The Systematics and Phylogenetics of the Anaspidacea (Crustacea: Malacostraca: Syncarida)

Abstract

The current classification of the Anaspidacea includes 6 families, 14 extant genera, 2 fossil genera and species) and 23 described extant species. A history of the discovery and classification of the Order Anaspidacea and the Palaeocaridacea is reviewed. The morphological characters for defining the Anaspidacea morphological taxonomy are re-examined and reinterpreted from the literature and a detailed re-examination of Australian species and specimens from existing collections. The distribution of each taxon is defined through the compilation of over 1080 distribution records as well as the collection and description of new taxa including 1 new extant family, 2 new fossil families, 3 new subfamilies within the Koonungidae, 12 new genera and 19 new species. A re-examination of the higher classification of the Superorder Syncarida is also presented where the current Suborders Stygocaridinea and Anaspidinea are abolished and are replaced with three Orders: the extant Anaspidacea and Stygocaridacea, and the fossil Palaeocaridacea.