Key: Order Amphipoda

Key to Order Amphipoda

Phylum Arthropoda
Subphylum Crustacea
Class Malacostraca
Subclass Eumalacostraca
Superorder Peracarida

Taken primarily from Kozloff, 1987, 1996 p. 346 (Copyright 1987, 1996, University of Washington Press. Used in this web page by permission of University of Washington Press)

Jump to:

Lower taxonomic level Main Page Alphabetic Index Systematic Index Glossary

1a Pereon consisting of 7 pereonites, all of which have well developed pereopods; abdomen not vestigial; body neither especially slender nor resembling that of a praying mantis 2

1b Pereon consisting of 6 visible pereonites, some of which have only vestigial pereopods; abdomen vestigial; body (except for species found on whales) usually slender and often resembling that of a praying mantis Suborder Caprellidea

2a Eyes generally large, occupying most of the surface of the head; coxae of pereopods small and often fused with the body; usually planktonic, associated with Jellyfish, or occupying the tunic of dead salps Suborder Hyperiidea

2b Eyes usually present and conspicuous, but not so large as to occupy most of the surface of the head; coxae of pereopods well developed, and usually expanded into platelike structures; mostly benthic, but a few species are planktonic Suborder Gammaridea

Taxonomic Levels Represented in this Key:

Suborder Caprellidea
Suborder Gammaridea

Page created by Christina Smith, 7-2002
Edited by: Dave Cowles 8-2002, 2005
Edited by: Hans Helmstetler 11-2002

Jump to:
Lower taxonomic level	Main Page	Alphabetic Index	Systematic Index	Glossary

1a	Pereon consisting of 7 pereonites, all of which have well developed pereopods; abdomen not vestigial; body neither especially slender nor resembling that of a praying mantis	2
1b	Pereon consisting of 6 visible pereonites, some of which have only vestigial pereopods; abdomen vestigial; body (except for species found on whales) usually slender and often resembling that of a praying mantis	Suborder Caprellidea
2a	Eyes generally large, occupying most of the surface of the head; coxae of pereopods small and often fused with the body; usually planktonic, associated with Jellyfish, or occupying the tunic of dead salps	Suborder Hyperiidea
2b	Eyes usually present and conspicuous, but not so large as to occupy most of the surface of the head; coxae of pereopods well developed, and usually expanded into platelike structures; mostly benthic, but a few species are planktonic	Suborder Gammaridea