Wiederholm, 1983
Body
Small to medium sized larvae up to 6 mm long. The posterior parapods bear about 15 claws some of them have a serrate inner margin Clad g mancus anal claws (Wiederholm, 1983).
Head
The S3 is simpel and the gula is dark.
Antenna
The antenna stands on a small smooth pedestal and consists of 5 segments. The basal segment is subequal to the flagellum. Segment 2 is wedge-shaped, unsclerotized distally and about as long as or shorter than the third segment. The large Lauterborn organs distally on segment 2 with a pedestal that is shorter than segment 3 Clad g mancus antenna.
Mentum
The mentum has a trifid median tooth and 5 pairs of lateral teeth. The second lateral is smaller than the neighbouring teeth Clad g mancus mentum. The ventromental plates are close together medially and wider than the mentum.
Labrum
SI is a comb and labral lamellae a single plate with numerous apical teeth. The pecten epipharyngis consists of 3 smooth plates with distal teeth. The premandible has 4-5 teeth.
Mandible
The mandible with a pale dorsal tooth, apical tooth and 3 inner teeth Clad g mancus mandible. The pecten mandibularis is present and seta interna with branches.
Differential characteristics
The serrated claws are distinctive Clad g mancus anal claws. Also the combination of opposite pedestals of lauterborn organs shorter than 3d antennal segment Clad g mancus antenna and pecten epipharyngis with with 3 separate plates will separate Cladotanytarsus from all other Tanytarsini Clad pecten epiph.
Cladotanytarsus gr mancus can be separated from the other species by the reduced 2nd lateral tooth on the submentum Clad g mancus mentum.