L' ;i 



Fam. 13. Laophontidae. 



Characters. Body somewhat varying in shape, but having always the seg- 

 ments very sharply marked o|] from cadi other, with conspicuous constrictions 

 between thfin. their hind edge more or less raised and generally fringed with 

 small spintiles. (-leiiital segment in female distinctly subdivided. Anterior antenna' 

 with the nuniher of articulations more or less reduced, those in male strongly 

 hinged, with the la>t joint of the proximal part greatly swollen. Posterior antennae 

 \\ith the outer ranius ^enei'ally sm;dl and iiniarticulate, in some cases ohsolete. 

 < >ral part- on the whole normal. 1 s( pair of legs with the mini very unequal, 

 the outer one of insignificant si/.e. the inner one powerfully developed and dis- 

 tinctly prehensile, hiarticulate. clawed at the tip. Natatory legs generally poorly 

 developed, with the inner ranius much smaller than the outer and only consisting 

 of 2 joints: inner ranius of :>rd pair in male transformed. Last pair of legs of 

 \.irying structure in the different genera. Ovisac in the great majority of 

 single. 



Remarks. -This family has recently been established by Th. Scott, to 

 comprise the well-known genus /,iii>/>lt<>nti' and some nearly related genera. As to 

 the outer appearance, the forms belonging to this family may be easily recognized 

 by the very sharp demarcation of the segments, whereby the body assumes a 

 more or less se.-dariform appearance. Of the anatomical details the most obvious 

 character is found in the structure of the 1st pair of legs, the inner ranius of 

 which in most cases is very powerfully developed, though only consisting of 2 

 joints, whereas the outer ramus is of quite insignificant si/e. All the forms be- 

 l"ii<jini: to the present family are strictly marine, though some of the species of 

 phonte may be oeeasiomdly found in more or less brackish water. 



Gren. 52. LaOphOnte, I'liilippi. is-in. 



Syn: <'l,'l/i. (I 



Generic Clinrni-li'i^. IJody more or less slender, scalaril'orm, with no sharp 

 demarcation bctv.ei-n the anterior and posterior di\isioiis. Cephalic segment of 

 moderate' size, and proje.-tin- in front in a lamellar rostral prominence not dis- 

 tinctly defined behind. Segments of nrosome. except the last, more or less lamel- 

 la! ly expanded laterally. ('audal rami of varying shape in the different species. 



