6 - Sphaeromatidae::“Cute As Buttons”

FLABELLIFERA • SEROLIDAE 201
dian tubercles supported by strong carinae on the pleotelson; Forma B5 hav­
ing a triangular depressed area dorsally on pleonite 5 and an obscurely cari-
nate pair of tubercles on the pleotelson. Given that at least two of these forms
have been recorded occurring together, it would seem that this is merely a
highly variable species.
Phycolimnoria Menzies, 1957
DIAGNOSIS Mandibular incisor lacking rasp and file. Uropodal rami une­
qual, exopod longer than endopod, latter usually with clawlike apex.
REMARKS Most species of Phycolimnoria are algal borers, frequently encoun­
tered in the holdfasts of brown algae such as Macrocystis, Laminaria, and
Sargassum, The one species recorded from the Caribbean, P. clarkae, however,
has only been taken from decaying wood.
Phycolimnoria clarkae Kensley and Schotte, 1987
Figure 88E,F
DIAGNOSIS 6 4.3 mm, ovigerous 9 3.3-4.4 mm. Uropodal exopod less
than half length of endopod, straight, tipped with short squat claw. Pleonite
5 with broad raised middorsal region having irregular bumps. Pleotelson
wider than long, with two rounded submedian ridges basally, becoming ob­
solete posteriorly.
RECORDS Bahamas; Twin Cays, Belize.
Aldabra Atoll, Indian Ocean.
Family Serolidae Dana, 1852
DIAGNOSIS Body dorsoventrally depressed. Eyes present or absent.
Cephalon fused with pereonite 1 dorsally. Mandible bearing palp. Maxillipe-
dal palp of one to four articles. Pereonites 2—4 with coxae demarked; per-
eonites 5 and 6 with coxae not demarked; pereonite 7 narrow, lacking free
lateral margins. Pereopod 1 in 6 and 9 subchelate, pereopod 2 subchelate or
ambulatory in 6, ambulatory in 9. Pleonites 1 and 2 free, articulated, re­
mainder of pleonites fused with telson. Pleopods 1—3 small, natatory;
pleopods 4 and 5 large, operculate. Uropods lateral, biramous.
REMARKS The serolids reach their greatest diversity (and their greatest size
of up to 80 mm in length) in the southern oceans, with few species extending