124 



western part of the Indian Ocean including the Arabian Sea; northwestern 

 part of the Pacific Ocean (Kuril-Kamchatka region) and also near Peru 

 and in the region of kermadec Islands. It is found in catches from depths 

 of 970-1,920 and 1,900-3,750 m and in through catches form depths of 

 over 2,000 m up to the surface. 



3. Genus Microphasmoides Vinogradov, 1960 



Vinogradov, 1960a: 213. 



The body is compact, smooth, and with a spherically bulging pereon. 

 The eyes are absent. Antennae I are small, not projecting beyond the 

 line of the frons; the flagellum has three well-developed distal segments. 

 Antennae 11 are very short; the peduncle has a vesicularly bulging 2nd 

 segment and short distal segments; the flagellum is small and the cone 

 of the antennal gland strongly developed. The mouthparts are the same 

 as in other genera of the family Microphasmidae. The mandibular palp 

 is weak. Pereopods I-II have a distally broadened 5th and conical 6th 

 segment. Pereopods III-IV are simple. The short palmate margin of the 

 broad 6th segment of pereopods V is armed with strong setae that form 

 a pseudochela with the falcate claw. Pereopods VI-VII have a distally 

 narrowed 6th segment and strongly curved claws that are identical in 

 structure. Pereopods VII are much weaker than pereopods VI. 



Type species: Microphasmoides vitjazi Vinogradov, 1960. 



This genus is very close to Microphasma; only the structure of pere- 

 opods III and rV differs significantly. 



1. Microphasmoides vitjazi Vinogradov, 1960 (Figs. 42, 43) 



Vinogradov, 1960a: 214. 



Length of sexually immature specimens 5 to 6 mm. 



The color of unfixed crustaceans is cherry-red. 



The flagellum of antennae I is less than 1.5 times longer than the 

 peduncle, its proximal segment five times longer than the three dis- 

 tal segments together. Antennae II are slightly shorter than antennae I, 

 seven-segmented, the vesicularly bulging 2nd segment slightly longer 

 than the remaining part of the antenna. 



The mandibles have a weak, thin palp that is nearly equal in length to 

 the mandibular body. The outer lobe of mixillae I has a straight truncated 

 edge armed with seven spines or the distal margin; the inner lobe is 

 small, oval; the palp slightly narrows distally. The maxillipeds have a 

 fairly large inner lobe, almost reaching half the length of the outer lobe. 

 108 Coxal plates I-V have a slightly stretched, roundish lower anterior 



angle; coxal plates VI-VII are oval. 



In pereopods I the 5th segment is equal to the 6th. Pereopods II are 

 identical in structure but slightly longer; the 5th and 6th segments are 



