1. Posterior lateral corners of last urosomite more or less in line with distal margin...... 2
Posterior lateral corners of last urosomite project slightly next to peduncle of U3.... 14
2. Eyes absent............................................................................ V. caeca Bulycheva, 1955
Eyes present................................................................................................................... 3
3. Eyes with ocelli in three rows............................................. V. australis Stebbing, 1888
Eyes with ocelli in oval, or round, cluster..................................................................... 4
4 Pereopod 7; basis as long as, or longer than, remaining articles combined.................................................................................................. V. chuni Behning & Woltereck, 1912
Pereopod 7; basis considerably shorter than remaining articles combined................... 5
5. Uropod 2 reaching limit of U3, or marginally longer. Gnathopod 2; basis inflated (mature specimens), merus with fringe of robust setae on lateral and anterior margins. Antennae 1 bulbous ............................................................... V. robusta Bovallius, 1887
Uropod 2 distinctly shorter than U3. Gnathopod 2; basis with more or less parallel margins, merus with few setae. Antennae 1 often truncate.......................................... 6
6. Antennae 1 with rounded distal margin........................................................................ 7
Antennae 1 with truncate or pointed distal margin..................................................... 11
7. Gnathopod 1; posterodistal angle of propodus extended posteriorly to dactylus. Gnathopod 2; carpal process usually extends to dactylus. Pereopods 3 & 4 with thick articles, dactylus almost as long as propodus .............................. V. viatrix Bovallius, 1887
Gnathopod 1; posterior margin of propodus slopes gradually to base of dactylus. Gnathopod 2; carpal process extends to 0.5–0.8x length of propodus. Pereopods 3 & 4 with relatively thin articles, dactylus less than halflength of propodus....................... 8
8. Antennae 1; flagellum slightly narrower or equal in width to peduncle. Pereopod 7; basis with relatively narrow, posterodistal lobe overlapping ischium and half of merus. Telson pointed .................................................................... V. propinqua Stebbing, 1888
Antennae 1; flagellum slightly wider than peduncle. Pereopod 7; basis with relatively broad posterodistal lobe barely overlapping ischium. Telson rounded....................... 9
9. Pereopods 5 & 6; dactylus longer than 0.3x length of propodus.................................... .............................................................................................. V. gibbosa Bovallius, 1887
Pereopods 5 & 6; dactylus short, about 0.2x length or less of propodus.................... 10
10. Pereopods 3 & 4; dactylus relatively short and stubby, length less than 0.2x propodus. Head with anterior margin rounded, or oblique, not projected above A1....................... .............................................................................................. V. jeangerardi Lucas, 1846
Pereopods 3 & 4; dactylus more slender, length more than 0.2x propodus. Head with anterior margin forming vertical, or rounded projection above base of A1 (more prominent in males) ........................................................ V. borealis Bate & Westwood, 1868
11 Pereopod 7; basis with small, sharp anterodistal lobe overlapping most of ischium...... ......................................................................... V. stebbingi Behning & Woltereck, 1912
Pereopod 7; basis with anterodistal corner not produced distally to overlap ischium 12
12. Pereopods 3 & 4 with relatively thin articles, dactylus distinctly shorter than half of propodus ............................................................................ V. antarctica Stebbing, 1888
Pereopods 3 & 4 with thick articles, dactylus distinctly longer than half of propodus........................................................................................................................................ 13
13. Pereopods 3 & 4 with very thick articles, especially merus and carpus. Gnathopod 1; posterodistal angle of propodus extended posteriorly to dactylus. Gnathopod 2; carpal process almost as long as propodus ....................................... V. viatrix Bovallius, 1887