Thienemann and Bause, 1913
Body
Small to medium sized larvae up to 8 mm long. The posterior parapods bear about 15 simpel claws (Klink, 1983b; Wiederholm, 1983).
Head
The S3 is simpel.
Antenna
The antenna stands on a small smooth pedestal and consists of 5 segments. The basal segment is longer than the flagellum. Segment 2 is cylindrical, slightly wedging out at the apex, shorter to much longer than the remaining segments. The Lauterborn organs are small Par tenuis antenna to fairly large Par lauterborni antenna 2 on very short pedestals.
Mentum
The mentum has a simpel to slightly notched median tooth and 5 pairs of lateral teeth. The ventromental plates are close together medially and slightly wider than the mentum.
Labrum
SI is a comb and labral lamellae a single plate with numerous apical teeth. The pecten epipharyngis consists of a single smooth plate with 3-5 rounded teeth distally Par tenuis labrum. The premandible has 2 teeth.
Mandible
The mandible with a dorsal tooth, apical tooth and 3 inner teeth. The pecten mandibularis is present and seta interna with branches.
Differential characteristics
The pecten epipharyngis with a single plate with 3-5 teeth Par austriacus pect epiph is distinctive, although may have a similar pecten epipharyngis. Paratanytarsus lacks the small pairs of median projections on the antennal pedestal however Lithotan emarg antenna.
Diversity
European species: 21
Treated taxa:
Species-group Paratanytarsus dissimilis agg.
Species-group Paratanytarsus tenuis agg.
Paratanytarsus austriacus
Paratanytarsus grimmi
Paratanytarsus intricatus
Paratanytarsus lauterborni
Paratanytarsus tenellulus