain; hyporheic]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra attirei Dumont, 1984 [Africa; psammon]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra baeticola Rouch, 1986 [Spain; phreatic, well]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra balnearia Rouch, 1986 [Spain; thermal waters]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra botosaneanui (Petkovski, 1973) [Cuba, interstitial]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra cf. botosaneanui (Petkovski, 1973) (in: Suarez-Morales et al., 1996) [Yucatan; cenotes]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra dubia Kunz, 1975 [Africa; psammon]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra fernandezi Rouch, 1986 [Spain; hyporheic]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra guadalhorcensis Rouch, 1986 [Spain;hyporheic]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra hellenica Pesce, 1982 [Greece; anchialine]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra herirudensis (Sterba, 1973) [Afghanistan; intertitial]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra incerta (Chappuis, 1933) [West Indies; spring interstitial]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra iranica (Loffler, 1959 [Iran; interstitial]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra italica Pesce & Petkovski, 1980 [Italy, Switzerland, Romania (Movile cave); spring and anchialine waters] [MAP OF DISTRIBUTION]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra karamani Karanovic, 2004 [W-Australia; ground waters]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra mielkei Karanovic, 2004 [W-Australia; ground waters]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra minoricae (Chappuis & Rouch, 1960) [Europe; Algeria; hyporheic]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra morimotoi (Miura, 1962) [Japan; interstitial]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra ommeyyadensis Rouch, 1986 [Spain; hyporheic]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra phayaoensis Koompoot & Sanoamuang, 2021 [Thailand]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra polychaeta (Noodt, 1952) [Europe; psammon]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra pristina Wells, 1967 [Africa; psammon]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra psammae Apostolov, 2021[Iceland]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra reductus Rao, 1972 [India; marine coastal waters]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra rouchi Karanovic, 2004 [W-Australia; ground waters]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra subterranea subterranea (Chappuis, 1928) [Europe, Mexico; ground waters]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra subterranea deminuta (Chappuis, 1928) [France; ground waters]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra syriaca Cottarelli et al., 1985 [Syria; wells]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra tridens Bozic, 1969 [Reunion; anchialine?]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra trisetosa trisetosa (Krishnaswamy, 1957) [India, Venezuela; psammon]
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra trisetosa waltairensis Rao & Ganapati, 1969 [India; psammon]; could be synonym of Parapseudoleptomesochra trisetosa (Mielke,1995)
  • Parapseudoleptomesochra tureei Karanovic, 2006 [Australia; bores]



    NITOCRELLOPSIS Galassi, De Laurentiis & Dole-Olivier, 1999


    The genus Nitocrellopsis, established by Petkovski (1976) to accomodate Nitocrella species distinguishable by 3-segmented endopod of legs 2-3, and 2-segmented endopod of leg 4, presently includes nine species, all stigobitic, living in different groundwater habitats (caves, wells, karstic springs). However, since Petkovski's (1976) establishment of the genus was based on poor description, without designation of type-species, Galassi et al. (1999) provided an emended generic diagnosis, together with type-species designation to make available the generic name. The same problem arises also for Stygonitocrella Petkovski without designation of type-species.


  • Nitocrellopsis ahaggarensis Fiers & Iliffe, 2000 [USA; ground waters]
  • Nitocrellopsis elegans (Chappuis & Rouch, 1959) [France, cave waters]
  • Nitocrellopsis halsei Karanovic, 2010 [Australia; interstitial]
  • Nitocrellopsis hellenica (Cottarelli & Forniz, 1993) [Greece; anchialine waters]
  • Nitocrellopsis hippocratis (Cottarelli & Forniz, 1993) [Greece; ground waters]
  • Nitocrellopsis intermedia (Chappuis, 1937) [Balkan Peninsula; different ground water habitats]
  • Nitocrellopsis ioneli (Dumont & Decraemer, 1974) [Africa, Morocco; saline spring]
  • Nitocrellopsis operculata Karanovic, 2010 [Australia; interstitial]
  • Nitocrellopsis petkovskii (Rouch, 1987) [Africa, Algerie; wells]
  • Nitocrellopsis pinderi Karanovic, 2010 [Australia; interstitial]
  • Nitocrellopsis rouchi Galassi, De Laurentiis & Dole-Olivier, 1999 [France; phreatic waters]
  • Nitocrellopsis texana Fiers & Iliffe, 2000 [USA; ground waters]


    | KEY TO SPECIES OF NITOCRELLOPSIS |



    STYGONITOCRELLA Reid, Hunt & Stanley, 2003


    Based on the current limits of Stygonitocrella, Suarez-Morales & Iliffe (2005) proposed two new subgenera of Stygonitocrella to recognize different morphological patterns based on the presence or absence of an inner baseoendopodal lobe in the female fifth leg. This lobe is absent in the subgenus Eustygonitocrella, it is present in the subgenus Fiersiella [left: S. (E.) mexicana)]. Later on Karanovic & Hancock, 2009 updated the diagnostic characters of the genus, describing seven new species from Australian subterranean waters.


  • Stygonitocrella (Eustygonitocrella) djirgalanica Borutzky, 1978 [Siberia, Russia; ground waters]
  • Stygonitocrella (Fiersiella) dubia (Chappuis, 1937) [Spain; caves]
  • Stygonitocrella (Eustygonitocrella) guadalfensis Rouch, 1985 [Spain; hyporheic]
  • Stygonitocrella (Eustygonitocrella) montana (Noodt, 1965) [south America; ground waters]
  • Stygonitocrella (Eustygonitocrella) orghidani (Petkovski 1973) [Cuba, caves] *
  • Stygonitocrella (Eustygonitocrella) pseudotianshanica (Sterba, 1973) [Afghanistan; hyporheic]
  • Stygonitocrella (Eustygonitocrella) mexicana Suarez-Morales & Iliffe, 2005 [Mexico; cave waters]
  • Stygonitocrella (Fiersiella) sequoyahi Reid, Hunt & Stanley, 2003 [U.S.A.; ground waters]
  • Stygonitocrella (Eustygonitocrella) tianschanica (Borutzky, 1972) [URSS, lake interstitial]
  • Stygonitocrella unispinosa Karanovic, 2006 [West Australia; grundwaters]
  • Stygonitocrella bispinosa Karanovic, 2006 [West Australia; grundwaters]
  • Stygonitocrella tripinosa Karanovic, 2006 [West Australia; grundwaters]

    Argestigens Willey, 1935

    * This species, on account of the fused endopod and exopod of leg 5, could be not appropriately included in this genus. [Species incertae sedis (Reid et al., 2003)]



    | KEY TO SPECIES OF STYGONITOCRELLA |

    | KEY TO SPECIES OF STYGONITOCRELLA 2 |


    NITOCRELLA Chappuis,1923 sensu Petkovski, 1976

    Chappuis (1924) established the genus Nitocrella for the species N. hirta, from two different localities in Serbia. The first revision of the genus was made by Lang (1965), who established 3 new genera: Parapseudoleptomesochra, Paraleptomesochra and Pseudoleptomesochrella.

    Later on Petkovski (1976) reviewed the systematics of the genus Nitocrella Chappuis s.l., and two new genera were created: Stygonitocrella and Nitocrellopsis; moreover, in that review the author divided the genus Nitocrella Chappuis s. str. into the following groups, according to the setation of the terminal segment of the P4 exopodite: the "vasconica"-group (with 6 setae), the "chappuisi"-group (with 5 setae), and the "hirta"-group (with 3 or 4 setae). The "hirta"-group is the smallest one, and quite homogeneous, both from a systematic and biogeographical point of view.

    Petkovski (1976) reported eight species and subspecies in this group, although he did not recognize two subspecies of N. hirta which were described earlier (N. h. bucarestiensis Damian & Botosaneanu, 1954, and N. h. caucasica Borutzky, 1967). The "hirta"-group now includes 18 species, all from south and central Europe, and from the Caucasus.


    The genus presently includes 61 valid species and subspecies.


  • Nitocrella absentia Karanovic, 2004 [W-Australia; ground waters]
  • Nitocrella achaiae Pesce, 1982 [Greece, Italy; wells]
  • Nitocrella aestuarina Coull & Bell, 1979 [USA; brackish waters] (syn, Novanitocrella aestuarina (Coull & Bell, 1979))
  • Nitocrella afghanica Sterba, 1973 [Afghanistan; ground waters]
  • Nitocrella africana Chappuis, 1955 [Tanganika; lake interstitial]
  • Nitocrella akiereki Borutzky, 1978 [Tyan Shan; ground waters]
  • Nitocrella asiatica (Sterba, 1967) [Asia; ground waters]
  • Nitocrella beatricis Cottarelli & Bruno, 1994 [Italy, Sardinia; hyporheic]
  • Nitocrella botosaneanui Petkovski, 1973 [Cuba; caves] (syn. Parapseudoleptomesochra botosaneanui (Petkovski, 1973)
  • Nitocrella calcaripes Damian & Botosaneanu, 1954 [Europe; ground waters]
  • Nitocrella caraioni Petkovski, 1976 [Cuba; caves]
  • Nitocrella chappuisi Kiefer, 1926 [Germany; aqueducts]
  • Nitocrella cubanorum Petkovski, 1976 [Cuba; caves]
  • Nitocrella delayi Rouch, 1970 [France; ground waters]
  • Nitocrella divaricata (Chappuis, 1924)
  • Nitocrella dussarti Chappuis & Rouch, 1959 [France; caves]
  • Nitocrella elegans Chappuis & Rouch, 1959
  • Nitocrella ensifera Cottarelli, Bruno & Berera, 2007 [Italy; ground waters]
  • Nitocrella fedelitae Pesce, 1985 [central Italy; wells]
  • Nitocrella galassiae Ranga Reddy & Totakura, 2016 [India; groundwaters]
  • Nitocrella gracilis Chappuis, 1955 [France, ground waters]
  • Nitocrella hirta hirta Chappuis, 1923 [Europe; ground waters]
  • Nitocrella hirta caucasica Borutzky, 1967 [Caucaso; ground waters]
  • Nitocrella hirta var. bucarestiensis Damian & Botosanenau, 1954 [Romania; ground waters]
  • Nitocrella hirta tirolensis Kiefer, 1963 [Italy]
  • Nitocrella hofmilleri Brehm, 1953 [Austria; ground waters]
  • Nitocrella hypogaea Shen & Tai, 1973 [China; caves]
  • Nitocrella jankovskajae Borutzky, 1972 [URSS, caves]
  • Nitocrella japonica Miura, 1962 [Japan; ground waters]
  • Nitocrella juturna Cottarelli, 1975 [central Italy; wells]
  • Nitocrella karanovici Tang & Eberhardl
  • Nitocrella kirgizica Borutzky, 1972 [URSS, caves]
  • Nitocrella knotti Tang & Eberhardl, 2016 [Australia; ground waters]
  • Nitocrella kosswigi Noodt, 1954 [Romania, Turkey; ground waters]
  • Nitocrella kunzi Galassi & De Laurentiis 1997 [central Italy; interstitial]
  • Nitocrella kyzylkumica Borutzky, 1972 [URSS; ground waters]
  • Nitocrella longa Karanovic, 2000 [Montenegro; cave waters]
  • Nitocrella maggii Pesce, 1983 [Grece; wells]
  • Nitocrella mara Loffler, 1959 [Iran; interstitial]
  • Nitocrella marina Chappuis & Rouch, 1960 [Ghana] (syn. Pseudoleptomesochrella marina (Chappuis & Rouch, 1961))
  • Nitocrella monchenkoi Borutzky, 1972 [URSS, caves]
  • Nitocrella morettii Pesce, 1984 [central Italy; wells]
  • Nitocrella motasi Petkovski, 1976 [Cuba; caves]
  • Nitocrella nana Sterba, 1973 [Afghanistan; ground waters]
  • Nitocrella negreai Petkovski, 1973 [Cuba; caves]
  • Nitocrella neutra Kiefer, 1933 [Makedonia, ground waters]
  • Nitocrella neutra kosswigi Noodt, 1954
  • Nitocrella obesa Karanovic, 2004 [W-Australia; ground waters]
  • Nitocrella omega Hertzog, 1936 [Europe; ground waters]
  • Nitocrella paceae Pesce, 1980 [Iran; wells]
  • Nitocrella pescei Galassi & De Laurentiis 1997 [central Italy, interstitial]
  • Nitocrella petkovskii Pesce, 1980 [Iran; wells]
  • Nitocrella psammophila Chappuis, 1954 [Europe; interstitial, wells]
  • Nitocrella reducta Schäfer, 1936
  • Nitocrella rhodiensis Pesce, 1982 [Greece, Rhodos; wells]
  • Nitocrella skyrensis Pesce, 1982 [Greece; wells]
  • Nitocrella slovenica Petkovski, 1959 [Slovenia, Greece; ground waters]
  • Nitocrella somalica Dumont, 1981 [Africa, somalia; interstitial]
  • Nitocrella spinulosa Apostolov, 1988 [Bulgaria; interstitial]
  • Nitocrella stammeri Chappuis, 1938 [Europe; caves, wells] [MAP OF DISTRIBUTION]
  • Nitocrella sterbai Borutzky, 1969 [URSS; hyporheic]
  • Nitocrella stetinai Sterba, 1973 [Afghanistan; ground waters]
  • Nitocrella stochi Pesce & Galassi, 1987 [north Italy, caves]
  • Nitocrella tonsa Michailova-Neikova, 1967 [Bulgaria; ground waters]
  • Nitocrella tridens Bozic, 1969 [La Reunion] (?)
  • Nitocrella trajani Karanovic, 2004 [W-Australia; ground waters]
  • Nitocrella tschatcalica Borutzky, 1978 [URSS; ground waters]
  • Nitocrella tirolensis (Kiefer, 1963) [Austria; ground waters]
  • Nitocrella unispinosa Shen & Tai, 1973 [China; grounds waters]
  • Nitocrella vasconica Chappuis, 1937 [Spain; caves]
  • Nitocrella yokotai Miura, 1962 [Japan; ground waters]


    Walter, T.C.; Boxshall, G. (2021). World of Copepods database. Nitocrella Chappuis, 1924. Accessed at: https://www.marinespecies.org/copepoda/aphia.php?


    | KEY TO SPECIES OF THE HIRTA-GROUP OF NITOCRELLA |


    NOVANITOCRELLA Karanovic, 2004

  • Novanitocrella aboriginesi Karanovic, 2004 [W-Australia; ground waters]
  • Novanitocrella aestuarina (Coull & Bell, 1979)


    PSAMMONITOCRELLA Rouch, 1992

    This genus is characterized by the strong reduction of the armature in the distal exopod segments of P2 to P4.

  • Psammonitocrella boultoni Rouch, 1992 [USA; hyporheic]
  • Psammonitocrella longifurcata Rouch, 1992 [USA; hyporheic]
  • Psammonitocrella kumeyaayi Corgosinho et al., 2020 [California; ground waters]

    | EMENDED DIAGNOSIS OF THE GENUS |


    INERMIPES Lee & Huys, 2002

  • Inermipes humphreysi Lee & Huys, 2002 [W-Australia; ground waters]

    | EMENDED DIAGNOSIS OF THE GENUS |


    NEONITOCRELLA Lee & Huys, 2002

  • Neonitocrella insularis (Miura, 1962) [Japan; ground waters]

    | EMENDED DIAGNOSIS OF THE GENUS |


    ANTISTYGONITOCRELLA Karanovic et al., 2013

  • Antistgonitocrella pardalotos Karanovic et al., 2013 [W-Australia; subterranean waters]


    RAOLEPTOMESOCHRA Karanovic, 2004

  • Raoleptomesochra reducta Rao, 1972 [India; psammon]


    PSEUDOLEPTOMESOCHRA Lang, 1965

  • Pseudoleptomesochra mannada Kranovic & Ho, 2018 [Korea]
  • Pseudoleptomesochra typica Lang, 1965 [USA; coastal waters, interstitial]




    BIAMEIROPSIS Karanovic, 2006

    Large Ameiridae, with cyclindrical body, without distinct demarcation between prosome and urosome.

  • Biameiropsis barrowensis Karanovic, 2006 [Australia; bores] (left)
  • Biameiropsis abbreviata (Sars, 1911)
    • ANOPLOSOMELLA Strand, 1929

    [replacement name for Anoplosoma Sars, 1911 (Huys, 2009)]

  • Anoplosomella sordidum (Sars, 1911)
  • Anoplosomella stryx (Por, 1964)


    ARCHINITOCRELLA Karanovic, 2006

  • Archinitocrella newmanensis Karanovic, 2006 [Australia; bores]


    ABNITOCRELLA Karanovic, 2006

  • Abnitocrella halsei Karanovic, 2006 [Australia; bores]
  • Abnitocrella eberhardi Karanovic, 2006 [Australia; well]


    KIMBERLEYNITOCRELLA Karanovic & Hancock, 2009

  • Kimberleynitocrella billhumphreysi Karanovic & Hancock, 2009 [Australia; ground waters]


    LUCIONITOCRELLA Karanovic & Hancock, 2009

  • Lucionitcrella yalleenensis Karanovic & Hancock, 2009 [Australia; ground waters]


    REIDNITOCRELLA Karanovic & Hancock, 2009

  • Reidnitocrella borutzkyi Karanovic & Hancock, 2009 [Australia; ground waters]


    EDUARDONITOCRELLA Karanovic & Hancock, 2009

  • Eduardonitocrella mexicana (Suarez-Morales & Iliffe, 2005) comb. nov.
    [= Stygonitocrella (Eustygonitocrella) mexicana Suárez-Morales & Iliffe, 2005



    [RELEVANT LITERATURE]


    | LIST OF GENERA FROM WORLD OF COPEPODS at "www.marinespecies.org" |

    | LIST OF NITOCRELLA SPECIES FROM WORLD OF COPEPODS at "www.marinespecies.org" |



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