6 - Sphaeromatidae::“Cute As Buttons”

Microcharon sabulum 91
REMARKS All the members of this family are tiny (usually less than 2 mm),
and most are interstitial in habit, being found in marine, brackish, and fresh­
water environments.
Angliera Chappuis and Delamare Deboutteville, 1955
DIAGNOSIS Mandibular palp with two proximal articles inflated, terminal
article, slender hooklike, articles lacking setae and spines. Maxillipedal palp
of four articles, articles 1 and 3 elongate, article 2 short, article 4 with termi­
nal acute process. Pleopod 1 in 6 forming broad lamella.
Angliera psamathus Kensley, 1984
Figure 41A-D
DIAGNOSIS 6 1.0 mm, 9 1.0 mm. Maxillipedal endite with seven setae on
distal margin. Posterior four pairs of pereopods with claw on dactylus dorsal
to unguis. Uropodal endopod subequal in length to sympod.
RECORDS Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, interstitial in intertidal sand bank.
REMARKS Two other species of Angliera have been recorded from the Carib­
bean area: A. dubitans Stock, 1977, from Bonaire, and A. racovitzai Coineau
and Botosaneanu, 1973, from Cuba. The reader should refer to the original
descriptions to distinguish the species, as differences are extremely subtle.
Microcharon Karaman, 1934
DIAGNOSIS Mandibular palp of three articles, two distal articles bearing
spines and/or setae. Maxillipedal palp of five articles, articles 1, 2 and 3
expanded. c£, pleopod 1 narrow, elongate, not obscuring pleopod 2.
REMARKS More than 20 species of Microcharon have been described world­
wide. The genus is unusual in that the species have been found in true ma­
rine environments, in brackish habitats such as wells, and inland in
freshwater.
Microcharon sabulum Kensley, 1984
Figure 41E-H
DIAGNOSIS 6 1.4 mm, 9 1.5 mm. Antennule of five articles. Inner ramus of
maxilla 2 with pectinate spine. Pereopodal dactyli short, biunguiculate. En-