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in the middle; the distal angles are not prominent*. The basipodites of the 

 uropods are longer than the rami. The basipodite of uropods I is barely 

 longer than the rami, coarsely denticulate distally from both sides, and 2.5 

 times longer than wide; the rami are narrow, with highly stretched ends; 

 the margins of the endopodite and the inner margin of the exopodite are 

 coarsely denticulate; the outer margin of the exopodite has faintly dis- 

 cernible adjacent denticles. The proportions of uropods II are the same; 

 the endopodite is somewhat longer than the exopodite and proximally 

 broader; the basipodite is smooth and the rami have similar ornamen- 

 tation. The basipodite of uropods III is finely denticulate in the distal 

 half of the inner margin and twice longer than wide; the rami are about 

 half the length of the basipodite; the endopodite is barely longer than the 

 exopodite, proximally broader, and finely denticulate on both sides; the 

 exopodite is denticulate only on the inner side. The telson is roundish- 

 triangular, its length barely exceeding its basal width and about half the 

 length of the geminate urosomite. 



Notes: This species does not differ significantly from vibilia hir- 

 suta Behning and Woltereck, 1912, which was described on the basis 

 of a single specimen; the latter is identified by the following characters: 

 eyes large, antennae and legs with numerous minute setae, flagellum of 

 antennae I with well-noticeable rudimentary segments, anterior margin 

 of flagellum of antennae I rounded, maxillae V. hirsuta 4th segment of 

 pereopods II highly setaceous, and pereopods VII with a relatively small 

 basal segment. Most of these characters are age-related and observed in 

 young individuals. If we consider that a young specimen of a large-sized 

 species {V. hirsuta reaches 8.5 mm in length) was described, then in sev- 

 eral characters it is closer to V. robusta: eyes large, posterior distal angle 

 of the 5th segment of pereopods I with fascicle of strong setae, short pro- 

 cess of chela in pereopods II, absolutely straight posterior margin of 6th 

 segment in pereopods II, some peculiarities in structure and ornamenta- 

 tion of the urosome etc. We compared a young specimen of V. robusta 

 (10.8 mm) from the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean with the 

 drawing of V. hirsuta and established similarity of structure and orna- 

 mentation of pereopods II as well as densely pubescent maxillae. Thus, 

 if, we exclude the characters subject to age variability, then V. hirsuta 

 does not exhibit adequately significant differences from V. robusta to 

 qualify for consideration as an independent species. 



Distribution: Atlantic Ocean from 45° N to 30° S; Indian Ocean 

 in the central part and also found in the southeastern coastal region 

 of Africa. In the Pacific Ocean it is known from the eastern part of the 

 tropics, region of New Zealand, and southern coastal region of Tasmania. 



Changed from Russian text by author — ^Eds. 



