6 - Sphaeromatidae::“Cute As Buttons”

Key to genera and species of littoral Oniscidea
ONISCIDEA 247
1. At least one uropodal ramus reaching well beyond outline of body ... 5
Uropodal rami very short, not reaching beyond outline of body 2
2. Uropods ventral, not visible in dorsal view 3 (Tylos)
Uropods visible in dorsal view Armadilloniscus ninae
3. Ventral extensions of pleonite 5 meeting in midline Tylos niveus
Ventral extensions of pleonite 5 not meeting in midline 4
4. Ventral extensions of pleonite 5 very short, obsolete Tylos wegeneri
Ventral extensions of pleonite 5 well separated Tylos marcuzzii
Ventral extensions of pleonite 5 just falling short of meeting in midline
Tylos latreillei
5. Uropodal rami both elongate, subequal 6 (Ligia)
Uropodal rami very unequal in length 8
6. Propodus of 6 pereopod 1 with distal rounded lobe Ligia exotica
Propodus of 6 pereopod 1 lacking rounded lobe 7
7. Apex of 6 pleopod 2 club shaped Ligia olfersii
Apex of 6 pleopod 2 bifid Ligia baudiniana
8. Antennal flagellum of two articles Rhyscotus texensis
Antennal flagellum of three articles 9 (Vandeloscia)
9. Endopod of 6 pleopod 1 with large scalelike subapical process
Endopod of 6 pleopod 1 with small scalelike subapical process
Armadilloniscus Ul'yanin, 1875
Armadilloniscus ninae Schultz, 1984
Figure 106A
Vandeloscia riedli
Vandeloscia culebrae
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DIAGNOSIS 8 3.2 mm, 9 4.1 mm. Uropodal sympod expanded to form part
of body outline; rami set mesial to expanded base, with exopod half length of
endopod.
RECORDS Ambergris Cay, Belize; under damp objects along beach drift
line.