relatively short in the female. Upper lip not cleft. Mandible with cutting edge little developed, lacinia mobilis little differentiated; spine row of numerous feeble articles; molar process little developed and with some spines. Second and 3rd segments of mandible palp little different. Lower lip with accessory lobes. First maxilla with 2-segmented palp. Second maxilla with plates subequal. Maxillipeds with short inner plates; outer plates varying with age and sex, sometimes not longer than the first segment of the palp, sometimes reaching the middle of the following segment; palp relatively long, second segment little dilated; 4th segment long and slender.

Epimeral plates 1 to 4 deep; those of segments 5 to 7 small. Gnathopods 1 and 2 subchelate, differing little one from the other; carpus posterior margin generally excavated by a groove on which the propod rests. Peraeopods 1 and 2 with merus longer than carpus or propod; carpus with a long apical spine, almost as long as the propod; distal portions of the propod and dactylos typically carrying numerous spines. Peraeopods 3 and 4 with segments more or less dilated according to the species, and also the sex and age of the individuals; abundantly spined. Peraeopod 5 short with basos very much expanded and more or less prolonged. Gills on segments 1–5. Broodplates on segments 2–5. Rami of uropods 1 and 2 distinctly 2-segmented. Rami of uropod 3 subequal in male, bearing many long plumose setae, outer ramus 2-segmented; in the female, the spination is more modest, the inner ramus noticeably shorter than the outer, Telson deeply cleft” (Pirlot, 1932, in translation)

One species only, Pontharpinia australis (Barnard) is known from New Zealand.

Pontharpinia australis (Barnard), 1930. (Figs. 1–28.)

(non) Phoxus batei Haswell Thomson, 1882 232–233, pl XVII, fig. 2a-e.

Protophoxus australis Barnard, 1930 335–336, fig. 12 a-e.

Pontharpinia australis (Barnard). Pirlot, 1932: 60.