MICROCERBERIDEA • MICROCERBERIDAE 243 



Gnathia velosa Miiller, 1988 

 Figure 104E 



DIAGNOSIS 6 1.5 mm. Anterior margin of cephalon with three tubercles, 

 median tubercles slightly shorter and narrower than submedian pair. Dorsal 

 integument of cephalon and anterior three pereonites granular. Pereonite 5 

 about 2.5 times wider than middorsal length. Lateral lobe of mandible 

 notched. 



RECORDS Colombia. 



Gnathia virginalis Monod, 1926 

 Figure 104D 



DIAGNOSIS S 2.2 mm. Anterior margin of cephalon with three tubercles, 

 median tubercles slightly longer than submedian pair. Dorsal integument of 

 cephalon and anterior three pereonites granular. Pereonite 5 about 1.7 times 

 wider than middorsal length. Lateral lobe of mandible rounded. 



RECORDS U.S. Virgin Islands, 29 m; Colombia. 



Suborder Microcerberidea Lang, 1961 



DIAGNOSIS Cephalon free. Mandibles with reduced palp, or lacking palp. 

 Maxillipedal palp of five articles. Pereon of seven free segments. Pereopod 1 

 subchelate; pereopods 2-7 ambulatory. Pleon of two free pleonites plus 

 pleotelson. Pleopod 1 in 6 usually absent. Pleopod 2 modified for copulation. 

 Pleopod 3 uniramous, opercular. Pleopod 4 biramous. Pleopod 5 reduced. 

 Uropods usually uniramous or biramous. 



Family Microcerberidae Karaman, 1933b 



DIAGNOSIS Eyes absent. Body elongate, slender. Antennular peduncle of 

 three articles; antennal peduncle of six to eight articles. Mandibular palp of 

 single article; molar reduced to single stout fringed spine. Maxilla 2 reduced 

 to single ramus bearing two distal fringed lobes. Pereopods 2—7 ambulatory, 

 dactyli biunguiculate. 



REMARKS The species of the Microcerberidae are all very small (less than 2 

 mm total length) and are most often found in interstitial habitats. They have 

 been recorded from marine, brackish, and freshwater environments. 



