Anthosomidae. Female: Head fused with first thoracic segment, cephalothorax margins turned down ventrally; second and third thoracic segments fused; fourth thoracic segment fused to second and third, rarely free, covered by a dorsal plate which extends posteriorly to cover the genital segment, and sometimes the abdomen and caudal rami, in dorsal view; genital segment small, rounded; abdomen one-or two-segmented; caudal rami present, flattened or subcircular in cross section, usually tapering posteriorly; eggs uniseriate, flattened; egg strings usually long, trailing posteriorly from genital segment; first antenna with segments more or less fused, sometimes distinct; second antenna subchelate; mandibular palp present; maxilla two-segmented; maxilliped subchelate; first four pereiopods biramous; rami of first and second pairs rudimentary, one-segmented; those of third pair lamellar, fused, projecting at right angles or diagonally from ventral surface! rami of fourth pereiopods usually separate, lamellar, extending posteriorly; fifth pereiopods uniramous, rudimentary or lacking. Male as for Paralernanthropus. Parasitic on marine teleosts.

Type species: L. musca Blainville, 1822.