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exhibits an unmistakable likeness to the family Sphceromidce, not represented in the
fauna of Norway, and I had, indeed, formerly combined the two. There are, however,
some distinguishing characters which make it advisable to keep the two families
apart. On the other hand, I find it quite inadmissible to associate this family
with the Asellota, as proposed by some authors. The full segmentation
metasome, the uniform structure of the pleopoda, and the lateral position
uropoda, prove it unquestionably to belong to the group Flabellifera,
fined. The family comprises as yet but a single genus.
Gen. Llmnoria, Leach, 1815.
of the
of the
as here de-
Generic Characters. Body oblong, rather convex above, with the segments
sharply marked off from each other. Cephalon comparatively
front, with the buccal mass very prominent below. First segment
short and blunt in
of mesosome
longer than the other, and partly advancing over the cephalon. Coxal plates on
the succeeding segments, rather large, deflexed, the posterior ones triangularly
produced. The 5 anterior segments of metasome with well-developed, laterally
projecting epimera; terminal segment broad, flattened above. Eyes wide apart,
lateral. Antennae with the flagella rather short. Mandibles very strong, cutting
edge terminating in a conically compressed, chisel-shaped point, molar expansion
wanting, palp rather small. Anterior maxillae with the masticatory lobe conically
tapering and coarsely spinous at the tip, basal lobe narrow, turned anteriorly,
and carrying 3 short, ciliated apical setse. Posterior maxillse terminating in 3
setiferous lobes, the innermost representing the masticatory lobe. Maxillipeds
slender, with the basal part rather elongated and narrow, masticatory
developed, palp composed of 5 flattened joints, epignath lanceolate,
lobe well
turned ante-
riorly. Anterior pairs of legs somewhat shorter than the posterior, dactylus in
all pairs provided inside with a secondary claw-like projection. Pleopoda with
the rami lamellar, and, excepting the last pair, densely fringed
poda with the outer rainus short, ungtiiform; inner, linear.
with setse. Uro-
Remarks. This genus was established by Leach in the year 1815, to in-
clude the peculiar little creature, whose destruction of pile-work and other sub-
merged timber had long been known. He associated the genus with the Cymothoidce
and Sphwomidc?, thus recognizing its true relationship. We know, as yet, of only
3 species, one of which, L. seqnis Chilton, has been found off New Zealand, the
2nd, L. antarctica Pfeffer, at the South Georgian Islands, the 3rd being widely
distributed in the northern Ocean.