6 - Sphaeromatidae::“Cute As Buttons”

204 FLABELL1FERA • SPHAEROMATIDAE
tained genera and were replaced with current subfamily names by Bowman
(1981) and Iverson (1982), the latter providing diagnoses for all five sub­
families. Four of these are represented in the Caribbean area; the fifth, the
Tecticipitinac, contains only the single primarily Pacific genus Tecticeps.
While the subfamilial status now appears to be resolved, many of the gen­
era still require unambiguous diagnoses. The work of Harrison (1984) on the
structure of the female broodpouch, with its various components of
oostegites, internal pouches, and anterior and posterior pockets (Figure 90),
along with the metamorphosis of the female mouthparts (see Figure 96) has
helped enormously to standardize the genera. Nevertheless, these features of
the female remain unknown in several genera. Further, with this stabilization
based on females, many problems of incorrect generic designation have been
uncovered. In this work, Harrison's generic diagnoses are followed as far as
possible. Where uncertainty exists, this is indicated. In some cases, we may
still be unaware of existing problems: future work will without doubt result in
the shifting of species to different genera, as well as in the creation of new
genera.
Key to subfamilies of Sphaeromatidae
1. Pereopod 1 prehensile in both sexes; pereopod 2 prehensile only in 6
Ancininae
Pereopods 1 and 2 ambulatory 2
2. Pleopods 4 and 5 lacking branchial pleats Cassidininae
Pleopods 4 and 5 with branchial pleats on endopods 3
3. Pleopods 4 and 5 with branchial pleats on both rami . . . Dynameninae
Pleopods 4 and 5 with branchial pleats on endopods only
Subfamily Ancininae Tattersall, 1905
Sphaeromatinae
DIAGNOSIS Body markedly dorsoventrally depressed. Cephalon fused me­
dially with pereonite 1. Pereopod 1 prehensile in 8 and 9. Pereopod 2 pre­
hensile in 6 only. Pleopods 4 and 5 similar, lacking branchial pleats.
Uropods uniramous.