© The Author, 2014. Journal compilation © Australian Museum, Sydney, 2014 
Records of the Australian Museum (2014) Vol. 66, issue number 2, pp. 167-196. 
ISSN 0067-1975 (print), ISSN 2201-4349 (online) 
http://dx.doi.org/! 0.3853/j .2201 -4349.66.2014.1596 
Porcellidiidae of Australia (Harpacticoida, Copepoda). 
III. Synopsis of Genera and Species 
Vernon A. Harris 
138/99 Doolong Road, Kawungan Queensland 4655, Australia 
vaharris@bigpond. com 
Abstract. Three new species belonging to the Porcellidiidae are described. A species from NSW possessing massive 
honeycomb-like dorsal growths of cuticle, and other features not found elsewhere in the family, has been placed in a 
new genus, Cereudorsum verrucosum gen. et sp. nov. A second species from Queensland, characterized by unusual 
features of the male antennule, has been placed in a new genus, as Geddesia quadrata gen. et sp. nov. Porcellidium 
trisetosum Geddes, 1968 does not fit the diagnosis for Porcellidium and is transferred to Geddesia gen. nov., as G. 
trisetosa (Geddes, 1968) comb. nov. A third species from the Cocos Keeling Islands is unique in having only one 
seta on the maxillule endopod. It has been referred to a new genus, as Clunia cocosensis gen. et sp. nov. This brings 
the total number of genera described from eastern coast of Australia to 16. 
A key to the genera, a list of the apomorphic or unique characters of each genus and a check list of the identifiable 
species of Porcellidiidae is given. The geographical distribution of species along the east coast of Australia is outlined. 
Keywords: Porcellidiidae, Cereudorsum, Clunia, Geddesia, Porcellidium. 
Harris, Vernon A. 2014. Porcellidiidae of Australia (Harpacticoida, Copepoda). III. Synopsis of genera and species. Records 
of the Australian Museum 66(2): 167-196. 
It is now recognized that the family Porcellidiidae has more 
than one genus, although there is some disagreement as 
to their number. Bodin (1997) lists eight but Wells (2007) 
only recognizes six and considers Acutiramus, Kensakia, 
Kioloaria, Murramia and Mucrorostrum synonyms for 
Porcellidium on the grounds that they were not defined 
according to the Hennigian system. The real problem, 
however, was the lack of agreement between authors over 
the concept of Porcellidium. Our knowledge of these 
characters is based on Brady’s (1880) incomplete and 
inaccurate description of his Porcellidium viride. However, 
Brady does show one unique species specific feature on the 
male antennule that allows the species to be identified with 
certainty. This fact has been used to redescribe the male 
Porcellidium viride in detail and give a definitive diagnosis 
for the genus (Harris, 2014a). The new diagnosis highlights 
the fact that more than half of the species formerly placed 
in Porcellidium no longer belong to that genus and must be 
moved elsewhere. The five genera listed above each possess 
apomorphic characters, not found on the type species P. 
viride , which exclude them from the genus Porcellidium. By 
2002 ten genera had been described and prior to this paper 
another three had been added (Harris, 2014a,b). The three 
new species described here present a similar problem: they 
possess characters considered apomorphic which exclude 
them from all previously described genera. 
Based on over 60 species for which reliable data on the 
male antennule are now available, a reassessment of all the 
proposed genera can be made to determine their validity. 
Walker-Smith (2001) pointed out that the genera proposed 
by Harris & Robertson (1994), Harris (1994) and Harris & 
Iwasaki (1996) were defined on a collection of characters 
