Carpias bermudensis 83 



tylus reduced or rudimentary, bearing two claws (biunguiculate). Pereopods 

 2-7 similar, ambulatory, dactylus with three claws (triunguiculate). 

 Uropods often longer than pleotelson, with relatively elongate sympod and 

 rami. 



REMARKS This genus has been, and continues to be, a source of taxonomic 

 problems. Several authors (e.g., Pires, 1980) have separated the species into 

 the genera Carpias and Bagatus; others (e.g., Bowman and Morris, 1979) have 

 synonymized them. In part, this uncertainty reflects the general uncertainty 

 of the state of taxonomy in the family Janiridae. In this work, the genus 

 Carpias is used to contain all the species described under the names Carpias 

 and Bagatus. 



While these tiny asellotes are frequently extremely abundant in certain 

 habitats (e.g., in reef-crest algal turfs; Kensley, 1983), difficulty is experi- 

 enced in identifying specimens other than mature males. The first pereopod 

 of the mature male is the feature best used for species separation, but varia- 

 tion with maturity and geographic locality have not been investigated. With 

 more detailed work, some species will undoubtedly be synonymized. 



Carpias algicola (Miller, 1941) 

 Figure 38A,B 



DIAGNOSIS 6 2.9 mm, ovigerous 9 2.0 mm. Frontal margin straight. Per- 

 eopod 1 in (J, carpus distally not much broader than proximally, with two 

 teeth. Propodus reaching back to merus in mature male. Pleopod 1 in (5, 

 rami with outer lobe distally acute but not produced. Uropod longer than 

 pleotelson. Pigment in scattered red-brown chromatophores. 



RECORDS Looe Key, Florida, 1-1.5 m; Yucatan, Mexico; Carrie Bow Cay, 

 Belize, 0-2 m; Puerto Rico; Jamaica; Venezuela. 

 Indo-west Pacific. 



Carpias bermudensis Richardson, 1902 

 Figure 38C,D 



DIAGNOSIS S 2.1 mm. Frontal margin straight. Pereopod 1 in adult S al- 

 most 1.6 times body length; carpus distally broadened, with rounded pos- 

 terior area, palm with tooth at outer distal angle, larger tooth at midlength 

 followed by deep notch; propodus with two teeth on flexor margin, widening 

 to truncate distal margin. Pleopod 1 S, outer distal lobe narrowly acute, 

 somewhat produced. Operculum of $ with distal margin emarginate. 



