6 - Sphaeromatidae::“Cute As Buttons”

Malacanthura caribbica Paul and Menzies, 1971
Figure 17
Mesanthura 45
DIAGNOSIS 9 27.1 mm. Integument moderately indurate. Antennular
flagellum of seven articles. Antennal flagellum of four articles. Mandibular
palp, article 3 with comb of 11 spines. Maxillipedal palp, terminal article
broadly ovate, penultimate article with row of seven spines on mesial margin.
Pereopod 1 propodus expanded, palm straight, with few spines on mesial
margin. Uropodal exopod barely reaching base of endopod, narrow, apically
acute, outer margin sinuate, serrate; endopod set obliquely on sympod, mar­
gin serrate, apically acute. Telson lanceolate, apically narrowly rounded,
with strong longitudinal middorsal carina.
RECORDS Off Venezuela, 95 m; off Colombia, 42-44 m.
REMARKS Malacanthura cumanensis Paul and Menzies, 1971, described from
the same locality as M. caribbica, was shown to be the latter species (Kensley,
1980).
Mesanthura Barnard, 1914
DIAGNOSIS 9: Dorsal integument with (usually) species-specific pigment
pattern; pigment persistent in alcohol. Mandibular palp of three articles,
terminal article with row of spines, number of which specific for species.
Maxilliped with endite either very reduced or absent; palp of three articles,
with terminal article usually about half length of penultimate article, suture
transverse. Pereopod 1, propodus expanded, palm often with step. Pereopods
2 and 3, propodi not expanded. Pereopods 4—7, carpi roughly triangular,
with anterior margin shorter than posterior margin. Pleonites 1—5 fused,
pleonite 6 dorsally demarked. Pleopod 1, exopod operculiform. Telson with
two basal statocysts. 6: Eyes larger than in 9. Antennular flagellum of sel­
dom more than 10 articles bearing numerous aesthetascs. Mouthparts, espe­
cially body of mandible, reduced. Pereopod 1, propodus bearing dense band
of spines on mesial surface near palm. Pigment pattern more diffuse than in
9, extending onto ventral surface.
REMARKS Mesanthura is a relatively large genus of about 30 species, re­
corded from most tropical and temperate seas, in shallow habitats. The
males of few species have been recorded; by themselves, males are difficult to
identify as the dorsal pigment pattern characteristic of the female breaks
down and spreads onto the ventrum.