Serolidae

Key to the genera of Indo-Pacific Serolidae

Since the publication of Brandt’s (1988) review there has been a proliferation of genera within the Serolidae. Prior to that date five genera were recognised; the publication of six new genera by Wägele (1994) brought the total to 20 genera. Th e most recent key, to any region, is that of Brandt (1988), and that work no longer reflects the generic composition of the family. Th e key provided here is intended only to operate for the genera known to occur in the Indo-Pacific, the region bounded by East Africa in the west, eastwards to Hawai’i and the island nations of Oceania (e.g. see Briggs 1974). Th e key also serves to emphasize the character states now in use in defining genera.

1 Uropods on posterolateral angle of pleotelson, uropods and pleonites forming part of continuous body outline........ Thysanoserolis Brandt, 1991

– Uropods mediolateral or anterolateral, not forming part of body outline.... 2

2 Pleonites not extending posteriorly along pleotelson lateral margins; pleopod 2 endopod with distal stem; uropods greater than three-quarters length of pleotelson................................................................................................... 3

– Pleonites extending posteriorly along pleotelson lateral margins; pleopod 2 endopod without distal stem; uropods less than half length of pleotelson... 5

3 Pereonites 5–7 entire, with sutures distinct; pleotelson posterior margin broad, flat and truncate; uropodal mesial margin positioned in dorsal groove on pleotelson lateral margin............................................... Sedorolis gen. n.

– Pereonites 5–7 medially fused; pleotelson posterior margin narrowly rounded or truncate; uropodal mesial margin positioned ventrally on pleotelson lateral margin........................................................................................................ 4

4 Pleonite sternal plate 1 with prominent process; pleotelson posterior margin narrow, excavate or indented............................. Heteroserolis Brandt, 1991

– Pleonite sternal plate 1 without prominent process; pleotelson posterior margin narrowly rounded................................................. Serolina Poore, 1987

5 Coxae distally acute, those of pereonite 6 narrow, elongate, greatly extended posteriorly beyond pleotelson and pleonites; pleonites extending beyond pleotelson posterior margin......................... Brucerolis Poore & Storey, 2009 1

– Coxae quadrate, not narrowed or greatly extended; pleonites extending along but not beyond pleotelson margin.............................................................. 6

6 Coxae 6 overlapping and extending posterior to pleonites; antennal peduncle articles 4 and 5 slender (8.6–10.3 × as long as greatest width); uropods ventrolateral, inconspicuous in dorsal view........................... Myopiarolis gen. n.

1 Poore and Storey (2009) have redefined Acutiserolis and those species from the southwestern Pacific and New Zealand hitherto placed in that genus, notably Acutiserolis cidaris Poore & Brandt, 1977 from the Coral Sea, have been placed in Brucerolis (see Poore and Storey 2009 this issue; Storey and Poore 2009 in press).

– Coxae 6 overlapping but not extending posteriorly beyond pleonites; antennal peduncle articles 4 and 5 broad (<5 × as long as greatest width); uropods lateral, conspicuous in dorsal view........ Caecoserolis Wägele, 1994