330 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 236 



Kemarks. — The present new species clearly belongs in the "den- 

 ticornis" group of the genus Laophonte. Neither in the shape of 

 leg 5 nor in the setation has it agreed with any of the species attributed 

 to this group until now, nor with any of the other species on which 

 I could check the description. In the general shape of the body it 

 approaches L. denticornis T. Scott in many points although the 

 development of the epimeral plates is slightly different in both species 

 and the furcal rami of L. denticornis are much longer. The setation 

 of tlie 2nd endopodal segment of leg 2 appears to be slightly variable, 

 4 setae being found in the type and 3 in the paratypes. I believe 3 

 to be the normal number, as it occurs in both the females and the 

 male; the holotype, unfortunately, is slightly aberrant in this respect. 

 Of the two apical setae on the endopodite, one might in fact be an 

 external seta, with the result that the setal formula might be written: 



endopodite exopodite 



leg 2 0.111 0.1.123 



leg 3 0.121 0.1.223 



leg 4 0.111 0.1.223 



The setal formula gives the species a more or less isolated position 

 in the genus Laophonte although approaching the type normally 

 met with in the "denticornis" group. 



The species occurs in sand samples taken at various distances from 

 the reef border at Falarik and in crevices along the reef margin on 

 that island. The trivial name ifalukensis has been chosen to record 

 the fairly common occurrence of this new species at Ifaluk Atoll. 



Laophonte ifalukensis var. hrevipes, new variety 



Figures 128a,6, 131a-e 



Material.^Loc. 592, 2 ad. 99, 0.35 and 0.36 mm. 



Description. — The biggest specimen (0.36 mm.) has been dis- 

 sected and mounted, representing the holotype of this variety. 



Adult female, total length 0.36 mm.; greatest diameter 0.09 mm. 



Among all female specimens of Laophonte ifalukensis there are 2 

 that are slightly smaller and, although exhibiting the same charac- 

 teristic bodily structure, they already show a differently shaped 5th 

 leg even without dissection. After dissection, some additional dif- 

 ferences were found; all are recorded in the following: 



1. Body exactly as in typical species, but smaller, with scarcely visible 

 pitted structure (fig. 128a). Furcal rami, however, shorter, being 

 only lYz times as long as wide (fig. 1286). Setal development as in 

 typical species. 



2. Leg 1 (figs. 131a) smaller, but shaped exactly as in typical species. 

 Legs 2 to 4 (figs. 131b~d) with setal formula of typical species (2nd 

 endopodal segment of leg 2 with 3 setae), but endopodal segments 



