| Lophogastrida | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Gnathophausia zoea (Gnathophausiidae) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Superorder: | Peracarida |
| Order: | Lophogastrida G. O. Sars, 1870 |
| Families | |
Lophogastrida is anorder ofmalacostracancrustaceans in thesuperorderPeracarida, comprisingshrimp-like animals that mostly inhabit the relatively deeppelagic waters of the oceans throughout the world.[1]
Most lophogastridan species are 1–8 centimetres (0.4–3.1 in) long, butGnathophausia ingens can be up to 35 cm (14 in), probably the largest pelagic crustacean in the world.[1] Some 56 extant species in total are currently known. They are classified into three families and nine genera.[2]
The external features of lophogastrids include stalkedcompound eyes, acarapace that covers the head andthorax, and a muscular cylindricalabdomen. The carapace often extends beyond their heads to form an elongatedrostrum. As with other peracarids, lophogastrids are distinct fromCaridean shrimp in that they carry their developing embryos and young in abrood pouch, ormarsupium, and thus lack a separateplanktonic larval stage.[3]
Previously, Lophogastrida was classified as a suborder of a broader peracaridan order,Mysidacea, together withMysida andStygiomysida, but that taxon has been generally abandoned.[1][2][4][5] Features distinguishing lophogastrids from the mysids include the absence ofstatocysts in theiruropods, and the presence of well-developed biramouspleopods on their abdomens.[1] Theirmolecular characters also differ.[6]
Data related toLophogastrida at Wikispecies