Tanaidaceans from Brunei III. A New Genus and Two New Species of Shallow-water Sphyrapodids (Crustacea: Peracarida: Tanaidacea) from the South China Sea

Abstract

A new genus of sphyrapodid tanaidaceans, Poligarida, represented by the two new species P. beni and P. keriakis, is described from samples off the coast of Brunei. With no mandibular palp, this genus falls within the subfamily Sphyrapo- dinae. With a normal sphyrapodid antennule bearing a two-segmented accessory flagellum, and with no squama on the antenna, it is closest to Ansphyrapus, but is distinguished from that genus by lacking the complex setation of the pereopods and in having an elongate second article of the antennal peduncle. The latter feature is more characteristic of the Pseudo- sphyrapodinae, casting some doubt on the status of these two subfamilies. Poligarida gen. nov. is unique in the family in lacking a maxillular palp, and in having an unusual setose mandibular molar. Sphyrapus stebbingi Richardson, 1911 is tenta- tively reassigned to Pseudosphyrapus, and an identification key to the genera of the Sphyrapodidae is presented.