Paranikione, n. gen.

DIAGNOSIS: Female: Body asymmetrical. Head wider than long, with well-developed frontal lamina. Barbula with two pairs of smooth lateral projections. All pereomeres with coxal plates, first four with dorsolateral bosses. Brood pouch open; internal ridge of oostegite 1 smooth. Pleon with six segments, five pairs of pleopods and tuberculate biramous uropods.

Male: Body segments distinct, pereomeres subequal in width, pleon with five pairs of tuberculate pleopods, sixth pleomere with posterolateral uropods.

TYPE SPECIES: Paranikione sibogae, n. sp., by original designation.

OTHER SPECIES: Paranikione distorta, n. sp.

ETYMOLOGY: Paranikione refers to the close relationship of the new genus to Nikione Kensley, 1974. The genus name is feminine.

REMARKS: Females of both species of Paranikione, n. gen., have a well-developed frontal lamina, coxal plates on all pereomeres and pleomeres, and biramous pleopods and uropods. These two species are allied to the monotypic genera Nikione and Urobopyrus Richardson, 1904, which also infest processid shrimp. The new genus is most closely related to Nikione, but differs in that females of Nikione have only five pleomeres while those of Paranikione, n. gen., have six distinct pleomeres. The key characteristic of Urobopyrus is that the female has no lateral plates on the pleomeres, but species of Paranikione, n. gen., have well-developed lateral plates on all pleomeres.