The genera of the Saphaeromatidae (Crustacea : Isopoda): a key and distribution list

Abstract

An illustrated key to the genera of the family Sphaeromatidae, based on adult male specimens, is provided. This is complemented by notes on the distribution of the 81 known genera. It is suggested that Nishimuraia Nunomura may be a junior synonym of Gnorimosphaeroma Menzies, but this requires confirmation. It is suggested that the current sphaeromatid subfamilies Cassidininae, Sphaeromatinae and Dynameninae, based only on the folding of pleopods 4 and 5, may not reflect a natural classification. A modern analysis of sphaeromatid systematics is long overdue.

Key words: Sphaeromatidae, genera, key, distribution.