255 



rounded apex of the endopodite bears one-two minute setae situated in 

 a pit). The telson is roundish-triangular, its length barely more than its 

 width, the apex extending to the middle of the basipodite of uropods III. 



Notes: Vibilia edwardsi Bate, 1862 and V. longipes Bov., 1887 are 

 possibly also related to this species. V. edwardsi was described on the 

 basis of a single specimen from the South Orkney Islands; in shape of 

 antennae I (acutely truncate in front), highly elongated distal segments 

 of pereopods V-VI, and proportions and ornamentation of the uropods, it 

 is closer to V. antarctica. It is distinguished from the latter mainly by a 

 much shorter process on the 5th segment of pereopods II, which is still 

 within the limits of individual variability of this character. Bovallius, who 

 described V. longipes (from the South Atlantic Ocean), considered it closer 

 to V. Edwardsi. In fact, these two species are quite close in several char- 

 acters and basically differ in the anteriorly highly rounded antennae I of 

 V. longipes. The process of the 5th segment of pereopods II is the same 

 length in V. antarctica and the highly elongated distal segments of pere- 

 opods V-VI also relate V. longipes to V. antarctica. A very cogent argu- 

 ment for the identity of V. antarctica and V. longipes is the morphology of 

 the urosome of the latter species, particularly the presence of sexual dimor- 

 phism in VIS uropods III. Bernard (1932) also indicated the proximity of 

 relationship between V. edwardsi and V. longipes with V. antarctica. 



Distribution: Southern Ocean, south of the Subtropical Convergence. 

 Solitary finds in the vicinity of Peru and in the Gulf of Guinea could 

 evidently be explained by drift from the southern latitudes caused by the 

 cold Peruvian and Benguela currents. 



5. Vibilia propinqua Stebbing, 1888 (Fig. 105) 



Stebbing, 1888: 1275; Vosseler, 1901: 124; Behning, 1912: 213; 

 Stephensen, 1818: 43\—milnei Stebbing, 1888: 12S4.— Vibilia sp. (I) 

 Stebbing, 1888: 1285. 



Body length up to 12 mm. 



The integument of the body is thick and brown stellate 

 chromatophores are present in live specimens, the head is small, its height 

 not exceeding the height of somite I of the pereon, and its length equal to 

 the total length of somites I and 11; in females the head tapers conically 

 toward the base of antennae I, while in males it is almost rectangular 

 with a height slightly more than its length; the frons roundly projects 

 above the base of antennae I. The eyes are intensely colored; in females 

 they are narrow, reniform, and occupy about 1/3 the lateral surface of 

 the head; in males they are larger and dorsally broadened. Antennae I in 

 females are not longer than the head and somite I of the pereon and their 

 base is short; the flagellum is almost regularly oval and the same length 

 as the head. Antennae II are shorter than antennae I and in females are 



