ASELLOTA 73 



length 2.5 times basal width. Pereopod 1, propodus with convex flange and 

 row of more than 20 setae. Uropodal exopod elongate-rectangular, mesial 

 and distal margins serrate; endopod roughly square, margins serrate. Telson 

 parallel sided, posterior margin truncate. 



RECORDS Bermuda, 11-12 m; Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, intertidal to 1 m; 

 Cozumel, Mexico; Venezuela. 



Virganthura Kensley, 1987b 



DIAGNOSIS Eyes present. Mandibular palp of three articles. Maxillipedal 

 palp of three articles; endite present. Pereopods 1-3 subchelate, pereopod 1 

 larger than pereopods 2 and 3; pereopods 4-7, carpi rectangular. Pleopod 1, 

 exopod operculiform. Pleonites 1-5 short, distinct; pleonite 6 dorsally de- 

 marked. Telson with single statocyst. 



Virganthura crassa (Barnard, 1925) 

 Figure 33 



DIAGNOSIS 9 6.8 mm. Antennular flagellum of three articles. Antennal 

 flagellum of seven articles. Maxillipedal endite reaching distal margin of first 

 palp article. Pereopod 1, propodal palm slightly concave, bearing seven 

 spines. Uropodal exopod ovate, outer margin sinuate; endopod distally 

 rounded, articulating obliquely on sympod. 



RECORDS U.S. Virgin Islands, 30 m. 



Suborder Asellota Latreille, 1803 



DIAGNOSIS Antennules uniramous. Antennae uniramous, with scale in 

 some families. Mandible usually with palp, but palp lacking in some groups. 

 Pereopod 1 usually subchelate, sexually dimorphic in some groups. Coxae 

 small, sometimes not all visible in dorsal view. Pleon seldom of more than 

 two free pleonites plus pleotelson. Pleopod 1 absent in 9 . One pair of 

 pleopods in 9 , and one or two pairs of pleopods in 6 forming operculum 

 over remaining respiratory pleopods. Pleopod 2 in c? usually adapted for 

 copulation. Uropods usually pedunculate, but peduncle may be reduced, 

 biramous or uniramous, terminal or subterminal. 



REMARKS The suborder Asellota is usually divided into four superfamilies, 

 based on pleopodal arrangement. The great majority of families, however. 



