Meigen, 1803
Body
Large larvae with a length up to 12 mm. Living larvae are greenish. The fringe of swimming hairs is present.
Head
The head is relatively small compared to the body, has a length of 0.55 - 0.65 mm with a cephalic index of 90 - 100% Tan head (Moller Pillot, 1984a).
Antenna
The antennal segments are all yellow and the antennal ratio is 5 - 8. The ring organ is situated at 0.8 - 0.9 of the height of the first segment. The second segment is normal and lacks a tuning fork (Wiederholm, 1983; Moller Pillot, 1984a).
Mentum
Dorsomentum with 5 - 8 teeth on each side. Both parts are more or less broadly joined in the middle Tan kraatzi dorsomentum Tan punctipennis mentum.
Ligula and paraligula
Ligula with 5 equal-sized yellow teeth in a straight line or slightly convex. Paraligula like a fan with appr. 10 hair-like rays Tan punctipennis ligula .
Mandible
The mandible is very characteristic. The distal part of the inner margin with 2 long flat teeth and 2 small pointed accessory teeth next to each other. The basal tooth is a hump which is folded inwards distally Tan kraatzi mandible.
Maxilla
The maxilla is short with an undivided basal segment.
Anal tubules
6 (rarely 4) anal tubules which are longer than wide Tan 4 anal tubules Tan 6 anal tubules.
Posterior parapods
All claws on posterior parapods are yellow without teeth on their inner margin.
Differential characteristics
The yellow ligula with 5 equal teeth Tan punctipennis ligula, the cephalic index and the shape of the mandible Tan kraatzi mandible are distinctive among all Tanypodinae.
Diversity
European species: 3
Treated species:
Tanypus kraatzi
Tanypus punctipennis
Tanypus vilipennis