Family scyphacidae

Scyphax ornatus Dana, 1853

Widely distributed in the North Island and South Island.

Found on sandy ocean beaches near the high-water mark; often seen running on the sand (Dana, 1853).

Eyes seleniform (crescent-shaped), with very numerous ommatidia. Scyphax ornatus does not roll into a ball.

Can be confused with Actaecia euchroa - both species occur on sandy beaches (frequently co-occur), both have seleniform eyes, and can have similar coloration. Live S. ornatus runs very fast and does not roll into a ball; A. euchroa moves slowly and is able to roll into a ball. In S. ornatus the rami of uropods are spear-shaped and extend far beyond the outline of the body. In A. euchroa the uropods are short and flattened, and do not extend far beyond the outline of the body.