Lenz, 1941
Body
Medium sized larvae up to 6 mm long. Living larvae red or orange. Claws on the posterior parapods are simpel. No lateral and ventral tubules (Wiederholm, 1983; Moller Pillot, 1984a).
Head
Antenna
The antenna consists of 5 segments. The basal segment is a little longer than the flagellum. Lauterborn organs absent.
Mentum
The mentum has one broad median tooth, The first laterals stand free from the other 5 pairs of lateral teeth The first and second lateral teeth slope much steeper than the outer part of the mentum. The 4th lateral tooth may be reduced Cryptot hols mentum 8.
Labrum
SI is simpel and labral lamellae are absent. The pecten epipharyngis is a single scale with 3 apical lobes. The premandible has two apical teeth.
Mandible
The mandible with no pale dorsal tooth. The apical tooth with 2 shallow inner teeth, The pecten mandibularis is absent and seta interna with 4 branches, 2 smooth and 2 plumose.
Differential characteristics
The shape of the mentum is distinctive. Cryptotendipes can be separated by the following combination: single median mental tooth, outer mental tooth larger than its neighbours Cryptot hols mentum 8, 2 inner mandibular teeth and premandible with 2 teeth.
Diversity
European species: 6
Treated species: 0