The Cryptoniscidae are a family of isopod crustaceans in the suborder Cymothoida. The original description was made by Kossmann in 1880.[1] "Liriopsidae" is a junior synonym.[2] Members of this family are hyperparasites of rhizocephalid barnacles which are themselves parasites of decapod crustaceans. The morphology of the adult females gives little clue as to their true identity, but the free-living larvae show their true taxonomic affiliations.[3]
The family contains these genera:[2]
The Cryptoniscidae are a family of isopod crustaceans in the suborder Cymothoida. The original description was made by Kossmann in 1880. "Liriopsidae" is a junior synonym. Members of this family are hyperparasites of rhizocephalid barnacles which are themselves parasites of decapod crustaceans. The morphology of the adult females gives little clue as to their true identity, but the free-living larvae show their true taxonomic affiliations.
Alpheus sp. from Fiji with Faba sp. (Cryptoniscidae) attached to ventral surface The family contains these genera:
Cryptoniscus F. Müller, 1864 Danalia Giard, 1887 Enthylacus Pérez, 1920 Eumetor Kossmann, 1872 Faba Nierstrasz & Brender à Brandis, 1930 Liriopsis Schultze in Müller, 1859 Perezina Nierstrasz & Brender à Brandis, 1930 Zeuxokoma Grygier, 1993
