6 - Sphaeromatidae::“Cute As Buttons”

Eisothistos teri 39
articles. Pereopods 1-3 not subchelate, propodi relatively elongate, mini­
mally expanded. Pleopod 1 9, rami fused, together forming operculum; 6
rami separate. Pleonites free, short, longer in 6 than in 9. Telson lacking
statocysts.
REMARKS Wagele (1979) first recorded species of Eisothistos preying on ser-
pulid polychaete worms in their tubes.
The genus contains about 12 species in the Pacific, Indian Ocean, Carib­
bean, Antarctic, and Mediterranean.
Key to species of Eisothistos
1. 9 telson with middorsal spines; 6 pereopod 1 propodal palm with 19
or 20 spines teri
9 telson lacking middorsal spines; 6 pereopod 1 propodal palm with
11 spines petrensis
Eisothistos petrensis Kensley, 1984
Figure 14A-E
DIAGNOSIS 9: 4.0 mm. Antennular flagellum of six articles. Antennal
flagellum of six articles. Telson posteriorly faintly bilobed, margin strongly
serrate; faint anterior middorsal ridge; middorsally unarmed. Pereopod 1,
propodal palm unarmed. Pleopod 1 rami fused for V12 of length. 6: 2.0 mm.
Antennular flagellum of eight articles. Antennal flagellum of six articles. Per­
eopod 1 propodal palm with 11 fringed spines. Telson narrower than in 9,
with middorsal ridge running almost entire length.
RECORDS Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, 0.1-36 m; Looe Key, Florida, 5-6 m;
Turks and Caicos Islands, 1.0 m; St.Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, 7-10 m.
Eisothistos teri Kensley and Snelgrove, 1987
Figure 14F-H
DIAGNOSIS 9: 3.2 mm. Basal antennular peduncle article bearing triangu­
lar apically rounded laminate process; flagellum of seven articles. Antennal
flagellum of six articles. Mandible with biserrate lamina dentata. Pereopod 1
propodal palm unarmed. Pleopod 1 rami fused for 3 A of length. Uropodal
exopod with one or two strong slightly recurved spines on dorsal surface.