190 FLABELLIFERA • CYMOTHOIDAE 



Nerocila acuminata Schioedte and Meinert, 1881 



DIAGNOSIS Ovigerous 9 16.2-19.0 mm. Cephalon with anterior margin 

 convex. Posterolateral angles of all, or of posterior pereonites only, produced 

 into acute or subacute angles. 



RECORDS Striped burrfish Chilomycterus schoepfi: Texas, Gulf of Mexico. 

 Northern puffer Sphoeroides maculatus: New York. Striped mullet Mugil 

 cephalus: Texas, Gulf of Mexico. Jewfish Epinephelus itajara: Texas, Gulf of 

 Mexico. Hogfish: Bermuda. Alligator gar Lepisosteus spatula: Louisiana, Gulf 

 of Mexico. Hardhead catfish Ariusfelis: Texas, Gulf of Mexico. Sawfish: Flor- 

 ida (Atlantic). Black drum Pogonias cromis: Texas, Gulf of Mexico. Orange 

 filefish Alutera schoepfi: Texas, Gulf of Mexico. Toadfish Batrachoides sur- 

 inamensis: Colon, Panama. Spot Leiostomus xanthurus: Florida, Gulf of Mexico. 

 Spadefish Chaetodipterus faber: Florida, Gulf of Mexico; Virginia. Fringed fil- 

 efish Monacanthus ciliatus: Florida, Gulf of Mexico. No host recorded: Mas- 

 sachusetts; Florida Keys; Florida, Gulf of Mexico. Louisiana, Gulf of Mex- 

 ico. Texas, Gulf of Mexico. 



REMARKS Brusca (1981) has shown that this highly variable species occurs 

 on both sides of the Isthmus of Panama, in two relatively distinct forms. 

 Intergrades between the two forms do occur but are uncommon. Brusca 

 (1981:159) also lists all the host-records for this species in the eastern Pacific. 



Nerocila acuminata Schioedte and Meinert, 1881, forma acuminata 

 Figure 84C 



DIAGNOSIS Cephalon width equal to or greater than length; frontal margin 

 narrowly rounded. Posterolateral angles of anterior pereonites weakly pro- 

 duced, rounded to subacute; of posterior pereonites more strongly produced, 

 subacute to acute. Coxal plates 3-7, 4-7, or 5-7 with acute posterolateral 

 angles; coxae rarely reaching beyond posterior margins of their respective 

 pereonites. 



Nerocila acuminata Schioedte and Meinert, 1881, forma aster 

 Figure 84D 



DIAGNOSIS Cephalon always wider than long; anterior margin broadly 

 rounded. Posterolateral angles of all pereonites strongly produced, acute, all 

 reaching well beyond posterior margins of their respective pereonites. Coxal 

 plates 2-7 strongly produced with acute posterior angles. 



