Key to Stomatopods from South Africa and Adjacent Mozambique

1.

• Telson lacking sharp median carina (family Lysiosquillidae).........2
• Telson with sharp median carina...........7

2.

• Entire dorsal surface of telson covered with small spinules...........Nannosquilla hystricotelson
• Dorsal surface of telson not covered with small spinules...........3

3.

• Dorsal surface of telson with fan-shaped row of 5 spines..............Acanthosquilla acanthocarpus
• Dorsal suiface of telson lacking fan-shaped row of 5 spines...............4

4.

• Sixth abdominal somite with sharp posterolateral angles and I pair of posterior spines..... Heterosquilla insignis
• Sixth abdominal somite unarmed............5

5.

• AntennaL scale oval, less than twice as long as broad; anterior margin of antennal protopod lacking projection; ventral keel of 8th thoracic somite rounded............Lysiosquilla maculata
• Antennal scale slender elongate, more than twice as long as broad; anterior margin of antennal protopod with projection; ventral keel of 8th thoracic somite acute, sharp posteriorly............. 6

6.

• Rostral plate lacking median carina; ventral surface of uropodal protopod with slender spine at articulation of endopod .................1. Lysiosquilla capensts
• Rostral plate with median caiina; ventral surface of uropodal protopod lacking spine at articulation of endopod ..........................2. Lysiosquilla tredecimdentata

7.

• All 4 pairs of marginal teeth of telson with movable apices (family Bathysquillidae)...Bathysquilla crassispinosa
• No more than I pair of marginal teeth of telson with movable apices.....8

8.

• Telson with no more than 2 intermediate marginal denticles (family Gonodactylidae)...9
• Telson with 4 or more intermediate marginal denticles (family Squillidae)....13

9.

• Rostral plate unarmed anteriorly; dactylus of cliw with teeth on inner margin.....10
• Rostral plate with anterior spine; dactylus of claw unarmed...11

10.

• Dactylus of claw inflated basally; eyes subglobular, cornea broader than stalk; telson with 5 pairs of dorsal carinae in addition to median carina.............. 3. Odontodactylus scyllarus
• Dactylus of claw rot inflated; eyes slender, cornea not noticeably expanded; telson with 3 pairs of carinae in addition to median carina........... Pseudosquilla ciliata

11.

• Dorsal surface of telson covered with numerous small tubercles and spinules....Gonodactylus lanchesteri
• Dorsal surface of telson with at most I posterior spinule on each dorsal carina....... 12

12.

• Dorsal surface of telson with 3 central carinae; no angular lobe present between spines of basal prolongation of uropod...............4. Gonodactylus chiragra
• Dorsal surface of telson with 5 central carinae; angular lobe present between spines of basal prolongation of uropod................5. Gonodactylus falcatus

13.

• Carapace deeply excavate posterolaterally; raptorial claw with erect spines on propodus...6. Harpiosquilla harpax
• Carapace rounded posterolaterally; propodus of raptorial claw pectinate .............14

14.

• Eyes very small, cornea not as broad as stalk; ocular scales fused medially. ..... 7. Clorida latreillei
• Eyes large or small, cornea broader than stalk; ocular scales separate.................15

15.

• Ocular scales each produced into an erect dorsal spine ....8. Plerygosquilla armata capensis, new subspecies
• Ocular scales not produced into an erect dorsal spine....16

16.

• Lateral process of 5th thoracic somite a single spine.......17
• Lateral process of 5th thoracic somite bilobed.............18

17.

• Submedian teeth of telson with movable apices; dactylus of claw with 4 teeth.....9. Meiosquilla desmarestii
• Submedian teeth of telson with fixed apices; dactylus of claw with 6 teeth. . . 10. Squilloides lata

18.

• Lateral process of 5th thoracic somite with posterior lobe broadly rounded; 2 rounded lobes present between spines of basal prolongation of uropod ......... Alima hyalina
• Lateral process of 5th thoracic somite with posterior lobe acute or spiniform, not broadly rounded; no more than 1 rounded lobe present between spines of basal prolongation of uropod.......19

19.

• Cornea set transversely on stalk............20
• Cornea set obliquely on stalk................21

20.

• Median carina of carapace simple; submedian carinae of 4th abdominal somite terminating in spines................Oratosquilla nepa
• Median carina of carapace finely bicarinatc; subtiiedian carinae of 4th abdominal somite unarmed ............11. Oratosquilla holoschista

21.

• Lateral process of 5th thoracic somite composed of 2 sharp spines; lateral carinae of abdomen bicarinate ..........12. Oratosquilla mikado
• Lateral process of 5th thoracic soinite not composed of 2 sharp spines; 1ateral carinae of abdomen not bicarinate............... 22

22.

• Dactylus of raptorial claw with 10-18 teeth; cornea width one-third length of carapace....Oratosquilla investigatoris
• Dactylus of claw with no more than 6 teeth; cornea width less than one-third length of carapace...... 23

23.

• Anterior width of carapace more than one-half median length; anterior bifurcation of median carina of carapace obsolete; dactylus of claw with 6 teeth ............ Oratosquilla woodmasoni
• Anterior width of carapace less than one-half median length; anterior bifurcation of median carina of carapace well formed; dactylus of claw with 5 teeth ........... 13. Oratosquilla gonypetes

REFERENCE:

Manning RB 1969. Notes on some stomatopod crustacea from South Africa. Smith Cont Zool #1

Web Site Author: A. Sunjian
Site Created February 3, 1998
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