Diagnosis
The carapace can be either smooth or ornamented. The incisure and rostrum can be small to well-developed and prominent. The posterior end is evenly rounded with a well-developed caudal process and selvage, which is fringed with long hairs. The female first antenna has a long sensory seta on the fifth segment that is not plumose, whereas in males this seta is highly plumose. The lamellae of the caudal furca make have secondary claw seta set between the main claws, which are often separated from the lamella by a suture. The frontal organ is elongate and can consist of several segments. There is usually a well-developed naupliar eye, but the compound lateral eyes can range from being well-developed to being absent. The upper lip is globose, hairy with a few anterior processes and several glandular openings.
Remarks
This family consists of two subfamilies, Philomedinae and Pseudophilomedinae both with representatives in the region.